Author: Hunter Friesen

Eden Prairie critic Hunter Friesen explores standout films, premieres, and highlights from the 2025 Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival.

‘The Amateur’ follows a grieving CIA codebreaker who takes justice into his own hands in a moody, mid-stakes spy thriller.

“A Minecraft Movie” delivers visuals true to the game, but struggles to translate its open-world charm into a compelling story.

“Death of a Unicorn” mixes dark humor and social critique, but its familiar plot and flat characters fail to resonate.

Disney’s live-action “Snow White” features Rachel Zegler’s standout performance but struggles with animation, casting, and direction in a mixed adaptation.

Steven Soderbergh’s “Black Bag” redefines the spy thriller, exploring deception, loyalty, and Michael Fassbender’s tense pursuit of a traitor within British intelligence.

Bong Joon-ho revisits corporate satire in “Mickey 17,” but its broad strokes and familiar themes lack the sharpness of “Okja.”

“The Gorge” on Apple TV+ delivers a suspenseful thriller with strong performances, though its storyline feels familiar and predictable.

Oz Perkins’ “The Monkey” struggles to balance horror and comedy, delivering tedious suspense and lackluster scares despite Theo James’ strong performance.

“Captain America: Brave New World” delivers a serviceable yet forgettable MCU entry, with reshoots, political intrigue, and familiar superhero dilemmas.