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James Croot
James Croot's reviews only count toward the Tomatometer® when published at Tomatometer-approved publication(s).
https://www.stuff.co.nz/authors/james-croot
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Fancy Dance (2023) |
A road movie cum-crime drama full of twists and turns that will keep you fully engaged until the final frames. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jul 10, 2024
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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) |
If you were deeply disappointed by Murphy’s wretched 2021 rom-com sequel Coming 2 America, then at least this is proof there’s still life in (and laughs to be had from) the early ‘80s comedy king. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jul 10, 2024
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The Taste of Things (2023) |
Those who prefer dialogue or action-driven cinematic fare may find this not their Taste, but if you’re in the mood for slow-cooked (and most-assuredly not half-baked) drama with all the visually arresting trimmings, this offers a nourishing narrative. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 30, 2024
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Hate to Love: Nickelback (2023) |
While Leigh Brooks’ intimate look doesn’t shy way from the criticism of the group, the overall feeling is of a warm portrait of a band of brothers, cousins, schoolmates and a succession of drummers (and yes, that is as Spinal Tap-esque as it sounds). - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 30, 2024
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Federer: Twelve Final Days (2024) |
Those looking for a Lleyton Hewitt-to-Hubert Hurkacz lookback at the Swiss master’s lows and many highs are going to be sorely disappointed, the small snatches of archival footage mainly there to compare and contrast early and late-career Federer. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 30, 2024
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Inside Out 2 (2024) |
Yes, it lacks anything akin to the first movie’s “Bing-Bong moment”, but the tension is palpable and your emotions definitely feel invested, as Anxiety threatens to destroy all the Joy in Riley’s life. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Despicable Me 4 (2024) |
There are quite a few Mike White-esque gags about rich people and parodies of mid-20th century set sitcoms, but the overall storyline feels like a cross between Zoolander and a B-grade version of the classic The Simpsons episode Cape Feare. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 25, 2024
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The End We Start From (2023) |
Evoking memories of everything from Children of Men and Spielberg’s War of the Worlds to the 1980s BBC version of The Day of the Triffids, this nightmarish and brilliant near-future-set British drama deserved a far better fate than as an online rental. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 25, 2024
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The Promised Land (2023) |
Proof they can – and do – still make them (period dramas) like they used to (at least in Europe), this is one of the best reasons of the year so far to visit a cinema near you. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 19, 2024
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How to Rob a Bank (2024) |
This is a vibrant, zesty tale brought to vivid life via a crowd-pleasing cocktail of archival news and home movie footage, modern-day interviews with key players, the judicious use of “re-creations” and illustrated and animated “storyboards”. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 14, 2024
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Hit Man (2023) |
Far more so than Maverick or Anyone, this showcases Powell's true abilities and star power. His chemistry with Arjona is Lopez-and-Clooney-in-Out of Sight-esque palpable, but so is his comedic timing and ability to play things straight when needed here. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 14, 2024
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Unsung Hero (2023) |
Sure the narrative follows a predictable path and the messaging about “not making your dreams your master” and putting family first is laid on a little thick, but it’s hard not be won over by the trials and tribulations of this proto-Partridge Family. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 13, 2024
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Copa 71 (2023) |
The storytelling is compelling, the on and off-field dramas riveting (a bad-tempered, controversial semi-final here, a potential strike threat there) and some of the skills on display truly breathtaking. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 13, 2024
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HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle (2024) |
You have to admire director and co-writer Susumu Mitsunaka’s ability to stretch a single game to feature-length without it ever becoming dull and his attempts to make things as immersive as possible - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 13, 2024
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The Garfield Movie (2024) |
Sure Pratt possesses the right amount of snark in his voice, but to transform one of the world’s most iconically inactive pop-culture characters into an action hero is just plain wrong. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 13, 2024
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Jim Henson Idea Man (2024) |
Both a fabulous primer on one of the world’s true innovators and humanitarians and an emotional trip down memory line that is likely to not only potentially leave you in tears, but instantly wanting to seek out his legacy. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 13, 2024
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You Were My First Boyfriend (2023) |
Aldarondo and co-director Sarah Enid Hagey’s approach and style might not be for everyone, but, persevere, and this may offer some of the most thought-provoking and therapeutic viewing of the year. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Jun 13, 2024
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BlackBerry (2023) |
A fascinating, entertaining and – somewhat ironic – look back at a one-time, must-have item that once made up 45% of the cellphone market. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 26, 2024
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Arthur the King (2024) |
Those who enjoy a good underdog story with a message, or are committed fans of the increasingly shaggy charms of down-to-earth “everyman” Wahlberg, will find their King in solid, if unspectacular form and territory. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 26, 2024
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IF (2024) |
While cloaked in celebrity voices, a cadre of kooky animated creations and Ryan Reynolds in full charm-offensive mode, adults may find more in this cross between Drop Dead Fred, Sixth Sense and Monsters, Inc than they perhaps banked on, or bargained for. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 15, 2024
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Unfrosted (2024) |
This scattershot farce may seem like the Austin Powers of the recently burgeoning making-of-a-brand genre (see Tetris, Air, The Beanie Bubble), but is in fact a whip-smart parody of the Space Race and a pointed satire of both 1960s and today's politics. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 13, 2024
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The Idea of You (2024) |
A reminder of just what a charismatic and compelling presence noughties star Hathaway can be, more proof of Galtzine’s leading man potential and that Tinseltown really should make more of these kind of complex, messy, thought-provoking romances. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 13, 2024
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Robot Dreams (2023) |
Filled with clever match shots, colourful characters, a terrific soundtrack and a series of simply fabulous flights of fancy, Robot Dreams is an endearing, engrossing, delightfully enveloping tale that multiple generations can fully enjoy. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 09, 2024
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Before Dawn (2024) |
Despite its title, this works best in the daytime scenes, where you can really feel for the mud-caked troops. But while the young cast do their best to bring this intimate epic to life, they are hampered by a soggy script that offers few fresh ideas. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 09, 2024
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Golda (2023) |
While screenwriter Nicholas Martin’s dialogue occasionally veers into the territory known as overly-portentous, director Guy Nattiv’s use of monochrome both enhances and benefits greatly from the script’s tight focus. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 09, 2024
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Fremont (2023) |
Shot in a crisp monochrome, our protagonist occasionally seemingly staring straight back at us, Iranian-born film-maker Babak Jalali’s deliberately understated drama is a touching tale of loneliness and isolation. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 09, 2024
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Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) |
The commitment to world-building, character and storytelling is impressive, as are the sometimes truly breathtaking and awe-inspiring visuals spearheaded by our own wizards of Wellington Wētā FX. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted May 08, 2024
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The Royal Hotel (2023) |
While cleverly giving the story a crowd-pleasing finale, Aussie director and co-writer Kitty Green’s take just never quite engenders the same sense of voyeurism – or nausea – that made the documentary Hotel Coolgardie such unforgettable viewing. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 28, 2024
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Eileen (2023) |
Like Lady Macbeth, this provides a terrific showcase for his multi-talented leading lady, even if Hathaway gets all the best lines and outfits. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 28, 2024
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Girls State (2024) |
You might be eniticed by the wild incongruity of cupcake stations alongside very adult discussions, but you’ll most certainly stay because of how it offers an intimate, in-depth, potentially inspiring platform for a generation’s hopes and fears. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 21, 2024
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Abigail (2024) |
An extremely visceral, blood-soaked thrill-ride that boasts a rich vein of black humour. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 21, 2024
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Scoop (2024) |
Yes, it frequently feels a bit like a filmed stage play, but that’s perhaps less a criticism and more testimony to the strength of the writing - and the cast. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 14, 2024
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Little Richard: I Am Everything (2023) |
This entertaining, enlightening and truly eye-opening documentary invites viewers to meet the real “king of rock and roll”. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 14, 2024
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Late Night with the Devil (2023) |
Evoking the spirit of Orson Welles’ magnificent 1938 Halloween “hoax”, this might just be the greatest “found footage horror” movie ever made. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 14, 2024
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Civil War (2024) |
Like writer-director Alex Garland’s previous features, this is sci-fi-infused drama that’s designed to make you think. A dystopian vision that has a resonance because it feels like it “could happen”. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 14, 2024
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Love Lies Bleeding (2024) |
A heady mix of A History of Violence, Drive, Killer Joe and Thelma and Louise, this sometimes lurid, occasionally surreal 1989-set “romantic-thriller” at times borders on sensory overload.
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| Posted Apr 05, 2024
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Kung Fu Panda 4 (2024) |
With two fabulous set-pieces at the cllff-top Happy Bunny Tavern and an unforgettable Black version of a late ‘90s banger... you’ll forgive this fourth Panda its failings and foibles and simply be caught up in its flurry of fast-moving fun. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 05, 2024
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My Name is Alfred Hitchcock (2022) |
Delivered with an impressive approximation of Hitchcock’s notoriously wry, dry sense of humour and illustrated with an almost overwhelming array of astute observations, adroitly-chosen film clips and intimate behind-the-scenes imagery. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 05, 2024
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Werner Herzog: Radical Dreamer (2022) |
An entertaining and enlightening trawl through the screen legend’s filmography and life. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 05, 2024
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Road House (2024) |
Pitched as a modern-day western, this should appeal to fans of screenwriter Anthony Bagarozzi’s The Nice Guys. There’s just the same desire to entertain, immerse the audience into a particular world and populate it with an array of colourful characters. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 05, 2024
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Blue Jean (2022) |
If you’re a fan of the kind of evocative, provocative kitchen sink dramas lovingly crafted by the likes of Mike Leigh, Andrea Arnold and Clio Barnard, then this is well worth seeking out. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Apr 05, 2024
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YOLO (2024) |
Ling certainly isn’t afraid to lean into Rocky-ier elements that follow, piling on the montages and even borrowing Bill Conti’s famous theme. But amongst the soaring strings and slo-mo-a-go-go of the fights, there’s also definitely a sense of déjà vu. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Mar 22, 2024
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Goodbye Julia (2023) |
Kordofani’s assured debut delivers plenty of tension-filled and thought-provoking drama. His intimate, domestic approach to wider events reminds one of the work of Iran’s Asghar Farhadi, as does his creation of fully-rounded flawed characters. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Mar 22, 2024
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Ricky Stanicky (2024) |
Whether it’s delivering pitch-perfect “adult” parodies of famous rock tunes, or performing a delicate religious ceremony with a flourish, Cena just lifts Ricky Stanicky to a much higher plane than the rather shaggy, somewhat soiled premise deserves. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Mar 22, 2024
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Damsel (2024) |
What unfurls is a mostly appealing, occasionally pulse-raising, if not entirely original or engrossing, mix of Joe Versus the Volcano, The Descent, The Goonies, Game of Thrones and Dragonheart. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Mar 22, 2024
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Wicked Little Letters (2023) |
A sometimes manic mystery, a compelling character study and a crowd-pleasing courtroom drama all rolled into one, Little Letters is truly wicked fun. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Mar 22, 2024
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Maggie Moore(s) (2023) |
Actor-turned-director John Slattery’s first film in a decade is a terrific Coen-esque caper filled with colourful characters, dark humour and delightful dialogue. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Mar 11, 2024
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How to Have Sex (2023) |
Uncomfortable, but unforgettable viewing, it’s a drama that’s likely to give parents of teens nightmares, but also may prove to be an essential watch for their young people. - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Mar 08, 2024
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Combat Wombat: Back 2 Back (2023) |
Returning director Ricard Cusso and his Scarygirl co-helmer Tania Vincent attempt to recapture the first film’s sometimes anarchic spirit, but Back 2 Back definitely suffers from a severe case of sequelitis (where bigger doesn’t always mean better). - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Mar 08, 2024
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The Starling Girl (2023) |
Parmet’s conceit is naturally a little disturbing and no doubt considered controversial by some, but she juggles it well, never becoming too prurient or sensationalist, but also not condoning... - Stuff.co.nz
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| Posted Mar 01, 2024
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