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

Director: Terry Zwigoff Cinematography: Maryse Alberti Editor: Viktor Livingston Rating: 92 The documentary ‘Crumb’ documents Robert Crumb, the famous underground cartoonist, and the entire Crumb family, minus his two sisters. It’s a literal visual realization of personal experience and personality translated into wonderfully bizarre cartoons and abstract art Outside of Crumb’s family, who are just … More ‘Crumb’ (1994) by Terry Zwigoff

Director: Lars Von Trier Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle Writers: Lars Von Trier Stars: Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Chloe Sevigny, Stellan Skarsgard, Lauren Bacall, Patricia Clarkson Rating: 95 Dogville starts out abruptly, with it’s overbearing, fascinating and unique set design, that takes a few scenes to get used to, but ultimately is used masterfully as a … More ‘Dogville’ (2003) by Lars Von Trier

Director: Peter Yates Cinematography: Victor J. Kemper Writers: Paul Monash, George V. Higgins Stars: Robert Mitchum, Peter Boyle, Richard Jordan Rating: 86 Robert Mitchum is often lost within the pantheon of great Hollywood actors, and even with a wealth of acting credits, his work often goes underappreciated. Mitchum is cast in some questionable films, but … More ‘The Friends of Eddie Coyle’ (1973) by Peter Yates

Director: Robert Schwentke Cinematography: Florian Ballhaus Writers: Robert Schwentke Stars: Max Hubacher, Milan Peschel, Frederick Lau, and Waldamer Kobus Rating: 89 ‘The Captain’ was nowhere on my radar leading up until the day I saw the film. Schwentke and his filmography had me a little skeptical heading into my viewing of his black-and-white rendering of … More ‘The Captain’ (2018) by Robert Schwentke