I saw The Fall Guy five times in one month, which is a new record for me. This film is a love letter to movie-making and stunts. It has so many clever, cool action sequences; it has excellent music cues (Kiss! The Darkness! Phil Collins!); Ryan Gosling wears a fabulous Miami Vice stunt team jacket; Ryan and Emily Blunt have great chemistry -- and on top of all of that, it is super funny. This film delighted me the very first time I saw it and held up spectacularly upon repeat viewings. The sequence set to "Against All Odds" is a true cinema classic, the dog that only responds to French commands is adorable, and the climactic fall out of a helicopter is a true work of art. So much to love.
This is a truly beautiful film about finding simple pleasures in life and taking pride in doing your job -- and living -- well. Perfect Days has little dialog, but still manages to be highly engaging thanks the extraordinary performance by Kōji Yakusho. Watching this film was a meditative experience that made me think about life a little differently.
Ralph Fiennes deserves all the awards for his masterful, nuanced performance in Conclave. Of course, the cast is stacked with excellent actors and not a weak performance among them. Despite the fact that Conclave is a mostly quiet, talky movie with little action, it's full of tension and intrigue to hold the audience's attention. There are so many twists and secrets, yet it never sinks into melodrama. This is one of those movie-going experiences that felt special and rare in the moment, and that I was able to relish as it was happening.
This was the first movie I watched in 2024 and it set the bar high. The characters and dialog feel authentic -- these are real, messy people trying to figure things out and navigate life as they go along. Dan Levy is of course a comedy genius and a master of snark, yet this is a movie about death and grief, so there are several sad, heartbreaking moments, and I definitely cried a couple of times. In addition to the human aspects of the film, Dan Levy wears amazing clothes and I loved the cozy wintertime London and Paris settings.
Another heartbreaking film that brought tears to my eyes due to masterful performances from James Norton and his young co-star, Daniel Lamont. I love a movie that transports me and puts me in the shoes and mind of a character whose life is so different from my own. Nowhere Special invites the viewer to put themselves into the mindset of a young father facing both terminal illness and an uncertain future for his son. Despite its gentle delivery, this is an incredibly powerful film.
I greatly enjoyed being transported into a whole different culture by and spending time with three truly interesting protagonists in Crossing. It was interesting to learn about the Trans community in Istanbul, and overall this is a beautiful, immersive film about people trying to survive on their own in a chaotic city while constantly yearning for connection. Mzia Arabuli as Lia and Lucas Kankava as Achi have a dynamic relationship that makes up the heart of the film, but I would have liked to see even more scenes with Deniz Dumanli as Evrim and Ziya Sudancikmaz as Omer, as they are both so magnetic and have great chemistry.
This movie is all about the scene in which Glen Powell coaches Adria Arjona though a (hilarious) fake argument via Notes app. And then he winks at the end. At the screening I went to, most of the audience literally applauded, which is the appropriate reaction for such a virtuoso performance. While the film starts off a bit shaky, as Glen settles into a more assured and confident character the whole thing gels and really takes off. It's a shame this wasn't a major cinematic release, as Glen truly has the makings of a movie star and doesn't deserve to be relegated to Netflix. This is one of the movies that made me very glad to live in New York City, where I can see even Netflix movies at a proper cinema.
Like Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom from the same director, The Monk and the Gun offers a fascinating and often humorous look into life in Bhutan. Especially interesting is the way the film characterizes and views democracy, as it is brought to a country mostly happy with a benevolent monarchy. Through this unique lens, I was able to consider the US government in new light, seeing how far our country has shifted from the true intent of democracy. The film also, unsurprisingly, provides thoughtful commentary on guns. Overall, The Monk and the Gun is a refreshing look at a culture and way of life so different from our own.
Charlie Plummer's performance gives this film its heart. Despite his character's restrained emotions as a young man discovering his identity and his community among the LGBTQ+ rodeo scene, his eyes and watchfulness constantly speak volumes. Mason Alexander Park's performance as Carrie is also notable: a spot of empathetic calm amidst the swirling emotional chaos of the other characters.
There is a reason this story has been retold so many times, and this latest version brings great depth to the characters while still being an exciting piece of entertainment. Pierre Niney is excellent as Edmond and does a wonderful job conveying his constant internal struggles over a very long period of time. Although Bastien Bouillon can't match Guy Pearce's iconic 2002 performance as Fernand and the score can be a bit heavy-handed at times, this new version of a true classic has a lot going for it: gorgeous, over-the-top sets and costumes; elaborate Mission: Impossible-style masks (in the 19th century, becuase sure!); and a strong, fully-invested cast that are clearly relishing their parts.
This is a beautifully animated film with a story so touching that it made me cry three times. Even though the story has so many sad and difficult moments, I appreciate the complexity of the relationships depicted in The Wild Robot. The voice work is just as outstanding as the animation, and combined these two elements truly bring the cast of non-human characters to life.
This movie is a lot of fun, mostly thanks to Glen Powell, who can elevate pretty much any scene and any movie he is in with his Texas-size confidence, expert line delivery, and megawatt smile. The tornado sequences are definitely hair-raising and put me on the edge of my seat. Twisters is basically the perfect thrill-ride -- exactly what a summer blockbuster should be.
So many iconic scenes. Challengers is all about Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor for me, as I didn't find Zendaya all that compelling or likable -- or believable as a 30-something mother. The boys, however, are compulsively watchable with off-the-charts chemistry. While I wish the entire film had more of the energy that can be found in the last few minutes, Faist and O'Connor's performances -- along with an excellent score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and just the right amount of ambiguity throughout the story -- make the whole thing worth watching.
On the surface, this film can seem like a collection of really great impressions / impersonations of some of the greatest comic geniuses of our time, but the quality of these performances are so good that Saturday Night captures the infectious energy evident in the early years of SNL as well as other vehicles for its stars from that era. Gabriel LaBelle and Cooper Hoffman are both excellent, as are Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase and Nicholas Braun as Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson. Saturday Night is a film full of possibility and hope, and I left the cinema feeling energized and nostalgic for a time I wasn't even alive.
Memoir of a Snail is a bit gloomy and weird, but also unique. It's a very touching almost-fable told via detailed claymation. The story of a girl struggling to find her place in the world and looking for those who understand, value, and love her is bittersweet, yet lovely and tender. It's almost like Tim Burton crossed with Aardman, with the oddness of both of those reference points dialed all the way up.
Honorable Mentions
- Coup de Chance
- Small Things Like These
- In the Land of Saints and Sinners
- The Order
- September 5
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