ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

Female Film Critics 24/375

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Movie of the Week 

MOVIE OF THE WEEK November 7, 2025: BELÉN

Jennifer Merin , , , , , , , , , ,

Based on a true story from the 2010s about a woman accused of illegal abortion and murder in Argentina, director Dolores Fonzi’s powerful drama Belén (adapted from Ana Correa’s book Somos Belén) couldn’t feel more timely if you ripped it straight out of today’s headlines. It’s simultaneously an impassioned plea for women’s bodily autonomy and a call to arms against the beliefs and institutions that make such a plea necessary in the first place.

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Reviews 

AIR – Review by Nell Minow

Nell Minow , , , , , , , , , , ,

2023 will be remembered as the year of the movies that are consumer product origin stories. We’re used to seeing heroic stories of military figures, musicians, political leaders and activists, and, because movies are written by writers — writers. But in 2023 we had a remarkable number of movies with heroes or anti-heroes who were, well, capitalists. We saw the origin stories of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, Blackberrys, Beanie Babies, and the proto-computer game Tetris, By far the best of the group, though, was the story of a sneaker, a shoe that would become so popular it would have, well, a massive cultural footprint.

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News 

WEEK IN WOMEN: Emerald Fennell’s SALTBURN set for holiday release – Brandy McDonnell reports

Brandy McDonnell , , , , , , , ,

Oscar-winning writer-director Emerald Fennell will help kick off the cinematic holiday season when her Saltburn bows into theaters in limited release on Nov. 24, which is Black Friday. It will expand to additional theaters Dec. 1. Hailing from MRC Film and Amazon Studios, “Saltburn” also will reunite Fennell with two-time Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan, who starred in Fennell’s 2020 feature film directorial debut Promising Young Woman.

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News 

WEEK IN WOMEN: Amazon and IllumiNative launch Episodic Directors Program – Brandy McDonnell reports

Brandy McDonnell , , , , ,

Amazon Studios has joined forces with IllumiNative, a Native woman-led racial and social justice organization, to launch the first IllumiNative Episodic Directors Program. The yearlong program will provide resources and opportunities for emerging and mid-career Indigenous directors to work with a director across prep and shooting of episodic content, gaining valuable on-set experience and furthering their paths to success in the industry.

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Reviews 

AIR – Review by T.J. Callahan

T. J. Callahan , , , , , , , , , , ,

Air: A shoe is just a shoe until someone steps into it. It was 1984. Americans were doing the Jane Fonda workout. Prince Charles and Lady Diana became parents to a future king, Mr. T pitied the fools, Clara Peller asked “Where’s the Beef?” and Converse ruled the athletic shoe world. A little ol sneaker company in Oregon was out to change that.

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Reviews 

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – Review by Diane Carson

Diane Carson , , , , , , , , , , , ,

One Night in Miami dramatizes four Black men’s extraordinary interaction
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Imagine February 25, 1964, and four extraordinary Black men coming together for an evening of camaraderie. Then imagine these amazing men are Sam Cooke, Jim Brown, Cassius Clay, and Malcolm X. This is exactly what director Regina King’s One Night in Miami spectacularly presents as this remarkable foursome talks, laughs, argues, and probes the most significant issues of Black America.

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Reviews 

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – Review by Susan Granger

Susan Granger , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oscar-and-Emmy-winning actress-turned-director Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk, Watchmen) is determined to tell powerful stories that haven’t been heard – like this fictionalized meeting of Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, NFL star James Brown and singer Sam Cooke in 1964.

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Movie of the Week Reviews 

MOVIE OF THE WEEK December 25, 2020: ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

Jennifer Merin , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Anyone who thinks female directors should stick to telling women’s stories is a) sexist and b) in for a surprise when they watch Regina King’s powerful directorial feature film debut One Night in Miami. Based on Kemp Powers’ same-named 2013 play, it imagines the fascinating conversation that might have happened between activist Malcolm X, boxer Cassius Clay, singer Sam Cooke, and NFL star Jim Brown had they all found themselves in the same place on the night of February 25, 1964.

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Reviews 

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – Review by Loren King

Loren King , , , , , , , , , , ,

Regina King is such a brilliant actor that it’s not surprising she works wonders with the stellar male ensemble in her directing debut, One Night in Miami. Adapted by Kemp Powers from his 2013 speculative stage play, the action is set in just a single night —Feb. 25, 1964, the night that Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) won the world heavyweight championship at age 22 by defeating Sonny Liston in a title bout at the Miami Beach Convention Center. It unfolds largely in single hotel room where Clay celebrates with friends Malcolm X (Kinglsey Ben-Adir); football legend Jim Brown Aldis Hodge; and singer Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.).

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Reviews 

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI – Review by Leslie Combemale

Leslie Combemale , , , , , , , , , , ,

It has been clear for a while that Regina King was headed for feature film direction, and she found a great and compelling subject in the historic night in 1964 when Cassius Clay (soon to be Mohammad Ali), Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown spent the evening together after Clay defeated Sonny Liston at the Miami Convention Hall. Screenwriter and playwright Kemp Powers adapted his award-winning play and King populated her film with a powerhouse cast that shines both individually and as an ensemble.

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