The Flash

The Flash; Super fan service w/plenty of surprises. Well executed action scenes and the right tone throughout balances heart, humour and heroism. Fantastic script doesn’t lose itself to time travel traps, but rather emphasizes the shared tragic/treasured realities of humanity; A

Amsterdam

Amsterdam; Talented cast chews up dialogue in this important cautionary reminder of how history repeats itself when lessons of the past are dismissed or ignored. Film has a lot to say but struggles to find its footing with an uneven pace and too broad a scope to fluidly tell; 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+

Knives Out

Knives Out; Layered murder mystery mixes up all the elements of movie making to concoct a pleasure trove of nods and odes. Brilliantly played by the cast, working at multiple levels, political, social, theatrical, without a missed beat. Delightfully entertaining; A+

Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451; A let down that intrigues enough on the performances and direction to entertain but ultimately unsatisfying in its exploration of the novel’s themes. Hard to adapt a classic from a different era while offering a contemporary take. Many decisions fall flat; C

The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water; A simple tale with deeper themes, @RealGDT weaves his fantastic magic over a love story between those cast to the margins of our society. Great performances all around add gravitas and genuine sweetness and humour; A-

Man of Steel

Man of Steel; Looks incredible but feels hollow. You will believe a man can fly, but you won't care. Well done but ultimately meaningless; C