Mae Abdulbaki

From a bizarre villain to unexpected musical numbers, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is egregiously bad, but with splashes of occasional humor.

In Land, actress Robin Wright’s directorial debut, the sad, isolated feelings that come with bereavement saturate the story, but the film has surprisingly very little to say about grief.

Written and directed by Mike Cahill, Bliss has strong ideas about economic inequality and it ambitiously works to pull off being a sci-fi thriller that is layered with social commentary. However, the film falls short of delivering something more compelling and complex, primarily because it's trying to do too much at once.

Where there could have been thoughtful, poignant commentary about life’s regrets and the turmoil that can continue to permeate a father-son relationship over time, Mortensen drops the ball completely. Without a cohesive story, Falling spirals and offers little beyond good performances.

While the film could have spent more time specifically exploring Margaret’s life, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things is a thoughtful, charming, and heartwarming film that utilizes the time loop aspects to great effect.

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.

Earwig and the Witch has all the parts needed to be a fun and memorable film, but seems to lack the manual for how to bring it all together.

Masterfully written and directed, Saint Maud is a captivating, compelling, and disquieting horror film that is distinct and incredibly intense.

Finding ‘Ohana continues the tradition of balancing heartwarming family bonding time with genuine humor and wondrously exciting escapades.

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.

No Man’s Land is largely uninterested in exploring the Mexican characters’ stories, which transforms the film into an unbalanced drama that lacks nuance.

The film is actress Regina King's directorial debut and it's a timely, wonderfully resplendent exploration of the men behind the renown, stripped of their titles while among friends and ready for the next stage in their lives.

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