Sean Burns

Film Critic

Sean Burns’ reviews, interviews and essays have appeared in Philadelphia Weekly, The Improper Bostonian, Metro, The Boston Herald, Nashville Scene, Time Out New York, Philadelphia City Paper and RogerEbert.com. He stashes them all at www.splicedpersonality.com.

Recently published

Paul Dano stars in "Dumb Money." (Courtesy Sony Pictures)

'Dumb Money' sidesteps the reality of the GameStop short squeeze

The 2021 game retailer saga was so compelling that Boston author Ben Mezrich sold the film rights to his book “The Antisocial Network” before it was completed. However, critic Sean...

Arts & Culture

Sep 21, 2023

Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in "A Haunting in Venice." (Courtesy 20th Century Studios)

Hercule Poirot carries more burdens than ever before in 'A Haunting in Venice'

The film is Kenneth Branagh’s third take on the detective, and according to critic Sean Burns, quite gloomy. “The fleet pleasures of [Agatha] Christie’s mysteries get lost in all the...

Arts & Culture

Sep 14, 2023

Jean-Pierre Léaud, Bernadette Lafont and Françoise Lebrun in "The Mother and the Whore." (Courtesy FLC Press)

At the Brattle, the sordid and sublime films of Jean Eustache

“The Dirty Stories of Jean Eustache” is a traveling retrospective that will showcase a dozen of the filmmaker’s documentaries, shorts and dramatic features. The series is headlined by a restoration...

Arts & Culture

Sep 5, 2023

Ayo Edebiri as Josie and Rachel Sennott as PJ in "Bottoms." (Courtesy Patti Perret/ORION Pictures Inc.)

New queer teen comedy 'Bottoms' is unhinged in a good way

The film stars Dorchester native Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott as teens who are desperate to shed their virginity before college. Critic Sean Burns says it’s heartening to see the...

Arts & Culture

Aug 31, 2023

Still from "The Young Girls of Rochefort." (Courtesy Janus Films)

The Brattle explores 'Barbie's Roots' in new retrospective series

Inspired by an interview "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig gave, the theater is screening a 13-film retrospective titled that includes classics and indies like "An American in Paris" and "The Science...

Arts & Culture

Aug 28, 2023

Still from "Belly," 1998. (Courtesy Photofest)

The Coolidge celebrates 50 years of hip-hop with a 20-film series

Between “The 40-Year-Old Version,” “Clockers” and “Cool as Ice,” the cinema has offerings for film and music buffs of all kinds in "Been Here For Years: Hip-Hop at 50." Critic...

Arts & Culture

Aug 19, 2023

Still from "Citizen Kane." (Courtesy IFFBoston)

IFFBoston will screen the top 10 greatest films of all time

The top 100 films list was released last year by the British Film Institute, and it created considerable controversy. But critic Sean Burns says the top 10 films are indisputably...

Arts & Culture

Aug 17, 2023

Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman in "Pee-wee's Big Adventure." (Courtesy Warner Bros.)

The Brattle Theatre memorializes Paul Reubens with special screenings of 'Pee-wee’s Big Adventure'

The comedian known for his character Pee-wee passed away after a private battle with cancer on July 30. “Icons of our youth tend to remain ageless in our minds, especially...

Arts & Culture

Aug 14, 2023

Franz Rogowski and Adèle Exarchopoulos in "Passages." (Courtesy MUBI)

In the new adult drama 'Passages,' the erotic encounters tell a story

The film is a departure from director Ira Sachs usual gentle dramas, instead following a dysfunctional couple embroiled in a toxic love triangle. “Passages” is shocking, tender, and according to...

Arts & Culture

Aug 10, 2023

Justin Min as Ben and Sherry Cola as Alice in "Shortcomings." (Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics; Photo by Jon Pack)

Randall Park's rom-com 'Shortcomings' is filled with just that

The actor's directorial debut raises interesting ideas and has funny moments, but many could-be-great scenes are left underdeveloped, says film critic Sean Burns.

Arts & Culture

Aug 3, 2023