Calvin Wilson

A must-see — and one of the best films of the year.

This is the kind of film that benefits from being experienced with as little prior knowledge as possible. As one watches it, certain questions may arise. But don’t worry — the answers are fascinating.

Cruise is as watchable as ever, bringing to Hunt a blend of steeliness and vulnerability.

If you long for a film in the tradition of such grown-up entertainments as “Lawrence of Arabia” and “The English Patient,” this is one to get lost in.

An absorbing drama that represents director Ridley Scott (“The Martian”) at his best.

Traditional in the best sense.

Maudie is a work of art.

Psychological thrillers just don’t get any better than this.

Superior filmmaking. Yes, it runs almost three hours - but you've probably seen 90-minute films that felt a lot longer.

This is a film that's not always easy to watch, but just about impossible to forget.

Aside from art-house fare, American movies of recent decades have tended to ignore even the most urgent social problems. Despite its lapses into melodrama, 99 Homes is a thought-provoking exception.

Director David O. Russell ("Three Kings") delivers a film of staggering impact.

Portman is eminently watchable as Lena, who slowly realizes that she’s in way over her head. And “Ex Machina” star Isaac virtually redefines creepiness.

As enchanting as it is ambitious.

Working from a self-penned screenplay, Tarantino has come up with one of the wordiest Westerns on record, and even some of his most diehard fans may grimace at the film’s occasionally slow pace. But The Hateful Eight more than compensates through its intriguing characters, ominous atmosphere and palpable suspense.

Working from a screenplay that he co-wrote with Christopher Rouse, director Paul Greengrass has come up with a post-Snowden film that delivers nonstop thrills.

An emotionally involving drama that deftly sidesteps mawkishness.

Wysocki is perfectly cast as a teen who's at odds with both his environment and himself. It's a terrific performance. And as the empathetic Fitzgerald, Reilly is at his quirky best.

Once you’re on its wavelength, the film is a mesmerizing experience.

An intense, provocative drama about religion and its impact on those who embrace it as essential to their lives.

The rare film that will remain on your mind long after you’ve left the theater.

Our Idiot Brother is smart entertainment.

Particularly impressive is Ashkenazi (“7 Days in Entebbe”), who brings to Michael a soulful but volatile insecurity. It’s a hauntingly realized performance. This is a different kind of war film — and a brilliant one.

A provocative mood piece. Nichols, who had an art-house hit in 2011 with “Take Shelter,” has a gift for creating characters of unusual depth, and for eliciting performances of emotional resonance. With Mud, he seems to be edging closer to the mainstream, but his skills are as sharp as ever.

One of the freshest and most entertaining films of the year.

Logan isn’t the typical superhero flick. It’s more like a Western, with Jackman turning in a performance that’s reminiscent of Clint Eastwood in his Man With No Name days.

A well-crafted drama about the comforts and insecurities of family life.

The film’s true scene-stealer is Bennett, who brilliantly portrays Sir James as a case study in cluelessness.