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
 

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

Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon; A real slow burn of seedy, detestable characters subtly played expertly by an astounding cast. Despite its long runtime, Robertson’s score keeps the pace moving towards its tragic conclusion. Scorsese’s been a truth teller all his career, this story may be the ugliest; A-

Don't Look Up

Don’t Look Up; Fine art of satire expertly applied by all involved. Actors relish the comedic bite in their respective roles while hilariously critiquing the media and politics of our times. Every bit as meaningful as it is delightful, while simultaneously sad in its accuracy; A-

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood; Evokes mood & menace of era w/masterful performances yet still underwhelms in its rewriting of history. Seems one of our most beloved filmmakers is more in love w/his own fancies than the audience’s journey, though we will follow him anywhere; B+

Django Unchained

Django Unchained; Waltz's scene chewing is a treat to watch but film is over long and not as fun to watch as Tarantino's other work; B+