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Zhuo-Ning Su
Tomatometer-approved critic
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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All We Imagine as Light (2024) |
All We Imagine as Light dazzles with its lyrical, quietly moving dissection of womanhood and the immigrant experience in Mumbai today. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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Grand Tour (2024) |
Hypnotically strange and beautiful, Grand Tour travels across borders of time and space, fiction and documentary, reality and dream, and ends on an appropriately poetic note. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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Caught by the Tides (2024) |
Its free-flowing, image-driven form will no doubt alienate many viewers, but those willing to just let its singular cinematic language wash over them would be rewarded with something barely articulated yet quietly profound. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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Anora (2024) |
Written and directed with an infectious, propulsive energy and featuring a star-making performance by Mikey Madison, it’s one wild joyride you don’t want to miss. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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The Apprentice (2024) |
A sometimes funny, sometimes sobering character study that never veers into comedy/thriller territory. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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Armand (2024) |
Some of its themes and plot devices feel déjà vu, but that doesn’t make this intense, strikingly stylistic first film any less impressive. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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The Substance (2024) |
Relentless, thought-provoking and morbidly fun, The Substance is a new horror classic. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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Kinds of Kindness (2024) |
Although Kinds of Kindness is much more malevolent in tone than say, Poor Things or The Favourite, Lanthimos still managed to craft LOL moments that catch you completely off guard. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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An Unfinished Film (2024) |
A fascinating formal hybrid that deals with censorship, COVID and civil courage. It’s the work of a group of fearless artists that gives you rare insights into the challenges faced by creatives in China today. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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The Girl with the Needle (2024) |
The historical drama provides a chilling, comprehensive account of the serial infanticides that happened in early 20th century Copenhagen. But I suspect a pared-down version would have made for a leaner, meaner period horror that works even better. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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Bird (2024) |
Adams is a natural and a star, while Rogowski charms once again with the creation of yet another memorably unique character. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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Megalopolis (2024) |
The film’s second half features gorgeously eloquent visual flourishes which make it increasingly clear that Coppola is addressing some big, essential ideas and the sheer scope of his ambition stuns. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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When The Light Breaks (2024) |
I think Rúnarsson’s screenplay falls a bit on the thin side even for a 82-min film. Having said that, I do like how the story organically turns into one about the two women and how it depicts this dynamic haunted by both rivalry and understanding. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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Wild Diamond (2024) |
It’s a hard-hitting, hot-blooded social drama/character study that shows promise of a new, fiercely assured cinematic voice, even if the story it tells isn’t breaking any ground. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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The Second Act (2024) |
The line between truth and fiction becomes deliciously blurred. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Jun 12, 2024
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Who Do I Belong To (2024) |
That a first-time feature writer/director made a film that works on just about every level is pretty remarkable. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Feb 26, 2024
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Crossing (2024) |
Crossing never preaches; it speaks to empathy and decency. When there’s so much hate that seeks to segregate and deny, I for one am grateful for such merciful, quietly urgent storytelling. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Feb 26, 2024
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Langue Étrangère (2024) |
More on the mainstream side, which often means no jury love, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Burger made a consistently enjoyable film that has a lot to say and introduces the revelatory performance of a promising new talent. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Feb 26, 2024
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Dying (2024) |
The last hour of Dying struggles to find the same level of sharpness so the whole thing doesn't land on a high note. That said, I'm impressed overall by Glasner's writing and the individual performances from this talented ensemble. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Feb 26, 2024
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Dahomey (2024) |
Clocking in at just 67 minutes, Dahomey provides a compact, thought-provoking look at the restitution of looted African art by former colonial powers. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Feb 26, 2024
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Cuckoo (2024) |
Both Schafer and Stevens deliver 100% committed performances. The former brings grit and a youthful alertness to inject some much needed sense of reality into this mad story. The latter goes all in playing the gleefully over-the-top villain. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Feb 26, 2024
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My Favourite Cake (2024) |
Both principal actors are superb. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Feb 26, 2024
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Small Things Like These (2024) |
I do wish the film would have more of a distinctive style or be more adventurous narratively, but ultimately the performances provide it with the human touch essential for such a human story. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Feb 26, 2024
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The Beast (2023) |
“What if Bertrand Bonello adapts Henry James by way of David Cronenberg and a general helping of Lynch”? Well, the result is The Beast and it is – I’m using this of course as the ultimate term of endearment and admiration – batsh*t crazy. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 09, 2023
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Evil Does Not Exist (2023) |
There are more layers to this film than meets the eye. As for what does meet the eye, it’s pure beauty. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 09, 2023
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Coup de Chance (2023) |
A jazzy little charmer. Doesn't aim too high, but hit all its intended marks with the effortless dexterity of a master. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 08, 2023
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Io Capitano (2023) |
Garrone directs the film with a lovely blend of realism and fancy. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 08, 2023
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Origin (2023) |
I expect there to be detractors of the film, both for its central thesis and the almost scholarly storytelling, but to me it’s an engrossing, more-than-worthy attempt at deconstructing systemic oppression throughout history. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 08, 2023
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Green Border (2023) |
Green Border isn’t always as subtle as it could be and probably didn’t find the most graceful ending, but I was riveted through its 147-min runtime and can’t imagine anyone with even an iota of empathy not being affected by it. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 08, 2023
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Gasoline Rainbow (2023) |
For all the monkey business the kids get into, the film never condescends. If anything, you sense the filmmakers’ determination to record an as yet unjaded generation’s capacity for fun. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 08, 2023
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Holly (2023) |
As a cross between coming-of-age story and spooky mood piece, Holly intrigues but ultimately fails to surprise. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 08, 2023
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Maestro (2023) |
[Maestro] didn’t grab me from the get-go but, powered by two compelling, charismatic lead performances, it did win me over in the emphatically emotional second half where all the high notes are hit. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 07, 2023
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Poor Things (2023) |
Sharp, wildly imaginative and jaw-droppingly naughty, the film takes you on a fantastical odyssey of female self-discovery and casually eviscerates the patriarchy in ways Barbie never managed to. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 01, 2023
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Oceans Are The Real Continents (2023) |
Oceans Are the Real Continents is a dazzling film to look at and -- better yet -- to lose yourself in. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 01, 2023
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Comandante (2023) |
The lack of historical context aside, De Angelis’ direction is moodily efficient. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 01, 2023
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DogMan (2023) |
The framing device is obviously not super inventive -- we essentially get a story told in flashbacks -- but it sure is effective as writer/director Luc Besson keeps you guessing how the fierce and fearsome Dogman came to be. - Awards Daily
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| Posted Sep 01, 2023
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Perfect Days (2023) |
Considering how little the protagonist speaks, it takes a performance of great charisma for the film to work, and Yakusho radiates such elegance and humanity he just about glows. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 26, 2023
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Last Summer (2023) |
Those who have a cursory knowledge of Breillat’s filmography would not be surprised by her decision to remake this particular film, the subject matter is right up her alley. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 26, 2023
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Sleep (2023) |
Written and directed with an unerring sense for rhythm, Sleep builds its tension with continuous, propulsive momentum. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 25, 2023
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Omen (2023) |
While a little rough around the edges, it’s daring, ambitious, visually arresting, all of which signs of promise one looks for in a first-time filmmaker. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 25, 2023
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Fallen Leaves (2023) |
Clocking in at just 81 minutes, it’s a lovely little dramedy about finding happiness in the darkest times. Quirky, sweet, big-hearted, it’s everything you’d expect from a Kaurismäki joint, and that’s never less than wonderful. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 24, 2023
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Club Zero (2023) |
I had a great time with this movie. It’s funny, disturbing, provocative and full of interesting observations about our relationship with food. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 24, 2023
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The Zone of Interest (2023) |
For its unflinching vision and staggering artistry, The Zone of Interest is an instant candidate for film of the year. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 24, 2023
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Anatomy of a Fall (2023) |
While Triet’s direction is, for the most part, formally reserved and not drawing attention to itself, the excellent screenplay and a cast of fantastic actors keep the fireworks coming. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 24, 2023
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Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) |
Expertly written, directed, acted and edited, the three-and-a-half-hour crime drama swooshed by with remarkable ease. It’s an at once highly entertaining and thought-provoking look at a piece of native American history. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 24, 2023
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May December (2023) |
The hypnotically high-camp drama has real bite and betrays ever more layers the closer you look. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 24, 2023
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Youth (Spring) (2023) |
What Wang has created, compounded by the epic runtime, is in essence a singularly immersive experience. You feel like you’re witnessing life as it happens, in all its precious messiness. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 19, 2023
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The Animal Kingdom (2023) |
The screenplay by Cailley and co-writer Pauline Munier is bold, original, thought-provoking. With great efficiency they set up the strikingly bizarre premise. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 19, 2023
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Strange Way of Life (2023) |
Working with such a limited runtime requires all the more instinct for structure and rhythm of a filmmaker, and Almodóvar just goes ahead and -- seemingly effortlessly -- shows you why he’s one of the greatest there ever was. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 18, 2023
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Monster (2023) |
Monster is a moving, shape-shifting youth drama that bears many hallmarks of [Koreeda’s] previous work but also sees him explore new thematic territory. - Awards Daily
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| Posted May 18, 2023
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