Of course, we have the magical Mr. McGregor, turning in a nuanced performance that gets into some very raw territory. I knew he had a range, but the depth McGregor travels here is impressive in its specificity.

Chokri’s work has a pulse that beats so hard it could split veins. Yet, it remains in a reality that is vulnerable to suddenly wacky quakes.

Nick August-Perna’s documentary, Tell Them You Love Me, is a heartbreaking story in so many ways. Hope can be a powerful weapon, leaving devastation in its wake.

Overall, June Zero is a worthy film that follows delayed justice coming to a Nazi war criminal, bringing to the surface events of the post-war that aren’t well known.

This is a wonderful film. Seek it out. Also, if you come across a bottle named Molana, which is the Keushguerian brand of wine prepared from the Iranian Rasheh grape, I encourage you to try it. This is such a powerful emotional moment in our shared history.

A Quiet Place: Day One failed to capture what we loved about the original films and instead decided to focus too much of its time on a rollercoaster ride of an alien invasion. Fun is fun, but without proper character development, Day One is more fast food than a hardy meal.

The Damned is an oppressive film filled with static images of ice fields, dark, almost chiaroscuro moments in cabins, and thoughtful, if not over-indulgent, dialogue.

The Omicron Killer does its best with a low budget and some flashy editing to keep the pace going.

The Black Guelph is as gritty as gritty can get.

July Rhapsody has a flawless cast. Jacky Cheung and Anita Mui bring real dignity and wit to their portraits.

Rally Caps works where it counts: the friendship between Jordy and his new teammates. The inspirational aspect pulls hard at the heartstrings because Cipolla’s script carefully sets up Jordy and his dilemmas.

This is everything you could ever want from a yoga horror movie. It also expands the boundaries of what the genre can achieve.

Even though it doesn’t stick to the landing, this is a fun watch with some cool ideas.

There isn’t much story before the shooting starts, so watching the stuff that doesn’t blow up adds nothing.

Invaders from Proxima B is a family-friendly space adventure aimed at a younger crowd; think something along the lines of the fun SpaceCamp or Explorers. Kids will enjoy it, and parents who watch with them will also be amused. So, set your phasers for giggles and get ready to be hit by beams of good fun.

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.

Some viewers may not be receptive to the nihilistic tone in the film. Many of life’s important moments don’t result in a happy ending, and there isn’t necessarily one here either. This Closeness will, however, leave you thinking about relationships in your own life and where there might be room for improvement.

Tiger Stripes is highly recommended for families looking for an off-the-beaten-path take on growing up. The body horror elements are never too terrifying, and I think even younger viewers can pick up on the feminist messaging.

Just the Two of Us won’t win any points for originality (it seems that stories like this are the all the rage on streamers), but it works as a well-constructed drama that checks the boxes of what people watching it want — an intense tale of conflict with two hot people. In that regard, we can definitely count this as a success.

Esposito’s debut is an exciting arrival from a newly minted auteur. Fresh Kills is a fresh take on a familiar subject, with enough splendid brutality to go around the whole table twice.

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.

To be authentic to the book, Nichols tells a story grounded in reality to paint an indelible, searing image of a moment fixed in time.

What You Wish For is everything you could wish for in a well-lit plunge into the abyss. The script’s condemnation of the class system is much more potent than the overrated, sneering misfire The Menu.

I love the fact that they told a straightforward, insightful story that doesn’t feel the need to push the “message.” At the same time, Inside Out 2 misses that quest for excellence and instead goes for good enough.

Gateway isn’t the next new face of horror. But it is a visually dense fright fest with a solid cast. While it is a little long, Owens proves he has what it takes to succeed.

School of Magical Animals 2 is light fantasy viewing for kids to enjoy and adults to grumble about, and it hits those marks with style and polished panache. Set your expectations accordingly.

Apocalypse Clown is a little too serious to work as a comedy, and a bit too comedic to work as drama. But the writers have paid attention to their narrative and have ensured that every plot strand comes together at the end. Plus, the cast, especially Palamides, is really terrific.

Miller has hinted that this may be the last adventure set in the wasteland, and if that’s true, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a powerful swan song to Furiosa, Max, and all the denizens of that blasted, delightful place.