Sean Means is an experienced journalist and film critic with The Salt Lake Tribune, where he has worked since 1991. Over the years, he has become a prominent voice in arts and culture reporting, especially in film critique. He’s known for his detailed reviews and extensive coverage of the Sundance Film Festival, a role he’s held for more than two decades. Means also maintains a popular blog, The Movie Cricket, where he writes about movies and pop culture, drawing on his deep expertise in cinema and storytelling
Memoir of a Snail – animated depression drama from Australia – Broadway – 3 1/2 stars
Adam Elliot
Stars: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Sarah Snook, Eric Bana
Memoir of a Snail tells the introspective journey of a snail navigating life at its own deliberate pace, discovering the beauty in small things and the profundity of patience. The snail reflects on themes of solitude, resilience, and connection with the world around it, savoring every raindrop, leaf, and beam of sunlight as it slowly moves through its life. Along the way, it observes other creatures—ants, birds, and plants—and draws wisdom from each. This memoir is a meditation on time, perspective, and mindfulness, inviting readers to find wonder in life’s quiet, often overlooked moments.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Jesus-centered Christmas drama – theaters – 3 1/2 stars
Dallas Jenkins
Stars: Kynlee Heiman, Sebastian Billingsley-Rodriguez, Judy Greer
The 2024 film The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, directed by Dallas Jenkins, brings Barbara Robinson’s classic 1972 novel to life with warmth and humor. The story follows the Herdman siblings, notorious troublemakers deemed the “worst kids in town,” as they unexpectedly join a local church’s Christmas pageant. Their unconventional approach to the Nativity story initially shocks the town, but the Herdmans’ fresh perspective ends up teaching the community about compassion, acceptance, and the true spirit of Christmas. Led by Grace Bradley (Judy Greer), who courageously directs the pageant, the film is a heartfelt journey of transformation and understanding for both the Herdmans and their neighbors.
Heretic – Religious-themed psychological thriller – theaters – 3 1/2 stars
Scott Beck, Bryan Woods
Stars: Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East
Heretic (2024), directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, follows two young Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), as they encounter Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), an eccentric and increasingly menacing character in a remote, eerie house. Initially friendly, Reed quickly turns their discussion into a disturbing theological confrontation, trapping the women in a cat-and-mouse game that explores deep themes about faith, control, and human nature.
The film’s tension builds as Reed’s psychological manipulation escalates, leading the sisters to question not only his intentions but also their own beliefs. The chilling atmosphere and Grant’s unsettling performance have been noted as highlights, blending horror with complex moral questions.
Read Sean Mean’s article on Heretic on the Salt Lake Tribune.
Also opening this weekend:
Small Things Like These | Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score: 92%
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan, set in a small Irish town in 1985, follows coal merchant Bill Furlong in the days leading up to Christmas. During a routine delivery to a local convent, he discovers a young girl trapped there, hinting at the dark secrets of the institution and the town’s silent complicity. This discovery forces Bill to confront the moral and social weight of these hidden abuses, as well as his own values and memories. His quiet struggle becomes a story of resilience, highlighting themes of empathy, justice, and the courage to stand against deeply entrenched wrongs.
Through Keegan’s concise, impactful prose, the novel captures Bill’s emotional journey as he wrestles with his role in a community dominated by the church, illustrating how small actions can carry profound implications.
Meanwhile on Earth | Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score: 92%
Meanwhile on Earth, directed by Jérémy Clapin, follows Elsa, a young woman whose life has been shattered by the mysterious disappearance of her astronaut brother, Franck, three years prior. Consumed by grief, Elsa’s existence becomes unmoored until she receives a strange message from an alien life form, promising to bring her brother back to Earth. In her desperation, she accepts the entity’s help, but soon realizes darker, ulterior motives may be at play. The film weaves science fiction with a deep exploration of mourning and vulnerability, as Elsa confronts the emotional boundaries she’ll cross to reunite with her lost sibling.
Blitz | Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score: 81%
The 2024 film Blitz, directed by Steve McQueen, follows the harrowing journey of a young boy named George during the World War II bombings in London. After being sent to the countryside for safety by his mother, Rita (played by Saoirse Ronan), George becomes determined to return to his family in East London. Despite the chaos of wartime, he embarks on a risky journey back home, while his mother, devastated by his disappearance, searches tirelessly for him. The film highlights themes of resilience, maternal love, and the impact of war on families, as seen through the eyes of both a child and a parent trying to reconnect in a city ravaged by conflict.
Opening Next Week:
Red One | Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score: 33%
In Red One, a high-stakes Christmas adventure-comedy, Santa Claus (codenamed “Red One” and played by J.K. Simmons) is kidnapped, prompting an urgent response from the North Pole’s Head of Security, portrayed by Dwayne Johnson. To save Christmas, Johnson’s character must team up with an infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting quest filled with action and humor. Together, they race against time and a formidable villain, facing off with legendary holiday foes like Krampus, to rescue Santa and preserve the spirit of the season.
The film, directed by Jake Kasdan, offers a mix of comedy, festive cheer, and action-packed sequences, bringing a unique spin to the holiday genre. The story is packed with mythical elements and is intended to be a family-friendly, adventure-filled take on Christmas mythology.
Rule of thumb: not all movies are bad, but most movies with The Rock are.
A Real Pain | Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score: 93%
In A Real Pain (2024), Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin star as estranged cousins David and Benji, who travel to Poland to reconnect with their Jewish heritage and honor their late grandmother. What begins as a somewhat awkward reunion takes a deeper turn as they confront their family’s past in a place marked by history and trauma. Against this backdrop, old conflicts and contrasting personalities ignite tensions between the two, with David’s reserved nature clashing against Benji’s more impulsive and outspoken demeanor.
As they navigate both their personal dynamics and complex cultural memories, the film reveals layers of humor and emotional depth, exploring how personal pain can evolve into shared understanding and connection. Eisenberg, who also directed and wrote the film, balances humor with sensitivity, presenting an introspective and sometimes painfully honest portrayal of family and identity. Culkin’s portrayal of Benji has drawn particular praise, with critics calling it one of his best performances to date.
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