The Accountant 2
The Accountant 2 is very much like The Accountant (2016). That’s not necessarily a bad thing. A good sequel beats an awful original any day — especially when we’re in…
The Legend of Ochi
E.T. set a really high bar for children's fantasy films in my youth. And I've pretty much aged out of the genre. So The Legend of Ochi didn't do much…
The Ballad of Wallis Island
If Once (2006) and Waking Ned Devine (1998) had a cinematic love child, it may look something like The Ballad of Wallis Island, a bittersweet British dramedy about an eccentric…
Black Bag
“Where were you last night, honey?” “Black bag.” In other words, I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you. And I love you. So best not go…
The Gorge
I’m always a bit skeptical when a movie with a pair of talented leads opens on a streaming service without a theatrical release. So I was pleasantly surprised by The…
Paddington in Peru
Paddington in Peru: Lost in the Jungle is a heartwarming movie for all ages. It has a bit of a Swiss Family Robinson vibe, with the addition of a precocious…
I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)
I'm Still Here is a quiet, intense, and moving political and family drama that should serve as a cautionary tale about dictatorship, authoritarianism, complicity, and resistance. It's based on the…
Inheritance
For a film shot clandestinely on an iPhone, Inheritance is a decent little thriller. It has an intimate rather than epic vibe and will likely find its audience with home…
The Room Next Door
It's probably one of our worst fears: dying alone. I didn't particularly like The Room Next Door though it sure it did resonate. It's the story of two old friends…
Emilia Pérez
Emilia Pérez is a jumble of genres, yet somehow it works. Part crime drama, part musical, part arty, part mainstream, part weird. It's really hard to explain without messing up…
Black Box Diaries
I happened to watch Black Box Diaries on the same day that dozens of guilty verdicts came down in a high-profile drugging-and-rape trial in France. The victim, Gisele Pelicot, had…
September 5
As a control room producer in a previous life, September 5 left me feeling nostalgic for the adrenaline rush that comes with bearing witness to history in real time while…
The Fire Inside
I was in the mood for something uplifting, not too arty or intense, and under two hours. The Fire Inside fit the bill. Plus, I had no clue about the…
Wicked
I’ll refrain from calling the film ’wicked good,’ as the hype may drive expectations a bit too far. But it is fair to say that Wicked is faithful to the…
Thelma
I’m late to the party on this nonagenarian action-comedy, but better late than never! June Squibb (Nebraska) is an absolute gem as Thelma Post, a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who falls…