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

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Another groundbreaking tour de force that builds on its predecessor while amplifying its core heart, humour & feast of animation excellence. Less satisfying since it’s an instalment starter, but a great launching point for what’s to come; A

Dune

Dune; Never before has a film looked so stunningly well crafted, designed, and shot, yet been so boring and devoid of anything to care about. Exceptional cast, looking fantastic, all adding to the amazing mood and world that’s been built. But so little happens in the setup; C

Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker; Checks all the expected boxes without offering much in the way of surprises or innovative elements. Enjoyable fan service but filmatically staid. Humorous elements welcome in an over serious narrative obligated to wrap up three trilogies; B

Annihilation

Annihilation; Annoyingly abstract, in a way that promises payoff from stunning visuals and a perplexing set up, yet ultimately doesn't deliver. Perhaps more to unearth than one unfocused Netflix viewing can give it, Portman and cast are certainly deeply intriguing to watch; B-

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi; Takes everything great about the franchise and pushes it to the forefront, eliminating any excess. Quality character moments, excellent action scenes and fun dialogue. Solid entertainment from start to finish; A

X-Men: Apocalypse

X-Men: Apocalypse; Overstuffed unmemorable instalment that's so well cast it's a disappointment they have little to give us to care about; B

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Another solid, entertaining delivery of what we want & expect from J.J. Abrams. A New Hope redux rekindles the magic; A-

Inside Llewyn Davis

Inside Llewyn Davis; For every Dylan there must have been 100 Llewyn Davises. Coens craft a love poem to the down & out 60s folk singer; B+