Pure entertainment and a complete blast from start to finish. Every member of this wonderful ensemble is outstanding, particularly Hemsworth, who embodies his superhero alter ego as well anybody. Big and beautiful action, non-stop laughs, and a great story make Ragnarok the best of the Marvel films and one of the most fun and wild … Continue reading Review: Thor: Ragnarok →

A visually dazzling, impeccably crafted, and masterfully executed sci-fi epic. The realization and further expansion of Ridley Scott's world from 1982 is jaw-dropping. The cast is top-notch, particularly Gosling, and Ford is as good as he's ever been. 2049 is a worthy successor that enhances what came before while boldly forging its own path as … Continue reading Review: Blade Runner 2049 →

While it doesn't fully succeed as high drama or as a Scorsese-ian crime epic, it is a wild and endlessly entertaining look at a too-crazy-to-believe true story. Cruise does some of his best and most interesting work since Collateral. After Edge of Tomorrow, Liman and Cruise seem to have found the right ways to tap … Continue reading Review: American Made →

A crowd-pleasing biopic featuring standout performances, particularly from Emma Stone (who's never been better). While I wish it found time to dig a little deeper rather than breeze through a series of greatest hits plot points, it is able to balance big entertainment and biting social commentary quite well. There may not be a more … Continue reading Review: Battle of the Sexes →

Confidently balances high-quality scares with a timeless and poignant coming of age allegory. Bill Skarsgård makes for a wonderfully terrifying version of Pennywise and the rest of the young cast acquit themselves quite impressively. This is a worthy big-screen adaptation of Stephen King's seminal novel while also being a solidly entertaining time out at the … Continue reading Review: It →

A technical masterwork and a big, bold exercise in structure, editing, and escalating tension. While the film is light on characterization, that's also partly the point as Nolan fully immerses the audience in this experience where the only form of hope comes in the faces of strangers. The scale of the production is jaw-droppingly spectacular … Continue reading Review: Dunkirk →

A dark and powerful epic. Like previous entries, it relies much more on rich and heavy drama than wall-to-wall action. Matt Reeves proves he's in the upper echelon of blockbuster directors and I'm very excited to see what he does with Batman. The realization of these Apes, from the FX team to the actors (especially … Continue reading Review: War for the Planet of the Apes →

Bold, challenging, beautifully simple yet deeply complex, moving, heartbreaking, thought-provoking, probing, unshakable, visionary, and utterly unique. Grade: A

A high-octane fusion of music and image with a great cast, a fast-paced story, and some of the best car chases ever put to screen (go lie down Fast and Furious). Edgar Wright is a director who consistently uses every cinematic tool at his disposable and even invents a few new ones. Never a moment … Continue reading Review: Baby Driver →

Patty Jenkins delivers a knockout old-fashioned adventure tale that is funny, romantic, and thrilling while never sacrificing its characters for spectacle. Gal Gadot is as iconic as Wonder Woman as Christopher Reeve and Hugh Jackman were to their respective roles. Robin Wright is as perfect as it gets. Chris Pine is exceptionally good with how … Continue reading Review: Wonder Woman →