Director: David Cronenberg Cinematography: Mark Irwin Writers: Charles Edward Pogue (Screenplay), David Cronenberg (screenplay), George Langelaan (short story) Stars: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis Rating: 83 Cronenberg’s “The Fly” combines the zaniness of his previous film with the practical effects glory of “The Thing” and what comes out is wild. Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is a burgeoning young scientist sitting on … More “The Fly” (1986) by David Cronenberg

Director: Damien Chazelle Cinematography: Sharone Meir Writers: Damien Chazelle Stars: Miles Teller, J.K Simmons  Rating: 96 Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash” lives up to the same brutal, unrealistic expectations the characters in the story put on themselves. The incessant need to be great is fueled by the same obsessive, insane drive that J.K.Simmons character pounds into Andrew (Miles Teller) and it demands … More “Whiplash” (2014) by Damien Chazelle

Directors: Paul Feig Cinematography: John Schwartzman Writers: Jessica Sharzer, Darcy Bell (novel) Stars: Anna Kendricks, Blake Lively, Henry Golding Rating: 56 Here’s a film that attempted to be nine different films and genres at once. “A Simple Favor” is sometimes a light, funny experience that gets trampled on by jarring tonal shifts, odd story decisions, … More “A Simple Favor” by Paul Feig

Director: Sam Levinson Cinematographer: Marcell Rev Writers: Sam Levinson Stars: Odessa Young, Hari Nef, Suki Waterhouse, Abra Rating: 85 Assassination Nation enters a lucid, dream-like state, as the small town of Salem “loses its fucking minds.” In the most unsettling film of 2018, four high school girls trying to deal with the problems in their … More “Assassination Nation” by Sam Levinson

Director: Steve McQueen Cinematographer: Sean Bobbit Writers: Steve McQueen, Abi Morgan Stars: Michael Fassbender, Carey Mulligan Rating: 84 Steve McQueen released two ultra fascinating character studies starring Michael Fassbender in the late 2000’s and one of those pictures was “Shame” Shame is the story of a sex addict, Brandon (Michael Fassbender), who had cultivated a lifestyle completely hidden from his … More “Shame” (2011) by Steve McQueen

Director: Panos Cosmatos Cinematography: Benjamin Loeb Writers: Panos Cosmatos, Aaron Stewart-Ahn Stars: Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache Rating: 75 Where to begin with Panos Cosmatos satanic, revenge busting, batshit crazy, Nic Cage induced seizure that is ‘Mandy.’ Mandy exists in its own orbit, fueled by the jarring sound of Jóhann Jóhannsson’s score, and the ultraviolet universe that Cosmatos crafted. … More ‘Mandy’ by Panos Cosmatos

Director: Armando Iannucci Cinematography: Zac Nicholson Writers: Armando Iannucci, David Schneider, Ian Martin, Fabien Nury (author/screenplay), Thierry Robin Stars: Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Simon Russell Beale Rating: 77 Devilishly funny and wickedly dark, Armando Iannucci brings a certain vigor to ‘The Death of Stalin’ in which the film carries on a hectic pace delivered through a flurry of top-notch satirical … More ‘The Death of Stalin’ by Armando Iannucci

Director: Alfonso Cuaron Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki Writers: Alfonso Cuaron, Timothy J. Sexton, David Arata, Mark Fergus, Hawk Otsby Stars: Clive Owens, Michael Caine, Julianne Moore Rating: 83 Children of Men is a spectacle film. The direction from Cuaron is not all that interested in the narrative, and it plays more as an action film with some of Emmanuel Lubezki’s best … More ‘Children of Men’ (2005) by Alfonso Cuaron