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A coming-of-age drama about two teenagers whose chance friendship leads them to confront grief, family trauma, and the weight of their pasts, All the Bright Places unfolds with warmth and compassion, using excellent performances to tell a story that’s ultimately as healing as it is heartbreaking. One of the things that I love most about…
A heartfelt coming-of-age drama about a teenager preparing for her first show while navigating the realities of her mother’s returning illness, Don’t Say Good Luck gradually builds its emotional weight through likable characters, genuine performances, and a deeply affecting musical backdrop. When the musical Waitress came out in 2016, it kind of went right past…
A romantic dramedy about a couple confronting the anxieties threatening to reshape their relationship, The Drama favors symbolism over realism, creating an ambitious and stylistically fascinating experience that’s more visually absorbing than emotionally engaging. I have to admit – when this was released, I was not interested. I like both Zendaya and Robert Pattinson enough,…
A science-fiction spy thriller about an operative attempting to stop a global disaster by unraveling the mysteries of time inversion, Tenet is packed with inventive ideas and impressive visual effects, but spends so much time showing off the brilliance of its concept that its emotional investment takes a back seat. After watching The Odyssey last…
A drama about two unlikely best friends navigating the realities of a terminal illness, Paddleton is a slow-burning, quietly beautiful film that uses dry humor and an authentic friendship to tell a story that sneaks up on you emotionally. If you aren’t familiar with Duplass Brothers Productions, you might be surprised at some of the…
A fantastically campy musical sequel, Grease 2 is a cult classic that brings back the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies for another year at Rydell High, along with great songs, a talent show, and a lot of laughs. When I was a child, my brother and I would stay overnight at our dad’s house every…
A family drama exploring the lasting effects of generational trauma, long-buried secrets, and mental illness across multiple generations, After All is a thoughtful slow-burn that ultimately delivers a rich story with emotionally honest performances. I have loved Penelope Ann Miller since I first met her in Adventures In Babysitting in 1987. As Chris’ best friend…
A time-travel comedy about an ordinary man trying to prevent a disastrous future, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is funny, unpredictable, and refreshingly creative, revealing its story through cleverly interwoven past and present timelines. One of the most entertaining thematic choices for a movie is time travel. No one knows exactly what it should…
A deeply emotional documentary about a young girl’s disputed medical condition and the family torn apart by the systems meant to protect her, Take Care Of Maya uses extensive recordings, interviews, and documentation to create an intimate picture of unimaginable trauma. I am a huge fan of documentaries. I have never been a reader of…
A survival comedy about two people forced to exist together on an isolated island after a devastating plane crash, Send Help delivers plenty of bloody laughs through its gleefully absurd premise, even if the cat-and-mouse dynamic starts to repeat itself. When this movie was first released on Hulu a few months ago, I had planned…
A crime comedy about an ambitious young woman navigating the cutthroat world of debt collection in hopes of building a better life, Buffaloed is energetic with great performances, but it never finds the depth or focus to make its story satisfying. I first saw Zoey Deutch only recently in the movie Voicemails For Isabelle. She’s…
A family drama about a mother and her nonbinary teenager who is seeking a connection with their gay grandfather, Jimpa is a deeply human film that uses conversations about identity, sexuality, and independence to explore the complexities of family relationships. I have a list of actors whose films I intend to watch every one of….
