Alise Chaffins
@alisechaffins.bsky.social
Film critic. Author. Soup-eater. she/her
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alisedchaffins
Member: GALECA, OFTA, IFSCA, IFCA 🍅-approved
Bylines: The Dominion Post, Loud & Clear Reviews, Movies We Texted About
Inquiries to alise.d.chaffins@gmail.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/alisedchaffins
Member: GALECA, OFTA, IFSCA, IFCA 🍅-approved
Bylines: The Dominion Post, Loud & Clear Reviews, Movies We Texted About
Inquiries to alise.d.chaffins@gmail.com
Also, this is my top 10 (not in order).
October 5, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Also, this is my top 10 (not in order).
September 19, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Chloé Zhao's HAMNET will destroy you, but it won't leave you in the dark cave. Mescal and Buckley are spectacular, but if Jacobi Jupe as Hamlet doesn't deliver, none of it matters. Fortunately, he does and this film does as well. Absolute perfection on every level. #TIFF #TIFF50
September 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Pablo Trapero's & SONS is a poignant look at what it means to be a parent, child, sibling, spouse while also being your own person in the context of these relationships. Every star shines bright in this excellent ensemble cast and Sarah Polley's script is lovely. #TIFF #TIFF50
September 7, 2025 at 8:04 PM
RENTAL FAMILY wasn't what I expected, but that almost certainly improved it for me. Hikari crafted a lovely, subtle, earnest film, brought to life by an empathetic performance from Brendan Fraser. I joked that this was church for me today, but it really was. #TIFF #TIFF50
September 7, 2025 at 3:28 PM
THE CHORAL is fine. Fiennes is always good, though I think Roger Allum was my favorite, simply because he had the most fleshed out character. The script dances around some really interesting themes, but doesn't really delve into any of them. Disappointed. #TIFF50
September 6, 2025 at 6:18 PM
THE CHORAL is fine. Fiennes is always good, though I think Roger Allum was my favorite, simply because he had the most fleshed out character. The script dances around some really interesting themes, but doesn't really delve into any of them. Disappointed. #TIFF50
BABYSTAR looks at influencer families and using children as content. Maja Bons spectacular as the girl who has had every moment of her life. I wish the script had been a bit bolder (either more compassionate or harsher), but the performances elevate it. #TIFF50
September 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
BABYSTAR looks at influencer families and using children as content. Maja Bons spectacular as the girl who has had every moment of her life. I wish the script had been a bit bolder (either more compassionate or harsher), but the performances elevate it. #TIFF50
STEVE is a frenetic, insightful look at teaching in the reform school system. What could be a White Savior story goes deeper to show there is no saving to be done, just making it to the next day. Cillian Murphy is obviously great, but Jay Lycurgo is a name to watch. #TIFF50
September 6, 2025 at 4:18 AM
STEVE is a frenetic, insightful look at teaching in the reform school system. What could be a White Savior story goes deeper to show there is no saving to be done, just making it to the next day. Cillian Murphy is obviously great, but Jay Lycurgo is a name to watch. #TIFF50
GOOD BOY is a funny, weird, horrifying film with a crazy smart script that doesn't stop. Stephen Graham is spectacular in this. Guaranteed to make you feel better and also somehow worse about your parenting. #TIFF50
September 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
GOOD BOY is a funny, weird, horrifying film with a crazy smart script that doesn't stop. Stephen Graham is spectacular in this. Guaranteed to make you feel better and also somehow worse about your parenting. #TIFF50
Finished off day 1 of #TIFF50 with ROSE OF NEVADA. While this has some truly impressive sound design and an inventive story, I found the narrative lacking any emotional core to make the story pop. There's a crowd who will love this, but it wasn't for me. #moviesky #filmsky
September 5, 2025 at 4:11 AM
CHARLIE HARPER will help you not hate that relationship of your 20s that wasn't so good. The nonlinear storytelling worked for me, but I wasn't a huge fan of the voiceover, even though it kind of works in context. Still made me cry, and Robinson and Jones are electric. #TIFF50 #moviesky #filmsky
September 4, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Some days I can (more or less) block out all of the outside noise and write my little reviews. And some days (today), I feel like this.
August 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Some days I can (more or less) block out all of the outside noise and write my little reviews. And some days (today), I feel like this.
I said I was going to get a tomato tattoo if I was ever RT-approved. Was thinking about "certified fresh" as a caption, but now I'm thinking maybe this. #BigJuicyNaturalTomatoes #filmsky #moviesky
July 8, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I said I was going to get a tomato tattoo if I was ever RT-approved. Was thinking about "certified fresh" as a caption, but now I'm thinking maybe this. #BigJuicyNaturalTomatoes #filmsky #moviesky
Ahhhh!!! I'm officially part of the problem!!!! Thanks so much @rottentomatoes.com!!!
July 7, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Ahhhh!!! I'm officially part of the problem!!!! Thanks so much @rottentomatoes.com!!!
My partner and I had an excellent time tonight at the Harris Theater in Pittsburgh, seeing @hundredsofbeavers.bsky.social. if you have a chance to see it with people, DO IT. I mean, watch it anyway, but with people is awesome. #moviesky #filmsky
June 29, 2025 at 2:57 AM
My partner and I had an excellent time tonight at the Harris Theater in Pittsburgh, seeing @hundredsofbeavers.bsky.social. if you have a chance to see it with people, DO IT. I mean, watch it anyway, but with people is awesome. #moviesky #filmsky
I'll have a review at @loudandclearrvs.bsky.social soon, but just finished #TheBearSeason4 my main takeaway is that the 10 episode season on streamers is killing TV. Because S3 and 4 together would be a brilliant 20 episode season of television instead of a mid and good season separately.
June 26, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I'll have a review at @loudandclearrvs.bsky.social soon, but just finished #TheBearSeason4 my main takeaway is that the 10 episode season on streamers is killing TV. Because S3 and 4 together would be a brilliant 20 episode season of television instead of a mid and good season separately.
In light of the SCOTUS ruling against trans healthcare for minors:
The Republican-ordered study on gender affirming care for minors shows that it is a positive thing, NOT harmful. But the "facts don't care about your feelings" crowd is gonna stick with their feelings on this one.
The Republican-ordered study on gender affirming care for minors shows that it is a positive thing, NOT harmful. But the "facts don't care about your feelings" crowd is gonna stick with their feelings on this one.
June 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
In light of the SCOTUS ruling against trans healthcare for minors:
The Republican-ordered study on gender affirming care for minors shows that it is a positive thing, NOT harmful. But the "facts don't care about your feelings" crowd is gonna stick with their feelings on this one.
The Republican-ordered study on gender affirming care for minors shows that it is a positive thing, NOT harmful. But the "facts don't care about your feelings" crowd is gonna stick with their feelings on this one.
Do I have a million things to do before I go on vacation Tuesday? Yes. Did I just get tickets to go see Dogma tomorrow night? Also yes.
June 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Do I have a million things to do before I go on vacation Tuesday? Yes. Did I just get tickets to go see Dogma tomorrow night? Also yes.
This was such a surreal moment. I've loved The King of Kong forever, so getting to talk to Walter Day ,and Billy Mitchell about Arcades and Love Songs was wild. Film releasing on VOD platforms on June 9!
May 8, 2025 at 7:57 PM
This was such a surreal moment. I've loved The King of Kong forever, so getting to talk to Walter Day ,and Billy Mitchell about Arcades and Love Songs was wild. Film releasing on VOD platforms on June 9!