Ferdosa Abdi

Swan Song is a respectable science-fiction drama. While it may feel overwrought and overly sentimental in parts, the film is immersive and engaging. Ali is magnetic and his natural onscreen charisma, paired with a terrific performance, make Swan Song an absolute must-see.

The film has two major things going for it: Goldstein and Poots' casting and their characters' chemistry. The only thing that fully captures our attention from beginning to end is Laura and Simons’ undeniable spark and charming banter.

We get two influential actors reuniting on the big screen in a film that is comparable to their acting gifts.

Everything in American Star hinges on McShane's intuitive performance that rejects the obvious and embraces ambiguity.

The talent is abundant on screen and behind the camera, but a flimsy screenplay fails them all.

Ma Belle, My Beauty excels in its visual storytelling, which is paired beautifully with a lively acoustic score and talented actors.

Confess, Fletch isn't a ringing endorsement of rebooting projects from the 80s; instead, it is an excellent showcase of Jon Hamm's comedic chops, a well-known skill that has been primarily misused until now.

If there is any justice, Door Mouse will garner the attention it deserves for being a well-defined narrative brought to life effectively and efficiently by a talented director whose imagination and creative drive become more evident with each scene.

Unwelcome is many things — entertaining is one of them. But with little focus on what actually makes this film worthwhile, the result is disappointing.

Without offering anything particularly interesting or nuanced, The Guilty still has enough to keep audiences engaged and on the edge of their seats.

Anything is Possible is great for what it is, but its potential is even greater.

Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is bright, joyous and hopeful. The script is honest, sweet, and humorous, and comes to life beautifully with a dazzling ensemble cast led by Harwood.

The return of Axel will satisfy fans of the franchise, and it might encourage those who are just tuning in to watch the original trilogy, if only to watch one of Murphy’s most significant roles from the 80s, a true golden era for the multi-hyphenate entertainer.

It is heartfelt in its embrace of silliness, and for that reason alone, it is worth a watch.

Ultimately, The Cursed is merely a slow trek through horrific gore, lackluster and confusing werewolf lore, and a muddled understanding of the legacy of the Roma.

Run Sweetheart Run has a fierceness to its story that has to be admired, and paired with Balinska’s committed performance, the horror film is a must-watch.

All one can hope to get is a colorful and exciting adventure that allows the characters’ personalities to shine. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie succeeds in that regard.

The tonal imbalance and the mismanaged themes make for an extremely uncomfortable watch. However, Dog might find an audience, one that is not so bothered by the lack of depth, and who will tolerate the surface-level insight into the issues it barely touches upon.

The film is truly a feast for the eyes and ears.

Plankton: The Movie is a gem. Fans of the original series and fans born along the way will enjoy it immensely.

This particular narrative is a sound idea but for a documentary instead.

What really makes That Christmas such a joy to experience is the colorful details, from the writing to the scenery to the set and character designs to the atmosphere.

Clock showcases that Jacknow is a talent to watch in horror, though the film doesn’t stick the landing. Occasionally, the concept is stretched too thin, especially when the character work is lacking.

See For Me is an exciting home invasion thriller that dares to challenge viewers with a complicated lead, even if it somewhat fumbles the execution.

Don’t underestimate Upgraded. The script is snappy and entertaining, the characters are colorful, Mendes and Renaux carry the romance very well, and the film is a fun escapist rom-com that gives exactly what it needs to provide us with a good time.

Ambitious ideas and stunning visuals do not make for a great film, but Millepied should consider following his instincts to fight for an all-dance musical for his next feature.

The Boston Strangler case may not have come to the fairest conclusion, but the efforts of these brave women will hopefully continue to light a fire under those who will catch their own Boston Strangler. If that was Ruskin’s goal with this film, then he was successful.

As the film marches to its conclusion, one will have some appreciation for the rotoscoping animation, the score, and the voice work from some of the actors. However, the murky narrative structure and the lack of a central protagonist only works against all the gory goodwill the film possessed.