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Manuel Sao Bento

Portuguese critic based in Sweden with a tremendous passion for cinema, television, and the art of filmmaking. Strives to offer an unbiased perspective and has stopped watching trailers since 2017. Rotten Tomatoes approved. Co-host of a weekly film podcast, R&M: A Conversation on Cinema. Outlets: FandomWire, Talking Films, Firstshowing, InSession Film, That Shelf, Filmhounds Magazine. Proud member of associations such as OFCS (Online Film Critics Society), IFSC (International Film Society Critics), and OFTA (Online Film & Television Association).

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ Review: A Nostalgic, Magical Return with Ambitious Missteps

by Manuel Sao Bento

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice captures the original's magic but stumbles over its narrative ambition.

It Ends With Us

‘It Ends With Us’ Review: Balancing Love, Trauma, and Abuse

by Manuel Sao Bento

It Ends With Us tries to balance heavy drama and conventional romance with some difficulties, but it manages to offer a minimally thought-provoking reflection on generational trauma and relationship abuse.

Furiosa

‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ Review: A Flawed Yet Captivating Dive Into a Powerful, Iconic Protagonist

by Manuel Sao Bento

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga deepens its titular protagonist and the respective post-apocalyptic world, offering a captivating origin story that enriches Fury Road, but its excessive runtime, predictability, and time spent addressing the other installment's flaws hinder its enjoyment.

The Fall Guy

‘The Fall Guy’ Review: A Thrilling Tribute to the Unsung Heroes of Cinema

by Manuel Sao Bento

The Fall Guy emerges as a passionate ode to the brave, audacious stunt doubles, neglected by the film industry for so many decades.

Civil War

‘Civil War’ Review: A Thought-Provoking Dive into War Journalism and Moral Complexity

by Manuel Sao Bento

Civil War attests to Alex Garland's fascinating ability to create impactful narratives that provoke deep discussions, beyond his unwavering commitment to the themes and characters at hand, without falling into preachy stances.

Monkey Man

‘Monkey Man’ Review: An Imperfect Yet Compelling Directorial Debut from Dev Patel

by Manuel Sao Bento

Monkey Man shows that Dev Patel still has much to learn when it comes to directing and writing, but his unwavering commitment to a culturally and thematically rich story deserves countless praises.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ Review: A Step Back That Still Holds Enough Entertainment

by Manuel Sao Bento

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire falls short of its predecessor, but the members of the classic and new cast inject enough energy, charm, and emotion to compensate for the narrative inconsistencies and pacing issues.

Damsel (2024)

‘Damsel’ Review: A Generic Yet Immersive Fantasy Flick

by Manuel Sao Bento

Damsel suffers immensely from its conventionality and lack of any significant exploration of its characters, any surprises in its storylines, or any notable thematic study.

Dune: Part Two

‘Dune: Part Two’ Review: The New Generational Epitome of Sci-Fi Epics

by Manuel Sao Bento

Dune: Part Two surpasses even the highest expectations, establishing itself as an unquestionable technical masterpiece of blockbuster filmmaking.

Suncoast

Sundance 2024: ‘Suncoast’ is a Moving Study On the Real Value of Life

by Manuel Sao Bento

Suncoast is a deeply moving, thematically meaningful story, written with brilliant care in addressing sensitive topics such as inevitable grief, the hypocrisy of ethical debates, and the real value of human life.

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Movie Reviews

Thunderbolts

Thunderbolts*

The Accountant 2

The Accountant 2

Havoc

Havoc

Warfare

Warfare

Sinners

Sinners

Empuraan

L2: Empuraan

The Electric State

The Electric State

Mickey 17

Mickey 17

The Monkey

The Monkey

Baksho Bondi

Baksho Bondi

Cleaner

Cleaner

Captain America: Brave New World

Captain America: Brave New World

The Gorge

The Gorge

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

The Seed of the Sacred Fig

The Girl with the Needle

The Girl with the Needle

The Mehta Boys

The Mehta Boys

Love Hurts

Love Hurts

Khartoum (2025)

Paatal Lok

Paatal Lok Season 2

Recent Posts

01
Thunderbolts

‘Thunderbolts*’ Review: Jake Schreier’s First Foray into the Big-Budget Studio Filmmaking Benefits From Florence Pugh-Led Team Dynamics

02
The Accountant 2

‘The Accountant 2’ Review: Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal shine in a surprisingly superior sequel

03
Havoc

‘Havoc’ Review: Gareth Evans Soaks Up a Familiar Bullet-Ridden and Bloody Action Thriller

04
Warfare

‘Warfare’ Review: A Fantastic Piece of Filmmaking that Deserves to be seen on the Biggest Screen

05
Sinners

‘Sinners’ Review: Ryan Coogler Explores the Oft-Seen Vampire Genre Inside Out with a Propulsive Mix of Character-Driven Historical Drama and Blues Music

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  • Home
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