Neil Smith

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Freelance Writer

Neil Smith is a freelance film critic who has written for several publications, including Total Film. His bylines can be found at the BBC, Film 4 Independent, Uncut Magazine, SFX Magazine, Heat Magazine, Popcorn, and more.

Latest articles by Neil Smith

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie review: "balances nostalgia with candour"

By Neil Smith published 25 April 23

Review

Suzume review: "The future of anime is in safe hands"

By Neil Smith published 17 April 23

review

Alexander Skarsgård as James in Infinity Pool

Infinity Pool review: "Stylish but ultimately shallow"

By Neil Smith published 17 March 23

review

M3GAN review: "A lot of fun but short on frights"

By Neil Smith last updated 5 January 23

review

Babylon review: "Damien Chazelle's immersive vision of Hollywood's golden era"

By Neil Smith published 16 December 22

review

Matilda the Musical review: "A serviceable translation from stage to screen"

By Neil Smith published 6 October 22

review

Is it just me, or is Lightyear Pixar's worst film?

By Neil Smith published 20 September 22

Features A Total Film writer on why the Toy Story spin-off is a Buzz-kill...

Features

Empire of Light review: "Sam Mendes' elegant homage to the movies"

By Neil Smith published 12 September 22

review

Stillwater review: "Matt Damon’s sturdy presence just about holds it together"

By Neil Smith last updated 30 August 22

Review

Jurassic World Dominion review: "Less triumphant send-off than passable retread"

By Neil Smith published 8 June 22

review

Is it just me, or have Agatha Christie adaptations had their day?

By Neil Smith published 6 June 22

Features A Total Film writer on why it's time to turn the page...

Features

Cannes 2022: the 10 must-see films from this year’s festival

By Jordan Farley, Neil Smith published 28 May 22

Features Total Film's picks of the best films from the 2022 world cinema showcase

Features

Cannes 2022 in review: Bickering siblings, exploited immigrants and a very wonky donkey

By Neil Smith published 28 May 22

Features Didn't make it to Cannes this year? Not to worry: Total Film has all the skinny on the festival titles to look out for (or avoid)

Features

Showing Up review, Cannes: Kelly Reichardt's latest "as meticulous as ever yet feels off"

By Neil Smith published 27 May 22

Review

Close review, Cannes: "The closest thing we’ve seen to a breakout arthouse hit"

By Neil Smith published 27 May 22

Review

Funny Pages review, Cannes: Safdie-produced A24 comedy "appears to have a direct line to the nervous energy of early ’70s cinema"

By Neil Smith published 24 May 22

Review

Park Hae-il and Tang Wei in Decision To Leave

Decision To Leave review, Cannes: “An achingly romantic throwback to noirs of yesteryear”

By Neil Smith published 23 May 22

Review

Holy Spider review, Cannes: "Grimly compelling procedural reminiscent of Zodiac"

By Neil Smith published 23 May 22

Review

Charlbi Dean and Harris Dickinson in Triangle Of Sadness

Triangle Of Sadness review, Cannes: “Blisteringly funny, narratively intrepid and plain old spitting mad”

By Neil Smith published 21 May 22

Review

Hunt review, Cannes: "Robust, relentless mayhem from the star of Squid Game"

By Neil Smith published 21 May 22

Review

Paul Mescal and Emily Watson in God's Creatures

God’s Creatures review, Cannes: "Brooding drama set in a corner of Ireland the sun has no time for"

By Neil Smith published 19 May 22

Review

Top Gun 2 would "never" have gone to a streaming platform, says Tom Cruise at Cannes 2022

By Neil Smith published 18 May 22

Features Total Film was on the scene to see the Top Gun star receive a hero’s reception at the Cannes Film Festival

Features

Daniel Craig in new James Bond movie No Time to Die

Is it just me, or is Bond better off without Daniel Craig?

By Neil Smith published 13 January 22

Features A Total Film writer on why it's no time to cry...

Features

Spider-Man: No Way Home review: "Both delightful and underwhelming"

By Neil Smith published 15 December 21

review

House of Gucci review: "A flashy, trashy guilty pleasure"

By Neil Smith published 22 November 21

review

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Metro Awakening review: "Some good moments but the lack of variety thins the reward over time"
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Metal Slug Tactics review: Run and gun energy refreshes the slower-paced genre
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Mario & Luigi: Brothership review: "Humor and positivity by the boatload"
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Slitterhead review: "A daring horror vision executed with finesse"
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Planet Coaster 2 review: "Challenging, but at times frustratingly convoluted"

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Paddington in Peru review: "Endlessly easy to love with a pitch-perfect Olivia Colman"
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Venom: The Last Dance review: "A puddle of pixels that isn’t much fun to splash around in"
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Smile 2 Review: "Naomi Scott demonstrates her talents with a raw, no-holds-barred performance in this largely successful horror sequel"
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Blitz review: "Steve McQueen's World War Two drama is intense, horrific, and impressively cinematic"
5
Small Things Like These review: "Cillian Murphy proves less is more in this expertly crafted drama"

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Silo season 2 review: "A commanding performance from Rebecca Ferguson makes it a dystopian future worth staying in"
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Agatha All Along finale review and recap: "Fun, but think about it too hard and it falls apart like a house of tarot cards"
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Like a Dragon: Yakuza season 1 review: "Wasn't at all what I was expecting – and that's not a bad thing"
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Agatha All Along episode 7 review and recap: "One of the best episodes of the WandaVision spin-off yet"
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Agatha All Along episode 6 review and recap: "Joe Locke is fantastic in Billy-focused chapter"