Alan Ng

All Speilberg really did was take a masterpiece, keep it a masterpiece, and add a little flair (and backstory). He took gold and made prettier gold.

At the risk of being hyperbolic, Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die is a great movie. It offers laughs, thrills, and it’s a thinker; you will not be disappointed.

The American Fiction cast is brilliant.

John Wick: Chapter 4 is the return to the greatness we associate with the franchise, particularly after the misstep that is Chapter 3. It is easily my favorite movie of 2023 so far and begs for repeat viewings.

Rian Johnson’s Wake Up, Dead Man is more than a clever whodunnit. It’s a meditation on belief, guilt, and the stories we tell ourselves to stay righteous. What begins as a murder investigation becomes a battle between truth and faith.

Waititi masterfully balances the film’s comedy with the seriousness of the subject. He plays with your emotions to heighten the impact of the story’s message. Nothing in this film feels gratuitous and the tonal shift in the film will hit you like a ton of bricks.

The documentary may make you angry at times (or throughout), but that’s actually a good thing.

World War I was a new kind of war, because of its use of planes, tanks, and artillery for the first time. Add in the impossible conditions of trench warfare, where men lived in their own filth and alongside piles of decomposing dead comrades—all brought to you in glorious 3D. Even more haunting is the fact that this is real.

Deadpool & Wolverine is an absolute blast, mixing savage humor, intense action, and heartfelt moments. Let’s hope this isn’t the end of the line for this dynamic duo – we need more adventures in this brilliantly chaotic universe!

As They Made Us shines because of its cast.

Liesl Tommy extracts the proper emotion from every scene, and the music is like truffles on top of a fantastic meal.

Unlike other productions, Del Toro finds the visual balance between creature and man. Elordi then runs with it, giving us the balance between a menace and a kind and thoughtful soul.

You’re going to watch Ford v Ferrari for the action, underdog story, and more-than-competent cast. Mangold also has the tone and pace of the film down perfectly. I would watch Ford v Ferrari over and over again.

Origin is an important movie for this single reason: to make us rethink race in America.

Michael B. Jordan and Miles Caton deliver incredible performances in this soulful, bloody tale that masterfully marries blues, vampires, and the vibrant spirit of New Orleans.

The space stuff is secondary to a powerful tale, insightful dialogue, and brilliantly developed characters. It’s the perfect nerdy date movie.

Eternal You is an excellent documentary because it engages you along the way, and you’re constantly wrestling with the issue long after the credits roll.

Cha Cha Real Smooth is a series of reflections on life.

The Iron Claw succeeds because of the human story being told.

Bottoms falls right in my wheelhouse of comedy. Be offensive and don’t care about offending anyone. Bottoms goes after everyone without apology. It’s what comedy used to be; we’ve strayed so far off the path in the last ten years. There’s no place to play it safe in comedy. We need to return to this form of comedy oh so badly.

Stolakis presents the facts in a studied but engaging manner. The testimonies from her subjects are genuine and heartfelt, especially as they continue to struggle with their faith in light of what is seen as God’s “failings” in their lives.

It’s a film that will surprise you if you give it a chance.

Parasites is a brilliant film and for a thriller, it’s absolutely unpredictable (except in one big way).

As a comedy, Ninja Badass serves up one hilarious joke after the next.

You have to remind yourself constantly, this is real. There are no special effects.

I haven’t seen a crime thriller this good since L.A. Confidential.

Song Sung Blue is one of my favorite movies of the year. It all has to do with Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson’s performances, along with a touching script by Craig Brewer and Greg Kohs. What makes this story so compelling is not only that it is true, but also that Mike Sardina and Claire Stengl are us. They are normal people who want to perform and bring happiness to the world.

Love Gilda is one of those documentaries that will make you laugh, touch your heart, and inspire to make the most of your life without fear.