jaye's reviews

i am the theater critic for the new york times but I also review movies and books

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

Ok I got letterboxd! I will still do shorter reviews here but longer reviews will be there at hayejunt

[movies movicson @tessa_juliette]

@jayereviews Do you have letterboxd?

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

SCRAPPER dir. Charlotte Regan (movie) - A

I loved this! Harris Dickinson hot. I don't know if Charlotte Regan is hot (I haven't seen her) but she is a remarkable director! You have one day left to watch this at Sundance online and I highly recommend that you do!

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

MISSING dir. Nicholas D. Johnson & Will Merrick (movie) - A

Searching is one of my favorite movies, so I was excited for this one – and they've done it again! Even without Debra Messing, this is so good. We were gasping and yelling at the screen! I hope there's a third one!

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

TO LESLIE dir. Michael Morris (movie) - B

YES, I WATCHED IT. I had to see for myself what everyone was talking about! And I'm here to say that her performance is good! It's not stunning! I can think of several performances I liked more just from last year! But good for her.

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

THE FABELMANS dir. Steven Spielberg (movie) - C

I did not find this interesting or engaging. I didn't think Michelle Williams was any good. I will not be happy if this wins best picture. Also why was it so homoerotic if Steven Spielberg is straight?

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

WOMEN TALKING dir. Sarah Polley (movie) - B

I hated the first half of this movie, but then something clicked (and I genuinely don't know what) and I absolutely loved the rest of it – even though the second half was kind of the same as the first??

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

AFTERSUN dir. Charlotte Wells (movie) - D

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

M3GAN dir. Gerard Johnstone (movie) - A

The rumors are true: this is the best movie of 2023. It's too bad it came out in January because now I will be judging every movie for the rest of the year against M3GAN and every performance against Allison Williams.

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

EMPIRE OF LIGHT dir. Sam Mendes (movie) - A

So... I thought this was a rom com. I don't know how I got that impression, but it was NOT that AT ALL. Don't go in expecting a rom com! I really loved it as it was, though. Just needed a mental shift to enjoy it.

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

@tessa_juliette No but I really should, shouldn't I

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

So...... I started this account to catalog everything I saw in 2022. It is now 2023. I achieved my goal! But I don't want to stop! THE REVIEWS WILL CONTINUE IN 2023!

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

TILL dir. Chinonye Chukwu (movie) - A

Chinonye Chukwu's direction and Danielle Deadwyler's performance made this an absolutely STUNNING movie. I can't wait to see what each of them does next! I will be thinking about the testimony scene for... the rest of my life probably

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

BABYLON dir. Damien Chazelle (movie) - B

I can't say I liked this movie but I was never bored! And I have to give it a full letter grade increase because of how amazing my wife Margot was. And because she kissed a woman (NOT A SPOILER THERE ARE INTERVIEWS ABOUT IT)

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

I WANT YOU BACK dir. Jason Orley (movie) - B

This was fun and sweet! The end was a little on the nose (literally and figuratively) but I liked that. I thought it would be super predictable but it was able to surprise me! I recommend it if you just want a nice simple night in.

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

AIN'T NO MO on broadway (play) - A

It took me a long time to get around to seeing this but I'm so glad I (and everyone else) was galvanized by the closing notice. Holy cow this was good. I laughed, I cried, I screamed, I experienced basically every emotion! #SAVEAINTNOMO

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

THE COLLABORATION on broadway (play) - A

Why haven't I seen anyone talking about this show? It's amazing! The performances are impeccable and I loved the play. My only critique is that it didn't really need an intermission. I did have fun dancing during intermission though!!!

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

MATILDA THE MUSICAL dir. Matthew Warchus (movie) - A

Maybe my favorite movie of the year? I thought the stage show was good not great, but this fixed all my problems with it (except the semi-transphobia.) Lashana Lynch is the new love of my life. Update your records accordingly.

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

@tessa_juliette I cried at the trailer but I SOOOOBBBBBED at the movie!

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

SPOILER ALERT dir. Michael Showalter (movie) - C

I found this incredibly bland. Nothing happened in it that wasn't in the trailer, and the use of TV as a framing device was so inconsistent and underused that it felt strange and out of place. I did sob at the end, however.

[jaye's reviews @jayereviews]

I saw three shows this weekend and my review of all three of them is the same. So...

YOU WILL GET SICK
DOWNSTATE
THE BANDANGED PLACE

I really liked the plays, but I didn't like how they handled disability.

We need a seismic shift in how theatre artists view disability........