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Shane Slater
Tomatometer-approved critic
Shane is a passionate cinephile whose love for film led him to creating his blog Film Actually in 2009. Since then, he has also written for AwardsCircuit.com, Awards Radar, That Shelf and The Spool, in addition to appearances on podcasts, radio and TV. Based in Kingston, Jamaica, he relishes the film festival experience, having covered NYFF, Sundance, SXSW and TIFF among others. He is a proud member of the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA).
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Seeking Mavis Beacon (2024) |
Jones and Ross' deep connection and admiration for Mavis Beacon as a symbol of Black excellence is palpable. As such, it makes their search all the more urgent and meaningful. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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The Girl Is in Trouble (2012) |
Onah effectively and impressively roots the story on the notion of hope. In this case, it's the disappointment associated with such hope that binds its victims in a web of drugs and murder. - Film Actually
Read More
| Posted May 21, 2024
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Milisuthando (2023) |
A profound work of art. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Jan 06, 2024
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Poor Things (2023) |
It's weird, provocative, funny and ultimately, surprisingly sweet. - Film Actually
Read More
| Posted Jan 06, 2024
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Navalny (2022) |
At once disheartening and inspiring, Navalny is thus a bracing reflection of Russian society and the fraught state of modern democracy at large. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
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All That Breathes (2022) |
Shot in a largely observational vérité style, All That Breathes artfully ties together the social and ecological concerns which plague Delhi. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
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Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021) |
Adorable, affecting and amazingly inventive, "Marcel the Shell with Shoes On" is unlike any film I've seen this year. - Film Actually
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
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How to Save a Dead Friend (2022) |
At once deeply personal and socially relevant, How to Save a Dead Friend is a powerful statement. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
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Casa Susanna (2022) |
Lifshitz truly crafts an illuminating film filled with many insightful details. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
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Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power (2022) |
With the engaging and honest commentary (crucially including the White perspectives as well) accentuating the seamless editing, the storytelling is captivating. - Film Actually
Read More
| Posted Dec 13, 2022
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The Inspection (2022) |
The film’s biggest appeal lies in its surpassing of victimhood to convey the inherent bravery and strength often required of queer people’s existence in heteronormative societies. - That Shelf
Read More
| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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Brother (2022) |
Brother is a cinematic rendering that is deeply felt. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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Free Money (2022) |
The filmmaking truly excels through its varied perspectives, each of them adding thought-provoking new angles to understanding the outcomes of the project. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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Chevalier (2022) |
Despite a compelling central performance and its beautiful visuals and classical music, it’s hard not to feel somewhat disappointed by the overall storytelling. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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Patrick and the Whale (2022) |
Plunges viewers deep into the depths of the ocean and in doing so, generates some of the most gorgeous underwater cinematography. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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The Great Movement (2021) |
El Gran Movimiento is a transfixing viewing experience. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Aug 18, 2022
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Girl Picture (2022) |
Girl Picture hardly provides any new insight into the lives of teenage girls. But it strikes an authentic balance between the carefree innocence of youth and the anxiety-ridden fears of coming of age. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Aug 18, 2022
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RRR (2022) |
RRR offers a deeply satisfying and entertaining interpretation of India's fight for freedom. - Film Actually
Read More
| Posted Aug 08, 2022
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Descendant (2022) |
Descendant would already be worth watching for its awe-inspiring investigation into the whereabouts and historical legacy of the Clotilda. But the film's strongest attribute is that it is constructed with an eye toward to the future. - That Shelf
Read More
| Posted Jan 31, 2022
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Breaking (2022) |
In the end, 892 thus emerges as a poignant character study, rather than the throwback thrillers it falls short of emulating. In doing so, it acts as a tribute to those who have been left behind by America's inequitable system of governance. - That Shelf
Read More
| Posted Jan 28, 2022
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A Love Song (2022) |
Walker-Silverman's "Love Song" is more of a whispered sonnet than a full-throated power ballad. But it speaks honestly... - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Jan 25, 2022
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Tantura (2022) |
Tantura ultimately makes astute observations about post-truth politics and the ways in which those with power can wrongfully define history. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Jan 25, 2022
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The Return: Life After ISIS (2021) |
The Return is thus a suitably challenging documentary about a uniquely complicated subject. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
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Socks on Fire (2020) |
A touching example of the therapeutic power of documentary filmmaking, for both its subjects and the audience alike. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
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Ailey (2021) |
Leaves a strong impression from the sheer beauty of his iconic work and the awe-inspiring impact of his legacy. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
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Miguel's War (2021) |
At times frustrating but always rooted in relatable honesty. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
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Catch the Fair One (2021) |
At once a propulsive thriller, a brooding character study and a poignant social drama. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
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All These Sons (2021) |
There's a captivating honesty to All These Sons that emerges organically through Liu's unobtrusive direction - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
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Subjects of Desire (2021) |
Subjects of Desire won't win any awards for groundbreaking style, but its interview-heavy approach proves effective. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
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The Rossellinis (2020) |
The Rossellinis is definitely worth seeing for its engaging attempt at personal and familial reconciliation. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
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The French Dispatch (2021) |
Amid the mostly unadventurous visual language of most cinematic fare, The French Dispatch truly feels like a full feast after a period of starvation. - Film Actually
Read More
| Posted Dec 07, 2021
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Ahed's Knee (2021) |
Ahed's Knee therefore feels, at times, like a glorified diatribe against the establishment. But thankfully, Lapid embellishes the storytelling with cinematic flourishes that provide nuance and complexity. - That Shelf
Read More
| Posted Sep 26, 2021
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In the Heights (2021) |
In the Heights triumphs as the feel-good movie of the year so far. - Film Actually
Read More
| Posted Sep 22, 2021
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I'm Your Man (2021) |
Schrader instead uses her perceptive screenplay to make resonant observations on human behavior and romantic traditions. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Sep 22, 2021
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Attica (2021) |
Attica is at once a time capsule of Nixon-era oppression and a timeless indictment of the foundational racism and injustice of American society. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Sep 17, 2021
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The Rescue (2021) |
The Rescue will likely make you cry, cheer and teeter on the edge of your seat to very end. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Sep 17, 2021
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Passing (2021) |
Thompson shines opposite Ruth Negga in this handsomely mounted reflection on class and race. - That Shelf
Read More
| Posted Sep 17, 2021
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The Last Out (2020) |
Taking audiences on an eventful journey, The Last Out is an eye-opening example of the intersection of sports, geopolitics and individual liberty. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Jun 04, 2021
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Port Authority (2019) |
This delicate drama tells a quintessential New York love story that features a compelling transgender perspective. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Jun 02, 2021
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Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America (2021) |
It offers a galvanizing refresher course for those who are already aware of the ongoing struggle, while also providing a captivating and educational entry point for those who need to be enlightened. - That Shelf
Read More
| Posted May 25, 2021
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Beans (2020) |
On the strength of its performances and overall filmmaking, Beans successfully weaves together an affecting drama. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Mar 16, 2021
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Mis 500 Locos (2020) |
A State of Madness is worth commending for its attention to the period details, but it's story leaves you wanting. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Mar 16, 2021
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A La Calle (2021) |
An in-depth analysis that is both captivating and informative. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Mar 16, 2021
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Sin La Habana (2021) |
Sin La Habana remains a nuanced portrait of love and longing for people, places and the chance to achieve one's ambitions. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Mar 16, 2021
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Ludi (2021) |
There's no shortage of genuine empathy on display. But without the specificity... the protagonist becomes another face in the crowd. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Mar 16, 2021
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This Is Not a Burial, It's a Resurrection (2019) |
While cinephiles would surely salivate over the film's gorgeous aesthetics, the engaging storyline will also captivate even the most casual movie fans. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Mar 16, 2021
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Executive Order (2020) |
A heart-pounding and disquieting cautionary tale. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Mar 16, 2021
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Firestarter: The Story of Bangarra (2021) |
Firestarter assembles a treasure trove of archival footage that showcases the raw talent. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Mar 02, 2021
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President (2021) |
Nielsson's unflinching camera keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way. - That Shelf
Read More
| Posted Feb 17, 2021
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In the Same Breath (2021) |
Wang blows the whistle once more with a typically probing examination of the COVID-19 pandemic. - Awards Radar
Read More
| Posted Feb 05, 2021
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