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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 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 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….
A restrained historical drama about the final years of Leo Tolstoy’s life and the tensions in his marriage, The Last Station offers lush production design and strong performances, even if the film itself never becomes particularly engaging. One of the first movies I remember watching was The Sound Of Music. It was one of my…
An adaptation of V.C. Andrews’ novel about four siblings hidden away in their grandparents’ attic after their father’s death, Flowers in the Attic rushes through the story’s most important emotional and psychological moments, resulting in a hollow adaptation of a richly layered classic. There is a joke among Gen Xers that our parents never knew…
A drama about a heavy metal drummer whose sudden hearing loss forces him to confront a completely different way of experiencing the world, Sound of Metal is a deeply affecting and immersive film, with phenomenal performances, extraordinary sound design, and a nuanced exploration of the Deaf community. My mother was an elementary school teacher for…
A coming-of-age drama about four girls navigating the space between childhood and adolescence during one pivotal summer, Summering has an interesting premise and some beautiful imagery, but it never develops into a particularly compelling story. There are some really great films about growing up. Whether you’re talking about My Girl, Stand By Me, or Flipped,…
