Atlantics follows a group of workers in Dakar as they leave the country by boat looking for a better life. One-sentence review: Atlantics has an intriguing enough story and Mati Diop manages some fascinating scenes of tension and emotion, but it lacks the narrative momentum for it to really take off. Details: ? Mati Diop…
Hustlers follows a group of strippers as they hatch a plan to swindle money from their wealthy clientele. 30-second review: Hustlers is an incredibly complex movie. Not only is it hilarious and charming, it delivers commentary on complicated themes of female relationships, the power dynamic between men and women, and the struggle of the working…
Brittany Runs a Marathon follows an overweight and lonely New Yorker as she sets out to turn her life around by training for a marathon. One-sentence review: Brittany Runs a Marathon has enough charm, laughs, and wonderfully eclectic characters — especially Jillian Bell's eponymous Brittany — to get it past its weaker moments. Details: ?…
Following the 1990 miniseries, It reimagines Stephen King's classic novel as a frightening romp through the 1980s. 30-second review: A key change was made from Stephen King's classic novel It for its 2017 film adaptation directed by Andy Muschietti. The film's timeline was moved from the 50s to 1988. That change brought some refreshing updates — raunchy…
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino's ninth film, is a romp through the Golden Age of Hollywood. 30-second review: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is as well-made, deliciously unhinged, and entertaining as any of Quentin Tarantino's films. However, the impeccable recreation of 1969 Hollywood — from the sun-drenched cinematography to the lived-in…
If Beale Street Could Talk is gorgeous, powerful, stunningly crafted, and another masterpiece from Barry Jenkins. If Beale Street Could Talk is a love story at its core the same way that Moonlight, director Barry Jenkins' last film, is. It makes sense considering Jenkins excels at everything you need to make a good romance. He nails communicating…
Blinded by the Light follows a teen growing up in 1980s Britain as he discovers who he is through the music of Bruce Springstein 30-second review: Blinded by the Light has a lot on its mind — for better and worse. Thanks to some inventive musical staging of Bruce Springsteen's greatest hits like "Dancing in…
Three tween boys ditch school and go on an adventure that involves drones, drugs, and a suspicious number of sex toys in Good Boys. 90-second review: If movies like Superbad and Booksmart prove anything, it's that watching uncool teens try to be cool is a comedy gold mine. Good Boys mines the same tropes for humor — the entire plot revolves around…
Luce follows a mystery surrounding a small town's golden child and him and his parents' run-in with a teacher bent on his demise. 30-second review: Luce is so successful because its story has a clear message and point-of-view it wants to communicate, but director Julius Onah presents it in a completely fresh and original way. Though at its core…
The Perfection follows two students of a renowned music academy whose first encounter leads to sinister results. 30-second review: The Perfection's first half portends a sharp and tense psychological thriller with two committed performances by Allison Williams and Logan Browning as the former and current star students of a prestigious music academy respectively. But one…
