• The Whale

    The Whale

    ★★★

    Fraser gives a lovely performance, but the movie continues a long Hollywood tradition of treating disability as Oscar bait. The script trades in empathy for voyeurism.

    Also, is there an Aranofsky movie that doesn't put its characters through the wringer?

  • The Fabelmans

    The Fabelmans

    ★★★½

    More Judd Hirsch, please.

  • Triangle of Sadness

    Triangle of Sadness

    ★★★½

    FBoy Island meets Das Kapital.

  • Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

    Ali: Fear Eats the Soul

    ★★★★

    The most German scene in the movie: the walking milquetoast of a landlord's son sees Emmi sobbing in her doorway, mutters "good evening," and hurries on his way.

  • All Quiet on the Western Front

    All Quiet on the Western Front

    ★★★★

    The scenes alternating between the front and the negotiating table are a stark illustration of war's senselessness.

  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

    Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

    ★★★★

    It had been years since I last watched this movie and it left me dazzled all over again. Of course, the fighting sequences are what everyone remembers, but the cinematography is just as breathtaking. And Michelle Yeoh anchors the spectacle with a performance imbued with grace and humanity.

  • Amsterdam

    Amsterdam

    ★★★

    The cast is great, but this comedy-thriller never quite takes off.

  • Armageddon Time

    Armageddon Time

    ★★★½

    Exactly how much could you get for hocking an Apple II in 1980?

  • Mission: Impossible II

    Mission: Impossible II

    ★★½

    MI:2 embodies some of the more unfortunate trends of the early Aughts: emo haircuts, casual misogyny, bird cameos foreshadowing overwrought action scenes, and guys named Dougray.

  • The Menu

    The Menu

    ★★★½

    Foodies are just the worst.

  • M3GAN

    M3GAN

    ★★★★

    This movie could have been a total schlockfest, but instead we get a thoughtful, unnerving exploration of how technology gives us what we want instead of what we need.

  • The Banshees of Inisherin

    The Banshees of Inisherin

    ★★★★

    This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

    Everyone on this island (with the exception of the animals, who seem completely well-adjusted) is in dire need of counseling and I'm so glad at least one character escaped before completely succumbing to misery. I hope that she met a nice fellow librarian and the two of them settled down in a nice little cottage with a beautiful garden.