The Ballad of Wallis Island
If Once (2006) and Waking Ned Devine (1998) had a cinematic love child, it may look something like The Ballad of Wallis Island, a bittersweet British dramedy about an eccentric…
Black Bag
“Where were you last night, honey?” “Black bag.” In other words, I could tell you but then I’d have to kill you. And I love you. So best not go…
The Penguin Lessons
The Penguin Lessons is a 'poignant dramedy' made all the more poignant, dramatic and humorous by the mere fact it is inspired by real events. Yes, an Englishman really did…
There’s Still Tomorrow (C’è ancora domani)
Written and directed by and starring Paola Cortellesi, There's Still Tomorrow is a feminist dramedy that outperformed Barbie in Italy! Set in post-WWII Rome, it tells the story of Delia, a…
My Dead Friend Zoe
This unusual buddy dramedy tells a surprisingly effective veteran story. In it Merit (Sonequa Martin-Green) who served in the army in Afghanistan is still intimately connected with her fellow soldier…
The Gorge
I’m always a bit skeptical when a movie with a pair of talented leads opens on a streaming service without a theatrical release. So I was pleasantly surprised by The…
UnBroken
The story of the Weber children made the front pages of newspapers all over America in 1946 when they finally made it to freedom. They were seven Jewish children who…
Porcelain War
In the current political climate there could not be a more timely film than the Oscar nominated documentary Porcelain War. It takes place in Ukraine and follows an artist couple,…
Paddington in Peru
Paddington in Peru: Lost in the Jungle is a heartwarming movie for all ages. It has a bit of a Swiss Family Robinson vibe, with the addition of a precocious…
I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)
I'm Still Here is a quiet, intense, and moving political and family drama that should serve as a cautionary tale about dictatorship, authoritarianism, complicity, and resistance. It's based on the…
Inheritance
For a film shot clandestinely on an iPhone, Inheritance is a decent little thriller. It has an intimate rather than epic vibe and will likely find its audience with home…
In the Shadow of Beirut
This beautifully made documentary takes place is what must be the most desolate slum in all of Lebanon, a country itself teetering on the edge of economic and political ruin.…
The Room Next Door
It's probably one of our worst fears: dying alone. I didn't particularly like The Room Next Door though it sure it did resonate. It's the story of two old friends…
Emilia Pérez
Emilia Pérez is a jumble of genres, yet somehow it works. Part crime drama, part musical, part arty, part mainstream, part weird. It's really hard to explain without messing up…
The Brutalist
The Brutalist is my favorite film of the year, hands down! It's a big film. A commanding film. Yes, it's long (3h 35m), but unlike so many of the long…