Sean Patrick
Bio
Hello, my name is Sean Patrick He/Him, and I am a film critic and podcast host for Everyone's a Critic Movie Review Podcast. I am a voting member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, the group behind the annual Critics Choice Awards.
Stories (1106/0)
Illusion Versus Reality in Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
The central conflict of Martin Scorsese’s 1974 drama, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, is a conflict between illusion and reality. The film is about the fictional life we create for ourselves as a protective case against harsh reality. It’s not just Alice who does this, we all do it to some extent. Life can be hard and re-framing negatives to positives can be helpful even as a self-deception. For Alice, the self-deceptions multiply in order to justify the choices she made in her life.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
Classic Movie Review: 'Welcome to the Dollhouse' Be Nice to Dawn Weiner
Junior High and High School Suck! That’s the theses of director Todd Solondz via his second feature film effort, Welcome to the Dollhouse. Solondz set out to make a darker version of the kind of High School movie that had been around for years but always felt a little fake or a little too sunny and optimistic. Solondz’s vision of Junior High, via main character Dawn Wiener, played by Heather Mattarazzo, was one in which the dangers of High School could be literal dangers as threats and taunts can turn to actual, potential, violence.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
So You've Invited the Main Character from a Romantic Comedy to your Wedding
Chekhov once said of guns in movies "You can't introduce a gun in the first act without having it go off in the third." The same could be said of wedding dresses. You can't introduce a wedding dress in the first act of a movie without the dress being worn at a wedding in the third act. And when that wedding dress in question isn’t worn by the main character in the movie, that wedding dress 'going off' often means an embarrassing catastrophe followed by an emotional redemption.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
Movie Review: 'Acid Test' is a Terrific Coming of Age Riot Grrl Tale
Acid Test is a coming of age drama set in 1992. It’s about a teenager on the brink of a future that includes Harvard, a good job, and a career. Of course, she begins to question this path and that question provides the plot of the movie. It’s a journey of self discovery that will take the main character, Jenny, played by Juliana Destefano, from straight A student to Riot Grrrl feminist willing to experiment with psychedelics as an escape from her troubles.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
Classic Movie Review: The Film Foundation Restoration Screening Room Presents 'La Strada'
On June 13th, 2022, Martin Scorsese and The Film Foundation Restoration Screening Room hosted a free online screening of Federico Fellini’s remarkable 1954 romantic tragedy, La Strada. It’s the second free online restoration screening for Scorsese and The Film Foundation and they are going to be doing this once a month for anyone who loves classic films fully restored to their glory by The Film Foundation. And thanks to The Film Foundation, La Strada is another Fellini movie off of my bucket list of classics.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
Movie Review: 'Cha Cha Real Smooth' is One of My Favorite Movies This Year'
Cha Cha Real Smooth is a sweet, smart and insightful comedy about what makes us, us. It’s a film about learning about yourself, knowing yourself, and understanding yourself and others. That’s a rather broad idea but under the clever and caring direction of Cooper Raiff it never feels broad, it feels specific to the terrific characters that he and his remarkable cast have created. It’s a lived in and warm and curious story with a wealth of empathy and a dollop of heartache.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
One Edit in Ozu's 'Tokyo Story' Tells You all You Need to Know
It’s a very simple, basic notion of transition in film. And yet, it’s still quite brilliant when you think about it. I’m talking about one edit in the 1953 movie, Tokyo Story by director Yasujiro Ozu. The edit comes at approximately 6 minutes and 40 seconds into the film. In the scene prior to the edit, an elderly Japanese couple is packing bags that they will take with them when they travel to see their grown children in the big city. The scene is gentle and pleasant, beautifully underscored by Takanobu Saito’s elegant score.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
Movie Review: 'Jurassic World Dominion' Holds Dominion Over Boredom
Jurassic World Dominion boils down to a series of chase scenes that happen to have CG dinosaurs in them. As a film critic I face a challenge in attempting to give you anymore information that you need about this movie. There is simply nothing else here aside from chase scenes and that awful kind of modern nostalgia. You know the kind I am talking about? That kind of nostalgia where it feels like the movie is constantly nudging you in the ribs and asking you if you remember that thing you liked from that other movie? There it is, there is that thing you liked.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
Classic Movie Review: Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away' 20 Years Later
My first exposure to the amazing art form that is Japanese animation came in early 2002 with my personal discovery of Osamu Tezuka's Metropolis; a glorious combination of wildly imaginative visuals and adventurous storytelling. I am certain that Metropolis went to make my Top 10 of the year that year, it absolutely blew my mind. And yet, Metropolis wasn’t even the best Japanese animated film of that year. In Hiyao Miyazaki's moving and evocative masterpiece Spirited Away, I found not just the best animated movie of 2002, but arguably the best work of film art of that long ago year.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
Classic Movie Review: 'The Dark Knight'
The death of Heath Ledger casts a pall over the proceedings of The Dark Knight. Watching his performance as the maniacal Joker we are riveted and frightened and, in the end, left exhilarated. And once it is over the sadness sets in. Knowing we will never get to see that talent displayed in full ever again is an incalculable loss. Nevertheless, The Dark Knight is an extraordinary thrill ride. A down and dirty gangster movie, not far off of the real life depths of say American Gangster, only with a guy dressed as a bat.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
Classic Movie Review: Albert Brooks' 'Lost in America'
Who hasn't thought of the freedom that would come from dropping out of everyday society. The notion of giving up all the oppressive things in your life and giving yourself over to the open road and the freedom to do literally anything. Fear keeps us from realizing this dream. Fear whispers in your ear and says ``you can't quit your job, what will you do for money?" Fear is quite practical that way.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
Movie Review: 'Hustle' Starring Adam Sandler
Hustle stars Adam Sandler as Stanley Sugarman, a scout for the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. It’s Stanley’s job to travel around the world and find the next great European player. On a trip to Spain, he finds that player. Bo Cruz, played by NBA star Juancho Hernangomez, is tall and fast and has a terrific jump shot. Spotting Bo playing streetball late one one night, Stanley recognizes his talent even as he was playing basketball in work boots.
By Sean Patrick2 months ago in Geeks
