Contributor Matthew Eng

A person wearing camouflage clothing standing next to a black car in a wooded area.
Festivals

2nd Chance – first-look review

by Matthew Eng

Ramin Bahrani’s latest is a fitfully interesting, by-the-numbers account of a curious figure on the fringes of American law enforcement.
A man with curly hair and a beard, wearing a patterned sweater, stands in an office setting with another man visible in the background.
Review

Sorry to Bother You

by Matthew Eng

Boots Riley’s surrealist vision of corporate servitude is a comedy with plenty of willpower and zero apologies.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Three young men with curly hair, smiling and embracing each other outdoors.
Review

Three Identical Strangers

by Matthew Eng

Tim Wardle revisits a ripped-from-the-headlines phenomenon in a docu-study full of surprises.

3
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Woman in straw hat reading a book titled "Joan Didion: The White Album" intently.
Review

Ingrid Goes West

by Matthew Eng

Aubrey Plaza plays a very modern kind of antiheroine in Matt Spicer’s darkly comic social media satire.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
2
In Retrospect
Close-up of a man with a worried expression, looking pensive.
Review

Gilbert

by Matthew Eng

A new documentary about comic provocateur Gilbert Gottfried is one of the year’s most unexpected heartwarmers.

2
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Woman smiling and holding a large vintage camera in front of a black and wood-panelled camera equipment.
Review

The B-Side: Elsa Dorfman’s Portrait Photography

by Matthew Eng

This latest from doc doyen Errol Morris looks at the life of eccentric American portrait artist Elsa Dorfman.

3
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
Iconic musician playing electric guitar on stage, wearing colourful outfit with feather boa.
Film Music

Why Monterey Pop remains the pinnacle of concert movies

by Matthew Eng

DA Pennebaker’s documentary milestone remains historically vital and as bracingly alive as ever.
Two women making aggressive, hostile facial expressions.
Review

Catfight

by Matthew Eng

Anne Heche and Sandra Oh get aggressive in Onur Tukel’s scathing new comedy.

4
Anticipation
3
Enjoyment
3
In Retrospect
A person wearing a burgundy and white patterned shirt, standing on a sandy beach by the ocean.
In Praise Of

In praise of Annette Bening’s difficult women

by Matthew Eng

From Bugsy to American Beauty and now 20th Century Women, the actor has always relished playing characters that ask us to look deeper.
Monochrome image showing a group of people, including a woman wearing a pearl necklace and two men wearing sunglasses.
Review

I Am Not Your Negro

by Matthew Eng

James Baldwin reclaims the spotlight in Raoul Peck’s magnificent film essay.

4
Anticipation
4
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
Distorted reflection of a person in a car side mirror, with water droplets on the mirror surface.
Review

Cameraperson

by Matthew Eng

Kirsten Johnson’s visual autobiography is a striking and knowledgeable account of a life in film.

3
Anticipation
5
Enjoyment
4
In Retrospect
A well-dressed Black man wearing a suit and tie, gesturing with his hand against a dark, blurred background.
In Praise Of

In praise of Mahershala Ali – 2016’s standout performer

by Matthew Eng

From Luke Cage to Moonlight, the American actor has made a vital contribution to his craft this year.

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