Alex Welch

Even though the use of one particular plot device ends up feeling unnecessary and Will Forte can often appear miscast in the lead role, A Futile and Stupid Gesture still conjures up enough real emotions and inventive moments to feel like a worthwhile addition to Hollywood’s often tired biopic subgenre.

Paddington 2 goes all in on the charm and wit established in the first film and comes up with yet another winner.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle brings audiences back to its classic fictional world with a fun, updated new twist on its well-worn story. So even if some of its subplots and emotional throughlines don’t quite click, the action-packed fun and humor should still make it worth your price of admission.

Featuring several stunning performances by its stars, with Jacob Tremblay shining brightest of them all, Wonder ends up being a much better and wiser film than its trailers or premise let on.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is Martin McDonagh’s most emotional and profound film to date.

Wonderstruck is another emotional and visually gorgeous outing from director Todd Haynes.

Goodbye Christopher Robin is a good example of how far a film can go with just the talents of its actors and director, even when the script can feel jarring or emotionally uneven.

While The LEGO Ninjago Movie does venture into overly cliched and cheesy territory at times, the performances of its actors and excited attitude of the material keep it from ever going stale.

American Assassin has some of the more terrifying, brutal, and visceral action sequences to be seen on the big screen so far this year. But the film can’t ever quite manage to maintain the same momentum or intensity as its opening act, thanks to a lackluster climax and sudden left-turn into full blown absurdity.

The film manages to look at its characters with empathy and understanding, while simultaneously refusing to endorse their actions. And because of that, Matt Spicer’s directorial debut proves to be one of the more successful takes on the social media generation to hit the silver screen.

The film knows what it is, and lives in its ridiculous skin with an infectious, gleeful attitude. Unfortunately, The Hitman’s Bodyguard also doesn’t know when to say goodbye, and as a result, overstays it’s welcome.

With his latest directorial effort, Soderbergh has made a film that not only constantly pokes fun at its own characters and their lives, but finds a way to imbue each of them with a soul and heart along the way.

Atomic Blonde is one of the best action films of the year.

It may not be Coppola’s most thought-provoking or emotional outing to date, but it’s a chilling and stunningly well-made one nonetheless.

It Comes at Night is emotional, haunting dystopian horror that will leave you shaken.