>
Kiko Martinez
Tomatometer-approved critic
Publications:
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Poor Things (2023) |
An absurdist exploration of bodily autonomy and toxic masculinity, director Yorgos Lanthimos [has] created a weirdly dark and remarkable romantic comedy that also plays like a Frankensteinian monster movie — with orgasms. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
Oppenheimer (2023) |
Epic in scale and substance, writer-director Christopher Nolan has arguably produced the best film of his impressive career. He delivers a nuanced script ... and turns a complex and defining moment in history into a pulse-pounding thriller. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
Barbie (2023) |
One of the most thought-provoking social commentaries and empowering mainstream comedies in recent years. The “I’m Just Ken” scene should be playing on a loop in the Louvre. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) |
[Director and co-writer Martin] Scorsese’s vision is masterful as he confronts the sensitive subject matter in a respectful manner. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
Origin (2023) |
An intimate, moving and powerful look at the impact of the caste system across the world. [Writer-director Ava] DuVernay dramatizes [author Isabel] Wilkerson’s written words on screen with compassion and courage. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
All of Us Strangers (2023) |
A fascinating and touching narrative that will stir the soul. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
The Zone of Interest (2023) |
[Writer-director Jonathan] Glazer takes a minimalist approach to the storytelling, but the film is still beyond disturbing. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
The Holdovers (2023) |
[Director Alexander] Payne finds the humor in his most emotionally damaged characters, so his reunion with [actor Paul] Giamatti for the first time since Sideways is a delight. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
Society of the Snow (2023) |
The tragedy was adapted into the 1993 film Alive, but [director J.A.] Bayona’s interpretation goes beyond sensationalism. Instead, he crafts a thriller that’s both uplifting and awe-inspiring. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) |
The web-slinging sequel takes the Marvel superhero to new heights. The artistry is jaw-dropping, and the script is absorbing throughout. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2023
|
|
|
|
Blue Beetle (2023) |
You can keep Marvel’s Avengers and DC’s Justice League. The Reyes family is the only superhero team we want right now. - Remezcla
Read More
| Posted Aug 21, 2023
|
|
|
|
The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) |
[Martin] McDonagh's reflection on mortality and human connection is equal parts humorous, heartbreaking and strange. It's the best film of 2022. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
The Fabelmans (2022) |
[Steven] Spielberg's gift of intimate storytelling — especially when the subject is as delicate and meaningful to its creator as this semi-biopic — captures all the emotion and magic of making movies. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
Women Talking (2022) |
Speaks to the empowering spirit and the unwillingness to relinquish one's autonomy. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
She Said (2022) |
A multilayered and intense feature that demands an audience. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
The Wonder (2022) |
Haunting and atmospheric, director Sebastián Lelio's film operates between faith and evidence. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021) |
Imaginative, charming and beyond adorable. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
The Quiet Girl (2022) |
First-time feature filmmaker Colm Bairéad has created a touching drama filled with gentle moments and deep-seated poignancy. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
Till (2022) |
[Danielle] Deadwyler's pain is palpable. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
The Menu (2022) |
Director Mark Mylod lays on the dark comedy as thick as a creamy garlic aioli in this tasty thriller. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
Pearl (2022) |
Director Ti West's disturbing horror film begins and ends with the unhinged and genuinely scary performance of Mia Goth. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 29, 2022
|
|
|
|
White Noise (2022) |
Usually, [filmmaker Noah] Baumbach is impressive when handling dark comedy, but in cinematic form, [author Don] DeLillo's concepts become a gawky mess. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
|
|
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) |
While it's not nearly as fun as 2019 predecessor Knives Out, the return of Daniel Craig as private detective Benoit Blanc is enough reason to pop in for another puzzling whodunit. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
|
|
Babylon (2022) |
Much like the debauched parties in the film, [Damien] Chazelle's script is utterly chaotic and comes across like a tired imitation of Paul Thomas Anderson's 1997 masterpiece Boogie Nights. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
|
|
The Whale (2022) |
[Brendan] Fraser is devastatingly good ... but filmmaker Darren Aronofsky has done the broken father-daughter relationship better, [and Sadie] Sink brings no nuance to her role. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
|
|
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) |
What makes this sequel excel are its unique interpretations of classic fairytale characters, including an ass-kicking Goldilocks and easily the most terrifying take ever on the Big Bad Wolf. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
|
|
Nanny (2022) |
First-time feature filmmaker Nikyatu Jusu sets an unsettling tone, while [Anna] Diop faces her own haunted visions. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
|
|
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) |
Director James Cameron delivers another visual spectacle and adds emotional weight that creates higher stakes for everyone - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
|
|
The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021) |
Of all the animated films this year, the story of an eccentric family stuck at the center of a robot Armageddon, is the funniest and most imaginative of the bunch. Plus, it features a fat pug, so how can you go wrong with that? - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain (2020) |
Led by a phenomenal performance from Frankie Faison. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Language Lessons (2021) |
Told entirely between the two lead characters speaking via video chat, the format is consistently engaging, and witnessing the narrative unfold is a rewarding experience. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Spencer (2021) |
Filmmaker Pablo Larraín creates an atmosphere of dignity and discontent. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Prayers for the Stolen (2021) |
The sense of dread that emanates from the harrowing drama is gut-wrenching as we watch these innocent children live in the shadows of their own homeland. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Being the Ricardos (2021) |
Aaron Sorkin can turn a phrase better than almost anyone in Hollywood. Even when he overwrites dialogue, it's difficult not to be reeled in by his sharp wit and humor. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Licorice Pizza (2021) |
First-time actors Cooper Hoffman and Alana Haim radiate with charming chemistry, and [Paul Thomas] Anderson's screenplay, far less misanthropic than his past work, is resolute in its pursuit of happiness and nostalgia. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
CODA (2021) |
This jaded heart has been jolted. CODA is the Best Film of 2021. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Mass (2021) |
Equal parts cathartic and soul-shattering. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
American Underdog (2021) |
Kurt Warner was a star. His biopic is just your average backup QB. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Jockey (2021) |
In a career-best performance, actor Clifton Collins Jr. takes the reins of this emotionally resonant sports drama and makes it soar. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) |
Anchored by a riveting performance by Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, the traditional narrative is enhanced by Bruno Delbonnel's haunting black and white cinematography. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Parallel Mothers (2021) |
Pedro Almodóvar's script blends a story about the sins of the past with the story of a family's hopeful future in a mature and thought-provoking way. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
The Novice (2021) |
Actress Isabelle Fuhrman delivers an intense and physically brutal performance in this sports drama that features hints of horror. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Nightmare Alley (2021) |
Even without his customary cinematic monsters, Guillermo del Toro has fashioned a fascinating tale of human barbarism and delivers one of the most satisfying, albeit predictable, movie endings of the year. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Don't Look Up (2021) |
Sometimes the sharp jabs from its script hit the target, [but] the all-star cast can only carry the silliness so far. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Dec 30, 2021
|
|
|
|
Pig (2021) |
A unique indie project that allows [Nicholas Cage] to deliver the kind of dark and poignant performance we'd all like to see more of. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Jul 27, 2021
|
|
|
|
Old (2021) |
[Shyamalan's] ambition as a screenwriter surpasses his execution. What's left is a film built on complex ideas that crumble under their own weight. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Jul 27, 2021
|
|
|
|
Val (2021) |
It's rare for individuals to put themselves in such a vulnerable place publicly. The fact that Kilmer embraces the idea is what makes Val - the man and the movie - so special. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Jul 27, 2021
|
|
|
|
Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021) |
Will end up being as fondly remembered as Shaquille O'Neal's Kazaam and Metta World Peace doing the cha-cha on Dancing with the Stars. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Jul 19, 2021
|
|
|
|
I Carry You With Me (2020) |
First-time feature director Heidi Ewing blends a beautiful narrative with real-life subjects to capture a story that is alluring an emotionally rich. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Jul 19, 2021
|
|
|
|
Die in a Gunfight (2021) |
It's all so artificial and not nearly as clever as it thinks it is. - San Antonio Current
Read More
| Posted Jul 19, 2021
|