Movie Reviews by Leah Pickett - Page 4 of 7

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Review of Why Him? (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 22 Dec 2016

For this puerile farce, director John Hamburg recycles a tired premise -- a straitlaced father disapproves of his daughter's freewheeling boyfriend…

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Review of Passengers (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 21 Dec 2016

Ostensibly we're supposed to like Pratt and Lawrence together, yet Pratt's character does something so unforgivable to Lawrence's at the outset…

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Review of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 15 Dec 2016

Except for a few jocose, fan-serving moments, the movie is a dour affair, lacking the charm and chills of J.J…

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Review of A Stray (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 15 Dec 2016

Despite the touchy subject matter, Syeed avoids preaching and instead focuses on the protagonist's day-to-day struggle; the understated drama…

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Review of The Eyes of My Mother (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 01 Dec 2016

The film benefits from Zach Kuperstein's moody black-and-white cinematography and the stark compositions, but the unrelenting ugliness and…

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Review of Moana (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 01 Dec 2016

The narrative is a fairly predictable hero's journey -- Maui even calls her The Chosen One -- but the movie is refreshing for its lack of a…

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Review of Nocturnal Animals (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 17 Nov 2016

Ultimately the drama, adapted from a 1993 book by Austin Wright, constitutes a loose assemblage of ideas about romantic betrayal, selfishness,…

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Review of The Edge of Seventeen (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 17 Nov 2016

This is the first feature by writer-director Kelly Fremon Craig, and despite the conventional teenpic narrative, her protagonist is richly conceived…

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Review of The Eagle Huntress (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 17 Nov 2016

Factor in the feel-good story, Bell's bracing cinematography, and his meticulous observance of the villagers' customs and environments, and…

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Review of Beauty and the Beast (2014)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 26 Oct 2016

This 2014 adaptation of the French fairy tale looks spectacular, with vibrant landscapes and lavish 18th-century costumes, but…

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Review of Elle (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 19 Oct 2016

Verhoeven masterfully stretches the suspense, and his gallows humor lands most of the time. His attempts at edginess slide into exploitation, though…

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Review of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 28 Sep 2016

Burton has covered similar ground already, but fans will relish this spooky return to form…

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Review of Kicks (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 21 Sep 2016

The motif of a faceless, imaginary spaceman following the boy around is overly precious, but what does work is Tipping's focus on sensitive…

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Review of Slash (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 21 Sep 2016

The weird world of slash -- same-sex, erotic online fan fiction -- is the focus of this delightful feature from writer-director Clay Liford…

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Review of Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 21 Sep 2016

In the style of Borat, director Jonathan Kesselman and cowriters Jobrani and Amir Ohebsion use raunchy, puerile humor to jab at American prejudices…

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Review of Queen of Katwe (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 21 Sep 2016

David Oyelowo and Lupita Nyong'o are reliably superb in the critical supporting roles of Mutesi's chess coach and young mother, respectively…

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Review of Bridget Jones's Baby (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 14 Sep 2016

A third installment that attempts to recapture the charm of the first (2001) but, much like the second (2004), is only a sour facsimile…

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Review of Author: The JT LeRoy Story (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 14 Sep 2016

This documentary is well crafted but suffers from a deeply unsympathetic protagonist…

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Review of The Light Between Oceans (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 31 Aug 2016

At the climax the wife makes a decision antithetical to her character, and a morally complex film derails into hackneyed Nicholas Sparks territory…

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Review of Southside with You (2016)

By Leah Pickett (132) for Chicago Reader (7,190) on 31 Aug 2016

Southside With You showcases a city as photogenic, dynamic, and charming as the lovers themselves…

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Page 4 of 7

Leah Pickett has written reviews for:

Chicago Reader (7,190)
Consequence of Sound (1,431)

Leah Pickett is connected to:

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