“Mirror Mirror” (2012) – Tarsem Singh’s Satisfactory Snow White Remake

Director: Tarsem Singh Starring: Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer, Lily Collins ‘Passable Entertainment’ “Mirror Mirror” is directed by Tarsem Singh. Its … More

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975) – Jack Nicholson’s Magnificent Masterpiece About Mental Health

Director: Milos Forman Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Danny DeVito ‘Outstanding Masterpiece’ Not many films have stunned me over the … More

“Good Will Hunting” (1997) – Gus Van Sant’s Captivating Coming-of-Age Classic

Director: Gus Van Sant Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams ‘A Timeless Classic’ Teachers are powerful figures that shape … More

“Past Lives” (2023) – Personal Reflections on a Magnificent Masterpiece

Do you remember the time when you fell in love with your first crush?  Memories of crushes have shaped my … More

“A Haunting in Venice” (2023) – A Haunting Adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Beloved Book

Writer/Director: Kenneth Branagh Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Yeoh, Tina Fey                     … More

“Dune” (2021) – Denis Villeneuve’s Breathtaking Science-Fiction Blockbuster

Writer/Director: Denis Villeneuve Co-writer: Jon Spaihts and Eric Roth Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson and Oscar Isaac ‘Spectacular Sci-fi’ Few … More

“CODA” (2021) – A Dazzling Drama Celebrating the Deaf Community

Writer/Director: Sian Heder Starring: Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin  ‘Powerful Disability Drama’ Silenced stories of celebrities without hearing … More

“Sound of Metal” (2020) – A Captivating Drama About Deaf Communities

Writer/Director: Darius Marder Co-writer: Abraham Marder Starring: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke and Paul Raci ‘Powerful Disability Drama’ Hearing impairment is … More

“Nomadland” (2020) – A Mesmerizing Drama About Modern-Day Nomads

Writer/Director: Chloé Zhao Based on Jessica Bruder’s book Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathaim and Linda May ‘A Mesmerizing Docudrama’ Imagine … More

“Minari” (2020) – A Magnificent Korean Masterpiece About Immigration

Writer/Director: Lee Isaac Chung Starring: Steven Yeun, Alan Kim and Youn Yuh-jung ‘A Mesmerizing Masterpiece’ Foreign films are rarely rewarded … More

“Hamilton” (2020) – A Breathtaking Recording of a Beloved Broadway Play

Director: Thomas Kail Writer: Lin-Manuel Miranda Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr. and Jonathan Groff ‘A Must-See Musical’ Broadway musicals … More

“Pain and Glory” (2019) – A Glorious Portrait of a Great Filmmaker

Writer/Director: Pedro Almodóvar Starring: Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz and Asier Etxeandia ‘A Glorious Achievement’ Few filmmakers from Spain have achieved … More

“Longlegs” (2024) – A Spectacular Thriller About Terrifying Serial Killers

Writer/Director: Osgood Perkins Starring: Maika Monroe, Nicolas Cage and Alicia Witt                                     … More

“The Mustang” (2019) – A Phenomenal Drama About Prison

Writer/Director: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre Co-writers: Mona Fastvold and Brock Norman Brock Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Mitchell and Bruce Dern ‘A … More

“Marriage Story” (2019) – A Magnificent Masterpiece About Messy Marriages

Writer/Director: Noah Baumbach Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Laura Dern ‘Mesmerizing Masterpiece’ It is always hard to move on … More

“Hamilton” (2020) – A Breathtaking Broadway Musical Recording

Director: Thomas Kail Writer: Lin-Manuel Miranda Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr. and Jonathan Groff ‘A Must-See Musical’ Broadway musicals … More

“A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024) – A Silently Spectacular Horror Prequel

Writer/Director: Michael Sarnoski Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn and Alex Wolff                   … More

“Leave No Trace” (2018) – A Heartbreaking Drama About Homeless Communities

Writer/Director: Debra Granik Co-writer: Anne Rosellini Starring: Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie ‘Deeply Moving Drama’ Imagine living a life of … More

“Eighth Grade” (2018) – A Powerful Portrait of Adolescence

Writer/Director: Bo Burnham Starring: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton and Emily Robinson ‘Astonishing Drama’ Perhaps, no time in a person’s life … More

“Ben is Back” (2018) – A Devastating Drama About Drug Addiction

Writer/Director: Peter Hedges Starring: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges and Courtney B. Vance ‘Powerful Drug-Addiction Drama’ Imagine being the mother of … More

“Lincoln” (2012) – Daniel Day-Lewis at His Best

Director: Steven Spielberg Writer: Tony Kushner (based on novel by Doris Kearns Goodwin)               … More

“Phantom Thread” (2017) – A Powerful Fashion Period Piece

Writer/Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps and Lesley Manville ‘Powerful Period Piece’ Few filmmakers in the world … More

“Da 5 Bloods” (2020) – Spike Lee’s Spectacular Vietnam War Epic

Writer/Director: Spike Lee  Co-writers: Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo and Kevin Willmott Starring: Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors and Clarke Peters … More

“Irrational Man” (2015) – Woody Allen’s Wonderful Drama

Writer/Director: Woody Allen Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone and Parker Posey ‘An Overlooked Gem’ Few actors in the world have … More

“The Place Beyond the Pines” (2013) – A Magnificent Masterpiece About Fatherhood

Writer/Director: Derek Cianfrance Co-writers: Ben Coccio and Darius Marder Starring: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and Bradley Cooper ‘A Multi-Generational Masterpiece’ … More

“Jobs” (2013) – An Underrated Biopic About Steve Jobs

Director: Joshua Michael Stern Writer: Matt Whiteley Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad and J.K. Simmons ‘Brilliant Business Biopic’ One of … More

“Dallas Buyers Club” (2013) – A Powerful Drama About the AIDS Crisis

Director: Jean-Marc Valee Writers: Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner ‘Powerful AIDS Drama’ You … More

“The Butler” (2013) – A Brilliant Biopic About a Butler

Director: Lee Daniels Writer: Danny Strong (based on article by Wil Haygood) Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and Alex Pettyfer … More

“Life of Pi” (2012) – A Life-Affirming Adaptation of Literature

Director: Ang Lee Writer: David Magee (based off novel by Yann Martel) Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Tabu ‘Beautiful Book … More

“The Searchers” (1956) – John Ford’s Wonderful Classic Western

Director: John Ford Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles ‘Wonderful Western’ “The Searchers” is directed by John Ford. Its … More

“My Week With Marilyn” (2011) – A Magnificent Biopic About Marilyn Monroe

Director: Simon Curtis Starring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh ‘Magnificent Monroe Biopic’ “My Week with Marilyn” is directed by … More

“Margin Call” (2011) – A Captivating Drama About the Financial Crisis

Writer/Director: J.C. Chandor Starring: Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto and Paul Bettany ‘Filmmaking at its Finest’ It’s one thing for a financial … More

“George Harrison: Living in the Material World” (2011) – A Brilliant Documentary on The Beatles

Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr ‘Dazzling Documentary’ “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” is … More

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (2011) – A Beautiful British Period Piece

Director: John Madden Writer: Ol Parker Starring: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith ‘A Charming Comedy’ Sometimes all a … More

“A Separation” (2011) – An Incredible Masterpiece About Iran

Writer/Director: Asghar Farhadi Starring: Payman Maadi, Leila Hatami, and Sareh Bayat ‘Mesmerizing Masterpiece’ Certain decisions are difficult to make. Especially … More

“Up in the Air” (2009) – An Uplifting Drama About Business Decisions

Writer/Director: Jason Reitman Co-writer: Sheldon Turner (based off novel by Walter Kirn) Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, and Anna Kendrick … More

“Nowhere Boy” (2009) – A Brilliant Biopic About John Lennon

Director: Sam Taylor-Wood Starring: Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Thomas Sangster ‘Brilliant Beatles Biopic’ “Nowhere Boy” is directed by Sam … More

“Hitchcock” (2012) – A Brilliant Biopic About Alfred Hitchcock

Director: Sacha Gervasi Writer: John J. McLaughlin (based off book by Stephen Rebello) Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson … More

“Rope” (1948) – Alfred Hitchcock’s Most Underrated Classic

Director: Alfred Hitchcock Starring: James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger ‘Hitchcock’s Underrated Gem’ “Rope” is directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Its … More

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975) – A Magnificent Masterpiece About Mental Illness

Director: Milos Forman Starring: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Danny DeVito ‘Outstanding Masterpiece’ Not many films have stunned me over the … More

“Ordinary People” (1980) – Robert Redford’s Extraordinary Family Drama

Director: Robert Redford Starring: Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Timothy Hutton ‘Extraordinary Family Drama’ “Ordinary People” is directed by Robert … More

“The Disciple” (2020) – A Mesmerizing Indian Classical Music Drama

Writer/Director: Chaitanya Tamhane Starring: Aditya Modak, Arun Dravid and Sumitra Bhave ‘Mesmerizing Music Drama’ Over the past decade or so, … More

“Dhobi Ghat” (2010) – An Incredible Indian Arthouse Drama

Writer/Director: Kiran Rao Starring: Aamir Khan, Prateik, and Monica Dogra ‘A Powerful Drama’ A person’s life, for the better or … More

“Barfi!” (2012) – A Brilliant Bollywood Musical

Writer/Director: Anurag Basu Co-writer: Sanjeev Dutta Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Ileana, and Saurabh Shukla ‘Brilliant Bollywood Musical’ Indian movies … More

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019) – Quentin Tarantino’s Powerful L.A. Period Piece

Writer/Director: Quentin Tarantino Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie ‘Powerful Period Piece’ Few filmmakers in the world have … More

“The Matrix” (1999) – A Spectacular Science-Fiction Classic

Writer/Director: The Wachowskis Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss ‘A Science-Fiction Masterpiece’ Science Fiction wasn’t an extremely well-known genre … More

“Goodfellas” (1990) – Martin Scorsese’s Greatest Movie

Writer/Director: Martin Scorsese Starring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci ‘Mobster Masterpiece’ Few figures fascinate filmmakers as much as … More

“Good Will Hunting” (1997) – A Captivating Coming-of-Age Classic

Director: Gus Van Sant Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams ‘A Timeless Classic’ Teachers are powerful figures that shape … More

“Awakenings” (1990) – A Magnificent Masterpiece About Mental Health

Director: Penny Marshall Starring: Robin Williams, Robert De Niro, Julie Kavner ‘An Awakening Achievement’ “Awakenings” is directed by Penny Marshall. … More

“The Zone of Interest” (2023) – A Haunting Drama About the Holocaust

Writer/Director: Jonathan Glazer  Starring: Sandra Huller, Christian Friedel ‘Powerful Holocaust Drama’ The Holocaust is a sensitive subject rarely depicted in … More

Why “Past Lives” Was My Favourite Film of 2023

Do you remember the time when you fell in love with your first crush?  Memories of crushes have shaped my … More

“Past Lives” (2023) – A Magnificent Korean Romance Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Celine Song Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro                     … More

“Oppenheimer” (2023) – Christopher Nolan’s Breathtaking Historical Biopic

Writer/Director: Christopher Nolan Starring: Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Emily Blunt                   … More

“Mank” (2020) – David Fincher’s Most Underrated Movie

Director: David Fincher Writer: Jack Fincher  Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried and Lily Collins ‘Filmmaking at its Finest’ When discussing … More

“Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023) – Martin Scorsese’s Mesmerizing Indigenous Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro                                    … More

“The Color Purple” (2023) – A Captivating Adaptation of a Colorful Book

Director: Blitz Buzuwale Starring: Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks                   … More

“Little Women” (2019) – An Amazing Literary Adaptation About Women

Writer/Director: Greta Gerwig Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Laura Dern ‘An Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes to the most … More

“Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret” (2023) – An Amazing Adaptation of a Beloved Book

Writer/Director: Kelly Fremon Craig Starring: Abby Fortson, Rachel McAdams, Benny Safdie ‘Astonishing Adaptation’  Few novels about teenagers captivate readers like … More

“Anatomy of a Fall” (2023) – A Fantastic French Courtroom Drama

Writer/Director: Justine Triet Starring: Sandra Huller, Milo Machado-Graner, Samuel Theis                     … More

“All Of Us Strangers” (2023) – A Mesmerizing Masterpiece About LGBTQ Communities

Writer/Director: Andrew Haigh Starring: Andrew Scott, Claire Foy, Jamie Bell                     … More

“Air” (2023) – A Brilliant Business Biopic About Nike

Director: Ben Affleck Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Viola Davis                     … More

“The Whale” (2022) – A Heartbreaking Drama About Obese Communities

Director: Darren Aronofsky Starring: Brendan Fraser, Hong Chau and Sadie Sink                   … More

“A Man Called Otto” (2022) – Tom Hanks At His Best

Director: Marc Foster Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, Truman Hanks                      … More

“Joyland” (2022) – A Joyous Achievement for Pakistan

Writer/Director: Saim Sadiq Starring: Ali Junejo, Alina Khan, Rasti Farooq                     … More

“The Fabelmans” (2022) – Steven Spielberg’s Magnificent Autobiographical Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Steven Spielberg Starring: Gabriel LaBelle, Michelle Williams, Paul Dano                     … More

“Aftersun” (2022) – A Mesmerizing Masterpiece About Fatherhood

Writer/Director: Charlotte Wells Starring: Frankie Corio, Paul Mescal                         … More

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” (2017) – A Spectacular Spider-Man Reboot

Director: Jon Watts Writers: Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley Starring: Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr. and Michael Keaton ‘A … More

“Spencer” (2021) – A Powerful Biopic About Princess Diana

Director: Pablo Larraín  Writer: Steven Knight Starring: Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall and Sally Hawkins ‘Dazzling Diana Biopic’ It isn’t simple to … More

“A Quiet Place: Part Two” (2021) – A Silently Spectacular Horror Sequel

Writer/Director: John Krasinski Starring: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Cillian Murphy ‘Spectacular Horror Sequel’ The hushed-up stories of deaf communities … More

“The Power of the Dog” (2021) – A Powerful Western About Masculinity

Writer/Director: Jane Campion Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst and Kodi Smit-McPhee ‘Wonderful Western’ It’s hard to forgive a genre in … More

“The Green Knight” (2021) – A Mesmerizing Medieval Epic About Knights

Writer/Director: David Lowery Starring: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander and Joel Edgerton ‘Mesmerizing Medieval Epic’  Racial representation is seldom seen in … More

“CODA” (2021) – A Captivating Drama About Deaf Communities

Writer/Director: Sian Heder Starring: Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin  ‘Powerful Disability Drama’ Silenced stories of celebrities without hearing … More

“Soul” (2020) – A Soul-Stirring Animated Classic

Writer/Director: Pete Docter Co-writers: Mike Jones and Kemp Powers Starring: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey and Graham Norton ‘Soulful Animated Achievement’ … More

“Sound of Metal” (2020) – A Profound Drama About Deaf Communities

Writer/Director: Darius Marder Co-writer: Abraham Marder Starring: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke and Paul Raci ‘Powerful Disability Drama’ Hearing impairment is … More

“Pieces of a Woman” (2020) – A Heartbreaking Portrait of Painful Homebirths

Director: Kornél Mundruczó Writer: Kata Webér Starring: Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf and Ellen Burstyn ‘Heartbreaking Homebirth Drama’ It is never … More

“One Night in Miami” (2020) – A Powerful Historical Drama About a Meeting

Director: Regina King Writer: Kemp Powers (based on stage play) Starring: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Leslie Odom Jr. and Eli Goree ‘Spectacular … More

“Nomadland” (2020) – A Mesmerizing Drama About Nomads

Writer/Director: Chloé Zhao Based on Jessica Bruder’s book Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathaim and Linda May ‘A Mesmerizing Docudrama’ Imagine … More

“News of the World” (2020) – A Wonderful Tom Hanks Western

Writer/Director: Paul Greengrass Co-writer: Luke Davies (Based on Paulette Jiles’ book) Starring: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel and Ray McKinnon ‘A … More

“Mangrove” (2020) – A Captivating Courtroom Drama About Injustice

Writer/Director: Steve McQueen Starring: Shaun Parkes, Letitia Wright and Malachi Kirby ‘Captivating Courtroom Drama’ Peaceful black protestors beaten up by … More

“The Father” (2020) – A Mesmerizing Masterpiece About Dementia

Writer/Director: Florian Zeller Co-writer: Christopher Hampton Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman and Mark Gatiss ‘Powerful Dementia Drama’ Dementia is a … More

“Bo Burnham: Inside” (2020) – A Captivating Portrait of a Standup Comedian

Writer/Director: Bo Burnham Starring: Bo Burnham ‘Spectacular Stand-up Special’ Never has it been more challenging for comedians with hectic routines … More

“Uncut Gems” (2019) – Adam Sandler’s Best Movie

Writer/Directors: Josh and Benny Safdie Co-writer: Ronald Bronstein Starring: Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield and Kevin Garnett ‘Captivating Crime Thriller’ Few … More

“The Godfather” (1972) – A Magnificent Mobster Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Francis Ford Coppola Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan ‘A MobsterMasterpiece’ Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Godfather’ is perhaps … More

“The Personal History of David Copperfield” (2019) – A Delightful Charles Dickens Adaptation

Writer/Director: Armando Iannucci Co-writer: Simon Blackwell (based on book by Charles Dickens) Starring: Dev Patel, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton … More

“Pain and Glory” (2019) – A Glorious Portrait of a Great Artist

Writer/Director: Pedro Almodóvar Starring: Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz and Asier Etxeandia ‘A Glorious Achievement’ Few filmmakers from Spain have achieved … More

“The Mustang” (2019) – A Powerful Drama About Prison

Writer/Director: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre Co-writers: Mona Fastvold and Brock Norman Brock Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Mitchell and Bruce Dern ‘A … More

“Marriage Story” (2019) – A Meaningful Masterpiece About Broken Marriages

Writer/Director: Noah Baumbach Starring: Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson and Laura Dern ‘Mesmerizing Masterpiece’ It is always hard to move on … More

“Judy” (2019) – A Gorgeous Biopic About Judy Garland

Director: Rupert Goold Writer: Tom Edge (based on stage play) Starring: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley and Finn Wittrock ‘Gorgeous Garland … More

“Jojo Rabbit” (2019) – A Spectacular Satire About Nazi Germany

Writer/Director: Taika Waititi Based on the book by Christine Leunens Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Scarlett Johansson and Sam Rockwell ‘Hilarious … More

“Honey Boy” (2019) – A Captivating Portrait of a Controversial Actor

Director: Alma Har’el Writer: Shia LaBeouf Starring: Noah Jupe, Shia LaBeouf and Lucas Hedges ‘A Powerful Memoir’ Few actors in … More

“Another Round” (2019) – A Phenomenal Portrait of Alcohol Addiction

Writer/Director: Thomas Vinterberg Co-writer: Tobias Lindholm Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen and Magnus Millang ‘Dazzling Drinking Drama’ Alcoholism is … More

“A Quiet Place: Day One” (2024) – A Quietly Powerful Horror Blockbuster

Writer/Director: Michael Sarnoski Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn and Alex Wolff                   … More

“A Quiet Place: Part Two” (2021) – A Silently Spellbinding Horror Sequel

Writer/Director: John Krasinski Starring: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Cillian Murphy ‘A Spectacular Sequel’ The hushed-up stories of deaf communities … More

“Leave No Trace” (2018) – A Heartbreaking Portrait of Homeless Communities

Writer/Director: Debra Granik Co-writer: Anne Rosellini Starring: Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie ‘Deeply Moving Drama’ Imagine living a life of … More

“Eighth Grade” (2018) – A Phenomenal Portrait of Adolescence

Writer/Director: Bo Burnham Starring: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton and Emily Robinson ‘Astonishing Drama’ Perhaps, no time in a person’s life … More

“Ben is Back” (2018) – An Astonishing Drug Addiction Drama

Writer/Director: Peter Hedges Starring: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges and Courtney B. Vance ‘Powerful Drug-Addiction Drama’ Imagine being the mother of … More

“Adrift” (2018) – A Remarkable Real-Life Survival Drama

Director: Baltasar Kormakur Writer: Aaron Kandell, Jordan Kandell and David Branson Smith Starring: Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin ‘Spectacular Survival … More

“Phantom Thread” (2017) – Fantastic Fashion Period Piece

Writer/Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps and Lesley Manville ‘Powerful Period Piece’ Few filmmakers in the world … More

“Maudie” (2017) – A Phenomenal Portrait of a Painter

Director: Aisling Walsh Writer: Sherry White Starring: Sally Hawkins, Ethan Hawke and Kari Matchett ‘Deeply Moving Biopic’ Maud Lewis is … More

“Lady Bird” (2017) – Amazing Adolescence Drama

Writer/Director: Greta Gerwig Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf and Lucas Hedges ‘Captivating Drama’ There is no time in a person’s … More

“The Glass Castle” (2017) – A Marvelous Memoir Adaptation

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham Starring: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts ‘Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes … More

“Southside With You” (2016) – Riveting Obama Romantic Drama

Writer/Director: Richard Tanne Starring: Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers ‘Remarkable Romantic Drama’ Let me start off by saying that I’m … More

“The Light Between Oceans” (2016) – Astonishing Literature Adaptation

Writer/Director: Derek Cianfrance Based on the best-selling novel by M.L. Stedman Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz ‘Powerful … More

“Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016) – Astonishing Asian Animation

Directed by Travis Knight Written by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler Starring Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey ‘Awe-Inspiring … More

“Arrival” (2016) – Awe-Inspiring Science-Fiction Adaptation

Director: Denis Villeneuve Writer: Eric Heisserer (based on short story) Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker ‘Spellbinding Science-Fiction’ … More

“Room” (2015) – A Mesmerizing Masterpiece About Trauma

Director: Lenny Abrahamson Writer: Emma Donoghue (based on novel) Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay and William H. Macy ‘A Moving … More

“Inside Out” (2015) – Pixar’s Incredibly Emotional Classic

Writer/Director: Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen Co-writers: Meg LeFauve and Josh Cooley Starring: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, and Lewis … More

“The Spectacular Now” (2013) – Spectacular Teenage Romantic Drama

Director: James Ponsoldt Writer: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber Starring: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley and Brie Larson ‘Spectacular Romantic … More

“About Time” (2013) – Remarkable Time Travel Romance

Writer/Director: Richard Curtis Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy ‘Remarkable Romantic Drama’ Romantic comedies are almost always predictable. … More

“Barfi” (2012) – Bollywood at its Best

Writer/Director: Anurag Basu Co-writer: Sanjeev Dutta Starring: Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, and Saurabh Shukla ‘Marvelous Musical’ Indian movies are not … More

“A Separation” (2011) – Incredible Iranian Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Asghar Farhadi Starring: Payman Maadi, Leila Hatami, and Sareh Bayat ‘Mesmerizing Masterpiece’ Certain decisions are difficult to make. Especially … More

Why “The Shawshank Redemption” is the Greatest Movie Ever Made

Writer/Director: Frank Darabont Starring: Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, Bob Gunton When it comes to the greatest movies ever made about … More

“The Zone of Interest” (2023) – Haunting Holocaust Historical Drama

Writer/Director: Jonathan Glazer  Starring: Sandra Huller, Christian Friedel ‘Powerful Holocaust Drama’ The Holocaust is a sensitive subject rarely depicted in … More

“Past Lives” (2023) – Personal Reflections on a Powerful Masterpiece

Do you remember the time when you fell in love with your first crush?  Memories of crushes have shaped my … More

“Past Lives” (2023) – Mesmerizing Korean Romance Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Celine Song Starring: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro                     … More

“The Whale” (2022) – Outstanding Obesity Drama

Director: Darren Aronofsky Starring: Brendan Fraser, Hong Chau and Sadie Sink                   … More

“Joyland” (2022) – Joyous Pakistan Achievement

Writer/Director: Saim Sadiq Starring: Ali Junejo, Alina Khan, Rasti Farooq                     … More

“CODA” (2021) – Powerful Deaf Community Drama

Writer/Director: Sian Heder Starring: Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin  ‘Powerful Disability Drama’ Silenced stories of celebrities without hearing … More

“The Father” (2020) – Magnificent Dementia Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Florian Zeller Co-writer: Christopher Hampton Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman and Mark Gatiss ‘Powerful Dementia Drama’ Dementia is a … More

“The Farewell” (2019) – Fantastic Chinese Family Drama

Writer/Director: Lulu Wang Starring: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma and Diana Lin ‘Fantastic Family Drama’ It is always hard to come to … More

“Leave No Trace” (2018) – Heartbreaking Homeless Drama

Writer/Director: Debra Granik Co-writer: Anne Rosellini Starring: Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie ‘Deeply Moving Drama’ Imagine living a life of … More

“The Glass Castle” (2017) – Astonishing Literary Adaptation

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham Starring: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts ‘Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes … More

“The Light Between Oceans” (2016) – Lovely Literature Adaptation

Writer/Director: Derek Cianfrance Based on the best-selling novel by M.L. Stedman Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz ‘Powerful … More

“Room” (2015) – Magnificent Literary Masterpiece

Director: Lenny Abrahamson Writer: Emma Donoghue (based on novel) Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay and William H. Macy ‘A Moving … More

“Life Itself” (2014) – Extraordinary Roger Ebert Documentary

Director: Steve James Based on the best-selling novel by Roger Ebert Starring: Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert and Gene Siskel ‘A … More

“Wreck it Ralph” (2012) – Astonishing Video-Game Animation

Director: Rich Moore Writer: Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer ‘Astonishing Animation’ Animated … More

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012) – Meaningful Adolescence Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Stephen Chbosky Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller ‘Meaningful Masterpiece’ “Why do nice people choose the wrong people … More

“Argo” (2012) – Captivating Hostage Crisis Thriller

Director: Ben Affleck Starring: Ben Affleck, Alan Arkin and John Goodman ‘Captivating CIA Thriller’ “Argo” is directed by Ben Affleck. … More

“A Separation” (2011) – Mesmerizing Iranian Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Asghar Farhadi Starring: Payman Maadi, Leila Hatami, and Sareh Bayat ‘Magnificent Masterpiece’ Certain decisions are difficult to make. Especially … More

“Maestro” (2023) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Bradley Cooper Starring: Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan, Matt Bomer                     … More

“The Holdovers” (2023) – Movie Review

Director: Alexander Payne Starring: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da’ Vine Joy Randolph                 … More

“BlackBerry” (2023) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Matt Johnson  Starring: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Howerton, Matt Johnson                      … More

“Spencer” (2021) – Movie Review

Director: Pablo Larraín  Writer: Steven Knight Starring: Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall and Sally Hawkins ‘Dazzling Diana Biopic’ It isn’t simple to … More

“A Quiet Place: Part Two” (2021) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: John Krasinski Starring: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds and Cillian Murphy ‘A Spectacular Sequel’ The hushed-up stories of deaf communities … More

“The Power of the Dog” (2021) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Jane Campion Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst and Kodi Smit-McPhee ‘Wonderful Western’ It’s hard to forgive a genre in … More

“House of Gucci” (2021)- Movie Review

Director: Ridley Scott Starring: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver and Al Pacino ‘Giorgio-eus Biopic’ Versace fashion-designer families Scarfaced by Goodfellas criminal … More

“CODA” (2021) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Sian Heder Starring: Emilia Jones, Troy Kotsur and Marlee Matlin  ‘Powerful Disability Drama’ Silenced stories of celebrities without hearing … More

“Sound of Metal” (2020) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Darius Marder Co-writer: Abraham Marder Starring: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke and Paul Raci ‘Powerful Disability Drama’ Hearing impairment is … More

“Nomadland” (2020) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Chloé Zhao Based on Jessica Bruder’s book Starring: Frances McDormand, David Strathaim and Linda May ‘A Mesmerizing Docudrama’ Imagine … More

“Mank” (2020) – Movie Review

Director: David Fincher Writer: Jack Fincher  Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried and Lily Collins ‘Filmmaking at its Finest’ When discussing … More

“Honey Boy” (2019) – Movie Review

Director: Alma Har’el Writer: Shia LaBeouf Starring: Noah Jupe, Shia LaBeouf and Lucas Hedges ‘A Powerful Memoir’ Few actors in … More

“The Farewell” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Lulu Wang Starring: Awkwafina, Tzi Ma and Diana Lin ‘Fantastic Family Drama’ It is always hard to come to … More

“Green Book” (2018) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Peter Farrelly Co-writers: Nick Vallelonga and Brian Hayes Currie Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali and Linda Cardellini ‘Powerful Period … More

“Ben is Back” (2018) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Peter Hedges Starring: Julia Roberts, Lucas Hedges and Courtney B. Vance ‘Powerful Drug-Addiction Drama’ Imagine being the mother of … More

“The Glass Castle” (2017) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham Starring: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts ‘Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes … More

“Hidden Figures” (2016) – Movie Review

Director: Theodore Melfi Writer: Allison Schroeder (based off novel by Margot Lee Shetterly) Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and … More

“Room” (2015) – Movie Review

Director: Lenny Abrahamson Writer: Emma Donoghue (based on novel) Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay and William H. Macy ‘A Moving … More

“The Gift” (2015) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Joel Edgerton Starring: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall and Joel Edgerton ‘A Thought-Provoking Thriller’ About halfway through Joel Edgerton’s latest … More

“Dallas Buyers Club” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: Jean-Marc Valee Writers: Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner ‘Powerful AIDS Drama’ You … More

“Lawless” (2012) – Movie Review

Director: John Hillcoat Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain ‘Powerful Period Piece’ “Lawless” is directed by John Hillcoat. Its … More

“Flight” (2012) – Movie Review

Directed by Robert ZemeckisWritten by John GatinsStarring Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, Don Cheadle ‘Astonishing Alcoholism Drama’ It’s not often that … More

“George Harrison: Living in the Material World” (2011)- Documentary Review

Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” is directed by … More

“The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Joe Talbot Co-writer: Rob Richert Starring: Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors and Rob Morgan ‘Powerful Gentrification Drama’ Gentrification is a … More