Where Licorice Pizza was fun, bombastic spectacle of performances, I Like Movies is a more subtle, more human, more cohesive film with a devastating and distinctive point of view.

For being a period piece, Emma is not stodgy at all. The lightning-paced repartee is incredibly funny, and the tit for tat dialogue is full of fierce wit thanks to Elanor Catton’s script, and obviously Jane Austen.

A Father’s Legacy is heartwarming and eye-opening, and just as importantly, it’s one of the best films I’ve seen in a long time.

Empathy and balance is the reason you must see This Land.

The blending of animation and live-action is incredible, the pacing is swift, and the cast gives it their all. When combined with the strange but excellent sense of humor and strong characters, the picture becomes a lovely surprise. Overall, Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers is a fast-paced, humorous, action-packed ride the whole family will get a kick out of.

City of Dreams is not perfect, but it is extremely well crafted, and as such, I highly recommend it.

Cinema Sabaya is a beautiful model of peaceful coexistence. This is a heartwarming film that should be watched by everyone.

If you don’t like musical theater, you’re not going to like Merrily We Roll Along. If you’re a musical theater fan, Merrily is a must-see.

The Sleeping Negro is unlike your typical drama in that it has a dreamlike visual tone and style and is more an essay about the trials and tribulations of being black in America.

The Rose Maker is at its best during its quiet moments when characters are allowed to simply exist and grow.

After the Rain: Putin’s Stolen Children Come Home is both heart-warming and wrenching in equal measure.

Jarman’s sophomore film Jubilee, is a Molotov Cocktail of celluloid – a film that practically dares you to watch it.

One Night in Miami will surely inspire much-needed discussions that move us closer to true equality, justice, respect, and understanding for all.

By preserving the core narrative, characters, and emotional arc of the original, the live-action remake remains true to its roots. Though the cast is new, the heart of Hiccup and Toothless’s friendship still soars.

The Becomers may not have the largest budget, but it has the largest heart.

Remembering Every Night is an ethereal experience that shouldn’t be missed. It reminds viewers that cinema is a visual art first and foremost and that the composition of the frame and movements within it often speak much louder than words ever can.

If you’re craving samurai cinema, that’s equal parts brutal and thoughtful, 11 Rebels hits like a Katana slice through the chest.

Ben Epstein’s story is compelling, and his character development is brilliant. But taking a step back, the film represents the lives of real people who have made massive mistakes and trying to move on from those mistakes as best they can.

While it trades sprawling vistas for tighter set pieces, it brings Ethan Hunt’s story full circle in a way that’s surprisingly emotional and—dare I say it—earned.

Its revelation of Jesus Christ’s story can still inspire the next generation of filmgoers through its timeless themes of redemption and forgiveness.

As a biopic, Cooper elevates it to masterpiece level, worthy of the artistry of Leonard Bernstein. Maestro is a work of art.

The Lavender Scare is essential to watch and an excellently produced documentary about a time the communist threat overshadowed the so-called “gay threat” from our history books.

Death & Taxes’ strength is its willingness to show contradictions.

Buffett succeeds in capturing the hilarity in the everyday.

Cortés’s devotion to creating a film in honor and respect of Little Richard is also one of achievement and understanding for those who have been marginalized for being who they are.

This period drama may be a bit slow during some scenes, but the devious dark plot is such a pleasant surprise the payoff is worth it. On top of that, The Critic has a beautiful score, excellent set design, and great cinematography.

Judy and Punch is at times gut-bustingly hilarious, brutally uncomfortable, and joyously irreverent.

For the most part, Walsh’s gags work throughout the film. Like most political docs, the open-minded will benefit the most from what Walsh has to say, while Walsh’s DEI targets will have the most to complain about

From a macro level, Brian Banks should just be a social justice film, but as we peer into the life of Banks himself, you’ll see a deeper and more profound story.

Where the first two acts tell an offbeat and strange story, the final act comes out of the blue and ties everything up in a hope-filled and tear-inducing way.

Eternal Spring is a beautiful film about freedom. It’s also a film that is currently flying under the radar, rife with controversy but is well worth seeking out for a serious evening of cinema.

Ultimately, the story is the film’s star, and director Andrew Muschietti knows how to tell a comic book story. As much as there is excessive fan-baiting and nostalgia, it earned it at the end by holding most of it off until the end. I’m sold.

This is essential viewing for anyone with a modicum of interest in WWII history. For the odd individuals that don’t have any interest, this is still well worth a watch because of the powerful character study at play.

Even though the screenplay does not explore every character’s backstory enough to work fully, the film is still an engaging coming-of-age story with an utterly brilliant ending.

The movie gushes about films in a way only cinema buffs could and tells the unknown story of a Hollywood giant in a way only his daughter could.

It is an assured film, mature in its own right and poignant in its ruminations on madness, obsession, and futility; it knows the precise story it wants to tell and tells it with surgical precision.

Suitable Fresh is wild and weird, but it has something to say beneath all the kinks and mind games.

If you’re looking for proof of an afterlife, you will be disappointed, but as the medical experts stress in the film, there is at least evidence of one. You can be rigid in your beliefs throughout the entire film, or you can have an open mind. Either way, what happens after After Death is you will have been entertained.

Settings aside, Infinite Storm is Watt’s show, and she is thoroughly invested.

Throughout, the film is an idiosyncratic mediation on a pesky emotion that can simultaneously bond us and tear us apart. And with Pink and his exquisite cast behind The Wheel, the audience is in great hands.

Remember when action films were fun? Get yourself into the theaters, exercise those subtitle muscles, and enjoy an intense and wild ride with Jawan.

Miss Juneteenth’s brilliance is in its subtlety.

The story twists and struggles keep engaging through, whether you know the outcome or not.

The comedic drama is insightful, touching, and relatable, permitting viewers the ability to resonate with its every line, moment, and character.

Arcel and Mikkelsen have struck a deeply human chord with The Promised Land. It is a tale of undoubted savagery but also one of hope in all its divine illumination.

Terezin is a compelling WWII tale that finds a new way to approach the evils the Nazis perpetuated upon an undeserving people. The direction is splendid, and the cast is magnificent.

Signing Tony Raymond is as feel-good as Moneyball.

Kids will get a kick out of it (provided they’re old enough to read subtitles), and adults (parents, especially) will embrace the detail that goes into portraying the complexities of parenthood that are often glossed over by many.

I Swear is not looking for pity. It’s looking for empathy and understanding, as if to say there is no such thing as good or bad disabilities.

Sally is a perfect portrait of an American icon, proving that anyone can achieve their dreams with passion and grit.

This is a hidden gem, one that we shouldn’t sleep on.

Thanks to a smart screenplay, excellent, stylish direction, and an outstanding cast from top to bottom, the entire production will unnerve and shake up all watching.

Exhibiting Forgiveness is a must-see movie for its universal message of family…and for the great performances and art. Kaphar will immerse you in pain and guide you to hope in the end.

Boesten’s ability to capture the natural beauty and intense emotions revolving around family, ghetto life, drug dealing, and its consequences is exceptional and unexpected. She transforms Master of Light from a straightforward biography of a great but somewhat unknown artist into a poignant documentary that offers something to everyone of any generation.

The Lion King is, for the most part, a shot-for-shot remake of the original from 1994, but unlike the Beauty and the Beast remake, this photo-realistic Lion King leaps ahead of the original as the better picture.

What is clear in the overall message is that women worldwide have something to say about how they are being treated. Merlant makes this theme comedic yet scary. The film is fun-filled with great angles, set décor, acting, and timing.

Daley and Goldstein have written and directed a fabulous paean to the granddaddy of Tabletop Role-Playing games that is just so much fun.

Great science-fiction storytelling is not going to come from the big studios anymore. We will find it from new filmmakers with big ideas and very little money. But thankfully, big ideas attract big talent (then hopefully big money), and that’s what we have with Edson Oda’s Nine Days.

In the end, Lilo & Stitch isn’t a perfect adaptation, but it’s a heartfelt and faithful one that captures the spirit of the original

Waldo On Weed does a fantastic job following Waldo’s adventure of healing and convincing audiences on the benefits of medical marijuana. What sets this film apart from other documentaries on the same subject is the personal battles the Dwyer’s would go through.

It’s sharksploitation at its finest.

The Last Autumn is a marvel to look at. The powerful imagery immerses audiences into a world most don’t know about. In fact, there are times when things feel rather otherworldly.

This is a film that gets savored through reflection as you put all the pieces together and realize the scope of its achievement.

The People’s Republic of Desire is a psychological treatise on self-worth, and the lab rats are the citizens of China.

Resurrection is a brilliant thriller that rests on the actors’ remarkable performances without the need for typical thriller elements nor the need to resort to torture porn.

Ash is riveting, even as it drifts away from and back into the precarious tropes of the genre, like waves against the shore.

Throughout Hadas Ben Aroya’s All Eyes Off Me, we’re privy to a level of intimacy not often seen.

The main actors infuse A Love Song with a sanguine authenticity that keeps things simple narratively. However, it speaks volumes about love, loss, and the desire for connection, however fleeting, and whatever stage of life one is in.

The movie is funny, but for me, the fun is watching this well-controlled mess unfold.

In Dune: Part 2, Denis Villeneuve is a sci-fi visionary. He built two massive worlds (on a relatively modest budget) that give you a sense of place rather than feel like a series of random locations. Villeneuve gives us a seamless image, blending the real with CGI. The care and detail make everything feel practical.

Stuntwomen: The Untold Hollywood Story is not just for the fan of action flicks. It’s also an inspiration for women (or anyone) wanting to get into a career that involves danger, excitement, and tells a story.

The marriage of Johnson, Reynolds, and Gadot is beautiful, and they support one another incredibly well.

You expect excellence from Pixar, and excellence is what they deliver in Onward.

It’s time to turn off the news and turn our attention to stories and films that offer real solutions for peace. Start here and learn that people can change for the better.

Ultimately, we witness an acting community’s evolution throughout the film.

A tight, taut mystery with incredible acting, this terrific film explores how our children use social networks. It has definitely opened my eyes to the possibilities of online sleuthing, and I highly recommend this film to anyone.

Shepard is smart enough to helm Unsettled as more than just an observational documentary. He wants the viewer to be stirred and inspire them to act for change. He does so by employing a fantastic score that perfectly matches the highs and lows these people experience. And instead of going for big and flashy, Shepard keeps the focus rather grounded, which makes it more intimate, thus more emotionally rewarding.

Bobcat Moretti speaks to everyone with its inspirational story.

The finale of Zero Avenue is as brutal and wild as one would hope. Even though the first five minutes are a little patchy, the rest of the film easily overcomes those issues. The two leads are great, the plot is very original and exciting, and the director maintains a tense atmosphere.

Arcadian should be the sleeper hit of the year.

Inthralled is a truly vicious work of art in a brown paper wrapper, just watch your fingers once it is open, as it has bite.

We all know about this war, but until you actually see it, it’s difficult to grasp. That’s why 2000 Meters to Andriivka is so important, people need to know what is going on.

20,000 Species of Bees is a slow burn where most scenes are understated and intimate but culminate into a work that stands strong in the end.

All the well-directed decision-making made by Affleck to present a known story reveals how screenwriter Alex Convery crafted a script where actors had the freedom to embrace their characters to the core. And adding the Affleck-Damon recipe makes it even better.

Dosa gives shape to the Kraffts’ relationship, not through traditional talking-head interviews, but rather by allowing audiences in on the couple’s subtle interactions with one another in their footage, allowing the story of their life together to be told predominantly by them.

What makes Banana Split, so astonishing is its story—written by the film’s star Hannah Marks and co-writer Joey Power. The script is fearless, and the four members of this love triangle (I know) are brilliantly created and well-developed characters.

Where’s My Roy Cohn? is a great doc that’s a tad aesthetically stale, but it will have a mass appeal even to those unfamiliar with Cohn and uninterested in politics and law.

Downeast captures the essence of the frozen life in Maine better than any other film in recent memory.

In the end, if you’re going to tell a story we’ve all heard before, do something unique. Better Man is unique, indeed. The chimp gimmick never gets tiresome; in the end, it plays out beautifully.

There is a great deal of heart in My Old School.

It’s blend of emotional realism, a fantastic lead performance, and exacting direction from Pankiw (a filmmaker making the transition from television with aplomb) make for one of the essential movies of the season.

Ten Tricks is a sweet, goofy little comedy about sex. If that or any of the stars appeal to potential audience members, then prepare for a sexy and silly time.

Clara Sola is an intriguing film ripe with symbolism and strong performances.

This is a poignant examination of the many forms of love. Even if one isn’t totally on board with the lifestyle at the center, it makes it hard not to wonder what that seemingly mild-mannered couple you know might be up to when the shades are drawn.

As a cinematic experience, Yomeddine is near flawless, with a skillful direction, an engaging story, a fitting score and a captivating visual, but it particularly has to be praised for its actors.

What I appreciated about this movie was how it captured trauma and selective memory.

Plan C presents how, within a concise timeline that includes before, during, and after a pandemic and the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a determined group of women, veteran public health advocates, researchers, social justice activists, and digital strategists fight to increase access to abortion pills in the United States outside of a clinical setting.

As a fan of stop-motion animation and the works of Ray Harryhausen and Henry Sellick, King Kong will remain the granddaddy of the art form and remains a classic for all generations.