aaron jones
In-House Film Critic | Reviews: 36 | Instagram | Letterboxd
Based in California, he developed a passion for film from a young age and has since viewed over 10,000 films. His appreciation for the medium led him to film criticism, where he now writes for CinemaWaves, offering analysis of both contemporary releases and timeless classics. In addition to his work here, he has contributed to other publications as well.
Review by Aaron Jones | Feb 12, 2026
Anais is thirty and broke. She has a lover, but she’s not sure she loves him anymore. She meets Daniel, who immediately falls for her. But Daniel lives with Emilie – whom Anais also falls for. This is the story of a restless young woman, and the story of a profound desire. The film was shown in the Critics' Week section at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Review by Aaron Jones | Jan 26, 2026
Following the gorgeous, seemingly liberated Adriana as she chases her dreams in the Rome, I Knew Her Well is at once a delightful immersion in the popular music and style of Italy in the sixties and a biting critique of its sexual politics and the culture of celebrity. In 2008, the film was included on the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage’s 100 Italian films to be saved, a list of 100 films that "have changed the collective memory of the country between 1942 and 1978."
Review by Aaron Jones | Sep 10, 2025
An alcoholic falls in love with and gets married to a young woman, whom he systematically addicts to booze so they can share his “passion” together. An Academy Award went to the film's theme music, composed by Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The film received four other Oscar nominations, including Best Actor and Best Actress. In 2018, Days of Wine and Roses was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Review by Aaron Jones | May 28, 2025
Set in the small, mountainous village of Vermiglio during the waning days of WWII, a series of dramatic, consequential events unfold after the arrival of a taciturn Sicilian soldier, who hides out in town after deserting the army. While there, the soldier develops a romance with a provincial family’s eldest daughter. The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize.
Review by Aaron Jones | Apr 30, 2025
Bailey lives with her brother Hunter and her father Bug, who raises them alone in a squat in northern Kent. Bug doesn't have much time to devote to them. Bailey looks for attention and adventure elsewhere. The film had its world premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. It received positive reviews from critics and was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review.
Review by Aaron Jones | Apr 12, 2025
When I saw Soderbergh's last film Presence I was surprised how amateur it felt and with little to no substance, its wooden acting and bad writing and overall flat approach. It was unfortunately one of the worst films I have seen this year. Having no interest in seeing Black Bag because Presence just felt failed on so many levels for me, I slowly began to perk up to its potential after reading and hearing so much praise for his rapidly approaching follow-up.
Review by Aaron Jones | Mar 12, 2025
William Lee, an American expat in Mexico City, spends his days almost entirely alone, except for a few contacts with other members of the small American community. His encounter with Eugene Allerton, an expat former soldier, new to the city, shows him, for the first time, that it might be finally possible to establish an intimate connection with somebody. The film has received generally positive reviews from critics and was named one of the Top Ten Films of 2024 by the National Board of Review.
Review by Aaron Jones | Feb 06, 2025
Just out of jail, crumpled English archaeologist Arthur reconnects with his wayward crew of tombaroli accomplices – a happy-go-lucky collective of itinerant grave-robbers who survive by looting Etruscan tombs and fencing the ancient treasures they dig up. La chimera was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 76th Cannes Film Festival. The film received positive reviews from critics, and is considered as one of the best Italian films.
Review by Aaron Jones | Jan 18, 2025
In the near future where emotions have become a threat, Gabrielle finally decides to purify her DNA in a machine that will immerse her in her past lives and rid her of any strong feelings. She then meets Louis and feels a powerful connection, as if she had known him forever. The Beast had its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival as part of the official competition.
Review by Aaron Jones | Dec 28, 2024
In the region of North Ossetia in Russia a young woman named Ada lives with her family in a remote former mining town. Being the only woman in the household, Ada lives with her patriarchal father and two brothers. This dynamic soon reveals a dysfunctional family clinging together in severely unhealthy ways, with the controlling father at the center of the dysfunction and codependency stemming from a past trauma that still haunts their daily lives. The Film won the Un Certain Regard award at the 2021 Cannes Festival.