Evan Crean
@reelrecon.bsky.social
Muppet of a man. Purveyor of portmanteaus and “elevated dad humor.” Boston film critic, author, and podcast host. BOFCA co-chair, and Spoilerpiece co-host.
A spoiler-free post to appease the embargo gods. About to watch #BallerinaMovie.
June 2, 2025 at 10:59 PM
A spoiler-free post to appease the embargo gods. About to watch #BallerinaMovie.
My first watch of 2025 was one I meant to catch in 2024: A Real Pain. Kieran Culkin’s much-discussed performance moved me — it’s charismatic and heartbreaking. But I also just dug Jesse Eisenberg’s stripped down buddy film about estranged cousins reconnecting as they process loss together.
January 2, 2025 at 4:49 AM
My first watch of 2025 was one I meant to catch in 2024: A Real Pain. Kieran Culkin’s much-discussed performance moved me — it’s charismatic and heartbreaking. But I also just dug Jesse Eisenberg’s stripped down buddy film about estranged cousins reconnecting as they process loss together.
Quote post with the first DVD you ever bought
November 21, 2024 at 1:06 AM
Quote post with the first DVD you ever bought
This is one of the most bonkers headlines I’ve ever seen
January 20, 2024 at 5:57 AM
This is one of the most bonkers headlines I’ve ever seen
Air: My nominations for Best Soundtrack and Best Onscreen Expletive-Fueled Rant of 2023.
December 2, 2023 at 1:41 PM
Air: My nominations for Best Soundtrack and Best Onscreen Expletive-Fueled Rant of 2023.
The Other Widow is a darkly comedic drama about a woman whose lover, dies suddenly. Then she attends his shiva and secretly gets to know his wife. It’s a punchy premise with amazingly awkward moments, but it's a slow film with tonally jarring dream sequences. (4/4)
November 14, 2023 at 2:41 AM
The Other Widow is a darkly comedic drama about a woman whose lover, dies suddenly. Then she attends his shiva and secretly gets to know his wife. It’s a punchy premise with amazingly awkward moments, but it's a slow film with tonally jarring dream sequences. (4/4)
No Name Restaurant is a charming comedy about an orthodox Jew who befriends a gruff Bedouin on a road trip through Sinai. Their cultures clash but their exasperation transforms into mutual respect the more they learn about each other. (2/4)
November 14, 2023 at 2:40 AM
No Name Restaurant is a charming comedy about an orthodox Jew who befriends a gruff Bedouin on a road trip through Sinai. Their cultures clash but their exasperation transforms into mutual respect the more they learn about each other. (2/4)
Lastly, I saw Nothing Except 34 Paintings, which chronicles Peggy Guggenheim’s relationship with the Director of the Tel Aviv Museum in the 1950s and the story behind the art donation she made. It seemed interesting on paper, but I wished it was more compelling. (5/5)
November 5, 2023 at 2:25 PM
Lastly, I saw Nothing Except 34 Paintings, which chronicles Peggy Guggenheim’s relationship with the Director of the Tel Aviv Museum in the 1950s and the story behind the art donation she made. It seemed interesting on paper, but I wished it was more compelling. (5/5)
Then I watched Dear Ani, a short doc about an aspiring songwriter who kept a creatively obsessive correspondence with musician Ani DiFranco because he thought she was communicating with him via her songs. I was surprised by what a moving piece it turned out to be. (4/5)
November 5, 2023 at 2:24 PM
Then I watched Dear Ani, a short doc about an aspiring songwriter who kept a creatively obsessive correspondence with musician Ani DiFranco because he thought she was communicating with him via her songs. I was surprised by what a moving piece it turned out to be. (4/5)
Next, I saw Deciding Vote, which recounts assemblyman George Michaels’s deciding vote on a New York abortion law that changed the course of American history. The doc shares a fascinating story I'm surprised I hadn't heard about before. (3/5)
November 5, 2023 at 2:23 PM
Next, I saw Deciding Vote, which recounts assemblyman George Michaels’s deciding vote on a New York abortion law that changed the course of American history. The doc shares a fascinating story I'm surprised I hadn't heard about before. (3/5)
I started with Proof of Concept, a comedic short about an aspiring filmmaker (Ellie Sachs) trying to convince her father and uncle (Richard Kind & Will Janowitz) to finance her short film. It’s a humorous meta-commentary on the Hollywood machine. (2/5)
November 5, 2023 at 2:21 PM
I started with Proof of Concept, a comedic short about an aspiring filmmaker (Ellie Sachs) trying to convince her father and uncle (Richard Kind & Will Janowitz) to finance her short film. It’s a humorous meta-commentary on the Hollywood machine. (2/5)
And I saw was New Lives, a portrait of a Holocaust survivor navigating assimilation in 1950s Brooklyn. Director Joey Schweitzer tells a poignant story about building a new life for yourself in a new country. It features lived-in performances and smartly relies on audio cues to recount trauma.
October 31, 2023 at 5:23 PM
And I saw was New Lives, a portrait of a Holocaust survivor navigating assimilation in 1950s Brooklyn. Director Joey Schweitzer tells a poignant story about building a new life for yourself in a new country. It features lived-in performances and smartly relies on audio cues to recount trauma.
I also caught Moon Blood, an animated short about an adolescent girl trying to understand her period, and her body’s connection to the moon. At just four minutes, it says a lot through its eerie music, long patient shots, and textured animation.
October 31, 2023 at 5:20 PM
I also caught Moon Blood, an animated short about an adolescent girl trying to understand her period, and her body’s connection to the moon. At just four minutes, it says a lot through its eerie music, long patient shots, and textured animation.
I saw My Parent, Neal — an animated doc where Hannah Saidiner interviews her parent about his gender transition. Short but very sweet, this moving nine-minute film is vividly animated and features thoughtful conversation and enlightening, personal insights into the trans experience.
October 31, 2023 at 5:18 PM
I saw My Parent, Neal — an animated doc where Hannah Saidiner interviews her parent about his gender transition. Short but very sweet, this moving nine-minute film is vividly animated and features thoughtful conversation and enlightening, personal insights into the trans experience.
I missed it last year, but this year I’ll be covering the Boston Jewish Film Festival again! Their 35th annual fest starts a week from now on November 1. Before then look out for my reviews of the shorts and feature length films playing there!
October 26, 2023 at 2:04 AM
I missed it last year, but this year I’ll be covering the Boston Jewish Film Festival again! Their 35th annual fest starts a week from now on November 1. Before then look out for my reviews of the shorts and feature length films playing there!
Yesterday we lost master director William Friedkin. The Exorcist is my favorite film of his and if you haven’t seen it, you should. Then watch the doc about it, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist. He was such a dynamic storyteller he carried all 104 minutes just sitting and talking.
August 8, 2023 at 4:34 PM
Yesterday we lost master director William Friedkin. The Exorcist is my favorite film of his and if you haven’t seen it, you should. Then watch the doc about it, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist. He was such a dynamic storyteller he carried all 104 minutes just sitting and talking.
Sad to hear that Mark Margolis passed away. While I always thought he was an excellent character actor, he reached new heights as Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, where he loomed large and intimidating even as a speechless wheelchair-bound belling-ringing villain.
August 4, 2023 at 10:15 PM
Sad to hear that Mark Margolis passed away. While I always thought he was an excellent character actor, he reached new heights as Hector Salamanca in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, where he loomed large and intimidating even as a speechless wheelchair-bound belling-ringing villain.
RIP Paul Reubens. The contagious, childlike blend of wonder, imagination, naïveté, and mischief that he brought to the role of Pee-wee Herman always made me laugh when I watched Pee-wee’s Playhouse and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure growing up.
July 31, 2023 at 5:31 PM
RIP Paul Reubens. The contagious, childlike blend of wonder, imagination, naïveté, and mischief that he brought to the role of Pee-wee Herman always made me laugh when I watched Pee-wee’s Playhouse and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure growing up.
I love From Dusk Till Dawn’s hilarious dialogue, stacked cast, explosive special effects, in-your-face editing, and George Clooney’s crackling charisma. Not to mention Cheech Marin playing THREE different characters. For these reasons and more it’s one of my favorite movies.
July 31, 2023 at 3:25 AM
I love From Dusk Till Dawn’s hilarious dialogue, stacked cast, explosive special effects, in-your-face editing, and George Clooney’s crackling charisma. Not to mention Cheech Marin playing THREE different characters. For these reasons and more it’s one of my favorite movies.
I’m a diehard Futurama fan, so I was super excited that Hulu revived the show (even though it ended perfectly two times already). Sadly I didn’t laugh very much in the first new episode, but glad they started on a meta note (it felt very appropriate). Hoping it gets funnier as the season goes on.
July 29, 2023 at 4:52 PM
I’m a diehard Futurama fan, so I was super excited that Hulu revived the show (even though it ended perfectly two times already). Sadly I didn’t laugh very much in the first new episode, but glad they started on a meta note (it felt very appropriate). Hoping it gets funnier as the season goes on.