For most people, the concept of travelling through the country alone sounds like a dream, while for others, it sounds more like a nightmare. In the film Nomadland, this concept is explored in an interesting, albeit beautiful way. After losing her husband and losing her home due to a recession, Fern, a sixty year old woman played by Frances McDormand, travels through the American West, living in a van, becoming a modern nomad. Directed by Chloé Zhao, this film won six Oscars, including Best Picture.

To my surprise, I actually enjoyed this film.

One of the strong suits of this film was the way it was shot, more specifically the cinematography. The cinematography of a film includes elements such as lighting, camera movement, shot composition, etc. While watching Nomadland, I was entranced. From the gorgeous sunrises that drench the desert land to the sunsets that paint the sky orange and purple, each shot of this film is beautifully created. It leaves the audience breathless with an appreciation for what the world has to offer. As we are swept up in our own world, we may forget the great big world around us.

Though the cinematography is on point, without Frances McDormand, this film would not be worth the watch. Since the film centers around a character's struggles and development, it can be tricky for casting directors to find the right person for audiences to follow and enjoy. Fortunately, this film has the best person for the job! The way Fern is brought to life is truly amazing, her character being fleshed out and feeling very real. This character’s emotional journey is captured in a way that is honest and beautiful. I find that the best performances come from actors/actresses that genuinely connect to the character they are portraying, and I have no doubt that Frances McDormand did that. She won the Oscar for Best Actress.

I will say that although the film is appealing for its look, the pacing is quite slow. At times, the film can be a tad bit boring which is unfortunate since everything else about it is great.

Overall, Nomadland was a slow-paced film with gorgeous scenes and wonderful acting. I would recommend this film to anyone looking for a calm film to watch. I have to give it an A-.

A man named Ruben, played by Riz Ahmed, is the drummer of a heavy-metal band. As time goes on, his life is changed when he begins to lose his hearing. It is directed by Darius Marder and takes viewers on a journey.

There is nothing more gut-wrenching than the idea of losing one of your five senses. In this case, our main character, Ruben, lost his hearing. As a musician, that could be one of the worst possibilities to occur.

A highlight of this film is the actual plot. There is a feeling of despair for our main character who is going through a traumatic experience most people could not imagine. Sound of Metal pulls at the heartstrings in a way that is sophisticated and genuine. This film is meant to delve into who our main character is and how he dealt with a horrible event that has happened in his life. As someone who loves music dearly, this film puts me in a mindset that is not only scary but sad. For anyone who has a passion, the idea of losing the ability to do said passion is a nightmare that most would not dare to think about. This film speaks about this possibility in a way that leads people to truly appreciate the senses they have.

With such a strong plot, it is important to have a powerful lead actor. Fortunately, Riz Ahmed is quite the stellar lead in this film. He never once slacks on bringing the character of Ruben to life. As audience members, we feel each and every feeling director Darius Marder wants us to feel, with Riz making every single scene feel real. Just the fact that he learned how to play the drums in six months for the role, we see the dedication that was put into this character and script.

As amazing as this film was, the look of it was nothing special. It was shot in a bland way: the cinematography being on the back burner. Although I know that the style of a film is subjective, I have a feeling most people at least want some wide shots as well as interesting lighting.

I love this film for a multitude of reasons and even though I had some issues with the way it was shot, I still think people should see it. This film deserves an A in my book!

After moving to Arkansas, a Korean American family struggles with the challenges of life all while attempting to achieve the “American Dream” and creating a farm. On their journey, the lessons taught are ones of resilience and love. Directed by Lee Isaac Chung, this film examines the dynamic of what it means to be family in a great big world.

Minari is the kind of film that genuinely makes me fall in love with film once again, due to all the elements coming together, forming a cohesive, powerful story.

An element of most films that gets overlooked is that which adds atmosphere as well as beauty to a film and that is the soundtrack/score. In Minari, the score is so amazing, I felt the need to point it out. Each piece of music composed was astounding, with piano accompaniment as well as many other instruments, like the violin. There is a sense of hope in some pieces while others bring you a sense of wonder. Every composition was taken care of, carefully placed within the film. Due to its score, Minari was nominated for the award of Best Original Score.

Like with each of the films on this list, they all have one thing in common, and that is the acting. Minari is a great example of how to truly act when playing a character who is part of a family. Everyone from the dad, Jacob, played by Steven Yuen, to the young son, David, played by Alan S. Kim, each performer brought their A-game. There is never a time throughout the film where I do not feel like these people are not family. They have a strong dynamic and phenomenal chemistry that bounces off of one another. The grandmother, Soonja, was played by Youn Yuh- jung and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

It is very rare that I end a review without any kind of gripes, but I truly cannot say I have any with Minari. The story is well-written, the acting is fantastic, and most of the film is shot wonderfully. If I had to, I would have to give this film an A+. I highly recommend you put this on your list of films to watch!

In a film directed by Shaka King based on real life events, Judas and The Black Messiah follows William O’Neal, played by LaKeith Stanfield. After getting caught attempting to hijack a car, he is given a plea deal by FBI Special Agent Roy Mitchell, played by Jesse Plemons, in which he must infiltrate the Black Panther Party Chapter in Illinois to get information about Chairman Fred Hampton, played by Daniel Kaluuya.

This film was interesting on many levels.

I must take the time to point out the fact that, hands down, the best performance in the whole film was that of Daniel Kaluuya. To portray such an iconic human being is no easy challenge and, yet, he steps up to give an honest, real performance of Fred Hampton. It was said that he even sat down and spoke to members of the Black Panther Party, which Fred was the Chairman of in Illinois. In my opinion, as an actor, to get more information on the character you are playing is the key to a successful performance and that is just what Daniel Kaluuya did. Fred Hampton will be remembered throughout history for his role in the Civil Rights Movement as a true liberator, and I do feel as though Mr. Kaluuya did him justice. Daniel Kaluuya ended up winning the Oscar award for Best Supporting Actor.

I always find the most interesting stories take place in our real world, which is why this film is quite cool. Judas and The Black Messiah is a nonfiction story that takes place in 1969 and highlights the social issues African Americans faced during a time in which we were segregated and treated poorly all on the basis of our skin color. The film's main focus is Fred Hampton, a man who knew the dangers of being a leader yet dedicated his life to helping his brothers and sisters. To see this story unfold on the big screen brought a sense of hope to my heart, as I realized how many people were going to be able to learn about a historical event that shaped America and where we are today. Although we have ways to go, we have moved along due to people like Fred Hampton. I am overjoyed that his story is being told to more people. Though it ended in tragedy, his contribution to Civil Rights remains.

Although I enjoyed the film at the time, it pains me to point out the fact that this film is kind of forgettable. Now, do not get me wrong, this film is amazing and should be watched, but I cannot say it is as memorable as other films that deal with this kind of subject matter.

I do encourage people to view this film but just know that it may not be your cup of tea, and keep in mind that, although it is superb, it might not leave you thinking about that event for days to come. I give this film an A-.