Arriving on a wave of hype since its Palme d’Or win in May, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite is every bit as mesmerizing as the buzz surrounding it suggests. With a razor-sharp script and excellent contributions from all players involved on both sides of the camera, it sunk its hooks into me within the opening minutes and never let go. Bong aims for many thematic and aesthetic targets over the course of the film, and he hits virtually every one with stunning…

Phantom Thread continues writer-director (and cinematographer this time out) Paul Thomas Anderson’s run as one of the most singular voices in film today. It’s an oddity that admittedly loses just a little bit of steam after it surpasses the 90-minute mark, but Anderson’s direction is intoxicating as ever. Each frame is crafted meticulously, and Anderson hasn’t lost a step in his skill in clear, powerful visual storytelling that tells viewers more than just the dialogue can convey. I must also…