Licorice Pizza

Licorice Pizza; Stylishly captures an era that may be nostalgic for some but irrelevant to others. Very watchable but ultimately unfulfilling and meandering. To a detail, expertly executed, but as a sum of its parts, simply not for most audiences outside of 70s Valley kids; C+

Elvis

Elvis; A great job conveying & situating Elvis’ cultural influence/(s) & impact for a generation who may not know a lot about him. Butler nails the performance in physical, musical & emotional ways. Some moments get too music video or montage heavy yet ultimately satisfying; B+

Bullet Train

Bullet Train; Owes its tone to mid to late 90s films in the vein of Guy Ritchie and Tarantino. Funny, well choreographed, kinetically paced with excellent casting in all roles. A throwback that feels as fresh and fun as Pitt seems to be having delivering pure entertainment; B+

Drive My Car

Drive My Car; Clever, layered dialogue along with stylish visuals, meaningful looks, entangled circumstances and a play within a film, renders us a powerful story crafted beautifully to express our shared human experience. Quiet storytelling can be deeply moving in contrast; A-