2010s

JIM & ANDY: THE GREAT BEYOND: Being And Nothingness
JIM & ANDY: THE GREAT BEYOND: Being And Nothingness

Using archival footage and a present-day interview, Jim & Andy fills in the backstory related to Jim’s spot-on performance of Andy Kaufman in 1999’s Man on the Moon, at the same time providing an explanation for some of his modern bizarre behavior.

NOCTURAMA: We Are Our Own Worst Enemies
NOCTURAMA: We Are Our Own Worst Enemies

From France, Nocturama is an unusual film about disillusioned teenagers that commit an act of terrorism; unsurprisingly, it provides no easy answers.

PERFECT BID: An Underwhelming Tale Of An Underwhelming Scandal
PERFECT BID: An Underwhelming Tale Of An Underwhelming Scandal

Perfect Bid doesn’t overstay its welcome, it’s warmly presented, and offers up some interesting behind-the-scenes insights into one of the world’s most famous game shows.

PITCH PERFECT 3: Off-Key Threequel
PITCH PERFECT 3: Off-Key Threequel

Should future encores of Pitch Perfect take the stage, we can only hope they have a little more verve and imagination than this one.

IN THE FADE: Diane Kruger’s Descent Into Darkness
IN THE FADE: Diane Kruger’s Descent Into Darkness

Diane Kruger carries In the Fade on her leather-clad shoulders and ensures that you’ll walk away from the film feeling absolutely rattled.

DARKEST HOUR: The Capolavoro Of Gary Oldman’s Nonpareil Career

With impeccable direction, engaging dialogue, consummate costume and makeup, and one of the best performances ever to grace the silver screen by Oldman, Darkest Hour is an overwhelming achievement.

THE SHAPE OF WATER: A Wondrous Fantasy Romance That Falls Short Of Greatness
THE SHAPE OF WATER: Del Toro’s Wondrous Fantasy Romance Falls Short Of Greatness

The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro’s 10th feature, is loaded with qualities to praise, including beautifully-lit cinematography, a haunting score, and exceptional performances, but as a whole it’s not quite as impactful as it could’ve been.

THE FAMILY I HAD: A Harrowing Exploration Of A Torn-Apart Family
THE FAMILY I HAD: A Harrowing Exploration Of A Torn-Apart Family

The Family I Had is a sensitively-crafted and thoughtful documentary, utterly harrowing in its depiction of a family’s tragedy, but all the more powerful for being so.

COMPLIANCE: Making Us Question Authority
COMPLIANCE: Making Us Question Authority

Based on true events, Compliance is a film about the police and following authority – it’s compelling, if also extremely disturbing as well.

THE BREADWINNER: Beautiful, Inspiring, Important
THE BREADWINNER: Beautiful, Inspiring, Important

The Breadwinner’s captivating aesthetic, heroic protagonist, moments of levity and weighty themes aid in drawing in youngsters and teaching them about the hardships faced by their peers on the other side of the world.

BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99: A Smart & Visceral Thrill Ride
BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99: A Smart & Visceral Thrill Ride

Director S. Craig Mahler follows up Bone Tomahawk with Brawl In Cell Block 99, an unflinchingly violent and truly original revenge thriller.

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI: A Flawed Addition to the Saga
STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI: A Flawed Addition To The Saga

If you are looking for the best film of the saga, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is not the film you are looking for.

THE RAPE OF RECY TAYLOR: One Story on the Systemic Silencing of Black Women
THE RAPE OF RECY TAYLOR: A Story On The Systemic Silencing Of Black Women

The Rape of Recy Taylor is essential and compelling, bringing female heroes of the American Civil Rights movement to the forefront.

GOLD STAR: First-Time Filmmaker Victoria Negri Is A Subtle Shine

Gold Star is a refreshingly intimate first-time film from director Victoria Negri, with a beautiful story about losing a loved one.

ENTANGLEMENT: A Wholly Original, Expectation-Subverting Gem
ENTANGLEMENT: A Wholly Original, Expectation-Subverting Gem

With a story full of surprising twists and turns, a canvas of dazzling onscreen visuals, and a career-best performance from Middleditch, Entanglement succeeds on several tiers.