The Piano Lesson, directed by Malcolm Washington (Denzel’s son, making his feature directorial debut), adapts August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play with a star-studded cast, including Danielle Deadwyler, John David Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson — many of whom are reprising their roles from the 2022 Broadway revival. Set in 1936, it follows a family in […]

The End marks Joshua Oppenheimer’s transition from documentary to fiction, set in a post-apocalyptic world where a family lives in isolation within a bunker. The film excels in world-building, creating a convincing environment with effective production design and attention to detail, such as the depiction of drills and daily life. The cast, including Tilda Swinton […]

In Pedro Páramo, director Rodrigo Prieto, known for his fantastic cinematography in Martin Scorsese films and last year’s Barbie, makes his feature directorial debut with a visually stunning adaptation of Juan Rulfo’s ambitious novel. The film follows Juan Preciado (Tenoch Huerta) as he journeys to the spectral town of Comala to find his estranged father, […]

The Deliverance draws inspiration from the true story of the Ammons haunting case and reflects director Lee Daniels’s focus on struggle and resilience. Starring Andra Day as Ebony Jackson, the film follows a single mother who, amidst financial difficulties, a troubled past, and caring for her elderly mother, Alberta, experiences unsettling supernatural events, including some […]

Unstoppable follows the true story of Anthony Robles, a college wrestler born without a right leg, who overcame enormous challenges to become a champion. It’s based on a inspiring real-life story that does much of the heavy lifting, but the performances and direction make it worth your time. Jharrel Jerome delivers a charismatic and powerful […]

The Instigators is the kind of film where you find yourself calling the characters by their actors’ names, and then you probably forget it the next day. It gives you exactly what you expect and hits the spot while you’re watching—kind of like a satisfying meal at Chipotle. The story revolves around Rory (Matt Damon) and […]

All We Imagine as Light makes its themes clear from the very first moments, where different voices describe life in Mumbai—one voice reflecting on forgetting what daylight looked like after long factory shifts, which explains the film’s title. This sets the tone for the journey of Prabha and Anu, two nurses whose lives are shaped […]

Meet the Barbarians is a charming French film that tackles relevant themes of xenophobia, exploring how life in the small town of Paimpont is affected when six Syrian refugees arrive instead of the Ukrainian refugees the townspeople were expecting. Though the film is light-hearted, it effectively balances a large ensemble of characters, creating funny and […]

Andrea Arnold’s Bird starts with immense potential, introducing Bailey (Nykiya Adams), a 12-year-old girl caught in a difficult situation, and her father Bug (Barry Keoghan), a devoted yet emotionally immature man. The film delves into themes of childhood stripped away too soon, as Bailey navigates an unstable home life. Arnold effectively places the audience in […]

The Order is a technically efficient historical thriller about an FBI agent (Jude Law) tracking down a domestic terrorist group in the 1980s, featuring strong performances, striking cinematography, and sharp direction. Director Justin Kurzel crafts The Order with an atmosphere of tension and dread, enhanced by gorgeous cinematography that captures the vast landscapes of the […]

Memoir of a Snail, directed by Adam Elliot, may appear whimsical at first glance with its quirky, stop-motion style and cute, ornamental characters, but don’t think for a second that it is for children. It quickly reveals itself as one of the darkest films of the year. Told primarily through the voice of Grace Pudel, […]

Dead Talents Society is a Taiwanese mixture of Beetlejuice and Monsters, Inc.. Adopting the point of view of the ghosts in a universe that ghosts are only allowed to exist if they have a human connection or, are famous haunters, the film follows rookie ghost Gingle Wang as she joins a competition to become a […]

In The Room Next Door, Pedro Almodóvar steps into English-language filmmaking with a film that is unmistakably his own, marked by his masterful touch in crafting vivid visuals and profound emotional depth. The story centers on Ingrid (Julianne Moore), a bestselling author who, despite her fear of death, has written a book about it. She […]

Queer follows Lee (Daniel Craig), a homosexual grappling with addiction and loneliness who believes that fulfilling his attraction to Allerton, an emotionally distant young man who may or may not reciprocate his feelings, will bring him the fulfillment he seeks. As in Call Me By Your Name and Challengers, Guadagnino excels at creating sensual scenes […]