Penelope Cruz Archives

Penelope Cruz

Your Invite to the Year of Penélope Cruz

by Pat Mullen | October 24, 2026

An interview with Penélope Cruz on The Invite and an extraordinary performance that could help make Oscar history in her incredible year.

La Bola Negra Review: A Swoon-Worthy Masterpiece

by Pat Mullen | October 22, 2026

La Bola Negra is a sweeping epic pays tribute to lost lives and loves by connecting the stories of gay men across generations.

How The Invite Serves One of the Year’s Best Surprises

by Pat Mullen | July 19, 2026

Olivia Wilde talks about creating the world of The Invite and bringing the hit comedy to life through collaboration.

The Invite Review: Take a Walk on the Wilde Side

by Pat Mullen | July 2, 2026

Olivia Wilde's The Invite delivers a ferociously funny, artfully messy, and authentic study of hormone-fuelled humour with one of the year's best ensembles.

The Black Ball Review: Cannes 2026

by Elizabeth Mulloy | June 7, 2026

Los Javis's The Black Ball is a generational-defining historical epic about the Queer experience from The Cannes Film Festival.

The Bride! Review: Gothic Horror Meets Gangster Mayhem

by Victor Stiff | March 5, 2026

Jessie Buckley delivers another ferocious performance in The Bride!, Maggie Gyllenhaal's audacious reimagining of the Frankenstein myth.

Ferrari Review: A Full-Throttle Comeback

by Colin Biggs | December 21, 2023

Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley star in Ferrari , a tautly constructed work that sees director Michael Mann in top form.

Parallel Mothers Review: A Perfect Pair

by Pat Mullen | February 9, 2022

Penélope Cruz and Pedro Almodóvar offer further proof they're among the best actor-director combos of any generation with Parallel Mothers .

The 355 Review: Jessica Chastain and Lupita Nyong’o Join Forces

by Marriska Fernandes | January 19, 2022

The 355 isn't a monumental turning point for women in film, but you gotta admire what it is trying to do and the feisty girl power at its core

TIFF 2021: Official Competition Review

by Pat Mullen | September 17, 2021

Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas, and Oscar MartÃnez star in a delightful film-on-film satire.

Dear Evan Hansen to Open TIFF 2021

by Pat Mullen | July 20, 2021

TIFF announces more Galas and Special Presentations for 2021 festival.

Pain & Glory’s Antonio Banderas on Finding Himself Again

by Pat Mullen | October 25, 2019

Antonio Banderas spoke to That Shelf about Pedro Almodóvar's Pain & Glory , where he plays an aging film director who reflects upon his career, creative stagnation, and the rich life that inspired his passion for the cinema.

TIFF 2019: Pain and Glory Review

by Pat Mullen | September 3, 2019

TIFF 2019: Pain and Glory Review

Everybody Knows Review

by Pat Mullen | February 14, 2019

Director Asghar Farhadi's riveting drama is a moral fable disguised as a potboiler that pulls the strings on a deceptively familiar premise.

Zoolander 2 Review: Too Old to Bother

by Eric Weiss | February 11, 2016

Zoolander 2 makes a valiant effort, but it's too slow and out of touch to match the brilliance of its predecessor.

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With just 34 days before reporting to federal prison, Elizabeth Holmes invites filmmakers Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim into her home for an unrestricted look at her life. What begins as an offer of complete access becomes an unsettling exploration of truth, performance, and the difficulty of knowing who someone really is. Balancing uncomfortable humour with a fascinating sense of ambiguity, the documentary refuses to offer easy answers about Holmes or her carefully constructed public image. Through intimate cinematography, intricate editing, and Fielder’s signature awkwardness, it challenges audiences to question what they’re seeing, making for an ambitious, thought-provoking film that lingers long after it ends. 📝 Full review by Lyle Kruger now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
3 days ago
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Rest in peace, Tom Skerritt (1933–2026). A familiar and commanding presence on screen for more than six decades, Skerritt built a remarkable career across film and television, bringing a quiet authority and understated humanity to every role. From Captain Dallas in Alien and Viper in Top Gun to his performances in MASH*, The Turning Point, Steel Magnolias, and A River Runs Through It, he became part of some of cinema’s most enduring stories. On television, he earned an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences, a role that showcased his ability to balance strength, warmth, and humour. Whether playing a military commander, a father, or a small-town sheriff, Skerritt had a way of making his characters feel grounded and real. With a career spanning generations and more than 170 film and television credits, he leaves behind a body of work that will continue to find new audiences. Thank you for the performances and the lasting mark you left on cinema.
4 days ago
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2/9

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Street Fighter brings the iconic video game franchise back to the big screen, following estranged brothers Ryu and Ken as they reunite for the World Warrior Tournament. But with M. Bison plotting to harness the fighters’ power for his own sinister purposes, the competition soon becomes a battle for the fate of the world. Packed with spectacular fight sequences, nostalgic references, and a soundtrack that takes audiences straight back to the ’90s, the film delivers a major upgrade over its predecessor. With a perfectly matched cast, genuinely funny dialogue, and faithful recreations of the game’s signature moves, it balances fan service with entertaining action that newcomers can enjoy, too. 📝 Full review by Sarah Gopaul now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
6 days ago
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3/9

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Whalefall follows Jay Gardiner, a young scuba diver who finds himself trapped inside a sperm whale and facing an increasingly desperate fight for survival. But as he struggles to escape before his oxygen runs out, the experience also forces him to confront unresolved grief and his complicated relationship with his late father. Led by Austin Abrams, the film delivers an intense underwater survival thriller with impressive technical work and a convincing sense of claustrophobia. However, its exploration of grief and family trauma struggles to match the tension of its central premise, relying on familiar character arcs and heavy-handed emotional beats that leave its themes feeling muddled. 📝 Full review by Mel Valentin now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
7 days ago
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4/9

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What does it mean to see and hear yourself represented on screen? In his feature directorial debut, California Schemin’, James McAvoy tells the true story of Scottish rappers Silibil N’ Brains, who found success by pretending to be American. In this interview with That Shelf, McAvoy discusses the importance of staying true to the Scottish identity at the heart of the film, bringing the duo’s story to life, and why everyone deserves to see their own experiences reflected in cinema. 📝 Full interview by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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5/9

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The Social Reckoning revisits the world of Facebook, following data scientist Frances Haugen and Wall Street Journal journalist Jeff Horwitz as they investigate the company’s role in spreading harmful content and radicalizing users. Set between 2019 and 2021, the film examines the consequences of prioritizing profit over people in the social media industry. Despite tackling an urgent and relevant subject, Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up struggles to offer fresh insights into the damage caused by social media. While the story raises important questions about corporate responsibility and the power of technology, underdeveloped characters, an awkward central relationship, and uninspired direction prevent the film from reaching its full potential. 📝 Full review by Mel Valentin now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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6/9

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Six seasons into Slow Horses, Gary Oldman continues to find new layers in Jackson Lamb, the sharp-tongued, dishevelled spy at the centre of the series. In conversation with That Shelf at TIFF, Oldman reflects on playing Lamb over multiple seasons, the character’s history and hidden vulnerabilities, and the parallels between Lamb and another of his iconic spies, George Smiley. He also shares how adapting Mick Herron’s novels allows him to keep discovering new details about a character who carries years of history and baggage. 📝 Full interview by Pat Mullen now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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7/9

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Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother follows Latif, a devout Muslim and hitman whose life takes a turn after his wife’s death leaves him caring for their three children. With his infant refusing formula and their supply of breast milk running out, Latif must navigate a dangerous world of crime and violence while trying to provide for his family. Mahershala Ali delivers an extraordinary performance in this striking blend of crime thriller, dark comedy, and religious parable. Bassam Tariq explores faith, fatherhood, hypocrisy, and forgiveness without losing sight of the tenderness at the film’s heart. Despite some uneven pacing near the end, it’s a bold, moving, and unforgettable film that stands apart from anything else this year. 📝 Full review by Lyle Kruger now up on That Shelf (and at the link in our bio).
2 weeks ago
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8/9

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Eva Marie Saint, one of the last silver-screen icons, has passed away at 102. She burst onto the scene with a magnificent supporting role opposite Marlon Brando in On the Waterfront — a role that earned her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. She went on to memorable parts in North by Northwest, Raintree Country, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, Summer and Smoke, Exodus, and The Rainmaker. Her more recent roles included parts in Winter's Tale, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Superman Returns. Originally from Newark, she auditioned for Elia Kazan and was accepted into the Actors Studio, becoming one of a new generation of strong, method actors. One of the last of her Hollywood generation, she leaves us with an impressive career and legacy of over 6 decades! RIP.
3 weeks ago
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9/9