Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is One of Marvel’s Best Standalone Films in Years
As popular and successful Marvel films have become, they have also attracted their fair share of detractors. People who have grown weary about the onslaught of superhero films have coined the term ‘capeshit’, and auteurs like Martin Scorsese and Dennis…
Stillwater is a Story about a Meeting of Two Cultures (and also a Thriller)
Tom McCarthy’s Stillwater is a meditative treatise on the intersections of two cultures disguised as an investigative thriller. The latter makes sense, since his earlier film, Spotlight, was also about an investigation and it won him a Best Picture Oscar.…
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is a Good First Foray into the Franchise’s Expansion Centered around a Very Different Monster Hunter
The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf doesn’t exactly work as an entry point for newcomers to the franchise. However, if you’re already a fan, the anime film answers some important questions about the series lore. Animated by Studio Mir and…
Reminiscence Squanders an Interesting Premise with a Misplaced Focus on Action and Mystery
Reminiscence is one of those movies where it is lesser than the sum of its parts. Despite sporting an intriguing premise and an A-list cast, as well as being written and directed by Lisa Joy (co-creator of Westworld), the film…
Annette is an Intensely Personal Musical about Love and Betrayal that You Will Either Love or Hate
Annette is one of the most brazen, weirdest films of the year. Even as a musical, it stands out from its peers. Directed by Leos Carax and with music by Sparks, it’s a tragic tale where two people come together…
CODA Tells a Simple Story that is Wonderfully Realized through Great Performances and Strong Direction
CODA (short for Children of Deaf Adults) is one of happy cases of a simple, predictable story done very well. Directed by Sian Heder, the film follows a small-town girl as she balances her aspirations of singing with her responsibilities…
The White Lotus is a Brilliant Satire that Pokes Holes at the Facades Worn by Progressive Rich Families
The White Lotus is another in a long line of HBO series that have garnered both critical acclaim and favorable audience reception. Created, written and directed by Mike White, the series follows a group of affluent guests at the White…
Free Guy is a Fun Video Game Movie that Works Mostly Because of its Lead Performance
Free Guy has an easy-to-understand premise that can attract both Gen Z’ers and older generations to the theater: what if a non playable character (NPC) in a video game suddenly gained consciousness? Helmed by Ryan Reynolds, it starts off on…
The Green Knight is a Mystical, Otherworldly Take on an Arthurian Legend that Ushers in a New Standard for Fantasy Movies
The Green Knight is an adaptation of a famous Arthurian poem written in the 14th century. In the hands of a journeyman director, this could have been an epic, blockbuster telling where the hero, Gawain, is portrayed as the stereotypical…
The Suicide Squad is a Brutal, Demented and Fun Ride that Makes Great Use of its Extensive Cast
If you’re already familiar with director James Gunn’s work with the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, you might expect the same from his take on The Suicide Squad. While there are some similarities- both feature a group of misfits forced…
