Daniel Allen
@danielallen.bsky.social
Creator, Cinematic Sense. Bylines: Loud and Clear, Little White Lies, Film Stories, The Quietus, In Review Online, The Film Magazine.
Portfolio: https://muckrack.com/daniel-allen-30
Freelance inquiries: https://cinematicsense.home.blog/contact/
Portfolio: https://muckrack.com/daniel-allen-30
Freelance inquiries: https://cinematicsense.home.blog/contact/
For Cinematic Sense, my first review of 2026 - on Ira Sachs’ PETER HUJAR’S DAY, which is out in the UK this weekend.
cinematicsense.home.blog/2026/01/02/f...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2026/01/02/f...
Film Review: Peter Hujar’s Day
Ira Sachs’ Peter Hujar’s Day is a valiant reconstruction of a long-lost conversation, even if there isn’t much to the film.
cinematicsense.home.blog
January 2, 2026 at 9:04 PM
For Cinematic Sense, my first review of 2026 - on Ira Sachs’ PETER HUJAR’S DAY, which is out in the UK this weekend.
cinematicsense.home.blog/2026/01/02/f...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2026/01/02/f...
Well, it's time. For Cinematic Sense, my top films of 2025...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/29/c...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/29/c...
Cinematic Sense’s Top 30 Films of 2025
What film will top the list this year?
cinematicsense.home.blog
December 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Well, it's time. For Cinematic Sense, my top films of 2025...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/29/c...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/29/c...
Watched It’s A Wonderful Life again (as has become Christmas Eve tradition) and thought about two major film figures we lost this year.
Here’s my short piece. And I hope you all have a merry Christmas, however the holiday finds you this year…
boxd.it/cd57yn
Here’s my short piece. And I hope you all have a merry Christmas, however the holiday finds you this year…
boxd.it/cd57yn
A ★★★★★ review of It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
On this particular viewing of It’s A Wonderful Life, something which has become a Christmas Eve tradition, I thought about two big passings that happened in the world of film this year. The first was ...
boxd.it
December 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Watched It’s A Wonderful Life again (as has become Christmas Eve tradition) and thought about two major film figures we lost this year.
Here’s my short piece. And I hope you all have a merry Christmas, however the holiday finds you this year…
boxd.it/cd57yn
Here’s my short piece. And I hope you all have a merry Christmas, however the holiday finds you this year…
boxd.it/cd57yn
The final Cinematic Sense newsletter of the year pays tribute to the legendary Rob Reiner...
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/d...
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/d...
December 2025: Inconceivable
Hello and welcome back to Cinematic Sense Monthly. This newsletter goes through everything the site has done over the previous month, along with some extra exclusive bits. So… What’s Going On? It’s…
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com
December 16, 2025 at 4:46 PM
The final Cinematic Sense newsletter of the year pays tribute to the legendary Rob Reiner...
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/d...
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/d...
For Cinematic Sense, my review of Danny Boyle's 28 YEARS LATER, a post-apocalyptic sequel that turns out to be exciting, compassionate - and in the end, stunning.
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/09/f...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/09/f...
28 Years Later Review: “Remember, You Must Love”
With 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle returns to his zombie series for a work about Britain, death and (most radically) love.
cinematicsense.home.blog
December 9, 2025 at 6:01 PM
For Cinematic Sense, my review of Danny Boyle's 28 YEARS LATER, a post-apocalyptic sequel that turns out to be exciting, compassionate - and in the end, stunning.
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/09/f...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/09/f...
Reposted by Daniel Allen
I’ve waited the entire year to write about Carson Lund’s wonderful baseball film EEPHUS.
I finally got to do so for the Top 10 films of the year on @ebertvoices.bsky.social, where it placed at #8!!!
Read my blurb and many more: www.rogerebert.com/features/the...
I finally got to do so for the Top 10 films of the year on @ebertvoices.bsky.social, where it placed at #8!!!
Read my blurb and many more: www.rogerebert.com/features/the...
December 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I’ve waited the entire year to write about Carson Lund’s wonderful baseball film EEPHUS.
I finally got to do so for the Top 10 films of the year on @ebertvoices.bsky.social, where it placed at #8!!!
Read my blurb and many more: www.rogerebert.com/features/the...
I finally got to do so for the Top 10 films of the year on @ebertvoices.bsky.social, where it placed at #8!!!
Read my blurb and many more: www.rogerebert.com/features/the...
New review for In Review Online: I quite liked Urška Djukić’s debut Little Trouble Girls, a discreet and subtle film about burgeoning desires and Catholic guilt.
inreviewonline.com/2025/12/04/l...
inreviewonline.com/2025/12/04/l...
Little Trouble Girls — Urška Djukić [Review] | In Review Online
A new film review of Little Trouble Girls, directed by Urška Djukić & released by Kino Lorber, for film review site In Review Online.
inreviewonline.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:03 PM
New review for In Review Online: I quite liked Urška Djukić’s debut Little Trouble Girls, a discreet and subtle film about burgeoning desires and Catholic guilt.
inreviewonline.com/2025/12/04/l...
inreviewonline.com/2025/12/04/l...
Reposted by Daniel Allen
Felt this within my Naija soul. What Davies Jr. captures is special: the hopes and complexities of a nation, the life lessons from a father who takes his sons to Lagos, set during a tumultuous election period. A direction so confidently done, you feel the emotion. Brilliant film. #MyFathersShadow
Very excited to see this as I missed it at LFF. Tonight’s screening: #MyFathersShadow
December 4, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Felt this within my Naija soul. What Davies Jr. captures is special: the hopes and complexities of a nation, the life lessons from a father who takes his sons to Lagos, set during a tumultuous election period. A direction so confidently done, you feel the emotion. Brilliant film. #MyFathersShadow
It's that time of the year when I start to go through films I missed early in 2025.
So for Cinematic Sense, I have finally seen Ryan Coogler's Sinners, and it is electric...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/04/f...
So for Cinematic Sense, I have finally seen Ryan Coogler's Sinners, and it is electric...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/04/f...
Sinners Review: Ryan Coogler’s Electric Vampire Film
Ryan Coogler cements his visionary status in Sinners, an electric vampire horror movie that positions music as its lifeblood.
cinematicsense.home.blog
December 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
It's that time of the year when I start to go through films I missed early in 2025.
So for Cinematic Sense, I have finally seen Ryan Coogler's Sinners, and it is electric...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/04/f...
So for Cinematic Sense, I have finally seen Ryan Coogler's Sinners, and it is electric...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/12/04/f...
New edition of the Cinematic Sense Monthly newsletter! I talk about the first award ceremonies of the year, Letterboxd's new Video Store and Billie Eilish's new concert film (in 3D - AND with James Cameron)...
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/n...
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/n...
November 2025: Awards, Video Stores and Billie Eilish (in 3D!)
Hello and welcome back to Cinematic Sense Monthly. This newsletter goes through everything the site has done over the previous month, along with some extra exclusive bits. So… What’s Going On? Well…
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:30 PM
New edition of the Cinematic Sense Monthly newsletter! I talk about the first award ceremonies of the year, Letterboxd's new Video Store and Billie Eilish's new concert film (in 3D - AND with James Cameron)...
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/n...
cinematicsense8.wordpress.com/2025/11/28/n...
Also, check out this great piece from @bilgeebiri.bsky.social on the whole Train Dreams discourse.
www.vulture.com/article/the-...
www.vulture.com/article/the-...
The Train Dreams Wars Are Here. Wait, What?
Behold the power of Netflix’s ability to generate discourse.
www.vulture.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Also, check out this great piece from @bilgeebiri.bsky.social on the whole Train Dreams discourse.
www.vulture.com/article/the-...
www.vulture.com/article/the-...
Over on the other side (Twitter), there’s been some contentiousness over TRAIN DREAMS.
So I’m wading into the debate to say… it’s only pretty good, not great (and there were some things I was annoyed by).
boxd.it/bQc0PX
So I’m wading into the debate to say… it’s only pretty good, not great (and there were some things I was annoyed by).
boxd.it/bQc0PX
A ★★★ review of Train Dreams (2025)
One of those classic cases where you like a film just fine, but wish there was just more to it. Or to put it perhaps more accurately, I wish I could deeply feel what Train Dreams was going for. This c...
boxd.it
November 25, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Over on the other side (Twitter), there’s been some contentiousness over TRAIN DREAMS.
So I’m wading into the debate to say… it’s only pretty good, not great (and there were some things I was annoyed by).
boxd.it/bQc0PX
So I’m wading into the debate to say… it’s only pretty good, not great (and there were some things I was annoyed by).
boxd.it/bQc0PX
Another multi-review for Cinematic Sense. This time, I look at SLY LIVES (insightful doc with a distinct angle) and SORRY, BABY (one of the best films of the year)...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/24/f...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/24/f...
Film Review: Sly Lives, Sorry Baby
A multi-review on two films. One is a doc on a music legend’s legacy, the other is one of the best movies of the year.
cinematicsense.home.blog
November 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Another multi-review for Cinematic Sense. This time, I look at SLY LIVES (insightful doc with a distinct angle) and SORRY, BABY (one of the best films of the year)...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/24/f...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/24/f...
Reposted by Daniel Allen
FRIENDSHIP: A very good Tim Robinson project, which means it's one of the best comedies of the year. Hilarious and anxiety-inducing in equal measure.
New review for Cinematic Sense...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/21/f...
New review for Cinematic Sense...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/21/f...
Friendship Review: Tim Robinson’s Anxiety-Inducing Comedy
Tim Robinson becomes best friends with – then obsessed with – Paul Rudd in Friendship, a hilarious and anxiety-inducing comedy.
cinematicsense.home.blog
November 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
FRIENDSHIP: A very good Tim Robinson project, which means it's one of the best comedies of the year. Hilarious and anxiety-inducing in equal measure.
New review for Cinematic Sense...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/21/f...
New review for Cinematic Sense...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/21/f...
FRIENDSHIP: A very good Tim Robinson project, which means it's one of the best comedies of the year. Hilarious and anxiety-inducing in equal measure.
New review for Cinematic Sense...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/21/f...
New review for Cinematic Sense...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/21/f...
Friendship Review: Tim Robinson’s Anxiety-Inducing Comedy
Tim Robinson becomes best friends with – then obsessed with – Paul Rudd in Friendship, a hilarious and anxiety-inducing comedy.
cinematicsense.home.blog
November 21, 2025 at 6:01 PM
FRIENDSHIP: A very good Tim Robinson project, which means it's one of the best comedies of the year. Hilarious and anxiety-inducing in equal measure.
New review for Cinematic Sense...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/21/f...
New review for Cinematic Sense...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/21/f...
Reposted by Daniel Allen
As Mathieu Kassovitz’s cult thriller turns 30, its pertinence and influence continue to reverberate across our own uncertain times
Rage and defiance in les banlieues – La Haine at 30
As Mathieu Kassovitz’s cult thriller turns 30, its pertinence and influence continue to reverberate across our own uncertain times.
lwlies.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
As Mathieu Kassovitz’s cult thriller turns 30, its pertinence and influence continue to reverberate across our own uncertain times
New review for Cinematic Sense. Guillermo del Toro's take on Frankenstein is merely OK, but Jacob Elordi is great in it...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/14/g...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/14/g...
Guillermo Del Toro’s Frankenstein Aims For Soul. Does It Succeed?
Guillermo del Toro’s lavish Frankenstein has a great performance from Jacob Elordi, but needs more of the soul it is aiming for.
cinematicsense.home.blog
November 14, 2025 at 6:14 PM
New review for Cinematic Sense. Guillermo del Toro's take on Frankenstein is merely OK, but Jacob Elordi is great in it...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/14/g...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/14/g...
REBUILDING: No surprise here, but Josh O'Connor is captivating yet again in this simple but humane story of devastation, community spirit and personal transformation.
Review for @loudandclearrvs.bsky.social...
loudandclearreviews.com/rebuilding-f...
Review for @loudandclearrvs.bsky.social...
loudandclearreviews.com/rebuilding-f...
Rebuilding Film Review: From The Ashes
Josh O’Connor is captivating once again in Rebuilding, about a cowboy who finds community after losing his ranch in a wildfire.
loudandclearreviews.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:08 PM
REBUILDING: No surprise here, but Josh O'Connor is captivating yet again in this simple but humane story of devastation, community spirit and personal transformation.
Review for @loudandclearrvs.bsky.social...
loudandclearreviews.com/rebuilding-f...
Review for @loudandclearrvs.bsky.social...
loudandclearreviews.com/rebuilding-f...
New review for Cinematic Sense:
Steven Soderbergh has released two films this year - ghost story with a difference PRESENCE and romantic spy thriller BLACK BAG. But which is better?
There's only one way to find out...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Steven Soderbergh has released two films this year - ghost story with a difference PRESENCE and romantic spy thriller BLACK BAG. But which is better?
There's only one way to find out...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Film Review: The Steven Soderbergh Showdown
Two 2025 films from the prolific Steven Soderbergh – a ghost story and a romantic spy thriller. Which comes out on top?
cinematicsense.home.blog
November 7, 2025 at 5:53 PM
New review for Cinematic Sense:
Steven Soderbergh has released two films this year - ghost story with a difference PRESENCE and romantic spy thriller BLACK BAG. But which is better?
There's only one way to find out...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Steven Soderbergh has released two films this year - ghost story with a difference PRESENCE and romantic spy thriller BLACK BAG. But which is better?
There's only one way to find out...
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/07/f...
Back with a new review for Cinematic Sense.
Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu is a foreboding horror remake with one heck of a performance from Lily-Rose Depp…
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/02/n...
Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu is a foreboding horror remake with one heck of a performance from Lily-Rose Depp…
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/02/n...
Film Review: Lily-Rose Depp Shines In The Foreboding Nosferatu
Lily-Rose Depp shines in Robert Eggers’ shadowy and foreboding remake of the Gothic horror Nosferatu.
cinematicsense.home.blog
November 2, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Back with a new review for Cinematic Sense.
Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu is a foreboding horror remake with one heck of a performance from Lily-Rose Depp…
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/02/n...
Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu is a foreboding horror remake with one heck of a performance from Lily-Rose Depp…
cinematicsense.home.blog/2025/11/02/n...
My review of SENTIMENTAL VALUE for Cinematic Sense...
LFF 2025: Sentimental Value
With brilliant performances from Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard, Sentimental Value is another empathetic, powerful and masterfully helmed film from Joachim Trier.
cinematicsense.home.blog
October 23, 2025 at 5:42 PM
My review of SENTIMENTAL VALUE for Cinematic Sense...
For Cinematic Sense, my review of Jafar Panahi's Palme d'Or winning IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT...
LFF 2025: It Was Just An Accident
Jafar Panahi’s weighty, complex Palme d’Or winner about former prisoners deciding what to do with the man who may have tortured them.
cinematicsense.home.blog
October 23, 2025 at 4:00 PM
For Cinematic Sense, my review of Jafar Panahi's Palme d'Or winning IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT...
My review of JAY KELLY for Cinematic Sense...
LFF 2025: Jay Kelly
George Clooney’s movie star looks back on his life in Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, a comedy-drama with more regret and sadness than at first glance.
cinematicsense.home.blog
October 22, 2025 at 2:13 PM
My review of JAY KELLY for Cinematic Sense...
My review of WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY for Cinematic Sense...
LFF 2025 – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Rian Johnson’s latest Knives Out film goes Gothic for his most dramatic mystery yet – but it’s Josh O’Connor who steals the show.
cinematicsense.home.blog
October 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
My review of WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY for Cinematic Sense...
My review of FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER for Cinematic Sense...
LFF 2025: Father Mother Sister Brother
Jim Jarmusch’s soft, deliberate anthology triptych about families and what is left unspoken makes some inquisitive points but can be quite confounding.
cinematicsense.home.blog
October 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM
My review of FATHER MOTHER SISTER BROTHER for Cinematic Sense...