Bobby LePire

Bhagwan Bharose fully envelopes everyone watching into its character lives.

Doff balances tones amazingly and directs visually striking scenes with gusto and confidence. His writing subverts expectations while remembering to be a story about humans, all the while being an exciting, nonstop laugh riot. All that makes the film more than worth watching. Then you add this truly outstanding cast who effortlessly embody their characters, and you have nothing short of a masterpiece.

Brightwood rocks from beginning to end. The screenplay twists and turns and bends like all the best thrillers do. The direction maintains the mystery all the way through the surprising finale. The two actors are great and play off each other nicely. Elcar’s first feature-length film is one of the year’s best.

The Djinn is scary and harrowing with a shocking and impactful ending. The acting is perfect, and the visuals are a masterclass in creating tension.

The Art Of Self Defense is set in a very peculiar world populated by eccentric characters. While that might turn some off, due to the vision of director Riley Stearns and his incredible production team, as well as a top-notch cast, the movie is as hilarious as it is unpredictable. It emerges as a strong early contender for best film of the year.

The Pez Outlaw has something for everyone. It’s a crime thriller, rom-com, family drama, corporate espionage flick. It is also a sincere and loving look into the Pez collecting community, which is full of the sweetest people imaginable. This is the kind of film you’d show to someone who doesn’t like documentaries to change their mind. It is that good and powerful.

Tatsumi is a stellar work of genius on every level.

Thanks to the incredible editing and score, the story never loses momentum. In fact, due to real-world parallels (as a part of the plot is based on true events), Enola Holmes 2 offers more intrigue and danger than the original.

Blood Relatives is a blast from start to finish. Noah Segan orchestrates a strong sense of atmosphere while still focusing on well-developed characters. His screenplay is whipsmart, while he demonstrates an excellent command of tone.

The director walks the delicate tightrope of emotions so that every new development makes previous scenes all the more intense

I won’t spoil anything, but there’s a speech in which Ron describes people’s reactions to his existence that is one of the best written moments of any movie all year.

The talent on display from the artists involved is incredible, the history of taxidermy is informative, and that it touches upon several different kinds of taxidermy make Stuffed an invaluable resource.

It is a compelling, powerful, and engaging drama that demands to be seen.

Adult Children is funny and dramatic in equal measure.

Once Upon A Time In Uganda is a triumph on all levels. It is filmed with style, follows immensely likable people, and has an infectious, exuberant spirit that is impossible to resist.

Caged Birds is a masterpiece from start to finish. The directing is strong, balancing a lot of tones at one time. The writing is strong, with two likable, engaging characters at the forefront. The visuals and music are excellent, elevating the characters and atmosphere masterfully.

Are You Lonesome Tonight? is a masterclass of cinematic storytelling. Every element works together to enhance and build up each other. This might be Wen’s first feature film, but it heralds a top-notch director with a lot of swagger and much to say.

Long Lost, Erik Bloomquist’s feature-length debut is a confident, impressive mystery-thriller. The actors are amazing, the cinematography and lighting are great, and the directing wrings tension out of every scene. This is a thrilling watch that will get under everyone’s skin.

It is all exciting and goofy and fun.

Due to outstanding writing, stylish, dazzling direction, and a breathtaking, radiant performance from Kelly McCormack, the drama never lets the audience go and proves to be a searing examination of its young protagonist and the society she lives in.

Minghella’s incredible directorial debut is a technicolor, neon-drenched fever dream. It is told with remarkable visual prowess, jaw-dropping editing, a soundtrack to die for, career-best performances from its central cast, and most importantly, heart. This is not to be missed.

Bad Times At The El Royale is creepy and mysterious in all the right ways. The tension builds as the non-sequential story allows the pieces to fall into place in mesmerizing fashion.

To be perfectly honest, as a movie Ernie And Joe is a somewhat routine affair. Follow subjects, interview subjects, point, shoot, move on. And most of the time that would be a problem, creating a lack of engagement or energy. However, McShane is intelligent enough to realize that trying to add pizazz to what is being portrayed here, especially in this particular climate of police relations with citizens, would ring hollow. ... Ernie And Joe struck a deeply personal core with me, as I am sure it will with most audience members.

Moore’s outstanding direction (seriously, how is this his first feature-length effort?) is stylish, subtly reeling one in, as the suspense and thrills slowly boil over.

Miller’s Girl is a stunning debut from Bartlett. The plot is winding and intriguing, with an absolute gut punch of an ending.

The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent offers something for hardcore Cage fans, cinephiles, or anyone looking for something refreshing and unique. It’s original, funny, dramatic, and action-packed without the tonal whiplash one might expect from such an ambitious narrative.

Mr. Toilet: The World’s # 2 Man is an informative and fun documentary. I know that it sounds like an odd choice of words, given its subject matter, but it really is something special.

Mickey And The Bear is remarkable, maximizing its heartbreakingly honest script and emotional directing. Bolstered by a phenomenal cast and an ending that will leave the audience breathless, there is not a single misstep in the entire production.