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Jeff Mitchell
Tomatometer-approved critic
My lifelong dreams of becoming a respected movie critic would not have come true without going back to school (at age 35) and earning my graduate degree at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. I learned AP Style and writing on deadline, embraced ethical codes/standards and loved working as an on-campus reporter for two years. Becoming Rotten Tomatoes-certified would be another dream come true. I carry a mature, professional persona, and I will be a dependable and supportive RT contributor! Three outlets have published my reviews for eight years, and I am currently the Phoenix Film Festival's lead film critic. I thoroughly enjoy writing weekly reviews and/or articles, hosting monthly Phoenix Film Society Q&A/screenings, interviewing directors and actors, and managing assignments with our other two critics.
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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The Duel (2024) |
This modern-day dramedy, about an old-school idea, successfully balances humor and anxiety. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Aug 07, 2024
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Twisters (2024) |
'Twisters' spins in place compared to its 28-year-old predecessor. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Jul 19, 2024
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Touch (2024) |
'Touch' is a sweet, tender, and worthwhile story that swims in cross-cultural waters, but it wades in place at times with pacing issues due to the casual beats of ordinary, clumsy courtship rituals. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Jul 12, 2024
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MaXXXine (2024) |
This dark and dark Hollywood mystery doesn't light up the big screen. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Jul 10, 2024
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June Zero (2022) |
'June Zero' has value and shares unique perspectives. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jul 08, 2024
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Kinds of Kindness (2024) |
Yorgos doesn’t kill his audience with kindness. He tests our endurance for cruelty. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jun 29, 2024
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The Bikeriders (2023) |
‘The Bikeriders’ could rev its engine more often, but the film is a memorable ride. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jun 26, 2024
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Thelma (2024) |
Squibb shines, whether Thelma works on her action-star moves or industrious needlepoint projects. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jun 21, 2024
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Tuesday (2023) |
‘Tuesday’ is an eccentric, emotional story that might resonate seven days a week and twice on Tuesday. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jun 18, 2024
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Bad Boys: Ride or Die (2024) |
This series looks more and more like the 'Fast and Furious' franchise, which, depending on your perspective, can be a good or bad thing. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Jun 07, 2024
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The Watchers (2024) |
Shyamalan steadily reveals morsels of answers through a refreshing, enlightening array of spooky surprises throughout the first two acts rather than keep us in the dark until the very end. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Jun 07, 2024
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Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) |
The screenplay’s unyielding and unsound determination to grant a Furiosa origin story rather than simply deliver a Furiosa adventure proves its undoing, even with several moments of turbulent car-crashing eye candy. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jun 01, 2024
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Young Woman and the Sea (2024) |
‘Young Woman and the Sea’ is a splashy, celebratory biopic along with some pools of shallow storytelling. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jun 01, 2024
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Resistance: They Fought Back (2024) |
Structured by three chapters (or books, as presented on-screen), the doc identifies three distinct types of resistance, ranging from peaceful, spiritual means to all-out destructive sabotage. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jun 01, 2024
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For Love & Life: No Ordinary Campaign (2022) |
Burke’s camera faces Brian and Sandra’s journey in heartbreaking and inspiring fashions. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jun 01, 2024
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Carol Doda Topless at the Condor (2024) |
‘Carol Doda Topless at the Condor’ is a revealing, insightful documentary.
- Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted May 11, 2024
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Nowhere Special (2020) |
‘Nowhere Special’ is a beautiful, encouraging story about the devoted bond between father and son but one wrapped in ever-present heartbreak and vulnerabilities. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted May 09, 2024
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The Fall Guy (2024) |
'The Fall Guy' floats. It's an easy, breezy ride. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted May 04, 2024
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We Grown Now (2023) |
Baig captures the poetic beauty of the freewheeling innocence and imagination of childhood while also constructing boundaries, healthy and unhealthy ones. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Apr 27, 2024
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Hard Miles (2023) |
This inspirational cycling story is worth an easy trip to the movie theatre. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Apr 19, 2024
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The Peasants (2023) |
‘The Peasants’ doesn’t brim with riches, but it works as an eccentric curiosity. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Mar 23, 2024
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Problemista (2023) |
‘Problemista’ is an inventive, eccentric comedy, but a couple of problems trip it up. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Mar 16, 2024
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Frida (2024) |
Gutierrez’s documentary thoughtfully paints an intimate look at this influential icon. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Mar 15, 2024
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Dune: Part Two (2024) |
'Dune' is a spectacular, procedural exercise, but 'Dune: Part Two' burns more calories. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Mar 01, 2024
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Golden Years (2022) |
‘Golden Years’ offers valuable insights, but during a recycled cinematic journey. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Feb 24, 2024
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The Monk and the Gun (2023) |
Dorji’s thoughtful approach will fire up audience applause. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Feb 10, 2024
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Suncoast (2024) |
Parker and Linney deliver glowing, memorable performances in ‘Suncoast’. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Feb 03, 2024
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The Teachers' Lounge (2023) |
Leonie Benesch delivers the most overlooked performance of the 2024 award season. She's outstanding. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jan 29, 2024
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The Zone of Interest (2023) |
‘The Zone of Interest’ holds us captive to a haunting, surreal perspective of The Holocaust. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jan 23, 2024
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Driving Madeleine (2022) |
Renaud and Boon empathetically chauffeur this worthwhile Parisian trip. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jan 19, 2024
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All of Us Strangers (2023) |
Bring tissues. Delicate declarations of regrets, hopes, tenderness, and forgiveness pour off the screen. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jan 09, 2024
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The Boys in the Boat (2023) |
This real-life sports story is an inspirational cinematic cruise. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Dec 25, 2023
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Poor Things (2023) |
Lanthimos’ most ambitious creation bursts with bizarre opulence. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Dec 20, 2023
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The Oath (2023) |
I appreciate the filmmakers' intentions, but pledging to watch 'The Oath' may cause severe regrets. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Dec 08, 2023
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Dream Scenario (2023) |
Cage is a dreamy choice for Borgli’s exceptional and eccentric dark comedy. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Nov 23, 2023
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Next Goal Wins (2023) |
Many of the intended laughs don't land, and the narrow camerawork on the pitch doesn't inspire. This soccer movie should be an easy score, but the ball sails over the crossbar. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Nov 18, 2023
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The Marvels (2023) |
A messy, confounding story grounds this MCU space odyssey. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Nov 10, 2023
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The Persian Version (2023) |
Too many shifts in times, tones, and ideas crowd the earnest intentions. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Nov 03, 2023
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Anatomy of a Fall (2023) |
Huller rises and delivers the best lead actress performance of the year so far. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Oct 28, 2023
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Butcher's Crossing (2022) |
‘Butcher’s Crossing’ offers remarkable footage and an important message, but narratively, the film doesn’t quite make the cut. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Oct 20, 2023
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The Burial (2023) |
If you need a reprieve from October’s scary slasher flicks, let ‘The Burial’, an entertaining courtroom drama, rise towards the top of your movie queue. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Oct 13, 2023
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Americanish (2021) |
This breezy, charming rom-com centers on a serious concern for American women since the 1970s, balancing career and marriage.
- Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Oct 07, 2023
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Flora and Son (2023) |
'Flora and Son' is not as moving as 'Once' and not as fun as 'Sing Street', but Hewson and Gordon-Levitt share warm chemistry and a beautiful song. Let's get this duo on tour. Sign me up for that concert! - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Sep 30, 2023
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Dumb Money (2023) |
This stock market story is a worthwhile buy, and Dano is perfectly cast to bring order to the on-screen chaos. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Sep 22, 2023
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Between Two Worlds (2021) |
‘Between Two Worlds’ offers a good message, but it doesn’t reach for the stars to document the ground-level hardships. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Aug 19, 2023
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Jules (2023) |
Move over E.T. and Elliott. Meet Jules and Milton. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Aug 15, 2023
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Shortcomings (2023) |
'Shortcomings', Park's relationship comedy, is long on witty banter and engaging performances. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Aug 04, 2023
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The Baker (2022) |
'The Baker' is a stale vigilante story despite some curious ingredients. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jul 28, 2023
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Oppenheimer (2023) |
Dear Academy: Please consider Matt Damon’s compelling supporting performance during awards season. - Phoenix Film Festival
Read More
| Posted Jul 26, 2023
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Barbie (2023) |
Gerwig's comical societal study and trippy trip fashions several surprises. The biggest one might be Gosling's hilarious, scene-stealing performance. - Art House Film Wire
Read More
| Posted Jul 21, 2023
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