On Film

Favorite Films

Read the Introduction in order to understand the purpose of these lists, which represent my favorite films of their particular years, and which I frequently update and revise based on further viewing.

2014  2013  2012  2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1970s 1960s 1950s 1940s 1930s 1920s

Letterboxd Film Notes

To keep up with my viewing diary, follow me on Letterboxd, where I post first impressions, notes, and capsule reviews. Sometimes, my Letterboxd notes become the building blocks of full reviews, which are published here.

Selected Film Reviews from the Archives

I am always revising reviews in this archive, and because of that many of my past reviews are currently offline for revision. If you’re looking for a review that isn’t listed here, email Jeffrey at joverstreet@gmail.com. 

Also note: This archive includes some guest reviews by friends and colleagues, and some Film Forum reviews which include excerpts from a variety of critics.

• 12 Years a Slave (2013)
• 127 Hours (2010)
• 28 Days Later (2003)
• 2001: A Space Odyssey (re-release) (1968)
• 2046 (2004)
• 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (2006)
• 8 1/2 (1963)
• Adaptation (2002)
• The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
• The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn (2011)
• Alien: Resurrection (1997)
• All the Pretty Horses (2000)
• America’s Heart and Soul (2004)
• Amour (2013)
• Another Year (2010) – “Pillars of the Community”
• Argo (2012)
• The Artist (2011)
• The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
• Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
• At the Edge of the World (2008) – A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield
• Avatar (2009)
• The Avengers (2012)
• Babel (2006) 
• Babette’s Feast – “Caille en Sarcophage? Hallelujah! – A Tribute to Babette’s Feast and Other Big Screen Cuisine“
• Babies (2010)
• Batman Begins (2005)
• Battle in Seattle (2007)
• Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
• Be Cool (2005)
• Before Midnight (2013) – An All-Thumbs Review and a Capsule Review
• Before Sunrise (1994)
• Beginners (2010)
• Be Kind Rewind (2008)
• Bella (2007)
• Best in Show (2000)
• Bewitched (2005)
• Birdman (2014)
• Blue Jasmine (2013)
• Blue Like Jazz (2012)
• Body of Lies (2008)
• The Bourne Identity (2002)
• The Bourne Legacy (2012)
• The Bourne Supremacy (2004)
• Boyhood (2014) – A three-part review; and a podcast conversation at Christ and Pop Culture.
• Brave (2012)
• Broken Flowers (2005)
• The Brothers Grimm (2005)
• Buechner (2005)
• The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
• Calvary (2014)
• Cars 2 (2011)
• Casa de Mi Padre (2012)
• Catwoman (2004)
• Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) – “Stories from Before We Can Remember, Part One”
• Certified Copy (2010)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) – A review in Christianity Today, and a review in Response
• Children of Men (2006)
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)
• The Class (2009) – Reviewed alongside To Be and To Have (2002)
• The Clearing (2004)
• Closer (2004)
• Coffee and Cigarettes (2003)
• Collateral (2004)
• Compliance (2012) – “Why I Abandoned Compliance“
• Constantine (2005)
• Contagion (2011)
• Conviction (2010)
• The Counselor (2013)
• Coraline (2009) – “Neil Gaiman’s Girls” (Part One, Part Two)
• The Count of Monte Cristo (2002)
• Crash (2005)
• The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) – A film forum review
• Days of Heaven (1978)
• Deliver Us From Evil (2014)
• The Departed (2006)
• Departures (2008)
• Diary of a Country Priest (1951)
• The Dish (2000)
• Distant (2002)
• Django Unchained (2012)
• Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
• Dogville (2003)
• Doubt (2008)
• Dreamcatcher (2003)
• Drive (2011)
• Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
• Duma (2005) – A Guest Review by J. Robert Parks
• Eastern Promises (2007)
• The Edukators (2004) – A Guest Review by J. Robert Parks
• El Dorado (2008)
• Emma (1996)
• The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)
• The End of the Affair (1999)
• Enemy at the Gates (2001)
• Evening (2007)
• Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (2008)
• The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele de Blanc-Sec (2010/2013)
• Fast, Cheap and Out of Control (1997)
• Fight Club (1999)
• The Fighter (2010)
• Finding Nemo (2003)
• Finding Neverland (2004) – A Guest Review by J. Robert Parks
• The Five Obstructions (2003)
• Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
• Flight (2012)
• Flight of the Red Balloon (2007)
• The Fountain (2006)
• Frost/Nixon (2008)
• Galaxy Quest (1999)
• Girl Rising (2013)
• The Girlfriend Experience (2009) – “More Nightmares Before Christmas”
• Gladiator (2000)
• The Gleaners and I (2000) – “A Fortune Right in Front of Me”
• God’s Not Dead (2014) – links to reviews worth reading
• The Golden Compass (2007)
• The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) – and some second impressions
• Gravity (2013)
• The Great Beauty (2013)
• The Great Gatsby (2013)
• The Green Mile (1999)
• Grizzly Man (2005) – A Guest Review by J. Robert Parks
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)
• Her (2013) – Also: A guest review by Lauren Wilford
• Hero (2002)
• Hellboy (2004)
• A History of Violence (2005)
• The Hobbit (1976)
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• Holy Motors (2012)
• The Hunger Games (2012)
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)
• Honeydripper (2008)
• House of Flying Daggers (2004)
• How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)
• I Heart Huckabees (2004)
• I’m Not There (2007)
• Ida (2014)
• The Immigrant (2014)
• In America (2004)
• Inception (2010) – Part One, Part Two
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
• In My Country (2005)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• Inglourious Basterds (2009) – “The Inglourious Dilemma” – Part One, Part Two
• Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)
• Inside Out (2015)
• The Insider (1999)
• Interstellar (2014)
• Into Great Silence (2005)
• The Island (Ostrov) (2006)
• Jane Eyre (2011)
• Jindabyne (2007)
• John Carter (2012)
• Junebug (2005)
• Juno (2007)
• The Kid With a Bike (2011)
• The King’s Speech (2010)
• Kinsey (2004) – A Guest Review by J. Robert Parks
• The Ladykillers (2004)
• La Vie en Rose (2007)
• Lake Tahoe (2009)
• Lassie (2006)
• L’Enfant (2006)
• Left Behind (2014) – A review roundup and a commentary: “Well-Made Films Won’t Be… Left Behind“
• The LEGO Movie (2014)
• Les Misérables (2012)
• Let Me In (2010)
• Let the Right One In (2008)
• Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)
• The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
• Life Itself (2014) – First impressions.
• Like Someone in Love (2013)
• The Limits of Control (2009) – “Jarmusch 101” – Part One, Part Two
• Lincoln (2012)
• Little Children (2006)
• The Lives of Others (2006)
• The Loneliest Planet (2011)
• Longford (2006)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• Lorna’s Silence (2008) – Also: A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield
• Lucky Life (2010)
• Lucy (2014) – A film forum survey
• Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
• Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
• Madison (2005)
• Man on Fire (2004)
• Man on Wire (2008) – A Reflection
• Manderlay (2005)
• March of the Penguins (2005) – A Guest Review by J. Robert Parks
• Margaret – The Extended Cut (2012)
• Margot at the Wedding (2007)
• Martha Marcy May Marlene – “Martha in the Middle”
• The Master (2012) – “A Long Post-Viewing Conversation“, “Wrestling The Master“
• Max (2002)
• Meek’s Cutoff (2010)
• Meeting Andrei Tarkovsky (2009) – “Stalking the Master of Stalker” – Part One, Part Two
• Memento (2001)
• Miami Vice (2006)
• A Mighty Wind (2003)
• Million Dollar Baby (2004)
• Millions (2004)
• Mine (2009)
• MirrorMask (2005) – “Neil Gaiman’s Girls, Part One, Part Two“
• Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
• Monster’s Ball (2001)
• Monsters University (2013)
• Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
• Much Ado About Nothing (2013)
• Mud (2013)
• Munyurnagabo (2007)
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
• The Muppet Movie (1989) – “Something That I’m Supposed to Be” – Part One, Part Two
• The Muppets (2011)
• Museum Hours (2013)
• My Kid Could Paint That (2007) – Also: A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield
• My Week with Marilyn (2011) – “An American Starlet in Sir Laurence’s Court”
• The New World (2005) – Reviews of the theatrical release and the “extended cut” video release
• Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (2008) – A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield
• No Country for Old Men (2007) – Also: A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield
• No End in Sight (2007)
• Noah (2014) – Review: Part One, Part Two; plus, a commentary and notable reviews, and a podcast discussion
• Of Gods and Men (2010)
• Oldboy (2005)
• Only Lovers Left Alive (2014)
• Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
• Paprika (2006)
• The Passion of the Christ (2004) – Also: A Letter to Christians About Mel Gibson’s Movie; a 10-year anniversary reflection
• Penelope (2o06)
• Pina 3D (2011)
• Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
• Playtime (1967)
• The Polar Express (2004)
• Police, Adjective (2009)
• Promises (2001)
• Ragamuffin (2014) – A Guest Review by Martin Stillion.
• Ratatouille (2007)
• The Reaping (2007)
• The Return (2004)
• The Road (2009): “A Harrowing Journey But Meaningful“, and “More Nightmares Before Christmas”
• Saving Mr. Banks (2013)
• A Scanner Darkly (2006)
• The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)
• The Secret of Kells (2010) –  A review in Christianity Today and “Revealing the Secret of Kells: A Conversation with Steven D. Greydanus“
• The Secret of the Grain (2007)
• Seraphine (2008)
• Serenity (2005) – “Can’t Stop the Signal: Flashback to a Meeting with Joss Whedon and the Firefly Cast“
• A Serious Man (2009)
• Shaft (2000)
• Shotgun Stories (2008)
• Shrek (2001)
• Shrek 2 (2004)
• Sinister (2012)
• Shakespeare in Love (1998)
• Skyfall (2012)
• Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
• Snowpiercer (2014): First impressions
• The Social Network (2010)
• The Son (2004)
• The Song of Sparrows (2008)
• Sophie Scholl: The Final Days (2005)
• The Spectacular Now (2013)
• Spider-man (2002)
• Spider-man 2 (2004)
• Spider-man 3 (2007)
• Star Wars, Episode III — Revenge of the Sith (2005)
• Stardust (2007)
• Still Life (2006)
• Still Walking (2008) – A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield
• Stone (2010)
• Stories We Tell (2013)
• Synechdoche New York (2008) – A Conversation with Charlie Kaufman About the Film
• Summer Hours (2008)
• Superman Returns (2oo6) – Plus…  A Guest Review by Greg Wright
• The Tale of Despereaux (2008)
• The Taste of Tea (2004)
• The Terminal (2004)
• Terminator Salvation (2009)
• There Will Be Blood (2007)
• This is Martin Bonner (2013) – Plus… an interview with director Chad Hartigan
• The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)
• Three Colors: Blue, White, and Red (1993)
• THX 1138 – The Director’s Cut (2004)
• Times and Winds (2006)
• To Be and To Have (2002) – Reviewed alongside The Class (2009)
• To the Wonder (2012)
• Tokyo Story (1953)
• The Tree of Life (2011)
• Troy (2004)
• True Grit (2010)
• Tsotsi (2005)
• Twelve Years a Slave (2013)
• Two Brothers (2004)
• Two Lovers (2009)
• Uncle Boonmee Who Can Remember His Past Lives (2010) – “Stories from Before We Can Remember, Part Two”
• Under the Skin (2014)
• Unwanted Witness (2008) – A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield
• Up (2009)
• Up in the Air (2009) – “More Nightmares Before Christmas”
• Up the Yangtze (2007)
• A Very Long Engagement (2004)
• Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
• Vision: From the Life of Hildegard von Bingen (2010)
• WALL·E (2008) – A Review and a Conversation with Andrew Stanton
• Waitress (2007)
• Walk the Line (2005)
• War Horse (2011) – “A War Story for Everyone”
• War of the Worlds (2005)
• Waste Land (2010)
• Watership Down (1978)
• The Way, Way Back (2013)
• Wendy and Lucy (2008) – A Guest Review by Kenneth R. Morefield
• Where the Game Stands Tall (2014) – A film forum survey
• Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
• Win Win (2011) – “Pillars of the Community”
• The Wind Will Carry Us (1999)
• Wings of Desire (1987)
• The Wings of the Dove (1997)
• Winter’s Bone (2010)
• The Wolfman (2009)
• Wonder Boys (2000)
• The World’s End (2013)
• X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)
• X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)
• X2: X-Men United (2003)
• Yi Yi (2000)
• You Can Count On Me (2000)
• Zodiac (2007)