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 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…
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…
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…
Black Box Diaries
I happened to watch Black Box Diaries on the same day that dozens of guilty verdicts came down in a high-profile drugging-and-rape trial in France. The victim, Gisele Pelicot, had…
September 5
As a control room producer in a previous life, September 5 left me feeling nostalgic for the adrenaline rush that comes with bearing witness to history in real time while…
The Fire Inside
I was in the mood for something uplifting, not too arty or intense, and under two hours. The Fire Inside fit the bill. Plus, I had no clue about the…
Wicked
I’ll refrain from calling the film ’wicked good,’ as the hype may drive expectations a bit too far. But it is fair to say that Wicked is faithful to the…
Thelma
I’m late to the party on this nonagenarian action-comedy, but better late than never! June Squibb (Nebraska) is an absolute gem as Thelma Post, a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who falls…
We Live in Time
Time is fleeting; and so is memory where this romantic drama is concerned. It simply did not stick with me. In fact, I struggled to remember the title within minutes…
Conclave
Ever wonder how a new pope gets elected? Conclave seeks to pull back the curtain on the ancient, covert affair. On the surface, watching a bunch of sequestered Cardinals bickering…