The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 92

Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Newsletter

The Alliance Lately Awakens

Welcome back to The Alliance Lately, the official newsletter from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance (MNFCA)!

The MNFCA is a collective of individuals dedicated to celebrating and critically examining the art of film. In this recurring publication, we’ll share a selection of insightful film reviews, absorbing essays, and interviews with film professionals.

Each issue of The Alliance Lately features a diverse array of perspectives and content. Our members have shared their most recent work with us, covering the latest releases and revisiting classic films that dissect the craft of filmmaking. Explore the links below and get a front-row seat to critically examine the art of film.

Check out the MNFCA Members page to meet our all-star lineup.

Thanks for hopping aboard our movie magic carpet ride. Stay tuned for more reel love in The Alliance Lately.

Joe Botten (The MN Movie Man)

The Mattachine Family: Review available here.
Summer Camp: Read the review here.
Young Woman and the Sea: Review available here.
In a Violent Nature: Check out the review here.
The Beach Boys: Read the review here.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga: Review available here.
Babes: Check out the review here.

Exciting news: Joe has overhauled his archive of 2400+ reviews for easier navigation. Explore it here.

Additionally, Joe wrapped up his coverage of the Chicago Critics Film Festival, which he attended in early May. Read all about it here.

Brian Eggert (Deep Focus Review)

Over at Deep Focus Review, Brian covered several new releases, including Young Woman and the Sea, The Dead Don’t Hurt, In a Violent Nature, Handling the Undead, and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

Brian also appeared on KARE 11 on May 25 to discuss Furiosa and some upcoming summer releases. And for his Patreon subscribers, he wrote a Reader’s Choice review about Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige from 2006.

Read more of Brian’s latest at Deep Focus Review.

Zach Hammill (Movie Friend)

Zach has posted new reviews on his blog! Check out his thoughts on Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga here, I Saw the TV Glow here, and Civil War here.

Catherine Krummey (Veg Out Recipes)

Cat’s Pairing of the Week:
Fallen Angels + Hong Kong Noodles https://vegoutrecipes.com/fallen-angel-hair/

Ruth Maramis (FlixChatter)

Ruth has been active with new reviews and articles! Discover her review of the documentary The Last Daughter here, her Memorial Day special on The Blue Angels here, and her thoughts on Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga here. Additionally, check out her review of The Dead Don’t Hurt here and her Cannes film festival preview here.

Paul McGuire Grimes (Paul’s Trip to the Movies)

Paul has been churning out new reviews and interviews! Check out his latest content:

Ezra: Review available here and interviews with Tony Goldwyn, Rose Byrne, and Bobby Cannavale here.
Young Woman and the Sea: Read the review here.
Hit Man: Review available here.
Atlas: Check out the review here.
Babes: Read the review here.

Additionally, you can catch his reviews of Furiosa, Challengers, and The Fall Guy on Twin Cities Live here.

Mark McPherson (Movies With Mark)

Mark has been busy with new reviews! Check out his take on Young Woman and the Sea here, his candid thoughts on Jerry Seinfeld’s Unfrosted here and here, and his review of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga here. Plus, read his article on Furiosa at Twin Cities Geek here.

Keep your eyes peeled for the latest film critiques, reviews, and news from the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance! 🎬🍿

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Twitter: @MNCritics

A word from the founder on the future

It was a big day for the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance, with the organization announcing the winners of its annual awards Sunday.

The day isn’t just a big one because of the awards announcement, though. It is also important because it marks a change in leadership. Running this year’s awards, the fourth in MNFCA history, is my final action as the founder and organizer for the Alliance.

Continue reading “A word from the founder on the future”

‘Oppenheimer’ wins seven MNFCA awards, including Best Picture

“Oppenheimer” was the big winner of this year’s Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Awards, earning seven victories in total, including Best Picture.

The historical film by director Christopher Nolan had been nominated in 13 categories, the most by any film in MNFCA history. Also with a strong showing with this year’s awards was “Barbie,” which earned three wins, including Best Ensemble.

Find the full list of winners below.

Continue reading “‘Oppenheimer’ wins seven MNFCA awards, including Best Picture”

The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 91

The Academy Award nominations are out and the Minnesota Film Critics Alliance had some thoughts.

In addition to members continuing to publish reviews about nominated films, there were also several pieces dedicated to the biggest winners in the announcement and what pictures were snubbed. The coverage wasn’t limited to just Oscar flicks, though, with several other films reviewed.

Here’s what the alliance has been up to lately.

Continue reading “The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 91”

MNFCA Looks Back At 2023

We may be nearly a month into 2024, but as many know, January is often a month where movies from the previous year are still coming out.

With the month of January nearly over and many more films from 2023 now watched, several members of the MNFCA published lists, videos and podcasts sharing their thoughts on films from last year. From top 10 lists to honorable mentions, get a full look at what Minnesota Critics thought about film in 2023.

Continue reading “MNFCA Looks Back At 2023”

‘Oppenheimer’ earns 13 MNFCA Award nominations

Christopher Nolan’s biopic “Oppenheimer” earned nominations in 13 of the 16 categories for the 2024 MNFCA Awards.

The 2023 historical film received nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, as well as several technical and acting categories. The 13 nominations is the most for any film in the history of the MNFCA.

Continue reading “‘Oppenheimer’ earns 13 MNFCA Award nominations”

The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 90

Films from 2023 are still making their way into theaters as 2024 gets underway.

That means MNFCA members have been busy reviewing award contenders from last year while also covering the new releases. As usual, along with keeping an eye on new films, plenty of Minnesota film critics also reviewed several classic movies, too.

Check out what the Alliance has been up to lately.

Continue reading “The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 90”

The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 89

The final weeks of 2023 offered a plethora of releases, from blockbusters to arthouse award contenders.

As usual, the MNFCA was there to cover these new films and many more. Several also published pieces about holiday movies and community filmmaking, as well as ranking the works of various actors and directors.

Before we get into what the Alliance has been up to lately, small side note. A separate post will be published featuring end of year recaps and top 10 of 2023 lists once all members have released theirs!

Continue reading “The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 89”

The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 88

The Golden Globe nominations were announced this week and several of the contenders were reviewed recently by the MNFCA.

From “Poor Things” to the animated feature “The Boy and the Heron,” Minnesota critics are all over the award season flicks. They’ve reviewed much more than those, though, also covering new releases such as “Saltburn” and “Wonka.”

Check out what the Alliance has been up to lately.

Continue reading “The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 88”

The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 87

The Gotham Awards took place Monday, Nov. 27, meaning award season is underway.

Members of the MNFCA are certainly ready for the season, already having reviewed potential contenders “Saltburn,” “May December” and “Maestro. Plenty more was released in the month of November, though, from a “Hunger Games” prequel to a new Disney animated feature.

Those and more were reviewed by Minnesota critics. See below what the Alliance has been up to lately.

Continue reading “The Alliance Lately: Issue No. 87”