All My Life
All My Life, as a romance, may work for some. And as I mentioned, it could’ve been worse. But I left with little love for this love story.
Half Brothers
when you add in all of its often diametrically opposed content issues, Half Brothers never coalesces into a satisfying, family-friendly whole.
Mank
Mank illustrates that it’s not just the superficial content that can make a film problematic. Often, issues are hardboiled into the story, too.
Uncle Frank
While Uncle Frank is more nuanced at times than you might expect, its messaging can still feel pretty heavy-handed, too.
Happiest Season
Happiest Season delivers a holiday-themed lesbian romance that predictably appropriates the genre’s formula and feel-good vibe.
Ava
Ava is yet another movie about an assassin with a heart. Maybe it’s not a heart of gold, exactly, but at least a heart of bronze.
Sound of Metal
Much like heavy metal music, Sound of Metal isn’t trying to give us warm, pleasant feelings.
A New York Christmas Wedding
At its most basic level, this film really is about a wedding at Christmas in New York. But don’t let the title fool you.
Hillbilly Elegy
Good messages or no, Hillbilly Elegy will make it hard for some to find them.
The Life Ahead
This isn’t a movie for kids. But it does remind us that kids need strong hands and kind hearts in their lives.