Akira (1988)

Akira (1988)

[7] Katsuhiro Ôtomo directs this adaptation of his sprawling manga series about (okay, deep breath...) a futuristic biker who squares off against a former friend who has turned evil through scientific experimentation, transforming him into a dangerous super-being of both…
The Menu (2022)

The Menu (2022)

[7] Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch) stars in this posh, claustrophobic horror flick that pits bourgeoise guests at an elite dining establishment against the head chef (Ralph Fiennes), whose multi-course menu is designed for a sinister purpose. The plates begin somewhat…
Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

[9] I never knew a Godzilla movie could be this good. Writer/Director/VFX Supervisor Takashi Yamazaki reinvigorates the venerable franchise with a combination of terrific visual effects, exciting action sequences, and a surprisingly emotional storyline. The film is anchored by its…
Belizaire the Cajun (1986)

Belizaire the Cajun (1986)

[5] Armand Assante plays the title character in this 'cajun western' about a medicine man who tries to hold his 1800s Louisiana bayou community together while one half tries to run the other out of town. I had a hard…
Big Night (1996)

Big Night (1996)

[7] In 1950s New Jersey, two Italian brothers struggle to keep their restaurant open as a rival eatery woos their clientele. Part of the problem is a philosophical rift between the brothers, played by Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub. Tucci…
Knock at the Cabin (2023)

Knock at the Cabin (2023)

[4] M. Night Shyamalan, the once celebrated big-budget thriller maker of films like The Sixth Sense and Signs, has been relegated to low-budget horror movies for several years. I keep hoping that his budgetary confines will result in a burst…
Don’t Worry Darling (2022)

Don’t Worry Darling (2022)

[6] Florence Pugh (Midsommar, Little Women) stars as a 1950s happy housewife living in an experimental desert paradise where the women cook and clean by day, host parties by night, and have sex with their husbands in-between. But she has…
French Exit (2020)

French Exit (2020)

[4] Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges play a rich mother and son who are forced to leave their fancy New York home for a friend's apartment in Paris when they discover their bank account is nearly empty. Once there, Pfeiffer's…
The Fabelmans (2022)

The Fabelmans (2022)

[6] Steven Spielberg tackles his autobiography with this story of his youth and adolescence, discovering his love of film while coping with his parents' untenable marriage. As Spielberg's stand-in, Sam Fabelman, Gabrielle LaBelle is a disappointingly empty vessel, lacking the…
Tár (2022)

Tár (2022)

[8] [This review contains spoilers.] Cate Blanchett stars as a fictional celebrated conductor whose life begins to unravel after an alleged affair with a music student comes to light. Her character, Lydia Tár, breaks the glass ceiling in the rarified…