Directors: Steve McQueen Cinematography: Sean Bobbit Writers: Gillian Flynn (screenplay), Steve McQueen (Screenplay), Lynda La Plante (Novel) Editors: Joe Walker Stars:  Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Liam Neeson, Daniel Kaluuya, Brian Tyree Henry, Collin Farrell Rating: 90 “Widows” showed me the light. Genre films don’t have to be conventional to work. The characters don’t need familiar archetypes to feel realistic. … More “Widows” by Steve McQueen

Director: Lee Chang-dong Cinematography: Kyung-pyo Hong Writers: Lee Chang-dong (screenplay), Jungmi Oh (screenplay), Haruki Muramaki (Novel) Editors: Da-won Kim, Hyun Kim Stars: Ah-In Yoo, Steven Yeun, Jong-seo Jeon Rating: 89 “Burning” is a sensation, an unconventional Thriller that is challenging on a personal, economic, and social level. Lee Chang-dong, at 64 years of age, succeeded … More “Burning” by Lee Chang-dong

Director: Jim Cummings Cinematography: Lowell A. Meyer Writers: Jim Cummings Editors: Dustin Hahn, Brian Vanucci Stars: Jim Cummings, Kendall Farr, Nican Robinson Rating: 84 When we look back at film in 2018, Jim Cumming’s “Thunder Road” will always be one of those hidden gems, featuring possibly my favorite performance of the entire year.   The … More “Thunder Road” by Jim Cummings

Director: Paul Dano Cinematography: Diego Garcia Writers: Paul Dano, Zoe Kasan, Richard Ford (novel) Editing: Louise Ford, Matthew Hannam Stars: Carey Mulligan, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ed Oxenbould Rating; 75 Hearing Paul Dano was directing a film in 2017 made a ton of sense. An actor who not only has played a wealth of diverse roles but … More “Wildlife” by Paul Dano

Everything about Orson Welles is larger than life… In his work, personal life, and persona he was an almost mythical figure inside Hollywood because of his early success. And because of that, all of his films were set to the highest standard as the boy-wonder film director, who achieved expansive and vast works of immense … More The Bitterness of Orson Welles Career; A Review of “The Other Side Of The Wind” and “They’ll Love Me When I’m Dead”

Director: Luca Guadagnino Cinematography: Sayombhou Mukdeeprom Writers: David Kajganich (screenplay), Dario Argento (characters), Daria Nicoldi (characters) Editor: Walter Fasano Starring: Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Chloe Grace Moretz, Mia Goth Rating: 68 As someone who lives-and-dies with Argento’s original film, a highly stylized horror that, in many ways, helped mold the genre. The news of a … More “Suspiria” (2018) by Luca Guadagnino

Director: Jonah Hill  Cinematographer: Christopher Blauvelt Writer: Jonah Hill Stars: Sunny Suljic, Lucas Hedges, Na-Kel Smith, Olan Prenatt Rating: 76 Mid90s isn’t some new found experience that gives us perspective. At its core, it’s a simple hangout film and instead of taking the themes and story seriously, it’s better to just sit back and enjoy the experience of these lively … More “mid90s” by Jonah Hill

Director: Sara Colangelo Cinematography: Pepe Avila Del Pino Writers: Sara Colangelo (screenplay), Nadav Lapid Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Parker Sevak, Gael Garcia Bernal Rating: 85 My journalism professor pounded into my head to never bury the lede, and for Sara Colangelo’s “The Kindergarten Teacher,” Maggie Gyllenhaal’s desperate performance is the high-mark in an endearing and uncommon … More “The Kindergarten Teacher” by Sara Colangelo

Director: Damien Chazelle Cinematography: Linus Sandgren Writers: Josh Singer (screenplay), James R. Hansen (novel) Starring: Ryan Gossling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Corey Stoll, Olvia Hamilton Rating: 88 “First Man” is a trip. More specifically, it’s Neil Armstrong’s long and tenuous journey to the moon through the eyes of one of the worlds great young filmmakers, … More “First Man” by Damien Chazelle