Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes
Critics list

David Gonzalez

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

David Gonzalez is the founder and chief film critic of The Cinematic Reel and the host of the Reel Chronicles podcast. A Cuban American independent film critic, David writes fair and diverse criticism across all genres while spotlighting underrepresented and minority voices. His festival coverage includes Tribeca, TIFF, NYFF, Sundance, SXSW, and numerous other national film festivals. He currently serves as Vice President of the New Jersey Film Critics Circle (NJFCC) and is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS), New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO), Latino Entertainment Journalists Association (LEJA), and the Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA).

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) 93% 4/5 EDIT “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is an absolute feast of horror cinema. DaCosta and Garland deliver the series’ quietest yet most thought-provoking entry to date, a film less concerned with spectacle than with moral reckoning.” – The Cinematic Reel Jan 13, 2026 Full Review Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) 66% 2.5/5 EDIT “To quote WWE's Bruce Prichard, "and then the bell rang." Fire and Ash may be 2025's most disappointing film, far closer to Piranha II: The Spawning than T2: Judgment Day.” – The Cinematic Reel Dec 16, 2025 Full Review Marty Supreme (2025) 93% 5/5 EDIT “Safdie delivers not just one of this generation's best sports dramas, but a deeply rich character study that, like Marty at the ping pong table, does not simply compete. It dominates.” – The Cinematic Reel Dec 1, 2025 Full Review The Running Man (2025) 62% 3/5 EDIT “Watching it through the lens of a blockbuster or piece of popcorn entertainment, The Running Man delivers enough energy, style, and star power to keep audiences engaged. Wright’s direction and Glen Powell’s undeniable charisma give the film a pulse.” – The Cinematic Reel Nov 11, 2025 Full Review After the Hunt (2025) 37% 2/5 EDIT “After the Hunt’s lasting impression is not one of provocation or boldness, but one of disappointment.” – The Cinematic Reel Nov 3, 2025 Full Review Anemone (2025) 53% 2/5 EDIT “Unfortunately, Anemone is not worth the wait, as the film is a frustrating cinematic venture that never finds the emotional clarity it thinks it’s reaching for.” – The Cinematic Reel Nov 3, 2025 Full Review Nouvelle Vague (2025) 91% 4/5 EDIT “Richard Linklater takes the concept of “the making of” and, in paying tribute to one of the most important films of all time, Breathless, creates a Linklater special: a quintessential hangout movie that never feels inaccessible.” – The Cinematic Reel Nov 3, 2025 Full Review Jay Kelly (2025) 75% 4/5 EDIT “Jay Kelly lingers on themes of time, regret, and ego, exploring how these forces shape not only oneself but the lives of those around us.” – The Cinematic Reel Oct 29, 2025 Full Review Sentimental Value (2025) 97% 5/5 EDIT “Sentimental Value is a work of art that lingers, not because of what Trier shows us on screen, but because of the thoughts it stirs about our own families, our failings, and the quiet beauty of trying to heal.” – The Cinematic Reel Oct 27, 2025 Full Review No Other Choice (2025) 97% 4.5 EDIT “With No Other Choice, Park Chan-wook reasserts himself as one of modern cinema’s true masters. It may not be his best work, but with a résumé like Chan-wook’s, even a mid-tier effort feels like a grand achievement.” – The Cinematic Reel Oct 27, 2025 Full Review One Battle After Another (2025) 94% 5/5 EDIT “Confronting today’s political climate with unflinching precision, PTA crafts a bold, action-packed, and hilariously sharp epic that hits his once-a-decade masterpiece quota. A quintessential GIRL DAD triumph and a defining moment for American Cinema.” – The Cinematic Reel Sep 17, 2025 Full Review The Toxic Avenger (2023) 87% 3.5 EDIT “Blair's film embraces the outrageous spirit of Lloyd Kaufman’s vision, leaning fully into camp while channeling the manic energy of the 1984 cult classic. The result is an entertaining romp that feels like a worthy companion to its predecessor.” – The Cinematic Reel Sep 8, 2025 Full Review The Long Walk (2025) 88% 4/5 EDIT “Brutal, yet deeply human, it’s a film that lingers long after the final step, standing tall as one of King’s essential adaptations.” – The Cinematic Reel Sep 2, 2025 Full Review Highest 2 Lowest (2025) 83% 4.5/5 EDIT “Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest is more remix than remake, a slick, sharp thriller fueled by tension, wit, and moral ambiguity. Lee blends gripping suspense with his signature cinematic flair, delivering a film that pulses with urgency and swagger.” – The Cinematic Reel Aug 11, 2025 Full Review Weapons (2025) 93% 4.5/5 EDIT “Weapons is a deliciously nasty piece of business that refuses to play it safe and deserves to be celebrated for its ambition and fearless vision.” – The Cinematic Reel Aug 6, 2025 Full Review The Naked Gun (2025) 87% 4/5 EDIT “Schaffer’s The Naked Gun is a breath of fresh air in modern comedy. Genuinely hilarious, blissfully brief, and a pitch-perfect homage to Leslie Nielsen’s ’80s comedy classic—without ever feeling like a tired cover band. ” – The Cinematic Reel Jul 30, 2025 Full Review Superman (2025) 83% 4.5/5 EDIT “James Gunn’s Superman makes you believe a man can fly… again. A soaring, heartfelt triumph that recaptures the classic DC spirit and reminds us why the Man of Steel still matters. This isn’t just a new Superman; it’s the fresh start DC has long needed.” – The Cinematic Reel Jul 8, 2025 Full Review Jurassic World Rebirth (2025) 50% 2.5/5 EDIT “If this is the franchise’s big reset, maybe it’s time Universal finally let the dinosaurs and the Jurassic Park franchise go extinct.” – The Cinematic Reel Jun 30, 2025 Full Review Paradise Records (2025) 1/5 EDIT “For anyone searching for a modern-day Clerks, my advice is simple: just rewatch Kevin Smith’s Clerks, you’ll thank me later.” – The Cinematic Reel Jun 17, 2025 Full Review Videoheaven (2025) 87% 4.5/5 EDIT “With Videoheaven, Alex Ross Perry has crafted a cinematic eulogy for the video store. Equal parts love letter, critique, and eulogy, the film is rich in emotion, memory, and cultural observation.” – The Cinematic Reel Jun 17, 2025 Full Review Relay (2024) 82% 3.5/5 EDIT “Relay stands as a thought-provoking and engaging return for Mackenzie. If not for its clunky twist, Relay might have entered the conversation as one of the best films of 2025’s first half. ” – The Cinematic Reel Jun 17, 2025 Full Review Oh, Hi! (2025) 64% 3.5/5 EDIT “Seamlessly blending romantic comedy and phycological thriller, Oh, Hi is a rollercoaster of emotions, exploring love, loneliness and the fragile art of communication.” – The Cinematic Reel Jun 17, 2025 Full Review Our Hero, Balthazar (2025) 100% 4.5/5 EDIT “Our Hero, Balthazar is not an easy watch, and its relentless intensity may alienate some viewers, but it’s a powerful work of social critique that demands to be seen.” – The Cinematic Reel Jun 17, 2025 Full Review Inside (2024) 97% 3.5/5 EDIT “Inside is a finely crafted prison drama that feels timeless and refreshingly new. An enthralling examination of humanity that forgoes flash in favor of quiet and triumphant hope. It marks Charles Williams as a filmmaker to watch.” – The Cinematic Reel Jun 17, 2025 Full Review Materialists (2025) 77% 4.5/5 EDIT “With Materialists, Celine Song proves that Past Lives was no fluke. Witty, tender, and sharply observant, it's a love triangle wrapped in luxury and longing.” – The Cinematic Reel Jun 9, 2025 Full Review
No Reviews Yet
Load More