The acting is subdued, nothing over the top, but captures a realism not normally seen in the bigger-budget films.

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.

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.

Nomadland is a wonderful exploratory mission into real American life.

Red Right Hand fully delivers in the action realm.

This is an atmospheric and beautifully crafted horror film, with its brains firmly on the inside.

578 Magnum does not tell a fresh tale, and the editing leaves a lot to be desired. But Dinh delivers where it counts: the action. The action scenes are stellar and will take the audience’s breath away. The cast is also great and delivers their martial arts with intensity.

A Gen-Z Bonnie and Clyde, Marmalade takes big, admirable swings, and while it misses some, it avoids the cardinal sin of being boring.

In terms of narrative, writing, and performance, the flick is hardly lousy to watch and will leave an impression, though it may not be everlasting.

Glazer’s film is marked by supremely judged restraint.

This is exactly the kind of movie that improves on subsequent viewings, allowing you to enjoy it more once you accept the narrative on its own terms.

Kim Jee-woon’s film is smart and full of laughs but comes up against profound issues created by its gaming of reality.

The immense length and repetitive format can sometimes make the film feel like an endurance test. To say that its pacing is glacial would be unfair to the melting ice caps.

Although sincere and well-crafted, the repetitive lethargy of A Still Small Voice would perform much better in a short art film, not a full-length feature.

Onlookers is a novel exercise in audio and visual presentation. Natural light, loads of wild sound, and the environment of Laos are presented plainly with zero artifices or embellishments. If you’re looking for a new kind of travel film, this is for you.

The documentary is a deeply meditative look at what it means to truly live with purpose and meaning.

Modernism, Inc: The Eliot Noyes Design Story is well-crafted and educational. Its deep dive into corporate culture design is fascinating.

The space stuff is secondary to a powerful tale, insightful dialogue, and brilliantly developed characters. It’s the perfect nerdy date movie.

It is exciting in ways you cannot imagine and must be seen to be believed.

It’s refreshing to see a sex comedy that recognizes that it’s really not all that simple for all of us.

Paradise City is a fun and lightweight tale for an evening of Hulu and chill. It’s not going to change the world, but it’s entertaining enough, especially considering Willis’s recent retirement.

Handling the Undead is more of a philosophical journey than a survival journey.

Porcelain War is an engaging, timely look at art, war, homeland pride, and the resilience of the human spirit. While it is not subtle, it is impactful and never dull.

Popular Theory is an amusing film with just enough heart to be more than a one-time watch.

She Is Conann shatters the limits of cinematic imagination.

Prison films are an underrated genre, and Pino’s film is a more than worthy addition to the great family of films that take place behind bars.

Disco Boy is not your average war drama, or sociopolitical study, or character dissection, or psychedelic trip. It’s all of those things, and Giacomo Abbruzzese wouldn’t have it any other way.

All the actors are superb in their characterizations and limited sets.