Calvin Wilson

A stark, contemplative and hauntingly brilliant film.

In our increasingly polarized time, A Fantastic Woman bridges the gap between ignorance and understanding through the transcendent power of art.

A comedy of discomfort -- and one of their (Coen brothers) best, most insightful and most provocative films.

At its heart, Carol deals with the rules that society imposes on individuals, and the courage necessary to throw those rules out the window.

Cotillard gets so persuasively inside Sandra’s skin that it’s not at all surprising that this performance has earned her another Oscar nomination. And she does so without resorting to shameless, award-baiting grandstanding.

Lady Bird might finally be the role that earns Ronan (“Brooklyn”) an Oscar. As a young woman at odds with the world, and herself, she illuminates the film. Also worthy of Academy attention is Metcalf, who is sheer perfection as the quintessential stressed-out mom.

Portman is simply brilliant, getting to the essence of Jackie without resorting to a mere impersonation.

Seldom has a film so eloquently captured the craziness, brutality and arbitrariness of war. Dunkirk just might be Nolan’s masterpiece.

Doctor Strange doesn’t always make sense — but so what? It’s a mind-blowing special-effects extravaganza, and the most exciting comic-book flick since “Deadpool.”

The film is not only hilariously entertaining, but also firmly in the tradition of such political parables as George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”

Fruitvale Station has all the impact of a thoroughly researched, well-argued documentary. But Coogler made the right choice in going with drama.

Boldly original, The Revenant puts everything else playing at the multiplexes in the shade.

Ultimately hopeful, but uncompromising in its commitment to exposing a tragic chapter in history.

Gosling is terrific as the coolly introspective yet disarmingly charming Sebastian. And Stone is deservedly generating Oscar buzz for her portrayal of an artist who can’t quite believe she’ll ever be anything other than a barista.

A film that's at once timely and timeless.

Lots of films claim to be different. Birdman is.

At once an unforgettable war film and a brilliant character study.

Far from being preachy, Loving is a beautiful film about daring to love, without fear or compromise.

In a stunning performance, Teller resists the impulse to sugarcoat Andrew’s egocentricity. Simmons is equally impressive, lending Fletcher just enough humanity to render his monstrousness all the more shocking.

Shot mostly in black and white and imbued with a romanticism that's at once nostalgic and exhilarating, Tetro sneaks up on you. What threatens to be a mere exercise in style proves to be as involving as it is inventive.

Oyelowo takes full advantage of his close physical resemblance to King, but he wisely avoids mere impersonation, delivering a performance that’s as sensitive as it is spellbinding.

Don’t be put off by the need to read subtitles. Rarely has a film more eloquently captured the universality of human experience.

An exhilarating balancing act, at once a science-fiction romp, a paranoid thriller and a philosophical treatise.

Often, extending a film franchise signifies a lack of imagination. But Creed is a knockout.

Involves the gradual revelation of the hopes, fears and insecurities of well-observed characters.

Working from a script co-written with Christopher Browne, director Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump”) pulls off a fabulous trick of his own: delivering a mainstream entertainment that has, at its heart, a poetic sensibility.

One of the best films of the year.

Nev and the filmmakers prove to be charismatic, and at times hilarious, investigators of the unfolding mystery.