All posts by Ben Sears

American Doctor Review

American Doctor

  • Director: Poh Si Teng

Grade: B+

For the two years following October of 2023, Israel’s genocide in Gaza has claimed the lives of more than 1,700 healthcare workers (a number that’s surely ballooned in the intervening months). This stat comes as a post-script to American Doctor, the feature debut of documentary director Poh Si Teng, which covers a select number of doctors as they fight the uphill battle of saving as many Gazans’ lives as possible. But rather than an on-the-ground accounting of the everyday struggles of the medical professionals tasked with helping, the film also shows their advocacy for the American government and media to accurately portray the realities they face.

Continue reading American Doctor Review

Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 6 Review

“Don’t Jump Around Much Anymore”

  • Creators: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly
  • Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Tanya Reynolds, Faye Marsay, Abbie Hern, Jude Mack

Grade: B-

Warning: Reviews of Ted Lasso season 4 episode 6 will contain spoilers.

Continue reading Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 6 Review

The Sun Never Sets Review

The Sun Never Sets

  • Director: Joe Swanberg
  • Writer: Joe Swanberg
  • Starring: Dakota Fanning, Jake Johnson, Cory Michael Smith, Debby Ryan, Karley Sciortino, Lamorne Morris, Anna Konkle

Grade: B+

“Not everyone’s next chapter has to look the same,” says Wendy (Dakota Fanning) upon learning that her best friend is pregnant, while simultaneously defending her uncertain lot in life. Throughout the events of The Sun Never Sets, those words will be tested for Wendy in unexpected ways as she volleys back and forth between relationship prospects. The result is an emotionally honest romance that leans into romantic drama’s conventions but keeps its characters front and center, thanks to the best performance of Dakota Fanning’s career.

Continue reading The Sun Never Sets Review

Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 5 Review

“Riches of Embarrassment”

  • Creators: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly
  • Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Tanya Reynolds, Faye Marsay, Abbie Hern, Jude Mack

Grade: B+

Warning: Reviews of Ted Lasso season 4 episode 5 will contain spoilers.

Continue reading Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 5 Review

It Ends Review

It Ends

  • Director: Alexander Ullom
  • Writer: Alexander Ullom
  • Starring: Phinehas Yoon, Akira Jackson, Michell Cole, Noah Toth

Grade: B

Life is a highway, and writer-director Alexander Ullom’s It Ends – finally making its way to theaters nationwide this weekend – may be the most existential representation of the endless road of life in cinemas today. 2026 has been a banner year for horror that appeals to Gen Z from young directors, and while the film may initially seem targeted to the demographic because of the makeup of its cast, Ullom taps into fears felt by anyone who feels trapped by life’s mundanities. But those walking into the theater hoping to be as frightened as they were with films like Backrooms or Obsession will find themselves disappointed by the film’s bloodlessness.

Continue reading It Ends Review

Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 4 Review

“Greyhounds’ Day Off”

  • Creators: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly
  • Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Tanya Reynolds, Faye Marsay, Abbie Hern, Jude Mack

Grade: C+

Warning: Reviews of Ted Lasso season 4 episode 4 will contain spoilers.

Continue reading Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 4 Review

Buddy Review

Buddy

  • Director: Casper Kelly
  • Writer: Casper Kelly, Jamie King
  • Starring: Cristin Milioti, Delaney Quinn, Topher Grace, Keegan-Michael Key, Michael Shannon, Patton Oswalt, Clint Howard, Eric Bauza

Grade: B+

What if the cuddly, loveable plush mascot of your kids’ favorite daytime TV show was actually a controlling, murderous sociopath? Director Casper Kelly’s comedy-horror film Buddy thankfully doesn’t just rest on this first-thought premise, instead adding in a twisted coming-of-age tale and a subplot about grief amongst the bloodshed. The gambit doesn’t always work, but Kelly is a master of subverting extremely specific, classic TV genres, so at the very least, there’s an incredible attention to detail to be found in every corner.

Continue reading Buddy Review

Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 3 Review

“Richmond’s Got Talent”

  • Creators: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly
  • Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Tanya Reynolds, Faye Marsay, Abbie Hern, Jude Mack

Grade: B

Warning: Reviews of Ted Lasso season 4 episode 3 will contain spoilers.

Continue reading Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 3 Review

Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 2 Review

“Curiouser and Curiouser!”

  • Creators: Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly
  • Starring: Jason Sudeikis, Hannah Waddingham, Juno Temple, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Jeremy Swift, Tanya Reynolds, Faye Marsay, Abbie Hern, Jude Mack

Grade: B

Warning: Reviews of Ted Lasso season 4 episode 2 will contain spoilers.

Continue reading Ted Lasso Season 4 Episode 2 Review

What Tomorrow Brings Review

What Tomorrow Brings

  • Director: Matt Engelbert
  • Writer: Joely Engelbert, Matt Engelbert, Phoebe Engelbert
  • Starring: Grace Bydalek, Joely Engelbert, Phoebe Engelbert, Hugh Entrekin, Jessica Grové, Zoey Engelbert, Ariel Engelbert

Grade: C

In the immortal words of Chef Gusteau, “anyone can cook”. But Remy the rat counters that, yes, anyone can cook, but not everyone should cook. Of course, he eventually comes to learn that it’s not one’s circumstances which determine whether or not someone is great at something; rather, it’s their passion and determination in spite of the odds. On the surface, Brad Bird’s animated masterpiece has nothing to do with What Tomorrow Brings, but it does show that anyone can bring their passion to life, in spite of the overwhelming odds.

Continue reading What Tomorrow Brings Review