Movie Reviews

Assaf Machnes's 'Where to?' wins top prize at Jerusalem Film Festival

The festival awarded prizes totaling approximately NIS 1 million across its Israeli and international competitions, as well as its short-film, experimental-film, and industry programs.

Co-stars Ido Tako (left) and Ihab Salami with a poster of their film, Where To?, directed by Assaf Machnes, at its premiere at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
Scene from ‘Köln 75,' directed by Israeli Ido Fluk.

'Köln 75': The unlikely story behind Keith Jarrett's iconic concert - review

HAVANA ROSE LIU (left) and Leo Woodall in ‘Tuner.’

'Tuner' mixes classical music, crime, and Dustin Hoffman - review

A SCENE from ‘In the Hand of Dante.’

What to watch this week: Gal Gadot buoyant in an otherwise sinking ship in 'In the Hand of Dante'


'White Bird': A Holocaust movie saved by Helen Mirren - review

Were the narrator who tells the story in the framing device anyone other than the incomparable Helen Mirren, White Bird wouldn’t have worked nearly as well as it does. 

 SCENES FROM ‘White Bird’ with Helen Mirren.

'Farewell Column' tells a sadly relevant story

Farewell Column, set about three years ago, tells the story of Karmi, a political columnist who has offended some very thuggish people with a column criticizing the Netanyahu government.

Keren with director/screenwriter Ron Ninio (left).

'DogMan': Luc Besson's canine carnival - review

Luc Besson is a born storyteller and his films, including DogMan, are undeniably entertaining. He knows how to pick actors with great presence. 

 A SCENE FROM Luc Besson's 'DogMan'

Hipsters will love 'Robot Dreams' - review

Recreating the East Village of decades ago will be fun for adult viewers, but not for the vast majority of children, so ignore how appealing this movie looks on the poster and don’t bring your kids.

 ROBOT DREAMS

'The Holdovers': A predictable letdown of a film - review

For all its virtues, The Holdovers invites unfortunate comparisons to the ne plus ultra of teacher-student bonding movies, Wonder Boys.

 A scene from 'The Holdovers'

‘The Boy and the Heron’: Hayao Miyazaki takes you on a dream - review

If you can flow with the feelings behind the movie and see it as a well-observed version of the psyche of a fragile and traumatized child, you will find much to enjoy.

 'The Boy and the Heron'

'How to Have Sex' is more sad than shocking - review

The sadness at the core of this movie goes deep, as it focuses on a world where any human connection and sensuality connected to sex has been washed away by rivers of alcohol. 

 A SCENE FROM Molly Manning Walker's feature-film debut, 'How to Have Sex.'

The incredible true story behind the movie ‘Plan A’

Plan A focuses on questions of justice, revenge, redemption, and healing that are as relevant today as they were in 1945. The movie opened throughout Israel on January 11. 

 THE PAZ brothers, Yoav (left) and Doron, flank ‘Plan A’ actor Michael Aloni.

The worst of times, the best of movies

Here are my 10 best international films this year (with one exception, these all played in movie theaters in Israel), followed by the 10 best Israeli movies. 

 NANNI MORETTI'S 'A Brighter Tomorrow.'

Falling for a gentle 'Riceboy Sleeps' - review

Korea has been coming into its own in recent years as an international entertainment powerhouse.

 A scene from Anthony Shim's 'Riceboy sleeps.'