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.

Joe Botten

At his newly redesigned site, Botten reviewed new releases “Society of the Snow,” “Night Swim,” “Good Grief,” “Mean Girls,” “The Beekeeper,” “Lift,” “Role Play,” “Self Reliance,” “Death and Other Details” and “I.S.S.”

Eli Brau

At A Cinephile’s Corner, Brau reviewed recent releases “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Ferrari,” as well as 2022’s “One Fine Morning.” He also wrote about films by John Cassavetes, including “The Killing of a Chinese Bookie,” “Shadows,” “Faces” and “A Woman Under the Influence.”

Additionally, he reviewed 1979’s “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” 1982’s “Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan” and 2017’s “Logan.” He also ranked films by Jordan Peele as well as those by Noah Baumbach.

Brian Eggert

For Deep Focus Review, Eggert reviewed new pictures “The Taste of Things,” “Night Swim,” “Merchant Ivory,” “The Book of Clarence,” “Occupied City,” “Freud’s Last Session,” “The Beekeeper,” “Mean Girls” and “I.S.S.” He also wrote 1997’s “The Devil’s Advocate,” 2001’s “Millennium Mambo” about 2017’s “Iceman.”

Kelly Florence and Meg Hafdahl

On their podcast Horror Rewind, Florence and Hafdahl discussed the series “School Spirits” and the dramatic comedy sci-fi “Poor Things.”

Hunter Friesen

At The Cinema Dispatch, Friesen reviewed new films “The Book of Clarence,” “The Beekeeper” and “Mean Girls.” He also wrote about the winners and losers in film over 2023. Plus, he previewed 24 of the most anticipated films in 2024.

Kyle Goethe

For the series Kyle & Nick on Film, Goethe was joined by fellow MNFCA member Nicholas Palodichuk to discuss 1988’s “Mac and Me” and 2022’s “Enys Men.” They also reviewed 2023 releases “Eileen” and “Wintertide.” Plus, Goethe reviewed 1980’s “Cannibal Apocalypse” and 1990’s “Basket Case 2.”

Paul McGuire Grimes

As part of his series Paul’s Trip to the Movies, Grimes reviewed recent releases “Anyone But You,” “Napoleon” and “Mean Girls.” He also appeared on ABC affiliate KSTP’s show Twin Cities Live on Jan. 5 and 12.

Matt Hambidge

At News From the Couch, Hambidge reviewed new films “Lift” and “The Beekeeper.” He also reviewed “Role Play” for FandomWire.

Matthew Liedke

On his site, Liedke reviewed 2023 releases “The Iron Claw,” “The Zone of Interest,” “Rustin,” “The Boys in the Boat,” “Ferrari,” “Memory” and “Nyad.” He also wrote about the new thriller “Night Swim.”

Ruth Maramis

At FlixChatter, Maramis reviewed 2023 films “All of Us Strangers,” “The Taste of Things” and “Origin.” She also listed her 10 favorite scores/soundtracks of 2023, as well as 20 overlooked performances of the last year.

Mark McPherson

On his site, McPherson reviewed new movies “Rebel Moon,” “Night Swim,” “American Fiction” and “The Zone of Interest.”

Nicholas Palodichuk

On the St. Paul Filmcast, Palodichuk spoke with film scorer and music composer Mick Lynch.

Tyler Strandberg

For the site Cinefied, Strandberg reviewed the new musical version of “Mean Girls” and the dramedy “American Fiction.”