Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Spider-Man: Brand New Day; Surprisingly manages to show more inventive ways to experience Spidey on the screen, w/spectacular stunt work & inspired super hero team ups and clever shots & sequences. On top of that, weaves an emotional arc w/impact, even if it meanders off on an odd pace for a bit; A

The Odyssey

The Odyssey; Bold, exceptional filmmaking once again from a renowned master. The storytelling is brutally & somewhat grotesquely brought to life, with some modern sensibility and interpretation. Not a Nolan favourite for me, but a truly accomplished film worthy of the O.G. epic it’s sourced from; A

Project Hail Mary

Project Hail Mary; Gosling captivates like few others can, hitting the right tones of comedy, sadness, isolation, joy & creative spark. Many contrivances occur, but that’s ok because we’re along for the ride. Inspired storytelling makes the runtime feel short, though it’s got LOTR # of endings; A

The Revenant

The Revenant; Iñárritu frames every scene masterfully so that it becomes permanently etched into our psyche. DiCaprio & Hardy display Oscar worthy devotion to enact efforts that bleed though the screen what must have been epic trials behind the scenes. Haunting, stark and realistic filmmaking; A
 

Hoppers

Hoppers; Story, message and entertainment blend in the same Pixar manner we’ve cherished for three decades now. The 30th film comes in just below the studio’s legacy best, but right on par with some of its greatest hits. Fun and silly while still grounded in emotional reality, it’s pure enjoyment; A
 

One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another; Kinetic, thrilling action has never looked so good. Penn embodies his character with tremendous physical work, while Leo’s portrayal is a scrambled mind written all over his face. Del Toro, Taylor, Hall and Infiniti elevate it all. A rare combination of an auteur action; A

Wake Up Dead Man

Wake Up Dead Man; 3rd instalment delivers on everything expected; intriguing mystery, clever dialogue handled by exceptional actors, levity that hits in the film & as commentary on our real world. Changes of setting + characters makes this an evergreen delight, a fresh energy to a solid formula; A

Under the Sea 3D

Under the Sea 3D; An entire world comes alive right in front of our faces, giving sights unseen from the ocean floor, depth & beauty instilling vast wonderment. Even w/comedic narration by Jim Carrey and an environmental message, it never loses focus that the ocean’s majesty is a sight to behold; A

Frankenstein

Frankenstein; An absolutely gorgeous rendering of the classic tale. One of those rare films where every single shot is a frame worthy capture of glorious production & camera execution. Bolstered by an exquisite score and powerful performances, this film is a juggernaut, albeit sweet in its themes; A

The 400 Blows

The 400 Blows; Kinetic filmmaking captures misguided youth and an energy of Paris in beautiful black and white. The young lead captivates from his first transgression, winning over the audience as his life’s influences and disappointments come clearer. Moments will stick in your mind forever; A

Sign 'o' the Times

Prince: Sign ‘o’ the Times; Goofy attempts to string barely a narrative across stellar live performances looks and sounds phenomenal in IMAX close to 40 years later. A clear reminder of the powerfully dynamic troupe of musicians Prince spotlighted alongside him while delivering iconic rock shows; A
 

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events; Stellar production work brings the first three books alive in a delightfully sinister fashion. Carrey wickedly embodies the Olaf character and his various disguises. The orphan trio are game to go head to head w/Carrey, fabulously spot on casting; A

How To Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon; Impeccable casting allows this remake to succeed when it had no business being as good as its source material. Somehow the blending of really scary looking dragons + the characters being cute & goofy in the face of death works on a different level. A great companion film; A

Ballerina

Ballerina; Ana DeArmas works wonderfully in the world of John Wick. She has always had an ability to kick ass while looking artistically beautiful. Her savage mission takes us through a series of gloriously staged, spectacular action scenes, culminating in a fireball of violent destruction; A
 

Casablanca

Casablanca; Classics become one on account of their individual elements excelling on all fronts. This film has the writing, acting, directing, mise-en-scène, and music to last a lifetime. With quotable moments and a stark, ominous setting, it’s one for the ages; A

Sinners

Sinners; A layered, intriguing take on a century old genre that owes much to the cinematic auteurs who inspired Coogler, while also being highly original, thoughtful and inspired. Stellar work by all involved in the filmmaking, for entertaining us foremost, yet offering deeper meaning to it all; A

Anora

Anora; Grabs hold of you from the opening frames and takes you on a ride with its tragic protagonist. Kinetic energy propels the film, as its creative force, Baker, elevates each moment through dynamic cinematic touches. Mikey Madison is tantalizingly great, embodying a role like few others could; A

My Old Ass

My Old Ass; Sweet, funny, honest & real. Wonderful work by the entire cast. Another stunning, poignant directorial piece from Park. Captures a moment of youth so beautifully. The lesson our naive younger self can teach us may be more valuable to our old asses than 20 years of “wisdom” gained; A
 

Little Big Man

Little Big Man; Combats Hollywood mythology using hilarious satire, brutally violent reenactments daring to sympathize w/the original people & actually casting Indigenous ppl, notably Chief Dan George. Hoffman displays Buster Keaton levels of physical comedy amid a brilliant dramatic performance; A

Wicked

Wicked; Impeccable casting fulfills Chu’s exquisite vision of interpreting all elements and adaptations of Oz. Every single aspect is meticulously crafted, titillating the eyes, ears and heart. Balances its running time with humour, intrigue, fantasy and romance, much like its original source; A