Still thinking
about the movie.

The publication

I started Relyea on Film as a home for longer conversations about movies: what works, what does not, and why some films stay with us despite their flaws.

The focus is film, with room for occasional television. My interests run from new releases and international cinema to repertory screenings, genre movies, and the experience of seeing a great print in a theater. The aim is criticism with a clear point of view, attention to the filmmaking, and enough personality to make the argument worth reading.

The approach

Enthusiasm and scrutiny belong together. A review should explain a response, not simply announce a verdict. That means taking pleasure seriously, questioning first impressions, and leaving room for a movie to be more interesting than its most obvious flaw.

Long-form reviews here are standalone pieces, with room to develop an argument, attend to the filmmaking, and leave space for uncertainty.