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.

Paying for It is a tremendous effort that honors Brown’s source novel while digging deeper into its subtext. By further developing these characters and emphasizing the female gaze, Lee provides a compelling narrative that neither glamorizes nor denigrates the women Chester encounters. I highly recommend this film.

It’s only by understanding what went wrong that we can hope to recognize the warning signs next time.

Iranian cinema has always been very good at reminding you of your humanity, and Rasoulof’s anthology plumbs those depths perfectly.

Radu Ciorniciuc’s Acasa, My Home, is a heart-rending documentary with investigative undertones.

The Killing Of Kenneth Chamberlain is a well-executed if a bit stagey, dramatic thriller that illustrates exactly why “defund the police” isn’t just a rallying cry but an important call to action. The actors are stunning in their raw performances, and the story will leave audiences infuriated. And that is precisely the point.

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

Residue is a delicately balanced film that lands its points while exploring these conversations from angles that are often unseen.

My one complaint about the film is that it is probably about half an hour too long for my liking (it’s almost 2.5 hours long). Otherwise, I thought it was one of the more honest portrayals of growing up in less than idyllic circumstances with a less than perfect family I’ve seen in quite some time.

This is definitely not your typical Cronenberg. No matter if you either love his cinematic oddities, or if you’re put off by them, watching A History of Violence would prove beneficial. It’s no doubt one of the best films of the year.

It was incredible to see what is arguably the best of the Star Wars films, on the big screen again. However, I do not believe that any of the minor changes make the film any better. [Special Edition]

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

With so many thrills, Loach has completed one hell of a multi-functioning work.

Black Ice is the kind of film where you are in a different world once finishing it.

The score is appropriately ethereal. From the Paris skyline to the Great Wall of China, the film's locales on every continent are rarely less than breathtaking. Calling the camerawork stunning, of course, is an understatement.

Baumbach crams an impressive amount of characterization and humor into 82 minutes.

Anyone who loves rock music will appreciate the script's insights into the form and its history.

Star Trek is pretty damn enjoyable. By resetting the franchise to what is essentially Year One, Abrams has the luxury of...gently reshaping the core characters.

Veiel not only provides details of letters and images throughout Riefenstahl but also constructs a story of filmmaking through his own film. He conveys the emotion of “how could she” using selective footage and placement, timed interviews, behind-the-scenes actions, and subtle narration, allowing imagery to tell a story for the viewer to decide their side.

When the filmmakers focus on the artists who work there, it is moving and engaging. Despite how fun it is to see your favorite musicians in everyday life, there is not much they say that is interesting.

The Teachers’ Lounge flows very well, and the story is quite effective, leaving viewers intrigued, engaged, and as eager as its protagonist to find the truth and answers to what is happening at the school.

When The Namesake ends, one feels as though one has lived with the characters instead of just watching them.

With an authenticity rarely seen in contemporary cinema, it examines the lives of those that struggle to survive in ecosystems that function according to their own decrepit principles.

While Howl’s Moving Castle is far from perfect, it’s still a very good movie. It’s just not a great one.

While Hunger is a very brutal film, it also taps into human emotions and, in the end, asks what would we be willing to die for or, better, what could we truly not live without?

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

Every bit enjoyable as that famed mockumentary.

If my moviegoing experience was magical in any way, it was only in that I once or twice nodded off for a spell.