Matthew St.Clair

Boy Erased has its heart in the right place but doesn’t have a proper voice.

The Favourite is completely innovative and easily Yorgos Lanthimos’ most actor-driven picture.

Shoplifters is a well-acted, bittersweet ode to the impoverished.

Green Book is a safe crowd-pleaser but still badly antiquated.

Widows is an incredibly thematic crime drama with a killer acting ensemble.

It’s a strong acting showcase, a biopic, and a cautionary tale all at once.

Timothee Chalamet easily makes this cluttered drama worth watching.

Despite the film’s formulaic storytelling, Rami Malek’s commanding performance helps the film come alive.

1985 is an understated yet powerhouse gem about small-town life and the AIDS crisis.

Bad Times at the El Royale is wonderfully chaotic and boasts a killer ensemble cast.

Alfonso Cuaron’s latest film Roma is heart wrenching, awe inspiring, and vital all at once.

Bradley Cooper offers an effective glimpse at his potential greatness as a director with his decent remake.

It retains the same theme of finding your identity that director Amma Asante has demonstrated in her previous work.

In a career-best turn, Keira Knightley amazingly brings a famed novelist’s story to life.

A must-see for anyone who is a fan of these four legendary thespians.

Ben Mendelsohn is the strong center of the naturalistic ensemble dramedy by writer/director Nicole Holofcener.

An admirably unconventional depiction of PTSD anchored by a strong performance by Leven Rambin.

Director Aneesh Chaganty delivers what is easily the most immersive and innovative film of the year.

Glenn Close is a quiet force of nature in a masterfully written and well-acted gem.

It succeeds thanks to its cultural significance and crowd-pleasing nature.

BlacKkKlansman is a powerful and razor sharp yet timely effort from director Spike Lee.

A PSA that Kate McKinnon is a true blue comedic movie star.

Thanks to two of its supporting actors, Brotherly Love thrives on a wing and a prayer.

A sublime biopic carried by Trine Dyrholm who excels as the late famed musician.

It is both the best action film of the summer and the franchise’s best film.

A completely bonkers and bizarre yet thrilling directorial debut from Boots Riley.

Aside from its scattered storytelling, 1/1 still flourishes thanks to its quietly commanding, leading performance by Lindsey Shaw.

A flawless portrayal of adolescence that features both uplifting and heart wrenching authenticity.

A harrowing look into the heart of war that is bound to make some viewers uncomfortable.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is an improvement of its predecessor that is flawed yet still entertaining.

Despite its predictability, Boundaries still succeeds thanks to its profound storytelling and great acting.

“Whatever scene you’re doing is just about trying to grab whatever the truth is in that moment whether it’s a video game or whether it’s a movie.” – Christian Papierniak

Ocean’s 8 is entertaining popcorn fare. Nothing more, nothing less.

The film itself is a twisted experience that had me quivering by the time the credits rolled.

Neither sentimental nor filled with heavy dramatic stakes, The Workers Cup is a simple demonstration of why people play sports.

American Animals offers up a witty yet complex demonstration of the conflicting pursuit of the American Dream.

Saoirse Ronan easily saves what ends up being a jumbled depiction of marriage and sexuality.

“We were able to find the tricky balance between comedy and drama by keeping Teddy and the world of Nice grounded.” – Naomi Ko

Untogether is a solid directing debut from Emma Forrest that possesses hints of greatness.

The star power of rising actress Laia Costa helps elevate two flawed showcases for her tremendous talent.

Tessa Thompson and Lily James are the strong center of a modernized Western that is introspective and thought provoking.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives a career-best performance as a struggling comedienne and deserves serious Oscar recognition.

Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, and Alessandro Nivola give three of the year’s best performances in this compelling romantic drama.

A harrowing depiction of conversion therapy that also manages to be hearty.

Antonella Costa is the strong, complicated center of a tortuous story.

Cargo puts a refreshing spin on the zombie genre and is anchored by a career-best Martin Freeman performance.

She talked about bringing the authentic relationship between the two main characters to life, the filmmaking aesthetics, and the backstory behind the screenplay as well.

A Quiet Place is a simplistic yet masterful gem that is destined to become a modern horror classic.