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Rich Cline

Tomatometer-approved critic
Biography:

California-born freelance journalist living in London since 1992, reviewing films for the BBC, Shadows on the Wall, magazines, newspapers and radio. Chair of London Critics' Circle; member of Galeca, Online Film Critics Society and Fipresci.

Favorites:

La Strada, Rear Window, Star Wars, Apocalypse Now, Citizen Kane, The Stunt Man

Critics' Group:
Location:

London, UK

Official Website:

http://www.shadowsonthewall.co.uk

Reviews

Movies TV Shows
The Sheep Detectives (2026) 95% 3.5/5 EDIT “The Babe-meets-The Thursday Murder Club premise is enjoyable, and the characters are endearingly silly. So it's warm-hearted fun.” – Shadows on the Wall May 5, 2026 Full Review Swapped (2026) 72% 3.5/5 EDIT “It's an enjoyable blast of imagination that throws sparky characters into a series of eye-catching moments. ” – Shadows on the Wall May 5, 2026 Full Review Wild Foxes (2025) 94% 4/5 EDIT “Writer-director Valery Carnoy keeps the focus personal, allowing the young actors to bring out the conflicting emotions these characters are struggling to control.” – Shadows on the Wall May 1, 2026 Full Review Three Goodbyes (2025) 4/5 EDIT “Diving straight into the life of a long-term couple, this Italian drama immediately finds resonance with its authentic dialog and transparent performances.” – Shadows on the Wall May 1, 2026 Full Review La Gioia (2025) 3.5/5 EDIT “This is a dark, multi-layered story full of ideas that get deep under the skin.” – Shadows on the Wall May 1, 2026 Full Review The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2026) 78% 3/5 EDIT “While there are several superb one-liners peppered throughout the script, the plot is almost painfully clunky, straining itself through a series of contrived situations while undermining what made these characters so memorable in the first place. ” – Shadows on the Wall May 1, 2026 Full Review Omaha (2025) 91% 3.5/5 EDIT “The underlying emotionality sometimes feels overwhelming along the way, and director Cole Webley lets these feelings drive the narrative, honing in on how people often express themselves simply in the way they look at each other.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 28, 2026 Full Review Hokum (2026) 88% 3.5/5 EDIT “Damian McCarthy creates an enjoyably sinister atmosphere using both sets and nature, then springs all kinds of nastiness on a protagonist who, frankly, deserves it. It's indulgently grubby and very silly, but a darkly edgy undercurrent keeps it gripping.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 28, 2026 Full Review Orphan (2025) 62% 4/5 EDIT “Impeccably produced, this Hungarian period drama boasts expert production design and costumes, with artfully astute direction by Laszlo Nemes as it traces the story of a young teen boy who reaches a crossroads along with his nation.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 28, 2026 Full Review The Last Viking (2025) 94% 3.5/5 EDIT “While this film sometimes leans toward the cartoonish, it's underscored with spiky emotions that catch us by surprise as we are either laughing nervously or cringing at an explosion of violence. ” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 28, 2026 Full Review Exit 8 (2025) 93% 3.5/5 EDIT “Director Genki Kawamura inventively uses playful imagery, repetition and vivid side characters to create a deeply unnerving situation. ” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 28, 2026 Full Review The Activist (2025) 3.5/5 EDIT “This is a quietly involving dramatic thriller that pulls us into a situation that's troubling on multiple layers.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 28, 2026 Full Review Almost Us (2026) 3/5 EDIT “It's refreshingly set in a queer Black culture beyond New York or Los Angeles. And a whiplash plot point sends the narrative in a direction that isn't remotely predictable.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 28, 2026 Full Review Mother Mary (2026) 72% 3/5 EDIT “It looks amazing, and the actors are excellent, but keeping a grip on the narrative and thematic through-lines isn't easy.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 28, 2026 Full Review Apex (2026) 67% 4/5 EDIT “This is a pulse-quickening thriller that features a series of sequences that are expertly staged to throw us right into the middle of the perilous action.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 28, 2026 Full Review Michael (2026) 39% 3/5 EDIT “Covering the first half of Michael Jackson's career... Antoine Fuqua's biopic adeptly outlines the story, engaging the audience with lots of great music. This helps make up for the rather thinly drawn characters and a far too glowing approach.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 27, 2026 Full Review Eagles of the Republic (2025) 77% 4/5 EDIT “With a sparky satirical plot, this Egyptian drama opens as a barbed political comedy then becomes increasingly tense as it slides into dramatic thriller territory. ” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 16, 2026 Full Review Diamanti (2024) 83% 5/5 EDIT “From its meta-framing device and referential sight gags to warmly involving personal connections, this is pure cinematic joy, nodding to specific classic movies while celebrating the fine art of costume design.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 16, 2026 Full Review ChaO (2025) 84% 3.5/5 EDIT “The action often becomes over-the-top slapstick, while the complex imagery is an incredible mix of bright hues and varied textures.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 16, 2026 Full Review The Last One for the Road (2025) 86% 4/5 EDIT “It's a charmer of a film that keeps a smile on our faces all the way through.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 16, 2026 Full Review Erupcja (2025) 85% 3/5 EDIT “It's intriguing but oddly cold, just like the lead character.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 16, 2026 Full Review La venue de l'avenir (2025) 95% 4/5 EDIT “This is a witty and also knowingly pointed look at how history still ripples within everyday life today, flowing through generations whether or not we fully understand the connections we feel.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 16, 2026 Full Review Rebuilding (2025) 91% 3.5/5 EDIT “ Anchored by a wonderfully open-handed performance by Josh O'Connor, the film is written and directed skilfully by Max Walker-Silverman to find wider resonance in earthy humour and astute observations. ” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 16, 2026 Full Review Normal (2025) 76% 3.5/5 EDIT “For what it is, the film is perfectly entertaining. But it might be time to refresh the formula.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 16, 2026 Full Review Balls Up (2026) 23% 2/5 EDIT “It's a loose, goofy movie that's only entertaining in its throwaway one-liners. When it kicks into action, it becomes flatly ridiculous. And in the end, it's witty but not particularly funny.” – Shadows on the Wall Apr 16, 2026 Full Review
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