Ruben Rosario

Miami

Film Critic at Miami Art Magazine

Contributor at The Pop Culture Pros Podcast Network

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Articles

In 'Dragon' And 'Elio,' Two Boys Find Their Inner Hero

1 week ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

The floodgates have opened. Summer is here, and that means families with younger children, a coveted bracket for movie studios peddling their big-budget wares, find more options to choose from at the multiplex. It's a good thing, too, since these viewers tend to be underserved for a sizable chunk of the movie year. Cue the upturned noses from some friends and colleagues who sneer at the prospect of wading through what they deem innocuous kiddie fare, and thus not worthy of their attention.
Wes Anderson Runs Out Of Gas In Airless 'Scheme'

3 weeks ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

You've probably heard the complaints. You may even agree with them. Wes Anderson's films are pretentious, his detractors say. Fussy, mechanical contraptions that squeeze their big-name ensemble casts into meticulously crafted dioramas that feel like they've been storyboarded within an inch of their life. His naysayers insist they're the product of an aesthete with zero connection to or interest in the real world that keeps on turning while he's safely ensconced in his bubble.
Third Horizon Film Fest Selections Explore Cultural Identity

1 month ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

Miami is often regarded as a gateway to the Americas. Latin American countries figure prominently in the art produced in South Florida, so why is it so difficult to gain access to stories from the Caribbean, by artists with strong ties to the Caribbean? Third Horizon Film Festival aims to fill that gap every year, bringing shorts, documentaries and fiction features from these countries and territories to the Magic City for a weekend jam-packed with screenings, panels and other events.
Can Eye-Popping Stunts Save Eighth 'Mission: Impossible'?

1 month ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

The postcard was small, but its impact was pretty big. I just had to show it off to my high school classmates. “Look! Tom Cruise wrote me back!” I said as I held up the cherished parcel, the thank-you note it contained on the appealing side of generic.
Young Filmmakers Get Personal In 'Things,' 'Sundays'

1 month ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

The sidelines are just too limiting. For way too long, gay men with a few extra pounds have been belittled, pigeonholed and dismissed when it comes to their portrayal in movies and TV. They tend to be the butt of the joke, comic relief with crackerjack timing and stinging one-liners. The reliable sidekick? Been there. The loyal friend with a pep talk always handy? Done that. The backstabbing frenemy with a penchant for stealing scenes? Yes, indeedy.
'Fall,' 'Misericordia' Tell Tales Of Crime And Punishment

1 month ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

It's already starting to feel like summer out there, but one South Florida arthouse is skipping a few months ahead. Two French movies playing at Coral Gables Art Cinema this month dive headfirst into fall with stories set in picturesque rural villages where the mood is decidedly autumnal: We're not in Paris anymore, Toto. But don't be fooled by the serene surfaces and radiant vistas.
Grand Visions Fill 'Sinners,' 'Shrouds,' 'Tour' and 'Ochi'

1 month ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

Not so fast, moviegoers. The arrival of “Thunderbolts*,” Marvel's antihero ensemble action film, in theaters this weekend marks for too many people the beginning of the summer movie season. To call that declaration premature is an understatement of seismic proportions. The calendar still says spring from where this critic is sitting, and this past month brought a wealth of riches to South Florida screens, and not just at back-to-back film festivals.
'Night' Tales Close Out OUTshine's Spring Edition

2 months ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

The night beckons, full of promise, but also bearing a hint of danger and, even more daunting, the opportunity to do some soul searching. So it goes for two international movies premiering at the tail end of OUTshine Film Festival's Spring 2025 edition. Closing weekend for this portion of the twice yearly event kicked off Thursday night in Dania Beach and goes until Sunday with screenings in Fort Lauderdale. It follows days of screenings and parties in Miami Beach.
New Queer Rom-Coms Are High On Drama, Low On Romance

2 months ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

They breeze their way into our lives, determined to put an extra spring in our step. When they work, they lift our spirits and possess the ability to turn the most hardened cynic into a true believer in the transformative power of L-O-V-E. When they don't, they're capable of making you swear off dating for a good long while. Romantic comedies are about as old as cinema itself. They have been the cherries on top of date nights for generations, at the movies or on intimate nights at home.
Taut 'Warfare' Earns Its Stripes

2 months ago | miamiartzine.com | Ruben Rosario

“Warfare” is a panoply of uncomfortable silences and deafening disruptions. The new combat film, set during the Iraq War, nails the disorienting fog one feels when a situation spirals beyond our control with unpredictable haste, and how, in the midst of escalating violence, those who find themselves in the same boat as you hold the key to finding your center. Carnage, brotherhood, despair and the quest for order amid chaos.