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