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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 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 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 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….
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…
A coming-of-age drama about a teenager drawn into romance, crime, and bad decisions during one unforgettable summer, Hot Summer Nights is a visually striking film that’s mood and style linger longer than its story. I have made no secret of the fact that I’m not a huge Timothée Chalamet fan. I know that he is…
A music biopic following the rise of Queen and frontman Freddie Mercury, Bohemian Rhapsody is a crowd-pleasing film with excellent performances, energetic musical montages, and songs that make the entire story feel alive. I have been a huge Queen fan for many decades now. When I first watched Wayne’s World in the movie theater in…
A quirky romantic comedy about a movie-store owner who meets a morally ambiguous woman, Watching the Detectives is an unusual film with strong chemistry between the leads and fun references for cinephiles. The thing about Cillian Murphy is that I would happily watch him in anything. I know I’m not alone. There is a reason…
A spellbinding drama following a successful young author across multiple stages of his life as the circumstances surrounding his disappearance slowly unfold, The Vanishing of Sidney Hall is a compelling film with an intriguing mystery and a nonlinear structure that keeps the story consistently interesting. I am a movie watcher who has a habit of…
A romantic dramedy about two people who develop an unexpected connection through a series of messages, Voicemails For Isabelle is a charming film, with an easy chemistry between the leads and an emotional payoff that proves surprisingly moving. I think we all know that Netflix romance movies are pretty hit-or-miss. Mostly miss. My Oxford Year…
A romantic drama about an ambitious American student whose carefully planned future is complicated by an unexpected relationship, My Oxford Year is visually appealing and undeniably earnest, but also boring and lacking chemistry. I have never looked into it (and I likely won’t), but as I’ve come across various Netflix original movies, I’ve wondered if…
