Mae Abdulbaki

It’s fraught with frenetic energy and delightfully charming performances, but Blithe Spirit is not as funny or absurd as it sets out to be.

Die in a Gunfight is utterly empty, with poorly developed characters, clunky dialogue, and a disingenuous romance that attempts to be epic in nature.

The Ultimate Playlist of Noise has some lovely and heartwarming moments, but it lacks a strong central relationship and is often too formulaic.

Ultimately, First Blush works as an engaging, compelling exploration of how a change in a relationship can also wake up unresolved personal issues. However, while the first half is incredibly strong, Neumark struggles with bringing it all together in the end by rushing to bring the characters into conflict with one another.

With no buildup, tension, or interesting characters, The Sinners fails in its execution and exploration in the themes it puts forth.

It’s a passion project that, while evoking emotion in the wake of grief, could have used some more editing and fine-tuning for a better and smoother journey.

While the film tends to get repetitive and its comedy doesn’t delve any deeper than it has to, Some Like It Rare is entertaining and darkly funny.

While the drama can be a tense watch, there is something missing in its execution to make it a riveting, suspenseful watch.

Bolstered by a moving performance by Jennifer Kim, the film is a slow-burn, character-driven thriller that brings us to question what is real and what is imagined.

Occasionally intense and always interesting, Sri Asih is certainly worth a watch.

There’s Something in the Barn is a horror comedy that seems destined to be a cult classic. It ultimately delivers on its premise and has a whole lot of fun while doing so.

It’s a film like no other that you’ll see this year, and though not everything works, River is a time loop jaunt that isn’t easy to forget, bolstered by fantastic performances and a deep sense of fun.

The film doesn’t always rise to the occasion, and there is some lost potential and a general lack of urgency, but We Were Dangerous’ heart is in the right place, bolstered by a great cast and a strong overall message.

While The CW’s Arrowverse brought Crisis to life in its own way, the animated version takes things to the next level in an adaptation that is at once sorrowful and thrilling.

Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths - Part Two is a disappointing entry, failing to truly and comprehensively build a bridge between the first film and the third film.

Adult Best Friends certainly has its heart in the right place and it can even be quite funny and lovely as it navigates the characters’ friendship and its evolution, but it’s also overstuffed with unnecessary characters and subplots that don’t add anything to the core relationship beyond distracting it from being deeper.

Every moment is purposeful, every conversation sharp; the actors and the direction say more than what is on the surface.

Awkwardness knows no bounds here, and the kooky comedy has enough steam to carry it all the way through to a lovely ending.

It’s a nuanced role that Banks absolutely nails, capturing Liz’s experience in a way that makes us feel all that she’s going through.

With a game cast and thrilling action sequences, Huang’s film offers more than expected to keep us engaged.

Writer-director Simon Hacker has a good grasp on his characters and story, but while Notice to Quit has a spark, it lacks any true heartwarming moments, which are buried beneath a surface-level premise that refuses to engage with vulnerability.

There’s an emotional resonance that permeates the film and fills your heart with an ache so strong that it’s difficult to walk away without being affected.