Hotel Artemis
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: DVD/Blu-Ray, VOD
Hotel Artemis was not at all the kind of movie I thought it was going to be, and it’s all the better for it. What you might think as a John Wick knockoff, which it was more or less advertised as, has a lot more in common with something like Bad Times At The El Royale, with its collection of colorful characters in a single location, violent confrontations, and deconstructionist impulses, but this time with sci-fi flourishes. It’s a bold debut from Drew Pearce, and the cast delivers on the script’s nuances and idiosyncrasies with ease, but there are moments towards it bloody finale that are surprisingly moving. It’s a fierce and snappy film, and I hope we haven’t seen the last of Pearce.
I Am Not A Witch
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: Amazon Prime
Rungano Nyoni’s debut film pulls of a notoriously hard tonal tightrope walk, luring the audience into a hilarious, pitch black comedy about superstitions, government incompetence, and what women have to do in order to survive patriarchal systems, before she pulls the rug out from under you with an ending that forces you to confront the consequences of the ugliness that you’ve been laughing at for over the past hour or so. It’s so effective, and the young star, Maggie Mulubwa, carries the film like a pro as the accused witch. It’s brilliant, raw, funny, and it has a lot on its mind. This one flew in a but under the radar, so consider checking it out if what I described sounds interesting to you.
If Beale Street Could Talk
Review: N/A Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: Still in a wide theatrical release, check your local listings.
Barry Jenkins is such a talented filmmaker, it’s practically intimidating. The way he uses music, the way he frames a shot, how he makes each moment deeply informed by complex emotional underpinnings, how he lights the faces of his characters, it’s superlative movie making from top to bottom. It’s a beautiful and affecting love story that also gives the strength and resilience of black women a much deserved spotlight. Moonlight was such a wonderful, out of nowhere experience, and this is a stunning follow up. There isn’t any filmmaker in America that is making movies the way he is, at least, not at this moment, and every time he makes another one, it feels like a gift. I hope he never stops making movies.
Let The Corpses Tan
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: DVD/Blu-Ray, VOD
Whoever tricked everyone into believing that “style over substance” is some legitimate criticism needs to be put in time out, or – more preferably – strapped to a chair with his eyes forced open, A Clockwork Orange style, so they can experience the glorious, hyper-stylized glory that is Let The Corpses Tan. I mean, what an absolute mind-melter of a movie. I wish this played on the big screen near me, but I had to settle for an online screener on my laptop, yet the effect still works beautifully. Don’t be surprised if future action filmmakers take influence from this because it’s just that bold and weird and fresh.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: DVD/Blu-Ray, VOD
I didn’t even like the first one! So, color me shocked when I ended up loving this sequel. Pretty much everything is an improvement, and I found myself endlessly delighted by its bright colors, endearing characters, and of course, our collective appreciation for all things ABBA. Lily James has a smile that can blast a ray of sunshine on even the darkest days, and before I could even realize it, I was in tears by the end. This is the definition of a feel-good movie, one that uses every tool of cinema and storytelling to create an experience of pure joy in every frame. If you didn’t like the first one, like myself, consider giving this a shot.
Mandy
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: DVD/Blu-Ray, VOD
Now, there’s no way this list would’ve been complete without the inclusion of this psychedelic nightmare of a movie. Panos Cosmatos is operating on some alien level with his use of harsh, primary colors, old school visual tricks, and moody expressionistic flourishes. There’s a few films on here that I’d comfortably describe as something I’ve never really seen before, and this is certainly one of them. Nicolas Cage brings it in what can be described as the ultimate Nic Cage role, taking full advantage of the soft-spoken vulnerability of his dramatic work, as well as his weirder, explosive impulses, which has people often mistake for bad acting (which it is most definitely not). This film is an experience that burns deep into your psyche, and I love it. Plus, it’s nice to have one last score from the great Jóhann Jóhannsson.
Minding The Gap
Review: N/A Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: Hulu
There have been a number of terrific documentaries this year, but Minding The Gap is the one I loved the most. What seems like a simple exploration of three kids who grew up together is in actuality a much more substantial examination on toxic masculinity, abuse, race relations, family dysfunction, and the struggle to survive in a world that you were never fully prepared for. I love the kind of documentaries that follow people through entire years of their lives, with Hoop Dreams being the obvious peak of that particular form. It’s so full of empathy, and it’s so beautifully told. It hit me so hard, and I haven’t forgotten a thing about since seeing it, and to come from Bing Liu, a first time filmmaker at age 24, this is a mighty impressive feat.
Mirai
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: Still in a limited theatrical release, check your local listings. DVD/Blu-Ray scheduled for April 9th.
Family has often been a major thematic element of Mamoru Hosoda’s work, and Mirai is no different. This takes a Christmas Carol style structure to a story about a young boy adjusting to having a new baby sister, and what the film dos so well is bringing a childlike sense of imagination in exploring the emotions surrounding that circumstance, ultimately building to a stunning finale that is very much about how children can learn to discover what it means to empathize. It’s a great film for kids, but adults can have a lot of fun with it too. It’s a warm, jovial, and very funny film, and the animation is beautiful. It’s a great addition to a great filmography from one of Japan’s finest filmmakers.
Mukkabaaz
Review: N/A Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: YouTube, Google Play
Anurag Kashyap is not just one of India’s best working filmmakers, I’d consider him to be one of my favorite working directors period. There’s no way I would even think about starting a list like this if I haven’t seen a newly released film from him. Mukkabaaz is, in many ways, his most mainstream film to date, even describing the plot would make it sound like of those old school Bollywood masala flicks, but that doesn’t stop Kashyap from taking what could easily be a standard boxing movie, and filter it through his socially conscious and frenetic impulses. This film is like an adrenaline shot, and it keeps you engaged for its entire two-and-a-half hour runtime. It’s got a likable hero, a well told love story, a bad guy you love to hate, and it has a lot to say about India’s caste system, corruption, and how they bleed into the boxing world. It’s a great film, and you don’t need to be a boxing fan to enjoy it.
Overlord
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: Now on VOD, while DVD/Blu-Ray scheduled for February 19th.
This might not seem like an obvious choice for a list like this, but the reason that it is on here is as simple as the film itself. It takes a movie like Overlord to show just how often filmmakers seem to forget the fundamentals of storytelling, structure, set-ups/pay-offs, and pure nuts and bolts filmmaking. It’s not that Overlord is merely competent, it shows how to put that extra touch, that extra oomph to every one of these seemingly simple beats for maximum effect. There is not an ounce of fat in this movie, everything from the stakes to characterization is clearly established, every set-up is given a pay-off, and it does all this while being a super fun, totally unpretentious WWII zombie movie that takes itself just seriously enough to make the stakes feel real, but not too much as to avoid any semblance to joy and entertainment. And the cherry on top? No sequel bait or universe building! Just in-and-out escapism at its finest. I had a fantastic time with this movie, and while it’s not the most deep movie going experience I’ve had, I can see myself watching this on rainy days or whenever I’m bored, and not get tired of it.
Paddington 2
Review: N/A Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: DVD/Blu-Ray, VOD
Of course this was going to be on here! It’s on practically every other list out there, and for good reason. It’s a delightful family film that encourages understanding, optimism, and kindness without a hint of irony or cynicism in its filmmaking. It’s hilarious, beautifully crafted, and tightly written. I loved the first one, which I’d argue is a perfect little movie, and somehow this sequel surpassed all my expectations. That takes a lot of skill, and you can definitely see those skills on screen. So many critics have gone to bat for this movie since it came out here in early January, so I don’t feel the need to add what’s probably been said many times before already. So, I’ll end with a quote from the film that offers the kind of whimsical wisdom that the world needs so much more of. “If you are kind and polite, the world will be right.”
Padmaavat
Review: N/A Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: Amazon Prime
Remember when Hollywood would make these grand, extravagant epics, full of colorful costumes, larger than life characters, big battle sequences, giant sets, and cast of thousands? Sanjay Leela Bhansali has been making movies like that in India for nearly two decades now, and the controversy surrounding his recent project hasn’t stopped him from delivering one of his very best films. It’s exceptionally well made, the songs are catchy, the action is thrillingly staged, it’s thematically dense, and Ranveer Singh delivers one of the best villain performances I’ve seen last year. I remember seeing it in the theater when I visited India early last year, and it has stuck with me ever since.
Psychokinesis
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: Netflix
I’m sure many have caught up with Train To Busan by this point. Yeong Sang-ho’s zombie film was an impressive effort from someone who had previously been working in animation. With Psychokinesis, Sang-ho proves himself as an exceptional filmmaker who is able to bring an engaging human perspective to kinetic, oddball genre films. The film pays out like a superhero film from before Hollywood got obsessed with cinematic universes (and frankly, well before they could afford to do anything like that to begin with). It’s a small scale, character driven story where the drama comes not out of who the main character will beat up, but rather, if he will will be able to fix the relationship between him and his daughter. I think a lot of American filmmakers can learn a thing or two from this. And please, if you are as charmed by this film as I am, tell others to check it out because I’m annoyed at how Netflix unceremoniously dumped this on their service without any promotion.
Revenge
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: DVD/Blu-Ray, VOD
Coralie Fargeat sure knows how to make a good first impression. I can still recall the audience at Beyond Fest back in late 2017 going nuts all throughout the movie. I didn’t think it was possible to do a rape-revenge movie at this point without looking tacky, but thankfully, this isn’t just any other rape-revenge movie. It’s a bold, brash, and spectacularly satisfying experience where Fargeat applies a distinctly feminine perspective to a subgenre that’s long been fetishized by men because of its brutality against women. This is a big middle finger to that notion,and the results are glorious. It’s simple, but stylish and unflinching. Whatever she has going next, I can’t wait to see it.
Roma
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: Netflix
Despite being black and white, subtitled, and watched on my laptop, Roma manages to be one of the most immersive films I’ve seen all year. Alfonso Cuarón’s latest is by far his most personal film, drawing on his experiences as a child in Mexico, but filtered through the point-of-view of a house maid, played brilliantly by Yalitza Aparicio. You won’t find a more beautifully staged and choreographed this year. The level of detail and care placed in every shot is astounding, filling the movie with moments that make you wonder how they pulled it off. It’s by far and away one of the finest examples of filmmaking that tries to create that “walk down memory lane” effect, and it’s a privilege to see Cuarón working at top form here.
Searching
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: DVD/Blu-Ray, VOD
We’ve seen a number of these movies that take place entirely on a computer screen, usually explored in horror, but with Searching, director and co-writer, Aneesh Chaganty, managed to pull something really special. For one…it’s good. Actually, it’s not just good, it’s great, it’s on this list for a reason. It takes all the compelling elements that make this specific format stand out, and built a solid, unpredictable, character driven thriller around it with some welcome stylistic flourishes. John Cho carries it so well you’ll be so pissed that he isn’t a leading man more often. But the best thing about about the film is that it feels like the first time in forever that we’ve seen a movie that actively seems to be pushing new ways of telling a story.
Shoplifters
Review: Click Here! Trailer: Click Here!
Currently Available On: DVD/Blu-Ray, VOD
Hirokazu Koreeda’s gentle yet raw drama about a family living on the margins in the outskirts of Tokyo is the kind of film that is so carefully told and methodically paced that it becomes easy to get engrossed by the characters and the way they navigate the impoverished circumstances they deal with. It operates on one level for a large chunk of the film, but it slowly peels back layers upon layers until it finally unveils what it has been doing the entire time. It’s not like a big twist reveal as much as it is a different form of truth to the characters, which is honestly hard to talk about if you haven’t seen it. It’s a wonderful film, deeply human, subtly funny, and features an ending that will knock you right out.