Simon Abrams
RogerEbert·AvClub
Most Divergent Takes
- Alpha (2026)7.0 vs TRM 4.6+2.4
- RRR (2022)9.0 vs TRM 7.1+1.9
- Iron Lung (2026)7.5 vs TRM 5.8+1.7
- Jailer 2 (2026)7.5 vs TRM 6.0+1.5
- Vettaiyan (2024)6.3 vs TRM 5.6+0.7
Jana Nayagan
2026 · RogerEbert
"Jana Nayagan" is panned as a low-quality, poorly executed action film that serves as a budget-starved, oppressive swan song for star C. Joseph Vijay. The film is heavily criticized for its excessive, ugly reliance on AI animation and a hypocritical narrative that preaches women's empowerment while relying on traumatic scenes.
Insidious: Out of the Further
2026 · RogerEbert
Too bad most of “Insidious: Out of the Further” isn’t as loopy or entertaining. Sometimes, sure, but not nearly enough.
Alpha
2026 · RogerEbert
A sturdy seat-warmer like “Alpha” may not seem that impressive if you’re watching it out of context, but it is still a better-than-average beat-the-heat summer movie.
Iron Lung
2026 · AvClub
Iron Lung is distinguished by the same creative ambitions that ultimately make its ending seem like a watery solution after such an airtight setup. The film is an undeniable breakthrough for the filmmaker, even if he's got both too much chutzpah and too little experience to stick such a tough landing. Iron Lung's not a flawless debut, but it has a bright future as a cult classic.
Jailer 2
2026 · RogerEbert
... the filmmakers deliver what they think Rajini’s audience wants, like when he jams an automatic rifle into one villain’s mouth and keeps firing until blood splatters all over the pregnant woman whose honor Pandian’s ostensibly avenging.
RRR
2022 · RogerEbert
It’s not every day that a new Indian movie—which are typically not advertised to Western viewers beyond indigenous language speakers, and therefore largely ignored by Western outlets—is presented as an event to American theatergoers. Attend or miss out.
Vettaiyan
2024 · RogerEbert · Oct 2024
“Vettaiyan” may sometimes feel like the worst kind of throwback, but it still manages to coast on its star and his collaborators’ unshakable faith in crowd-pleasing movie logic. The filmmakers don’t miss a formulaic story beat nor do they skimp on what they think their audience will want from Rajinikanth.