• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

cinemayward

A Montage of Film Criticism and Theology

  • Cinemayward Home
  • About Joel
    • C.V.
    • Movie Rating System
    • Film Journal (2021)
    • Film Journal (2020)
    • Film Journal (2019)
    • Film Journal (2018)
    • Film Journal (2017)
    • Film Journal (2016)
    • Film Journal (2015)
  • Movie Reviews
  • Essays
  • Top Lists
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Cinemayward Home

Latest Movie Reviews


Wonder Woman 1984

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Rating: ★★½
Release Year: 2020
Director: Patty Jenkins

Read the Review


Tenet

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Rating: ★★★★
Release Year: 2020
Director: Christopher Nolan

Read the Review


Promising Young Woman

MPAA Rating: R Rating: ★★★½
Release Year: 2020
Director: Emerald Fennell

Read the Review


Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

MPAA Rating: R Rating: ★★★½
Release Year: 2020
Director: George C. Wolfe

Read the Review


Wolfwalkers

MPAA Rating: PG Rating: ★★★★
Release Year: 2020
Director: Tomm Moore, Ross Stewart

Read the Review

Latest Essays and Top Lists


Top 20 Films of 2020

What left is there to say about the year that was 2020? To call it “unusual” or “difficult” underplays the immense trials and tragedies the entire global population faced. Cinema itself was not left unscathed; as productions halted, theaters closed, festivals went virtual, and distributors scrambled, the film industry was totally upended. Likewise, film audiences (i.e., human beings) were isolated to their homes in quarantines or lockdowns (at best—we know the worst of what Covid-19 can do) and attempted to …

Read the Rest


5 Films: Resurrection

We celebrate the resurrection of Christ at Easter, the greatest moment in history, where death was defeated and the kingdom of God broke into our world. The motif of resurrection has played a prominent role in so many of our beloved narratives, from classic Greek tales and epics to the current comic book and superhero blockbusters. Consider this a list of unconventional Easter films. A note on criteria: I’ve not included Jesus films for this particular list. Nor am I considering zombie or vampire films as depictions of …

Read the Rest


The 2020 Cinemayward Oscars

Me, every year: The Academy Awards are rubbish. Art is not a popularity contest or a competition to win. Truth and beauty are not determined by “For Your Consideration” campaigns. Also me: PLEASE AFFIRM MY FAVORITE FILMS WITH TINY GOLD STATUES. So, here are the 2020 Cinemayward Oscars, which is really just my way of celebrating much of what the actual Oscars (and other similar awards) overlooked this year, as well as a few unique categories of my own. Enjoy. …

Read the Rest

Copyright © 2021 · Cinemayward