Calm with Horses (2020)

Baron finds the film excellent and says it sustains sympathy for Arm despite his being manipulated into terrible acts. She praises Barry Keoghan’s chilling performance and the stark landscapes, while faulting the direction’s overuse of dramatic music.

O’Hara praises the film as an inspired, layered crime drama. She singles out its claustrophobic portrayal of the limited horizons of rural towns and criminal gangs.

The critic finds the film tightly scripted, forcefully directed, and invigorating despite its familiar plot. Cosmo Jarvis’s magnetic performance as a damaged man torn between family and criminal loyalty is singled out for praise.

The critic calls it a moving, confidently directed crime fable, though its criminal plot is simple and its women are mostly disposable. Cosmo Jarvis’s anguished lead performance is the film’s standout strength.

The critic finds the film engaging despite its basic dramatic construction. They single out Cosmo Jarvis’s performance and the gentler, poetic scenes for praise.

Harvey finds the crime drama engrossing, though its story becomes more conventional as it moves toward revenge-thriller territory. He particularly praises the vivid characters and milieu, alongside Cosmo Jarvis’s sympathetic performance.

Freer finds the film uneven, saying it never balances character drama with gangster conventions, but still creates an effective mood. He particularly praises Cosmo Jarvis’s forceful performance and the tension created by the filmmaking and sound design.

The page identifies this as a Toronto review, but the critic’s verdict is inaccessible. No praise or complaint can be established from the visible text.

The review text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the accessible page.

Jenkins finds the film an intriguing character study hampered by an underpowered crime story. He especially praises the performances of Cosmo Jarvis and Niamh Algar.

Krizanovich gives the film a three-star assessment, describing it as a well-crafted debut. She singles out Cosmo Jarvis’s portrayal of Arm, a reluctant enforcer struggling to be a good father.

Uhlich finds the drama soporific and its stakes low, but says Cosmo Jarvis’s performance elevates it. He especially praises Jarvis’s compelling screen presence and emotionally taxing single-take scene.

Bradshaw finds the film powerful and engaging but ultimately trapped in a cul-de-sac of macho violence. He praises the forceful performances, especially Cosmo Jarvis’s fierce screen presence.

Nemiroff finds the film a compelling, tragic portrait of a man trapped between criminal loyalties and his desire to be a good father. She praises Cosmo Jarvis’s nuanced performance for making Douglas’s violence and warmth equally convincing.

The critic finds the film a terrific, moody directorial debut. She particularly praises Cosmo Jarvis’s nuanced performance and Barry Keoghan’s compelling presence.

The critic calls it a powerful, enthralling crime thriller with a hefty emotional punch. They praise Cosmo Jarvis’s compelling performance and the film’s tense, stylish build to a moving conclusion.

The critic finds the film a quiet, affecting character study amid its brutality. Cosmo Jarvis’s quietly gripping performance is singled out for bringing wounded humanity to Arm.

The review calls the film a confident, moving debut but finds its grim story ultimately unsatisfying and unpleasant to watch. It singles out Cosmo Jarvis’s sympathetic performance, especially a late phone-call scene, for praise.

Wilkinson finds the drama somewhat formulaic but compelling, with Cosmo Jarvis as its main draw. She especially praises his soulful, nuanced performance as a man struggling with the moral demands of gang life and fatherhood.

The review finds the film spare, savage and beautiful, though its story is flimsy and frustrating. It singles out Niamh Algar’s performance as the element that gives the film greater emotional depth.

The page is blocked, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint from the review is visible.