“Glass Onion” Film Review: Peeling Back the Layers

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022) is a mystery comedy-drama written and directed by Rian Johnson, and the sequel to his 2019 hit Knives Out. Daniel Craig leads a star-studded ensemble as celebrity detective Benoit Blanc, who is invited to a weekend excursion at a remote island resort hosted by billionaire tech bro Miles Bron (Edward Norton). The film received a one-week theatrical release for Thanksgiving ahead of its Christmas streaming release by Netflix. How does it stack up to the original? **SPOILERS AHEAD!**

“The Fabelmans” Film Review: Family, Artistry and Legacy

The Fabelmans (2022) is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama from writer-director Steven Spielberg. It stars Gabriel LaBelle as Sammy Fabelman, an aspiring young filmmaker grappling with the impending divorce of his parents (Michelle Williams and Paul Dano). The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it won the People’s Choice Award, and released in theaters on November 23rd. Is this truly the Best Picture frontrunner everyone assumes it will be?

“The Menu” Film Review: Dinner and a Show

The Menu (2022) is a satirical horror drama film from director Mark Mylod and writers Seth Reiss and Will Tracy. It stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult as a young rich couple who embark on an exclusive dining experience hosted by a famed Michelin chef (Ralph Fiennes) that begins to go terribly wrong. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival ahead of its theatrical release on November 18. Can this satire transcend genre and become a hit with general audiences? **SPOILERS AHEAD!**

“She Said” Film Review: Power in Numbers

She Said (2022) is a journalism drama from director Maria Schrader and writer Rebecca Lenkiewicz. It stars Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan as Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the two New York Times reporters who broke the Harvey Weinstein sex abuse scandal in 2017. The film premiered at the New York Film Festival ahead of its theatrical release on November 18. Can this join the ranks of other great news dramas like Spotlight and All the President’s Men?

Best Picture Power Rankings: November 2022 Edition

Welcome to the November edition of our Best Picture Power Rankings, in which we take a look at the biggest category of the upcoming 95th Academy Awards! We’re in the heart of awards season now with more and more contenders being seen and released to the public, giving us more information about what might resonate with the Academy. What has moved up and down in the race since last month? Let’s talk Oscars!

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Review: Aqua Affinity

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) is an MCU superhero action film and the sequel to 2018’s Black Panther. It stars Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett, Lupita Nyong’o, Tenoch Huerta and more in the story of Wakanda’s conflict with a newly-discovered aquatic nation with access to their own vibranium. The film almost didn’t happen after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, but was re-written around his death and fashioned as an homage to his legacy. Is this a successful follow-up to one of the most acclaimed superhero flicks of all time?

Film Review Round-Up: Streaming Edition

Over the past few weeks, I have been catching up on recent movie releases that I didn’t have time to write full reviews of. Today I’m compiling my thoughts on several streaming releases I saw and enjoyed! Here are my mini-reviews of The Good Nurse, All Quiet on the Western Front, Causeway, My Policeman, and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story!

“The Banshees of Inisherin” Film Review: To Spite the Face

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) is a dark comedy-drama film from writer-director Martin McDonagh. It stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two inhabitants of a remote Irish village who begin to feud when the latter decides he no longer wants to be friends with the former. The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival, nabbing the awards for Best Screenplay and Best Actor (Farrell), ahead of its theatrical release by Searchlight Pictures. Can McDonagh make his way into yet another Best Picture race?

“Tár” Film Review: Sex and Power in the Cancel Culture Era

Tár (2022) is an American drama film from director Todd Field. It stars Cate Blanchett as the titular Lydia Tár, a (fictional) renowned classical composer whose life begins to unravel in a very public way. The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival, where Blanchett won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, and was released in theaters last month by Focus Features. Can this psychodrama crack the Oscar race?