Abigail (2024)
Efficient setup sees uneasy Melissa Barrera and misfit gang paid to kidnap 12-year old Alisha Weir, too late realizing they're now trapped with a vampire. Slathered with a murky tinge and indulged by visceral, bloody explosions of bodies, style maintains momentum without realizing dark humor or violent tension.
About Fate (2022)
Quickly moving beyond credulity-stretching coincidence of mistaken apartments, disappointed Emma Roberts and insecure Thomas Mann find solace beyond New Year's Eve romantic disappointment. Solidly framed, amusing cast and light emotions wrap up neat, unfussy package.
Above Suspicion (2019)
Cold visuals trap Emilia Clarke in bleak Kentucky town, dealing drugs, suffering abuse and coping with two children while ambitious FBI Agent Jack Huston tragically exploits her hopes. Sleek, empty production wallows in grim, violent lives and unremitting cruelty to damaged heroine.
The Accountant (2016)
Moderate genre thrills spin on intense accountant Ben Affleck's autism, which feeds acute mathematical skills and clinical ferocity with fists and guns. Uneven production sees ragged brother Jon Bernthal eagerly join violent plot; smart Anna Kendrick is more innocent participant.
The Accountant 2 (2025)
Diverting blend of bickering brothers and brutal action sees unsocial Ben Affleck and unforgiving Jon Bernthal track down killers and traffickers with help from band of high-tech autistic teens. Sentimental streak provides emotional edge amid comedy and violence.
Across The Bridge (1957)
Graham Green adaptation is strikingly dark and fatalistic, with a typically mannered Rod Steiger on the run from New York to the Mexican border. The redemptive physical and mental descent is bleakly gripping rather than convincing, a dog his only friend and downfall.
Act Naturally (2011)
Two estranged step sisters are forced to get to know each other and themselves when they inherit a naturist resort. A predictable narrative is not helped by flat handling and undeveloped characters, though the spirited, game cast and casual approach is admirable.
Ad Vitam (2025)
Slick staging and visuals, with involving setup and increasingly implausible final act action as ex-special forces Guillaume Canet desperately seeks to rescue kidnapped, pregnant wife Stéphane Caillard while government conspiracy reverberates from past. In between, lengthy flashback upsets rhythm and diffuses tension.
The Adam Project (2022)
Nimble staging and performances make most of spirited dialogue that resolves comic setups with emotionally involving father son(s) reunions as maverick Ryan Reynolds flips back in time to save future with younger self Walker Scobell and father Mark Ruffalo. Action more mundane, humor appealing.
Les Adieux a la reine (Farewell, My Queen) (2017)
Maintaining a palpable tension amid Palace of Versailles finery, French revolution threatens impending violence as politics, power and desire swirl for intense royal reader Léa Seydoux and Diane Kruger’s demanding Marie-Antoinette, Controlled visuals infused with gripping detail.
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
Engaging fantasy premise and charm of leads keeps romantic wheels spinning as prospective congressman Matt Damon falls for impulsive ballerina Emily Blunt while mysterious agents try to mold the future. Remains sleekly enjoyable, yet falters in final stretch.
Adventure In Manhattan (1936)
Briskly enjoyable, entirely forgettable and fragmentary, coasting with confident reporter Joel McCrea's uncanny ability to divine future robberies. Hopeful actress Jean Arthur provides confounding support and romance, sporadic moments of humor and drama.
Adventures In Babysitting (1987)
Energetic Elizabeth Shue's journey to rescue stranded friend in downtown Chicago results in generically entertaining comedy action and life lessons. Uneven pacing tends to isolate sequences within rigid structure, though amiable characters persevere.
The Adventures Of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension (1984)
Hit and miss combination of whiplash comedy and sci-fi action features sure sense of off-kilter design and confounding mythology which sees spirited cast thrown into confounding alien attack narrative. Inelegantly assembled, engagingly curious.
The Adventures Of Marco Polo (1938)
Witty, sexual melodramas spun against extravagant sets as genial, wily Venetian explorer Gary Cooper trades and seduces his way across China. Fantastical view of history and meandering structure veers to the static rather than needed sweep.
The Adventures Of Tartu (1943)
Lively wartime adventure, packed with blunt propaganda as playful agent Robert Donat infiltrates a German factory developing a deadly poison gas. Solid production values and action, while Valerie Hobson and Glynis Johns provide conflicted support.
Advise & Consent (1962)
Plainly framed, unhurried drama revels in deceit and manipulation around hearings for peaceable Henry Fonda to be confirmed Secretary Of State. Formidable cast includes devious Charles Laughton and prudent Walter Pidgeon, highlighting darkness of political polemics.
The Aeronauts (2019)
Colourful spin on history as extrovert pilot Felicity Jones and ambitious scientist Eddle Redmayne ascend to record breaking heights with often vertiginous thrills. Potent performances and VFX, yet character resonance and transcendent exploration never quite soars.
The African Queen (1951)
Set amid luminous, evocative Technicolor jungle settings, bickering love story between unrepentant steamer captain Humphrey Bogart and stubborn missionary Katherine Hepburn is hugely enjoyable adventure. Star chemistry adeptly balances humor and suspense.
After (2012)
An intriguing setup provokes two strangers into a race against time as their suddenly empty hometown is threatened by a fast-encroaching, dark fog. Though the resolutions feel too facile and the monster all too physical, the production is well paced with slick visuals.
After Dark, My Sweet (1990)
Off-kilter characters and story dynamics, suffused through arid visuals, sees unbalanced ex-boxer Jason Patric taken in by damaged Rachel Ward and dragged into kidnapping plot by abusive Bruce Dern. Terse, tense, pervading sense of doom relieved only by the salvation of sacrifice.
After The Hunt (2025)
Patchy melodrama headlines superior cast as popular Yale professor Julia Roberts is increasingly pressured from convinced student Ayo Edebiri's accusation of sexual assault by teacher Andrew Garfield, and her own past secret. Curiously muddled storytelling misses intensity and provocative potential.
After The Thin Man (1936)
Affectionate spark and winning charm between always inquisitive Myrna Low and casually intuitive William Powell feeds comic confusion of social and family events while solving murder that involves anxious James Stewart. Nimble pace benefits humor and shifting plot line.
Against All Odds (1984)
Setting noir fatalism against bleached visuals, bitter Jeff Bridges falls for confounding Rachel Ward and confronts snarling James Woods. Character interplay and individual sequences never quite connect deepening webs of corruption, though performers and staging maintain corrosive intrigue.
Agak Laen (2024)
Shaggy comedy coasts on fluid chemistry between four leads, appealing losers whose failing haunted house becomes success after they hide death of a customer that decides to return as ghost. Awkwardly shifting tones during last act; best when concentrates on surprising silliness.
Agnes Of God (1985)
Filmed with polished, icy naturalism and highlighted by strong performances, intense psychiatrist Jane Fonda investigates death of guileless nun Meg Tilly's dead newborn and conflicts with mother superior Anne Bancroft. Involving drama, muddled spiritual themes.
Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013)
Rigorous style and rich visuals conjure doomed Texan love story as unbowed Rooney Mara raises daughter alone until convinced Casey Affleck busts out of jail. Feel for dialogue infuses pervading mood with dark fatality before final, cathartic violence; remains involving yet lacks vitality.
Air (2023)
Capturing an optimistic 80s spirit, breezy drama sees intuitive talent scout Matt Damon persuading his eccentric Nike boss Benn Affleck to bet everything on rising star Michael Jordan. Transforming boardroom politics into underdog win against the odds, solidly crafted entertainment.
Airplane! (1980)
With disaster plot merely an excuse to bombard screen with unrelenting succession of verbal and physical gags, willing performers accept the absurdities and high percentage of laughs are delivered. Plain style and spirited score accentuate delirious comic momentum.
Algiers (1938)
Lively, atmospheric tale set in the shadowy backstreets and shady clubs of the Casbah, where imperious thief Charles Boyer finds his French exile spin out of control when he falls for Parisienne tourist Hedy Lamarr. Minimal exposition and characterization in favor of menacing set piees.
Alien (1979)
Frayed design and characters conjure convincingly grungy, oppressive environment for haunted house of horrors as space crew unwittingly brings violent organism on board that picks them off one by one. Finely tooled tension ratchets to bloody shocks, while instinctive Sigourney Weaver provides resolute humanity.
Alien 3 (1992)
Wallowing in narrative cruelty, toughened survivor Sigourney Weaver is sent crash landing on hostile planet where savage, religious prisoners operate industrial plant, unknowing brutal creature has come with her. Splashes of violence amid grim, uncompromising visuals conjure bleak futility.
Alien Resurrection (1997)
Solid genre gloss swirls elements from previous installments as future scientists clone enhanced Sigourney Weaver in order to breed queen creature and mutant offspring for military advancement with unsurprisingly deadly results. Pleasingly cynical lead and efficiently tooled thrills yet approach lacks distinction.
Alien Romulus (2024)
Benefitting from intense, compassionate Cailee Spaeny, storytelling serves up gory thrills as group of youthful colonists seek escape from company control by taking over derelict space station unaware of its deadly inhabitants. Depending on view, visual and conceptual ideas either copy elements of previous films or pay inventive tribute.
Aliens (1986)
Ferociously expanding original concept, sequel returns Sigourney Weaver to her planet of nightmares along with unsuspecting marines for combat with legion of savage creatures and their protective queen. Delivering on set piece thrills while gaining thematic strength and emboldening vital lead character.
All Is Bright (2013)
Languid, deliberately off-beat drama-comedy with distinctively 70s vibe as downbeat Paul Giamatti joins with hopeful Paul Rudd to sell Christmas trees from Quebec in New York. Sally Hawkins is eccentric, the storytelling messy, the ending surprisingly poignant.
All Is Lost (2013)
Controlled with sharp visuals, keen sense of isolated danger, and robust action, Robert Redford is stranded in the enormity of the Indian Ocean when minor hull damage ends with storm causing loss of entire yacht. Both contemplative and muscular, with a compelling star turn.
All The Old Knives (2022)
Confidently told and performed, intriguing spy drama eventually lacks spark in verbal sparring, as former lovers Thandiwe Newton and Chris Pine meet to unwind reality behind terrorist attack. Rather than building tension, time shifts accentuate frustration.
All We Had (2016)
Facing demons of poverty and alcoholism, a desperate Katie Holmes attempts to look after her teenage daughter even as future dreams are crushed by the financial crisis. Carefully made, if lacking tension, glimmers of light draw us into the characters' lives.
Almost Famous (2000)
Fresh and observant coming of age road trip imbues its 1970s music setting with a warm glow as teenage journalist falls under the spell of charismatic Billy Crudup and his band, as well as seasoned groupie Kate Hudson. Balanced humor and drama provides irresistible charm.
Aloft (2015)
Creating an unnerving atmosphere through sharp imagery and inventive sound, oblique style becomes as impenetrable as character and story. Jennifer Connelly finds meaning as a healer, Cillian Murphy is her neglected son, Mélanie Laurent seeks a cure. Committed performances, little truth.
Alone (2020)
Controlled by fluid pacing and elegant, restrained visuals, tension palpably screws tight as scarred Jules Wilcox is thrown into struggle for survival against unhinged Marc Menchaca in remote forest. Lean action structure foregoes character definition to maintain violent threat aided by expressive soundscape.
Alone In Berlin (2016)
Thoughtfully gray wartime atmosphere and sombrely etched characters convincingly infuse story of dour married couple Emma Thompson and Brendan Gleeson's persuasive, tragic dissent against Hitler after son dies in France. Despite admirable efforts, uneven narrative never engages an emotional intensity.
Always (2022)
Moody, taciturn boxer Xian Lim finds surprising romance with chirpy, optimistic Kim Chiu, who is near blind after car accident. As he seeks redemption from swirling bonds of guilt, clumsy staging lacks defining style to elevate melodrama, though quiet moments between leads manage affecting emotion.
Always Amore (2022)
Harmless romantic drama is underpinned by pervading sense of loss, increasing emotional stakes as stubborn Autumn Reeser faces sincere consultant Tyler Hynes' ideas for failing restaurant and letting go of late husband's culinary legacy. Plainly structured, resolution remains pleasingly effective if entirely predictable.
L'amant (The Lover) (1992)
In 1920s Saigon, relationship between willful French teenager Jane March and aristocratic Chinese heir Tony Leung is captured with ravishing visuals and embracing sound. Despite rich production and Jeanne Moreau's narration, emotion never rises above intense, polished surface.
L’amant double (Double Love) (2017)
Playfully twisted tale of desire and delusion fractures imagery as well as characters, as disturbed Marine Vacth falls for psychiatrist Jérémie Renier, only to find he has more sexually charged twin brother. Whether it quite makes sense remains irrelevant to intoxicating. devilish atmosphere.
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
Told with youthful zip to match high school protagonists, Andrew Garfield's angsty, nerdish superhero captures exhilaration and loss, while playful, contrary Emma Stone makes fine scientific and romantic foil. Colorful imagery and sense of humor aided by James Horner's intelligent score.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
When story adheres to relationship between Andrew Garfield's conflicted superhero and Emma Stone's burgeoning scientist, balance of humor and action remains winning. Yet surfeit of villains and past secrets muddies involvement, despite visual sheen and final tragedy.
Amber Alert (2025)
Mildly diverting thriller features clean narrative line as child goes missing and passenger Hayden Panettiere persuades rideshare driver Tyler James Williams that car ahead could be abductor. Lacks adrenaline shifts and mounting threat, though anchored by effectively reasoned leads.
American Fiction (2023)
Finely tuned mix of personal drama and broadly funny satire rests on assertive Jeffrey Wright turn as respected yet unread writer whose pseudonymous, stereotypical black experience novel is acclaimed. Obvious artistic targets balanced by refined character portrait and vulnerable brother Sterling K. Brown.
American Made (2017)
Vibrant aesthetic bleached from 80s design informs fanciful tale of Tom Cruise's breezy opportunist, at once flying missions for CIA as well as smuggling cocaine from Central America. Exhausting style mirrors energetic lead, driving absurdist humor without investing emotion.
The American President (1995)
Smart script, engaging performers, an idealism that lays the groundwork for "The West Wing", the balance between standard romantic narrative and political activism is finely tuned. Solidly old fashioned in a good way, a breeze of drama and comedy.
The American Side (2016)
Death of a stripper engulfs grubby PI Greg Stuhr within labyrinthine mystery featuring ambiguous women and powerful businessmen all linked to a dangerous Nikola Tesla invention. Low budget Buffalo streets evocative, story is noir pastiche, thrills lacking.
American Underdog (2021)
Elevated by appealing performances from aspiring quarterback Zachary Levi and grounded wife Anna Paquin, as well as potently staged sports action, true life against-the-odds story is effectively realized. Pointedly uplifting, structure follows expected beats.
An American Werewolf In London (1981)
Winning combination of knowing humor and bloody horror as cynical tourists David Naughton and Griffin Dunne encounter mythical beast on Yorkshire moors. Bone crunching SFX complement visceral approach while supportive nurse Jenny Agutter provides emotional honesty, while credits even celebrate Royal Wedding.
Amnesia (1997)
Grungy noir with interesting dynamics and sharp humor undermined by flawed execution. Adulterous minister Nicholas Walker loses memory while faking death and is trapped with frustrated Sally Kirkland. Wife Ally Sheedy and girlfriend Dara Tomanovich need revenge.
L'Amour et les Forêts (Just The Two Of Us) (2023)
Designed with rich, distinctive visuals that toy with narrative and character perspective, an affecting, open Virginie Efira finds heady emotion and new life with Melvil Poupaud, until his corrosive possessiveness suffocates. Gripping personal and social portrait.
Un amour impossible (An Impossible Love) (2018)
Intensely felt, tenderly told, a moving Virginie Efira deals with emotional abuse from absorbed Niels Schneider and messy closeness with daughter. Visually refined, darker elements engulf, until character resolutions provide affecting closure.
Anaconda (1997)
Rough-hewn creature action as enthusiastic documentary film-maker Jennifer Lopez searches for lost Amazonian tribe, but is diverted by loopy Jon Voight to hunt mythic snake. Gets by on energetic absurdity rather than building tension, evocative locations compensating for ropey effects.
Anaconda (2025)
Potent combination of bit-part actor Paul Rudd and wedding videographer Jack Black reviving friendship and cinematic dreams with low budget remake of titular 80s film undone by paucity of laughs and thrills. Self-aware references and narrative twists flounder amid awkward staging, despite David Fleming's lively score.
Anatomie d'une chute (Anatomy Of A Fall) (2023)
Acute character study and engrossing courtroom drama illuminated by skillful storytelling, and compelling, damaged Sandra Hüller, accused of killing her husband. Plain style imbued with intimate tension, personal and criminal, reveals devilishly ambivalent layers.
...and justice for all. (1979)
A ragged collection of cynical, desperate and eccentric characters swirl around weary lawyer Al Pacino who finds himself defending a cruel judge and railing against the system. Disjointed shifts of tone overcome by dynamic star turn and lively individual scenes.
And Then There Were None (1945)
Playful edge accentuates comic flavors as schematic theatricals whittle down assembled guests on a remote island until killer is finally revealed. Unfussy style establishes succession of guilty characters with bickering interplay replacing suspense.
And While We Were Here (2012)
An emotionally lost Kate Bosworth embarks on an affair with a young American amid sun-blessed Italian locations. A careful meditation of love and death, it adds nothing vital though the lead is quietly affecting and the leisurely pacing subtly envelops.
Angel Of Mine (2018)
Less obsessive thriller than study in consuming grief, unstable Noomi Rapace's inability to deal with baby daughter's death years previously, becomes paranoid instinct that Yvonne Strahovski's child is hers. Widescreen style diffuses intentions, ferocious leads squeeze raw emotion.
Angel-A (2007)
Despite gleaming black and white visuals and some dynamic scenes, the urban, fairytale redemption of a low-level criminal by a striking, unrepentant angel, never really jells as comedy, drama, fantasy or original genre mashup. Harmless reminder of better, more affecting films.
Angels And Demons (2009)
Race around Vatican City to prevent killings and recover stolen antimatter teams problem-solving professor Tom Hanks with CERN scientist Ayelet Zurer, as overstuffed plot is overcome by kinetic style. Entertaining enough, though little makes sense, and tension is jettisoned along with character logic.
Angels In The Outfield (1951)
Broadly enjoyable comedy told and performed with unfussy schmaltz as prim reporter Janet Leigh demands better behavior from belligerent Pittsburgh Pirates coach Paul Douglas who also hears a heavenly voice promising to reverse the team's losing run.
Angels Over Broadway (1940)
Heavy on New York atmosphere and characters finding redemption, Douglas Fairbanks Jnr. is the smooth conman taking aim on a suicidal embezzler and finding love with young Rita Hayworth. Affecting visuals and occasionally arresting scenes, though overly schematic structure softens dramatic effect.
Anna (2019)
Anonymously skilled and glossy action cinema without the benefit of originality, focusing on Sasha Luss' convoluted adventures as a Russian spy and eventual double agent. Visual tricks and blurred timelines add nothing to the feeling it's all been done better.
Annabelle Comes Home (2019)
Handsome design jettisons narrative interest for setup that traps ghost hunters' spiritually receptive daughter Mckenna Grace along with babysitters in house with evil spirit let loose. Effective scares mount without conjuring sense of creeping jeopardy. Lively yet entirely unremarkable.
Annabelle Creation (2017)
Polished visuals strand nun and orphans in remote, creaky house where demonic doll waits in the shadows. Evocatively conceived, style tends to consume character and story though eerie unease of haunted farm is effectively sustained for regular jumps and chills.
Anne Of The Indies (1951)
Earthy, uncompromising pirate captain Jean Peters, attractive visuals, and lush Franz Waxman score provide enjoyable diversions for story of betrayal and revenge as Louis Jourdan secretly spies for British. Energetic swordfights and naval battles though plotting and character development remains less adventurous.
Annie (2014)
Spirited Quvenzhane Wallis makes a crafty orphan changing lives and spreading music amid plush New York locations. Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne and cast sell comic touch with appealing energy, though music arrangements dilute emotion and updated setting lacks resonance.
Annie Get Your Gun (1950)
Brash and colorful design matches big hearted, gloriously over-the-top Betty Hutton's Annie Oakley and a succession of terrific Cole Porter songs. Despite an uncharacteristic resolution that panders to egotistical Howard Keel, a hugely enjoyable mix.
Another Simple Favor (2025)
Taking neurotically controlled vlogging mom Anna Kendrick and wickedly unpredictable killer Blake Lively to scenic Capri unravels typical twists amid mafia and family secrets. Narrative less involving, caustic, spirited appeal of cast keeps comic juice humming.
Anthropoid (2016)
Straightforward telling of Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan carrying out plan to assassinate Nazi leader in Prague. Grungy, nervy visuals accentuate threats, Charlotte Le Bon and Anna Geislerová provide emotional strength, dry approach sees tragedy lack real punch.
Anyone But You (2023)
Soft play on Shakespeare is energized by leads Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, committed to broad laughs as well as romance when dislike transforms to attraction at Australian wedding. Despite shaggy story beats, smooth production and solidly old fashioned sweep wins out.
Anything Goes (2021)
Sublime, buoyant Gershwin songs and joyful Sutton Foster energise flimsy framework of comic coincidence on a 20s transatlantic voyage. Barbican production delivers builds momentum through Act One and includes wry Robert Lindsay. Irresistible smiles.
The Apartment (1960)
Burnished with humanity, a romantically cynical tale, gorgeously cast and judged, balancing humor and emotion with a natural precision. Insurance accountant Jack Lemmon and elevator operator Shirley MacLaine are lonely, bruised souls chasing promotion and love, trapped by circumstance, given a New Year's chance.
Appointment In London (1953)
Persuasively rooted in fatalistic lives of wartime bombing crews facing increasing losses, focus rests on edgy commander Dirk Bogarde balancing prospect of final mission and tentative relationship with widow Dinah Sheridan. Tensely handled night flight enlivens solid storytelling.
Aquaman (2018)
Increasingly wild and densely created action sequences are accentuated by bold colors and momentum of flimsy narrative framework that rushes giddily between set pieces as half-Atlantean, half-human Jason Momoa battles evil brother Patrick Wilson and falls for warrior Amber Heard. Breathlessly enjoyable mess.
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (2023)
Endearing adaptation embraces seventies setting while revealing timeless concerns, centered on eager Abby Ryder Fortson facing suburbs and puberty yet extending to evolving identity of mom Rachel McAdams and grandma Kathy Bates. Lightly resonant comedic and dramatic touch.
Archive (2020)
Consumed with gleaming, clinical images, diverting setup sees Theo James in remote Japanese base developing future gen robotics with intention to reimagine wife Stacy Martin. Emotional echoes maintain interest though final outcome obscures thematic resonance rather than enhances.
Argentina, 1985 (2022)
Told with disarming sense of humour to offset cruel reality of background events, as well as acute sense of time, true life court case against Argentinian Junta Generals is finely performed and structured. Ricardo Darín is the empathetic prosecutor, while legal team support capture vitality of righteous youth overcoming demons of the past.
Army Of The Dead (2021)
Exhausting, numbing zombie action collides with Las Vegas heist thriller, as a disparate group infiltrates the walled-in, flesh eating hordes to break open a vault. No doubting the visceral thrills, attempts at emotion fall flat, a riotous Matthias Schweighöfer steals the show.
Army Of Thieves (2021)
Standalone prequel that switches genre from impending zombie apocalypse to breezy tale of safe crackers with eccentric Matthias Schweighöfer intuitively breaking into mythical vaults. Nathalie Emmanuel and Ruby O Fee provide fine support. Spirited and good natured.
Arrêtez-moi (Arrest Me) (2013)
Chamber piece enlivened by two commanding performances with anguished Sophie Marceau admitting murder of abusive husband to reluctant night officer Miou-Miou. Initial intensity and thematic provocation gradually diluted by lack of character development.
The Arrival (1996)
Initially intriguing and involving earth invasion tale as paranoid Charlie Sheen uncovers Body Snatchers-like alien infiltrators planning terra-forming under the cover of climate change. More routine as the plot unfolds, some visuals and ideas maintain interest.
The Art Of The Steal (2013)
Appealing cast battle often frantic visuals and twisting narrative to maintain laughs if not tension, as aggrieved Kurt Russell reunites with swerving brother Matt Dillon for final, big heist at Niagara Falls border. Minor pleasures promote interest.
Arthur Newman (2013)
Morose Colin Firth fakes his death to start a new life, burned out Emily Blunt is on the run from her own pain. Story posits interesting setup about identity and frustrated ambition, yet mood and characters are crushingly serious and narrative too schematic.
Article 99 (1992)
Messy collision of righteous social anger over treatment of US military veterans with black comedy featuring doctors as unhinged as the patients. Blandly made, never builds needed momentum despite efforts of diverse cast. Isolated moments hint at searing potential.
The Artifice Girl (2022)
Uneasy potential of AI broken into three acts as agents use damaged developer's program to ensnare pedophiles, then see the creation attain awareness and independence over the years. Confidently realized, confined discussion of ethics remains intriguing yet indifferent.
El artista y la modelo (2012)
Accepting Claudia Cardinale finds wary Aida Foche to model for and arouse exhausted sculptor Jean Rochefort's creativity. Self aware, immersive visuals celebrate art and nature, while narrative adds nothing original, yet remains affecting in minor observations.
Arukimedesu no taisen (The Great War of Archimedes) (2019)
Despite synthetic CGI action prologue, often gripping debate on nationalistic pride and military symbolism. Anti-establishment math prodigy Masaki Suda is caught between opposing naval factions. Melodramatic excess amid rich visuals.
Ask Me Anything (2014)
Messy life of young serial blogger Britt Robertson unravels through series of romantic encounters detailed in uncompromising detail. Smooth visuals and vital central performance maintain interest in observant drama until late, screeching narrative shift provides divisive, upending coda.
Assault On Precinct 13 (1976)
From the opening electronic beats, John Carpenter demonstrates a total mastery of the craft, a thriller cinematically joyous as well as tough and violent. An all night attack on a Los Angeles police station sets up action set-pieces that ratchet up the tension. Laurie Zimmer is terrific as the resourceful, Hawksian heroine.
The Assessment (2024)
Off-kilter atmosphere created by intrusive visuals and distinct soundtrack maintains uncomfortable, controlling future as hopeful scientists Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel face suitability test as future parents by unforgiving Alicia Vikander. Mordant humor and tense edge, even if dry conclusion feels too neat.
At Long Last Love (1975)
Taken in isolation, musical and comedy sequences have infectious charm with leads infusing flimsy story of indolent wealth and love in 30s New York with energy as they cycle through succession of Cole Porter hits. Unfortunately flimsy conceit quickly runs out of steam despite production skill.
At Middleton (2013)
An instinctive Vera Farmiga and strait-laced Andy Garcia meet when taking their respective children to a prospective college tour. Though nothing surprises, script and stars provide sharp characterizations that peel back layers to reveal the melancholy and hurt.
Atlas (2024)
Action-orientated sci-fi delivers required technical polish and future concept of deadly humanoid AI, without developing concepts and dramatic tension. Antagonistic Jennifer Lopez provides admirable focus, revealing family regret and emotional focus at true heart of story.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
Bloody, blistering action set against Berlin corruption and double-dealing as the wall falls in 1989. Empty, enjoyably propulsive style and twisting plot concerning search for list of counter agents is held together by passionate intensity and physical brutality of Charlize Theron's spy.
Atonement (2007)
Immaculately conceived, and suffused with striking visuals, privileged Keira Knightly and servant James McAvoy's relationship is tested through jealousy, prejudice and war. Technically gripping, play with perspective and romantic hope ultimately breaks emotional connection.
Attraction (2017)
Technically polished with a visual swoon to storytelling, even if there's not much to say. After a spacecraft crashes in Moscow, rebellious Irina Starshenbaum falls for the alien visitor as authorities and society go to hell. Well choreographed, numbingly dumb.
Attraction 2: Invasion (2020)
Apart from a few arresting visuals, a sequel that compensates for the original's relative simplicity with an impenetrable narrative of little logic and even less feeling. The alien returns, the heroine escapes, there's little menace to alleged threat.
Aus dem Nichts (In The Fade) (2017)
Suffocating, wrenching portrait of loss, as Diane Kruger's husband and son die in neo-Nazi bombing and legal frustration provokes need for revenge. With riveting lead, stylish technique conjures striking visuals and brutal sequences, though tone is conflicted.
Authors Anonymous (2014)
An amiable cast are left floundering by a damp script and flat pacing, and certainly not helped by the faux documentary setup that observes a talentless writers group slowly unraveling when artless Kaley Cuoco finds sudden success. Nothing rings true.
Autómata (2014)
Clinically produced and visually acute, though behind polished facade a messy, predictable fable of future identity and AI threat, as Antonio Banderas uncovers sentient intelligence and survival instinct. Zacarías Martínez de la Riva provides a dynamic and emotive score.
L'Autre monde (Black Heaven) (2010)
Sinister mystery of identity in the real world entwines with dark fantasies of artificial game world, as intoxicating Louise Bourgoin leads teen into deadly obsession. Cool visuals and soundscape create initially edgy atmosphere, though narrative strands finally unravel.
Ava (2020)
Nobody sets out to make a poor film and the skill and professionalism of artists and technicians can always be recognised. The frustration is when lack of imagination flattens any narrative or visceral tension. Nothing here is remotely dramatic or believable.
Avanti! (1972)
Leisurely paced, sharp witted mix of verbal and physical comedy as loud American Jack Lemmon battles Italian bureaucracy and attraction for neurotic Brit, Juliet Mills, in series of social and sexual culture clashes. Maintains caustic cynicism and hopeful romanticism on remote island.
Avatar The Way Of Water (2022)
Extravagantly conceived visuals ravish the eyes and thrill ride action sequences pack sufficient punch even when narrative strands offer meagre surprises and characters remain emotional ciphers. As repeat human invasion of Pandora forces family to seek refuge, world building detail maintains investment.
Avenging Angel (1985)
Ex-prostitute and studying lawyer, blandly determined Betsy Russell returns to the street for revenge on her cop mentor's killer. Clumsy jumble of strained comedy and crude exploitation makes little sense, with deficiencies of storytelling and visuals reaching absurdist levels.
Les Aventures extraordinaires d'Adèle Blanc-Sec (The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec) (2010)
Buoyed by vibrant Louise Bourgoin's unapologetic, confident adventurer, a fluid fantasy comic book with accent on period eccentricity and humour. Polished production, uneven storytelling.
Awake (2007)
Unnerving prospect of wealthy Hayden Christensen remaining conscious while undergoing heart surgery devolves into credulity-stretching thriller plot before collapsing under metaphysical confusion. Solid production lacks kinetic style to sell twists and whip up intended thrills.
Awake (2021)
After a solar flare short-circuits global electronics, people are unable to sleep and fast descend into deadly hysteria. As jaundiced mother Gina Rodriguez struggles to save her children amid increasingly violent set-pieces, tension dissipates despite technical craft.
The Awakening (2011)
Textured design and eerie atmospherics conjure suitably unnerving situation as cynical ghost-debunker Rebecca Hall is asked to investigate sightings at remote boarding school. Personal loss and hauntings reverberate from post-World War I setting. Resolution never quite delivers on thematic or dramatic promise.
Awareness (2023)
Anonymous storytelling sends Carlos Scholz and deceptive María Pedraza on the run from Lela Loren's secret agency when his ability to mould people's mind with projected visuals is exposed. Some intriguing visuals devolve into succession of action set pieces and character twists.