Instead of stitching together interviews and footage into a chronological plot, Wharton goes with the proverbial flow.

The most critical element of Winter’s documentary is not the scandal itself, but the fact that hundreds of journalists from around the world were able to work together to expose this corruption, despite the consequences, and their egos.

After We Leave is a shining example of indie filmmaking at its finest.

The documentary may make you angry at times (or throughout), but that’s actually a good thing.

Instant Dreams makes a strong case for the necessity of instant photography. Its three main subjects are compelling and well spoken. The film’s powerful, hypnotic images, and the mesmerizing score only add to the dream-like atmosphere being conveyed.

Soft and Quiet is the most unsettling real-life horror movie since Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. The seemingly uninterrupted single take with a handheld camera fits the production perfectly.

The Dark Knight may not be a masterpiece, but it easily vaults to the top of any list of "best superhero movies."

It is an intimate, somber, uncompromising cinematic portrait of a desperate soul in the vein of Darren Aronofsky’s The Wrestler, if it were cross-bred with Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. The film will haunt you long after the lights fade.

Roman Polanski’s J’Accuse, released internationally as An Officer and a Spy, is a brilliant exercise in controlled storytelling, visual discipline, and moral searching.

Writing with Fire accomplishes what any good documentary should—it allows the viewer a visit a world that they might never even have known to exist.

Give Me Liberty, is one of the most sensitive, compassionate, and poignant movies of the year. Although it is officially classified as a comedy, as it is filled with hilarious and entertaining moments, it is so much more and will make you feel a whole spectrum of emotions. Give Me Liberty is a humanist film at heart with a bona fide independent spirit.

Neither the meals depicted nor the viewing experience should be rushed. Time is needed for the ingredients of the film to achieve a simmered state of perfection. Your patience will be rewarded.

A welcome return to the raunchy hey-day of comedy, a true guy's film.

The acting in the film is grade-A, with Stallone bringing the more mumbled Rocky from the first film spliced with some rousing inspirational monologues when the moment is right (not forced, not preachy… just perfect).

LaBute rewards patient viewers with two amazing lead performances, crackling dialogue, and genuine suspense. While the film might be flawed, it is imminently watchable.

World War I was a new kind of war, because of its use of planes, tanks, and artillery for the first time. Add in the impossible conditions of trench warfare, where men lived in their own filth and alongside piles of decomposing dead comrades—all brought to you in glorious 3D. Even more haunting is the fact that this is real.

Visually tight but engrossing, The Girl in the Trunk is a worthy thriller, especially thanks to the slam-bang conclusion.

The film is able to be a thriller, a political statement and a haunting romance all at once.

We the Animals, a stirring portrait of youth, is a requiem for innocence lost.

Open Range gets better the deeper you get into the story.

As great as the script and cinematography are (they are both unassailable), the real magic of Unforgiven is in the performances.

One of the best movies of the year, and a great accomplishment for Messrs. Harmon and Schrab. Maybe now we’ll get a feature length "Robot Bastard" movie.

The American Meme works best when it reveals the subtle pain behind much of the manufactured fantasy.

This film is gorgeous, massive in scope, well-written, and superbly acted. It goes beyond being a Michael Bay-explosion fest and definitively transcends action and destruction porn. This is a real movie. Every single issue I had with the original release is fixed—everything from pacing, cinematography, acting, characterization, and even the film’s score.

Tejano is one of those films that can be described as a hidden gem as it sneaks under the radar and will have you talking, telling your friends about it, and wanting to watch it again.

It’s a feast for the eye and for the mind, done in a nonchalant way that would make the most seasoned filmmakers jealous.

Everyone involved with the film brings their top talents to the fore, and the result is a touching, heartbreaking and an ultimately honest personal experience.

Think of "Escape from New York" starring two French Spidermen on speed, and you've got District B13, a snazzy, sensational action ride from big-bang guru Luc Besson.

Provocatively toying with horror conventions, Roxanne Benjamin ensures maximum impact when the terror begins; though the occasional awkward edit rears its ugly head. Anchored by a star-making lead turn and sporting superb sound design, Body At Brighton Rock is a bloody good time.

There have been a lot of documentaries about the historic Woodstock festival, but many have not discussed much other than the performance aspect of it. This documentary lets the ones who were there discuss what it took to put the festival together, the challenges the festival faced, the unity of everyone involved, and what it meant to the country during a critical time.

Deadpool & Wolverine is an absolute blast, mixing savage humor, intense action, and heartfelt moments. Let’s hope this isn’t the end of the line for this dynamic duo – we need more adventures in this brilliantly chaotic universe!

The film's overall result is a document of towering, devastating emotional impact.

Nearly all of the footage in the film is incredible, both in terms of content and restoration. The performances are like nothing else in Dylan’s career or anybody’s career.

Offering beauty and strength in an oppressed and marginalized world, Eileen breaks the boundaries of perceived power.

The final act is all but guaranteed to astonish and satisfy. See this movie.

It’s a most humane and beautiful story.

The great thing about this documentary, other than seeing some very provocative dancing, is that it goes beyond the superficial and talks about the socioeconomic situations that most black people in America face.

The Mother And The Bear is a very different spin on the romantic comedy and self-actualization tale. By combining the two, Johnny Ma creates a distinct and engaging story. It is led by the brilliant Kim Ho-Jung, who is aided by a wonderful supporting cast. The music also does a lot of heavy-lifting, emotionally speaking, and everything just comes together in a truly sweet and life-affirming way.

Master builds up to one of the most emotionally explosive horror finales I have seen in a while.

I Am Here stands as a testament to the enduring qualities of the human spirit.

Streaks of sadism emphasize the prevailing humanity, as do the borderline-psychedelic brushstrokes: the intentionally murky nightmarish visuals, Ariel Marx’s nervous score, the bleak set design, the impassivity with which cinematographer Chananun Chotrunngroj’s camera observes the two women’s descent into madness.

Warren’s film may leave you bruised, but don’t let that stop you from seeking it out.

A fresh and rewarding take on cinematic terror.

Becky is a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse that leaves you unsure if the good guy is really that good at all. It’s funny at parts, shocking in parts, but mostly it’s just a great thriller that just so happens to have a 13-year-old girl as the heroine.

If you’re in the mood for a biographical film, Joyce Carol Oates: A Body in Service of the Mind is a splendid example. Seek it out, wherever it may be playing or streaming.

Randal is a beautiful hostile piece of work that only could have come from America. He's the sort of guy who never put in a quality day at the office in his life, but somehow probably winds up winning the biggest lotto drawing ever with a ticket he stole from his loser best friend's Quickie Mart.

The Columnist is that rare mix of comedy and horror that isn’t too cheesy or over the top.

I can go on and on about the multiple tiny lightning bolts Hansen-Løve catches in her bottle. Arguably the biggest lightning she caught was hiring Seydoux.

As They Made Us shines because of its cast.

1BR has a lot to say about what a person is willing to sacrifice to be happy and if said sacrifice is worth it. It does so effectively and intensely, with a smart script, a few plotholes aside, and excellent directing. The acting across the board is terrific, and the culmination of Sarah’s tumultuous journey during the berserk ending is well worth taking.

Exhausting yet invigorating, it's a drama one witnesses more than just views.

While the screenplay for Little Chilldren is basically perfect, it's the acting that really drives the film home.

Author Judy Blume had a profound effect on many a young girl and boy’s life and adults whether you read one of her books or all of them. Judy Blume Forever is a testament to why.

Cronenberg has created a mind-bending trip of a movie with more to say than your average actioner and is supported by spectacular performances and make-up and practical effects that seal the deal. Brace yourself. Possessor is brilliant.

The Marriage shows us this problematic side of love with no judgment, which is incredibly refreshing.

Liesl Tommy extracts the proper emotion from every scene, and the music is like truffles on top of a fantastic meal.

What they produced is something that is true not just to this place or to these people's lives, or to the lives of poor people or black people, but to the experience of being human.

This film, this artist, this music, this story: all rare gems…see this film.

Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc is a film that demands to be witnessed on the largest possible screen. Preferably at a movie theater. This is that rare cinematic bonbon that will sit in your mind palace long after you’ve watched it.

Gigi Saul Guerrero is a Mexican director who works in Vancouver’s thriving female production-driven indie horror scene, as documented in Vancouver Video Vixens. After honing her talent with many shorts, television episodes, and anthology segments, she has arrived as a fully formed auteur with Bingo Hell.

There is this marvelous hard-boiled narrative style Vigas employs, with long periods without dialogue and little exposition. The way the intrigue is built as the picture progresses almost takes us into thriller territory. This is the cinematic storm the filmmaker creates here when a child’s yearning meets the brutality of an outlaw land.

I can see why this movie scared so many people. I’m fairly liberal and I find Clint’s super-cop infinitely appealing. Imagine how this movie goes down with people who already have one foot in the door of the local militia or Klan auxiliary. Even Pauline Kæl would have to admit that politics aside, this is a pretty damn effective action movie. This is Clint at maybe his best looking and healthiest, and his Inspector Callahan is perhaps every rebel’s dream.

A gripping tale of survival and the kind of smart thriller that will gain much-deserved attention for both director Stolhand and actor/writer Uygar Aktan. Simply a stunning piece of filmmaking.

The electrifying performances, superb cinematography, and timeless subject matter make it a shoo-in for awards all over the place. Considering that it is a smaller piece of a more prominent statement makes it all the more interesting.

Unlike other productions, Del Toro finds the visual balance between creature and man. Elordi then runs with it, giving us the balance between a menace and a kind and thoughtful soul.

A very funny and painfully relevant two hours of entertainment.

Bleak, weirdly witty at times and unrelentingly suspenseful, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is the cinematic equivalent of a perfect storm.

Riotsville, U.S.A. brilliantly uses the aesthetic of its archival footage to not only place us in a historical era but also to inform, to critique state power.

The film is a monumental achievement, rolling in like distant thunder and lightning seen through the treeline.

Edson Oda’s script is incredible. It asks so many philosophical questions without being preachy or pedantic. It successfully reminds us how precious all of our lives are, which is no small feat.

Wherever you may land on the ethical issues of gene manipulation, Human Nature, is a fascinating watch.

This is Scorsese’s "Schindler's List", for better and for worse (mostly the better).

The vision of life’s twilight years presented in the film is frank while still remaining expansive.

While the documentary refrains from giving family members clear direction on how to mitigate their fears and anxieties, they have each other. That familial strength is what injects this poignant documentary with so much optimism.

One of the best surfing documentaries ever filmed.

The most important thing in Marriage Story really isn’t the divorce itself. It’s Charlie and Nicole as people on their own individual journeys through one of the hardest things a person can ever go through. It’s a beautiful character piece that revels in its protagonists’ quirks and tics.

Sabatella makes these characters so viscerally real you can’t help but identify and agree with all sides of the argument.

You’re going to watch Ford v Ferrari for the action, underdog story, and more-than-competent cast. Mangold also has the tone and pace of the film down perfectly. I would watch Ford v Ferrari over and over again.

You Go to My Head is a warped and lush tale of obsession, deception, and romance that’ll certainly go to your head. It’ll just take some time.

By examining the subtleties of friendship, the film is transfixing and charming.

The result is undoubtedly a tough watch at times, but to miss it would be turning the same blind eye that so much of the world has done to these creatures. There are flashes of hope within, including some justice brought to one of the world’s most notorious ivory traders and increased awareness on a global scale.

Werewolves is the best werewolf movie since The Howling.

A very important film that is as sad as it is uplifting. After viewing it you may just have a whole new appreciation for life.

Alexander Payne is becoming one of the greatest American directors of modern cinema and again, Sideways is on its way to being one of the best films of the year.

The brilliance of Holy Spider is how it takes all the gripping, lurid suspense of the serial killer thriller, turns it on its head, and takes it to the next level as symbolic of a corrupted, misogynistic society.

A roller coaster of emotions that will have you laughing one moment and gasping in shock the next.

Borrowing more than its title from the Frank Capra social comedy, this underdog tale is a rough gem.

Origin is an important movie for this single reason: to make us rethink race in America.

May be the best independent horror film to have come out since "The Blair Witch Project." It's certainly better than "Blair Witch", and more fun, more gruesome, and more macabre. In a very delightful way.

The cast in this film is incredible.

This is a family film. There's a great deal of wackiness.

We could all use a good pick-me-up, and Rock Camp: The Movie fulfills that role. If you’ve ever played an instrument, be in a band, been to a concert, or you’re just an avid rock’n’roll fan, you’ll escape into the fantasy and have some well-deserved fun.

Michael B. Jordan and Miles Caton deliver incredible performances in this soulful, bloody tale that masterfully marries blues, vampires, and the vibrant spirit of New Orleans.

It’s how Harry Chapin, the artist, and advocate described by so many and presented by Korn that makes Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something an important film. As a troubadour, Harry’s folk roots and his ability to visualize a story through his music—stories so many of us have lived and continued to do so—is personal and universal, all at the same time.

Welsh director Prano Bailey-Bond’s feature debut, Censor, is one of those horror movies that sticks with you well after the credits roll. That’s because it doesn’t follow the typical horror movie formula.

This immaculate filmmaking creates an engaging documentary that makes you forget that you're missing the energy of a live show because it's a completely cinematic experience with its own special energy.

Never in the history of movies was a film so absolutely enraptured by its subject than East of Eden is with Dean. The camera desperately records his every twist and turn of emotion as if preserving it were of the utmost importance.

It's an entirely different animal from Tarkovsky's hypnotic but opaque take, and it's an entirely different animal from most studio product in general -- Soderbergh's Solaris is a gorgeous and deceptively minimalist cinematic tone poem.