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Frank J. Avella
Tomatometer-approved critic
Frank J. Avella is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and film journalist. His plays include LURED, VATICAN FALLS and CONSENT. He currently writes for Edge Media Network and Awards Daily. Frank is a member of the New York Film Critics Online and the East Coast Rep for GALECA - The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics. He's a proud queer Italian-American.
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Griffin in Summer (2024) |
The scenes between Griffin and Brad are a treat. Brad is initially oblivious to the blazing torch Griffin is carrying for him. Teague nails the standoffish artist/rebel who is actually desperate for his work to be appreciated. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Crossing (2024) |
Akin takes his time to establish an authentic bond between these two lost souls. The film is a penetrating and often devastating look at the destruction caused by ignorance and intolerance. It's also a call for unity and acceptance. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Rent Free (2024) |
Fernando Andrés' idiosyncratic and fascinating new indie feature "Rent Free" explores bisexuality and queer male friendship in such an authentic manner it may be breaking some ground in indie LGBTQ+ cinema. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Hacking Hate (2024) |
Hate speech on social media and the internet comes under severe scrutiny in Simon Klose's riveting "Hacking Hate." The doc illuminates just how social media sites financially benefit from far-right influencers... - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Satisfied (2024) |
The cherry on the doc's cake is a full rendition of the song "Satisfied," where it becomes obvious to anyone who did not see her onstage why Goldsberry is a true Broadway star. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story (2024) |
What does shine through here is Liza's enormous love for entertaining, her endless energy, her raw creative talent, and her incredible ability to streamline questions she's uncomfortable with. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Rebel Country (2024) |
Whately focuses on the new rebels of country. Unlike Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson – the old rebels who were all damaged white men – the new crop happens to be Black, Hispanic, queer, and proudly female. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Treasure (2024) |
"Treasure" is best when Fry is onscreen. He delivers a rich and refined turn as a man who would rather not confront his past and unleash decades of generational trauma. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Group Therapy (2024) |
Funny, touching, and emotionally relevant, "Group Therapy" shows that too often there really is a fine line between comedy and tragedy. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 27, 2024
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Kinds of Kindness (2024) |
The strangest, most flummoxing situations are played as if they're the norm in "Kinds of Kindness," and one of the most exhilarating things about the film is how it treats bisexuality as commonplace, even under the creepiest of circumstances. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Jun 14, 2024
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Solo (2023) |
"Solo" succeeds because of Pellerin's immersive performance. His Simon is filled with contradictory and confused emotions – a confident powerhouse in drag onstage, a vulnerable little boy offstage. He allows us to empathize with Simon. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted May 30, 2024
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Hidden Master: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes (2023) |
Sam Shahid's captivating chronicle of the life and work of celeb and fashion photographer George Platt Lynes pulls no punches... creating a fascinating portrait of a true pioneer... - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Apr 30, 2024
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Thelma (2024) |
Josh Margolin's "Thelma" centers on a 93-year-old who gets phone scammed and goes on a revenge quest. Oscar nominee June Squibb is delightful as the titular character, and Fred Hechinger excels as her loving grandson.
- Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Dìdi (2024) |
The film is an absolute delight. The fabulous Joan Chen is excellent as the boy's mom. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Kneecap (2024) |
In Richard Peppiatt energetic and arresting "Kneecap," Irish rap band members Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh play themselves in spectacular fashion. Michael Fassbender kills as a revolutionary dad in post-Troubles Belfast.
- Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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The Greatest Night in Pop (2024) |
The doc is a captivating account of that momentous event, where a host of...superstars were asked by Quincy Jones, via a written sign, to "check your ego at the door."
- Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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A Real Pain (2024) |
Culkin delivers his best screen performance to date, and Eisenberg is shockingly restrained. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Exhibiting Forgiveness (2024) |
André Holland and John Earl Jelks are extraordinary as an estranged son and father, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor delivers another astonishing, awards-worthy turn as a conflicted mother trying desperately to help bridge that gap.
- Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Between the Temples (2024) |
the magnificently odd "Between the Temples" is a showcase for the brilliantly gifted Carol Kane, who plays a former music teacher who decides she wants to be bat mitzvah'd. The wonderful cast includes Jason Schwartzman, Caroline Aaron, and Dolly De Leon. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Layla (2024) |
Bilal Hasna shines as the title character, and Louis Greatorex is beyond charming as their seemingly perfect beau... More nuance and a less facile story arc would have made "Layla" so much more than just another polemic about self-acceptance. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Desire Lines (2024) |
Jules Rosskam's hybrid doc/fiction, "Desire Lines," is a mesmerizing peek into a taboo world. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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In the Summers (2024) |
The film...has very little narrative to speak of, and meanders a bit much, but is beautifully filmed, and (René Pérez) Joglar keeps things fascinating. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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In the Land of Brothers (2024) |
The film is broken into three chapters, each a decade apart, telling the stirring story of an extended Afghan family forced seek refuge in Iran. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Frida (2024) |
...what makes Carla Gutiérrez's doc "Frida" so compelling and exceptional is that it is entirely told through the artist's own words via her diary, as well as revealing letters, essays, and print interviews. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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How to Have Sex (2023) |
"How to Have Sex" authentically captures the painful, complicated, and confusing aspects of trauma. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Ponyboi (2024) |
"Ponyboi," is written by and stars River Gallo in quite an impressive debut in both artistic arenas...and boasts a fierce turn by Dylan O'Brien... - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Stress Positions (2024) |
"Stress Positions," is a clever and original entry in the COVID-themed cinema genre with a satiric, queer twist...it's also highly entertaining and has much to say about how silly we all tend to behave. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Malu (2024) |
Pedro Freire makes an auspicious feature film debut with "Malu," a most stirring and wholly believable depiction of past family trauma and how it manifests generationally... - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Sebastian (2024) |
Mollica is quite a find, beautiful and beguiling. His is a fearless, star-making performance in a most assured sophomore effort that is easily the best queer film at the (Sundance Film) Fest. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Feb 01, 2024
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Alhamour H.A. (2023) |
There are some interesting and well-crafted moments and the scenes with his second wife (Fatima AlBanawi, having a blast) are amusing but the subject just doesn’t lend itself to the sweeping Scorsese-esque style Alqurashi is attempting to replicate. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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Photophobia (2023) |
Ivan Ostrochovský and Pavol Pekarčík are the intrepid directors who put their own lives at risk to show us how these brave people are simply trying to survive. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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Simón (2023) |
First time feature writer-director-editor Vicentini proves to be an impressive visual storyteller.
- Edge Media Network
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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The Miracle Club (2023) |
Thaddeus O'Sullivan's compelling look at trauma, "The Miracle Club" stars Laura Linney, Kathy Bates, and Dame Maggie Smith (formidable actors worthy of being three faces on a cinematic Mount Rushmore), all doing fine work. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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The Killer (2023) |
Michael Fassbender, another artist who should also have two Oscars, gives a restrained yet potent portrait of a man who must suddenly protect what he loves. Add a stunning turn by Tilda Swinton... - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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Monster (2023) |
"Monster's" queer portion is explored with great authenticity and care and involves two adolescent boys (Soya Kurokawa and Hinata Hiragi, both exceptional) who may be crushing on one another. It's a transfixing work.
- Edge Media Network
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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Memory (2023) |
It's a true triumph for Chastain, who just keeps adding to her canon of beguiling, strong women, who are also quite vulnerable if you peer close enough. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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Origin (2023) |
Ava DuVernay's original, ballsy new film, "Origin" combines historical debate about race with a semi-biographical narrative that follows one writer's personal journey of discovery. - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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Saltburn (2023) |
Barry Keoghan, in one of the most fearless performances of the year, plays Oliver Quick, an enigmatic figure at Oxford who becomes obsessed with the gorgeous and filthy rich Felix (Jacob Elordi, filthy-handsome and terrific)... - Edge Media Network
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| Posted Dec 21, 2023
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A Light Never Goes Out (2022) |
The film is steeped in sentiment (the sight of a neon sign near the end had me a bit weepy) but the statement it’s making is pretty clear. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 03, 2023
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The Peasants (2023) |
The film’s co-director is female—which makes the blatant misogyny the more bizarre. And there never any real emotional release for our protag either.
- Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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Bad Living (2023) |
...for over two unrelentingly grim hours we are forced into their cruel and vicious world...Canijo loves to sit his camera down for interminable periods for long and extreme-long shots, resulting in a need to squint to see what is going on. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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A Male (2022) |
Hernández focuses too much time on the mundane. Even a scene where it appears Carlos is being groomed for sex work doesn’t feel bold enough. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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Tiger Stripes (2023) |
The sometimes alienating, heavy-on-metaphor narrative owes a lot to Brian DePalma’s Carrie but never goes far enough to pack the punch it should pack. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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Alexander (2023) |
The film, directed by Ardit Sadiku’, is arresting at times, especially when Gruda and others tell the courageous and ultimately tragic story. It would make a much better narrative feature. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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The Burdened (2023) |
Abortion dramas are not rare, but we hardly ever see depictions of people of a certain age making the decision. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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The Visitor (2021) |
While I appreciated the exceptional performance of Aráoz and the searing indictment of extreme Evangelical power, the ending proved incredibly unsatisfying on all levels, taking away from the film’s potency. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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Godland (2022) |
While I appreciate Pálmason’s scope and ambition and admire his austere and contemplative style, I found the experience to be more of a slog than the transfixing epic it should have been. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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Opponent (2023) |
The film only skirts the exploration of...queerness, which is frustrating. So, we have another violent macho self-hatred-born-of-fear-and-sexually-repressed-culture character study where the wife and kids matter but any other relationship doesn’t. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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Slow (2023) |
Marija Kavtaradzė’s Slow, is a sweet exploration of a couple navigating the reveal that one of them is asexual. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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Banel & Adama (2023) |
Mane delivers an unflinching performance as the driven Banel who go to great lengths to fight to have Adama all to herself...Unfortunately, the film doesn’t end as much as drift away, which is frustrating because its heroine deserved a solid third act. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Dec 02, 2023
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