Dune Part 2
Villeneuve keeps on owning the arena of artistic blockbusters with this chilling story of a fascist’s rise to power; visually overwhelming, but also compelling dramatically and beautifully acted by the entire ensemble.
Exhibiting Forgiveness
Character actor Andre Holland gets an all-too-rare leading role as a troubled African-American artist dealing with his estranged father; minimal, but deeply effecting performances anchor a beautiful, incredibly moving film.
The First Omen
A shockingly excellent prequel to a movie that actively shouldn’t have a prequel, this movie delivered on the atmosphere, the dread and the unsettling scares; a great lead performance from Nell Tiger Free. Damages the original film only slightly.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
I think it’s a fool’s errand to try to figure out whether this movie is “better” or “worse” than the also astounding Fury Road, so I’ll just say that this one keeps the stunning action sequences, broadens the story, slows the pace a bit and, ultimately, makes the first film better.
Godzilla Minus One
Caught up to this one last year after missing it in the theater and had to include it here; it’s a fantastic Godzilla movie and a fantastic movie about PTSD and survivor’s guilt at the same time. Thrilling and eye-popping special effects; Godzilla’s maybe never been scarier.
Good One
This quiet, documentary-esque story of a teenage girl, her father and her father’s friend going on a wilderness hike was one of the truest movies of the year, with not a single moment that feels like it was dramatized for the sake of being in a movie. Beautifully acted by all three leads, this one hides emotional depths beneath its placid surface.
Heretic
Hugh Grant just might be career best here as a quietly menacing yet charming householder that puts a couple of Mormon missionaries through some tests of faith. A great script and three great performances elevate this horror-thriller to the entertainment stratosphere. Some of the most fun I had all year at the movies.