Mae Abdulbaki

Elevated by phenomenal performances from its cast, the film tackles a difficult subject with thoughtful sensitivity, levity, and spirited discussion that will leave audiences thinking about the film and its central premise for a long time after it's over.

The film is grounded, avoiding sensationalism and empty indulgences.

The spectacle doesn’t mean there’s no heart at the story’s core, and it kept me watching despite being overlong.

There aren’t many films that can capture a character’s feisty spirit while still contending with the struggles and feelings of growing older. To that end, Thelma is a breath of fresh air, a crowd-pleasing film that knows exactly what it is and what it’s trying to accomplish. It does so with style and grace.

Love Lies Bleeding is practically guttural, and the emotions that take hold of each character are raw and unfiltered. With action, crime, and romance mingling and building toward an explosive and engaging finale, the film is a thrilling ride from start to finish.

Kneecap is a film that shifts expectations. It’s chaotic in the best way, alive with buzzing energy and resistance.

Niasari carefully and assuredly handles an intense and emotional story with ease and vulnerability. With her work on Shayda, Niasari is a filmmaker whose work we should keep an eye out for.

I Carry You With Me poignantly captures the ache, the beauty of the characters’ love, and the pieces that get left behind in pursuit of something new.

Slow and frustrating, with a finale that is unearned, Red Rocket fluctuates between trying to say something and getting lost in its own premise.

I Am: Celion Dion is a compelling and engaging snapshot, a visceral experience that is worth watching, especially for fans.

While Super/Man touches upon the role, its impact on Reeve’s career and personal life, the documentary is more of a touching ode to the complicated, charming man behind the cape, and the perseverance he showed following his accident.

Flora and Son is energetic, easygoing, and charming. With a great cast, lovely musical numbers, and a stupendous lead performance by Hewson, Carney doesn’t disappoint.

Talk to Me is an assured directorial debut, serving up plenty of terror, gore, and emotional beats in a story that is well-developed and carefully crafted. Audiences will be hooked to the screen, impatiently awaiting what comes next in this unsettling, thrilling horror.

Heavy-handed and unnecessarily long, Spencer explores Diana as a prisoner of the royal family in heart-wrenching and beautifully haunting fashion.

Bolstered by a solid performance by Will Smith, King Richard is a feel-good, charming sports biopic that uplifts but never reaches its full potential.

Minor hiccups aside, The Woman King is a blockbuster with a lot of heart and a clear story that is tightly written; it’s well worth the watch.

For those who may not have seen X, Pearl may be intriguing enough for them to go watch the original film. As both a prequel and standalone horror film, however, Pearl comes up short.

The Fire Inside manages to accomplish a lot in its nearly two-hour runtime. It’s a sports drama that encapsulates the experience of living in Flint and a powerful, character-driven story that isn’t afraid to show the gritty aspects as they actually are.

Poignant in parts, sharp and thrilling in others, Emily the Criminal satisfyingly delivers on many levels.

The concept is no doubt thought-provoking and, occasionally, even creative. But it’s hard to get behind the journey the AIs go on when it’s so detached, the film itself attempting to be a gripping narrative conveying heartfelt emotions that just don’t land.

Notturno is sometimes beautiful and Rosi makes good use of private spaces. But, the film comes off as an exploitation of the region and its people’s pain.

A moving and well-acted film, Belfast explores the decisions families make in the wake of devastation and turmoil; it’s Branagh’s best film in years.

Bolstered by a fantastic lead performance by Priya Kansara, the film is an entertaining ride, one that is filled with love of sisterhood and energetic chaos.

When its focus is on Agatha Rousselle’s Alexia and the lack of control she has over her own body, Titane digs a bit deeper. However, the film’s true weakness is in its inability to explore Alexia as a person, keeping things vague while centering the extreme body horror aspects.

Bolstered by a headstrong performance from Ramsey (who is best known as Lyanna Mormont from Game of Thrones), alongside a fantastic supporting cast, Catherine Called Birdy will be best enjoyed by a younger audience, though it’s still fun enough for viewers of all ages.

Ambitious, occasionally thrilling, and visually striking, Dune is mostly set up, building out a heartless world that never truly feels complete.

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that Plan B is one of the funniest, most thoughtful films of the year and deserves all the love and attention it gets.

The result is a fun, exciting animation that keeps us hooked throughout. Yes, there is the occasional lull in the story, but it doesn’t linger before picking back up with some new story turn or action sequence.