2020 Ranked Films
The ranked list of 2020 films that I have seen so far.
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- DirectorAutumn de WildeStarsAnya Taylor-JoyJohnny FlynnMia GothIn 1800s England, a well meaning but selfish young woman meddles in the love lives of her friends.10/10
Wonderfully brisk and snarky, Emma. has a bevy of multilayered performances from its ensemble and proves to be the finest adaptation of Jane Austen's classic comedy, period. - DirectorThomas VinterbergStarsMads MikkelsenThomas Bo LarsenMagnus MillangFour high-school teachers consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives.10/10
Deftly navigating the positive and negative nuances alcohol consumption can have, Another Round is a smashing triumph from writer-director Thomas Vinterberg. - DirectorRegina KingStarsKingsley Ben-AdirEli GoreeAldis HodgeA fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.10/10
Adapting his screenplay that humanizes its quartet of legends as much as it reveres them, Kemp Powers makes sure audiences won't forget One Night in Miami... - DirectorTomm MooreRoss StewartStarsHonor KneafseyEva WhittakerSean BeanA young apprentice hunter and her father journey to Ireland to help wipe out the last wolf pack. But everything changes when she befriends a free-spirited girl from a mysterious tribe rumored to transform into wolves by night.10/10
Continuing Cartoon Saloon's penchant for vivid, spiritual animation styles, Wolfwalkers is a breathtaking and emotionally stimulating original folktale. - DirectorDarius MarderStarsRiz AhmedOlivia CookePaul RaciA heavy metal drummer's life is turned upside down when he begins to lose his hearing and he must confront a future filled with silence.10/10
Quietly affecting, Sound of Metal takes us on a thoroughly humbling character study that gets a career-best performance out of Riz Ahmed. - DirectorEmerald FennellStarsCarey MulliganBo BurnhamAlison BrieNothing in Cassie's life is what it appears to be - she's wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she's living a secret double life. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs from the past.10/10
Emerald Fennell's screenplay proving both scathing and darkly clever, Promising Young Woman and a nuanced Carey Mulligan will both enchant and disturb. - DirectorFlorian ZellerStarsAnthony HopkinsOlivia ColmanMark GatissA man refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.10/10
A deeply moving and melancholic portrait of dementia, The Father is a well-acted drama through and through thanks to the likes of Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman. - DirectorJason WolinerStarsSacha Baron CohenMaria BakalovaTom HanksBorat returns to America from Kazakhstan to America, this time to reveal more about the American culture, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the political elections.10/10
Proving the titular character is just as relevant over a decade later, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is as side-splittingly funny as it is shrewd and surprisingly heartfelt. - DirectorAaron SorkinStarsEddie RedmayneAlex SharpSacha Baron CohenThe story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.10/10
Histrionic denouement notwithstanding, Aaron Sorkin crafts another intellectually scripted drama in The Trial of the Chicago 7 and furthers his abilities as a director. - DirectorMax BarbakowStarsAndy SambergCristin MiliotiJ.K. SimmonsStuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again.10/10
Getting the full mileage out of the time loop premise and then some, Palm Springs proves to be an incredibly refreshing comedy with wholly likable leads. - DirectorPete DocterKemp PowersStarsJamie FoxxTina FeyGraham NortonJoe is a middle-school band teacher whose life hasn't quite gone the way he expected. His true passion is jazz. But when he travels to another realm to help someone find their passion, he soon discovers what it means to have soul.9/10
Refreshingly creative and boasting some of Pixar's best animation to date, Soul lives up to its title with a profoundly affecting look at human existence and purpose. - DirectorPaul GreengrassStarsTom HanksHelena ZengelTom AstorA Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl taken by the Kiowa people years ago to her aunt and uncle against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home.9/10
Another powerful collaboration from the likes of Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks, News of the World finds a fresh angle on the western genre whilst navigating familiarly accessible territory. - DirectorRemi WeekesStarsSope DirisuWunmi MosakuMalaika Wakoli-AbigabaA refugee couple makes a harrowing escape from war-torn South Sudan, but then they struggle to adjust to their new life in an English town that has an evil lurking beneath the surface.9/10
Finding a profound balance of conventional and emotional horror, the aesthetically inspired His House is as sociologically shrewd as it is terrifying. - DirectorKelly ReichardtStarsAlia ShawkatJohn MagaroDylan SmithA skilled cook has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant also seeking his fortune. Soon the two collaborate on a successful business.9/10
Quiet yet utterly captivating, Kelly Reichardt's First Cow utilizes some breathtaking cinematography en route to a period human interest story that feels all too modern. - DirectorEliza HittmanStarsSidney FlaniganTalia RyderThéodore PellerinA pair of teenage girls in rural Pennsylvania travel to New York City to seek out medical help after an unintended pregnancy.9/10
Stark and understatedly harrowing in its extreme realism, Never Rarely Sometimes Always is the abortion story that needs to be told. - DirectorDavid FincherStarsGary OldmanAmanda SeyfriedLily Collins1930s Hollywood is re-evaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane (1941).9/10
Even if its old-timey sensibilities are on the nose, Mank demonstrates keen directorial discipline from David Fincher and another commanding performance from Gary Oldman. - DirectorNatalie Erika JamesStarsRobyn NevinEmily MortimerBella HeathcoteA daughter, mother and grandmother are haunted by a manifestation of dementia that consumes their family's home.9/10
Its familial themes becoming more affecting as the horror expands, Relic is an equally unnerving and delicate feature from writer-director Natalie Erika James. - DirectorGeorge C. WolfeStarsViola DavisChadwick BosemanGlynn TurmanTensions rise when trailblazing blues singer Ma Rainey and her band gather at a recording studio in Chicago in 1927.9/10
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom wears its theatrical roots on its sleeve as it props up thunderous performances from Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis en route to a palpable period drama. - DirectorKitty GreenStarsJulia GarnerOwen HollandJon OrsiniA searing look at a day in the life of an assistant to a powerful executive. As Jane follows her daily routine, she grows increasingly aware of the insidious abuse that threatens every aspect of her position.9/10
Plain on the outside but wholly authentic, The Assistant starkly depicts the sexism inherent in bureaucracy and features a layered performance from Julia Garner. - DirectorAlice WuStarsLeah LewisDaniel DiemerAlexxis LemireWhen smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for his crush.9/10
Even if it can get a little too cutesy at times, The Half of It remains incredibly endearing vis-a-vis personable characters, an expressive piece of art from writer-director Alice Wu. - DirectorDan ScanlonStarsTom HollandChris PrattJulia Louis-DreyfusIn a magical world full of technological advances, elven brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot set out on an adventure to resurrect their late father for a day.9/10
The beats are somewhat familiar in the tale-weaving department, but such a fantastical approach to Onward's modern day aesthetic proves Pixar still has plenty of original magic to spare. - DirectorRose GlassStarsMorfydd ClarkCaoilfhionn DunneJennifer EhleA pious nurse becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.9/10
A religious horror flick that creates unease out of nuanced thematics and Morfydd Clark's unpredictable characterization, Saint Maud makes for a taut viewing experience. - DirectorMichael MatthewsStarsDylan O'BrienJessica HenwickMichael RookerSeven years after he survived the monster apocalypse, lovably hapless Joel leaves his cozy underground bunker behind on a quest to reunite with his high school sweetheart.9/10
More creative and visually resplendent than the average post-apocalypse film, Love and Monsters gets a whole lot of heart and fun out of its sci-fi adventure. - DirectorCory FinleyStarsHugh JackmanRay RomanoWelker WhiteThe beloved superintendent of New York's Roslyn school district and his staff, friends and relatives become the prime suspects in the unfolding of the single largest public school embezzlement scandal in American history.8/10
Making white collar crime at a fundamental juncture gripping, Bad Education gets a pair of standout performances from Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney. - DirectorGavin O'ConnorStarsBen AffleckAl MadrigalJanina GavankarJack Cunningham was a high school basketball phenom who walked away from the game, forfeiting his future. Years later, when he reluctantly accepts a coaching job at his alma mater, he may get one last shot at redemption.8/10
Balking at story conventions that other films of its ilk would employ, The Way Back is further evidence that Gavin O'Connor knows how to make a sobering sports drama, to say nothing of a committed Ben Affleck. - DirectorBrandon CronenbergStarsAndrea RiseboroughChristopher AbbottJennifer Jason LeighAn agent works for a secretive organization that uses brain-implant technology to inhabit other people's bodies - ultimately driving them to commit assassinations for high-paying clients.8/10
Though possibly too visually arresting for most viewers, Possessor still finds writer-director Brandon Cronenberg contemplating some hearty themes á la starkly brutal imagery. - DirectorKornél MundruczóStarsVanessa KirbyShia LaBeoufEllen BurstynWhen a young mother's home birth ends in unfathomable tragedy, she begins a year-long odyssey of mourning that fractures relationships with loved ones in this deeply personal story of a woman learning to live alongside her loss.8/10
A heavy and emotional viewing experience, to be sure, Pieces of a Woman thankfully manages to back up its heart-wrenching subject matter with a multitude of powerhouse performances. - DirectorCaroline VignalStarsLaure CalamyBenjamin LavernheOlivia CôteA schoolteacher crashes her married lover's family vacation and befriends a donkey named Patrick.8/10
Strange title aside, My Donkey, My Lover & I proves effortlessly charming and a welcome detour from the well-trod romantic-comedy path. - DirectorCathy YanStarsMargot RobbieRosie PerezMary Elizabeth WinsteadAfter splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroines Black Canary, Huntress, and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.8/10
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) can't always contain its bubbly personality, but such an understanding and celebration of its colorful characters make it more than entertaining. - DirectorLeigh WhannellStarsElisabeth MossOliver Jackson-CohenHarriet DyerWhen Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.8/10
While there are some loose narrative threads in places, The Invisible Man finds the efforts of Leigh Whannell and Elisabeth Moss combining to make for quite the unsettling horror monster update. - DirectorSpike LeeStarsDelroy LindoJonathan MajorsClarke PetersFour African-American vets battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.8/10
Some jarring story beats notwithstanding, Da 5 Bloods finds Spike Lee in top form as he conjures some heavy performances, particularly from Delroy Lindo. - DirectorLorcan FinneganStarsImogen PootsDanielle RyanMolly McCannA young couple looking for the perfect home find themselves trapped in a mysterious labyrinth-like neighborhood of identical houses.8/10
Those looking for narrative closure won't find it in Vivarium, however it can't be denied the level of disorienting strangeness on display. - DirectorHarry BradbeerStarsMillie Bobby BrownHenry CavillSam ClaflinWhen Enola Holmes (Sherlock's teen sister) discovers her mother is missing, she endeavours to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy.8/10
Enola Holmes has more layers to the mystery than it can perhaps process, but a zippy pace and strong character work give Millie Bobby Brown a solid starring vehicle. - DirectorRichard StanleyStarsNicolas CageJoely RichardsonMadeleine ArthurA secluded farm is struck by a strange meteorite which has apocalyptic consequences for the family living there and possibly the world.8/10
At a certain point, Color Out of Space becomes more unwieldy than it can process, yet still the vibrantly effervescent cinematography and graphic creativity ultimately transcend itself. - DirectorDavid MarmorStarsNicole Brydon BloomGiles MattheyTaylor NicholsSarah tries to start anew in LA, but her neighbours are not what they seem.8/10
Methodically establishing an eerie, twisted sociological microcosm, 1BR is a tightly written, claustrophobic indie horror flick. - DirectorIl ChoJo Il HyungMadeleine MartinStarsYoo Ah-inPark Shin-hyeJeon Bae-sooThe rapid spread of an unknown infection has left an entire city in ungovernable chaos, but one survivor remains alive in isolation. It is his story.8/10
#Alive doesn't reinvent the zombie genre, however its minimalist storytelling practices help make it more engaging than most. - DirectorMichael FimognariStarsLana CondorNoah CentineoJordan FisherLara Jean and Peter have just taken their relationship from pretend to officially official when another recipient of one of her old love letters enters the picture.8/10
Picking up where the original left off with endearing characters and believable relationships, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You furthers the series' status in the teen movie canon. - DirectorAaron SchneiderStarsTom HanksElisabeth ShueStephen GrahamSeveral months after the U.S. entry into World War II, an inexperienced U.S. Navy commander must lead an Allied convoy being stalked by a German submarine wolf pack.8/10
A short runtime notwithstanding, Greyhound is a thoroughly gripping maritime thriller and an apt vehicle for writer-star Tom Hanks. - DirectorGina Prince-BythewoodStarsCharlize TheronKiKi LayneMatthias SchoenaertsA covert team of immortal mercenaries is suddenly exposed and must now fight to keep their identity a secret just as an unexpected new member is discovered.7/10
In lesser hands, The Old Guard would have been all style and no substance, but as it stands, its central conceit is grounded to such an extent that it's more compelling than contrived. - DirectorJoel CrawfordStarsNicolas CageEmma StoneRyan ReynoldsThe prehistoric family the Croods are challenged by a rival family the Bettermans, who claim to be better and more evolved.7/10
The franchise is still lower-tier DreamWorks, but a sleeker aesthetic and wackier comedy make The Croods: A New Age an improvement on its predecessor. - DirectorClea DuVallStarsKristen StewartMackenzie DavisMary SteenburgenA holiday romantic comedy that captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family's acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas.7/10
Even though its narrative is built on the back of plot contrivances, Happiest Season handles its important themes in such a thoughtful way, it can't help but endear both emotionally and comedically. - DirectorStella MeghieStarsIssa RaeLaKeith StanfieldChanté AdamsA series of intertwining love stories set in the past and in the present.7/10
Smooth like jazz - if somewhat languid as a result - The Photograph displays some extremely natural characters and begets magnetic performances as a result. - DirectorCharlie KaufmanStarsJesse PlemonsJessie BuckleyToni ColletteFull of misgivings, a young woman travels with her new boyfriend to his parents' secluded farm. Upon arriving, she comes to question everything she thought she knew about him, and herself.7/10
I'm Thinking of Ending Things is certainly one of Charlie Kaufman's most indulgent films, yet its stark visuals and potent brand of dark comedy keeps it thoroughly unique. - DirectorSofia CoppolaStarsBill MurrayRashida JonesMarlon WayansA young mother reconnects with her larger-than-life playboy father on an adventure through New York.7/10
Sofia Coppola's direction remains slightly lax, but On the Rocks is elevated by charming performances from Rashida Jones and Bill Murray. - DirectorAdil El ArbiBilall FallahStarsWill SmithMartin LawrenceVanessa HudgensMiami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett must face off against a mother-and-son pair of drug lords who wreak vengeful havoc on their city.7/10
Despite retaining the same shaky narrative tempo the franchise is known for, a more serious tone and heavy action sequences help make Bad Boys for Life a more memorable ride. - DirectorSeverin FialaVeronika FranzStarsRiley KeoughJaeden MartellLia McHughA soon-to-be stepmom is snowed in with her fiancé's two children at a remote holiday village. Just as relations begin to thaw between the trio, some strange and frightening events take place.7/10
Thoroughly unnerving and visceral, The Lodge is a creeping horror picture with quite the visual eye, even if its bleak turns will test audiences. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsJohn David WashingtonRobert PattinsonElizabeth DebickiArmed with only the word "Tenet," and fighting for the survival of the entire world, CIA operative, The Protagonist, journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a global mission that unfolds beyond real time.7/10
Even if Christopher Nolan's latest sci-fi venture is a little too heady for three-dimensional audiences, it can't be denied Tenet's astounding production design and execution. - DirectorMaïmouna DoucouréStarsFathia YoussoufMédina El Aidi-AzouniEsther GohourouEleven-year-old Amy starts to rebel against her conservative family's traditions when she becomes fascinated with a free-spirited dance crew.7/10
Cuties fails to address the uncomfortable sexualization of its young stars, but it's otherwise a well directed and palpable coming-of-age story. - DirectorWalt DohrnDavid P. SmithStarsAnna KendrickJustin TimberlakeRachel BloomWhen the Queen of the Hard Rock Trolls tries to take over all the Troll kingdoms, Queen Poppy and her friends try different ways to save all the Trolls.7/10
As predictable and comedically tepid as it can get, Trolls World Tour ultimately hits all the right emotional beats en route to finding thematic harmony. - DirectorTodd RobinsonStarsSebastian StanAlison SudolAsher Miles FallicaThirty-four years after his death, Airman William H. "Pits" Pitsenbarger is awarded the nation's highest military honor for his actions on the battlefield.7/10
There are times when The Last Full Measure plays it too close to the vest, but enough reverence for its values makes this a war retrospective worth ruminating on. - DirectorJeff BaenaStarsAlison BrieMolly ShannonGoldeniteSarah, a socially isolated woman with a fondness for arts and crafts, horses, and supernatural crime shows finds her increasingly lucid dreams trickling into her waking life.7/10
While Horse Girl doesn't quite centralize its intriguing premise, an absolutely magnetic Alison Brie keeps it as hypnotic and engaging as it needs to be. - DirectorJudd ApatowStarsPete DavidsonBel PowleyRicky VelezScott has been a case of arrested development since his firefighter dad died. He spends his days smoking weed and dreaming of being a tattoo artist until events force him to grapple with his grief and take his first steps forward in life.7/10
Much like its central protagonist, The King of Staten Island is aimless and a bit unfiltered, but Pete Davidson's naturalistic approach to his performance and the screenplay keep it more than affable. - DirectorBrandon TrostStarsSeth RogenSarah SnookMolly EvensenAn immigrant worker at a pickle factory is accidentally preserved for 100 years and wakes up in modern-day Brooklyn.7/10
An American Pickle has one too many second act plot developments, but a witty screenplay and a versatile Seth Rogen make its comedic brine rather pungent. - DirectorRoseanne LiangStarsChloë Grace MoretzNick RobinsonBeulah KoaleA female WWII pilot traveling with top secret documents on a B-17 Flying Fortress encounters an evil presence on board the flight.7/10
Many will be frustrated with its closed-quarters approach to action setpieces, however Shadow in the Cloud remains a visually and creatively inspired genre mashup. - DirectorDavid DobkinStarsWill FerrellRachel McAdamsDan StevensWhen aspiring musicians Lars and Sigrit are given the opportunity to represent their country at the world's biggest song competition, they finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for.6/10
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is predictable to be sure, but a pair of amusing caricatures put on by Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams keeps it affable. - DirectorAntonio CamposStarsBill SkarsgårdTom HollandBanks RepetaSinister characters converge around a young man devoted to protecting those he loves in a postwar backwoods town teeming with corruption and brutality.6/10
At the end of the day, The Devil All the Time is an atmospheric and well acted revenge tale, even if its misanthropic attitude sullies the experience some. - DirectorRic Roman WaughStarsGerard ButlerMorena BaccarinRoger Dale FloydA family struggles for survival in the face of a cataclysmic natural disaster.6/10
As disaster movies go, Greenland's effects leave something to be desired, but its refusal to fall into common clichés in favor of grounded realism is refreshing. - DirectorOz PerkinsStarsSophia LillisSamuel LeakeyAlice KrigeA long time ago in a distant fairy tale countryside, a young girl leads her little brother into a dark wood in desperate search of food and work, only to stumble upon a nexus of terrifying evil.6/10
Despite not taking complete advantage of its dark twist on a timeless tale, Gretel & Hansel is aesthetically eerie enough to make Oz Perkins a filmmaker to watch. - DirectorSam HargraveStarsChris HemsworthBryon LerumRyder LerumTyler Rake, a fearless black market mercenary, embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he's enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord.6/10
On the whole, Extraction delivers with the gritty, bloody action sequences befitting of its star, even if it reeks of lackluster storytelling. - DirectorNiki CaroStarsLiu YifeiDonnie YenGong LiTo keep her ailing father from serving in the Imperial Army, a fearless young woman disguises herself as a man and battles northern invaders in China.6/10
Something gets lost in the translation from its animated form (not to mention the Disnification of the legend), however Niki Caro's confident direction and some striking visuals make it a fresh reimagining. - DirectorMichael ShowalterStarsIssa RaeKumail NanjianiPaul SparksA couple (Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani) experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery.6/10
Tonally jarring and totally trite, The Lovebirds does manage to muster enough comedic chemistry out of its leads to satisfy. - DirectorWilliam EubankStarsKristen StewartVincent CasselMamoudou AthieA crew of oceanic researchers working for a deep sea drilling company try to get to safety after a mysterious earthquake devastates their deepwater research and drilling facility located at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.6/10
While somewhat incomprehensible visually and narratively flimsy, Underwater does well to lean into its fantastical science-fiction to breach the surface of sufficiency. - DirectorDean ParisotStarsKeanu ReevesAlex WinterKristen SchaalOnce told they'd save the universe during a time-traveling adventure, two would-be rockers from San Dimas, California find themselves as middle-aged dads still trying to crank out a hit song and fulfill their destiny.6/10
The significant gap in time between installments is jarring, however Bill & Ted Face the Music should strike a chord with most fans of the franchise. - DirectorPatty JenkinsStarsGal GadotChris PineKristen WiigDiana must contend with a colleague, and with a businessman whose desire for extreme wealth sends the world down a path of destruction, after an ancient artifact that grants wishes goes missing.5/10
Wonder Woman 1984 hits all the emotional beats - as ludicrous as they may be - but ultimately a host of plot contrivances muddles its overall message. - DirectorRyan MurphyStarsMeryl StreepJames CordenNicole KidmanA troupe of hilariously self-obsessed theater stars swarm into a small conservative Indiana town in support of a high-school girl who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom.5/10
With all the glitz and glamour befitting a Ryan Murphy production, The Prom may get your toe tapping, but largely at the expense of emotional authenticity. - DirectorNat FaxonJim RashStarsJulia Louis-DreyfusWill FerrellZach WoodsBarely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation in the Alps, a married couple is thrown into disarray as they are forced to reevaluate their lives and how they feel about each other.5/10
Layered performances all around can't keep Downhill from being a relatively uncomfortable black comedy that doesn't quite know which way to turn. - DirectorGuy RitchieStarsMatthew McConaugheyCharlie HunnamMichelle DockeryAn American expat tries to sell off his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.5/10
The Gentlemen finds Guy Ritchie returning to his crime-comedy roots, but unfortunately all its narrative pomp and circumstance begets a story that meanders ad nauseam. - DirectorChris SandersStarsHarrison FordOmar SyCara GeeA sled dog struggles for survival in the wilds of the Yukon.5/10
Even when its uncanny valley-level of CGI wears off, The Call of the Wild still asks audiences to suspend an enormous amount of disbelief. - DirectorJeff FowlerStarsBen SchwartzJames MarsdenJim CarreyAfter discovering a small, blue, fast hedgehog, a small-town police officer must help him defeat an evil genius who wants to do experiments on him.5/10
While affable and getting a few good comedic jabs out of its premise, Sonic the Hedgehog speeds through an already generic story to be memorable. - DirectorGeorge ClooneyStarsGeorge ClooneyFelicity JonesDavid OyelowoThis post-apocalyptic tale follows Augustine, a lonely scientist in the Arctic, as he races to stop Sully and her fellow astronauts from returning home to a mysterious global catastrophe.4/10
Despite some breathtaking visuals and an enchanting score from Alexandre Desplat, George Clooney's The Midnight Sky remains largely ineffectual and heavyhanded. - DirectorCraig ZobelStarsBetty GilpinHilary SwankIke BarinholtzTwelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don't know where they are, or how they got there. They don't know they've been chosen - for a very specific purpose - The Hunt.4/10
The Hunt has some sociopolitical commentary worth exploring, but none of it compensates for its gratuitous bloodshed and general pompousness. - DirectorHenry JoostAriel SchulmanStarsJamie FoxxJoseph Gordon-LevittDominique FishbackWhen a pill that gives its users unpredictable superpowers for five minutes hits the streets of New Orleans, a teenage dealer and a local cop must team with an ex-soldier to take down the group responsible for its creation.4/10
Cool concept aside, the shoddily scripted Project Power finds itself ill equipped to realize its potential both thematically and visually. - DirectorDerrick BorteStarsRussell CroweCaren PistoriusGabriel BatemanAfter a confrontation with an unstable man at an intersection, a woman becomes the target of his rage.4/10
Unhinged might be good for a shocking moment or two, but otherwise its pointless glorification of random violence feels tone deaf. - DirectorJosh BooneStarsMaisie WilliamsAnya Taylor-JoyCharlie HeatonFive young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves.4/10
The blending of the superhero and horror genres makes The New Mutants admittedly intriguing, however ineffectually slight execution on both fronts leaves it feeling somewhat incomplete. - DirectorChris ColumbusStarsKurt RussellGoldie HawnDarby CampKate Pierce, now a cynical teen, is unexpectedly reunited with Santa Claus when a mysterious troublemaker threatens to cancel Christmas--forever.4/10
The Christmas Chronicles: Part Two is about on par with the first, but conviction issues persist as its holiday cheer feels faux. - DirectorChristopher LandonStarsVince VaughnKathryn NewtonCeleste O'ConnorAfter swapping bodies with a deranged serial killer, a high-school senior discovers that she has fewer than 24 hours before the change becomes permanent.4/10
Twisted little premise notwithstanding, Freaky's failure to take full advantage of it leaves both its horror and comedy feeling stagnant. - DirectorJon StewartStarsSteve CarellRose ByrneChris CooperA Democratic strategist helps a retired veteran run for mayor in a small, conservative Midwest town.3/10
All the pieces are there to make for a shrewd political satire, however Jon Stewart's comedic cadence isn't as sharp as it usually is, unable to make Irresistible precisely that. - DirectorJohn WhitesellStarsEmma RobertsLuke BraceyKristin ChenowethFed up with being single on holidays, two strangers agree to be each other's platonic plus-ones all year long, only to catch real feelings along the way.3/10
Holidate wears its romcom hokeyness on its sleeve, but a little self-awareness isn't enough to translate into consistent laughs. - DirectorDave WilsonStarsVin DieselEiza GonzálezSam HeughanRay Garrison, a slain soldier, is re-animated with superpowers.3/10
Even with a sci-fi concept with potential in its veins, Bloodshot suffers from a distinct lack of personality and rote execution on virtually all fronts. - DirectorBen WheatleyStarsLily JamesArmie HammerKristin Scott ThomasA young newlywed arrives at her husband's imposing family estate on a windswept English coast and finds herself battling the shadow of his first wife, Rebecca, whose legacy lives on in the house long after her death.3/10
The remake of Rebecca is appropriately moody and tense, but flat characterizations mean little of it amounts to very captivating storytelling. - DirectorRon HowardStarsAmy AdamsGlenn CloseGabriel BassoAn urgent phone call pulls a Yale Law student back to his Ohio hometown, where he reflects on three generations of family history and his own future.3/10
A pointless portrait of multigenerational misery, Hillbilly Elegy is a Ron Howard misfire that strands powerhouse actors in rote, thankless roles. - DirectorTony CervoneStarsWill ForteMark WahlbergJason IsaacsScooby and the gang face their most challenging mystery ever: a plot to unleash the ghost dog Cerberus upon the world. As they race to stop this dogpocalypse, the gang discovers that Scooby has an epic destiny greater than anyone imagined.3/10
While Scoob! is sometimes witty and self-aware, its largely underwhelming transition to CGI filmmaking trades the spirit of the classic show for intellectual property flexing. - DirectorReed MoranoStarsBlake LivelyRichard BrakeElly CurtisA woman seeks revenge against those who orchestrated a plane crash that killed her family.3/10
Blake Lively does all she can to elevate this otherwise ordinary revenge thriller, however The Rhythm Section is so detached it misses its target outright. - DirectorFloria SigismondiStarsMackenzie DavisFinn WolfhardBrooklynn PrinceA young governess is hired to look after an orphaned girl, but the return of the girl's problematic brother uncovers secrets from their past. A modern take on Henry James' novella "The Turn of the Screw."2/10
Aesthetically eerie but unable to deliver the spooks it promises, The Turning butchers its source material en route to a lame reveal. - DirectorGerard BushChristopher RenzStarsJanelle MonáeEric LangeJena MaloneSuccessful author Veronica Henley finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must uncover the mind-bending mystery before it's too late.2/10
There's some directorial talent on display, however Antebellum is wholly undermined by a poorly structured and downright nonsensical screenplay. - DirectorSteven BrillStarsAdam SandlerKevin JamesJulie BowenDespite his devotion to his hometown of Salem (and its Halloween celebration), Hubie Dubois is a figure of mockery for kids and adults alike. But this year, something is going bump in the night, and it's up to Hubie to save Halloween.2/10
Those who enjoy the buffoonery of Adam Sandler and company will be treated with Hubie Halloween, but all others will find it a trick. - DirectorVince MarcelloStarsJoey KingJoel CourtneyJacob ElordiIn the sequel to 2018's The Kissing Booth', high school senior Elle juggles a long-distance relationship with her dreamy boyfriend Noah, college applications, and a new friendship with a handsome classmate that could change everything.2/10
The Kissing Booth 2 is a little more mature than its predecessor, but it's also needlessly long and not very funny to boot. - DirectorMiguel ArtetaStarsTiffany HaddishRose ByrneSalma HayekTwo friends with very different ideals start a beauty company together. One is more practical while the other wants to earn her fortune and live a lavish lifestyle.2/10
Unable to conceal its flaws, Like a Boss is a perfunctory, tedious workplace comedy that gets virtually nothing out of its helpless stars. - DirectorWilliam Brent BellStarsKatie HolmesChristopher ConveryOwain YeomanAfter a family moves into the Heelshire Mansion, their young son soon makes friends with a life-like doll called Brahms.1/10
Polished but only surface-level, Brahms: The Boy II undercuts its own mythology in what is as hackneyed a haunted doll narrative you can get. - DirectorNicolas PesceStarsTara WestwoodJunko BaileyDavid Lawrence BrownA house is cursed by a vengeful ghost that dooms those who enter it with a violent death.1/10
Utterly pretentious and narratively incoherent, The Grudge reboot trades genuine scares for dreary, sepia-infused dreariness. - DirectorLiam O'DonnellStarsLindsey MorganJonathan HowardDaniel BernhardtWhen a virus threatens to turn the now earth-dwelling friendly alien hybrids against humans, Captain Rose Corley must lead a team of elite mercenaries on a mission to the alien world in order to save what's left of humanity.1/10
The series reverting back to its phony acting and shoddy effects work, Skylines will have viewers wondering if an end is somewhere over the horizon. - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsFerdia ShawLara McDonnellJosh GadArtemis Fowl, a young criminal prodigy, hunts down a secret society of fairies to find his missing father.1/10
Its short and stagnant story giving it the vibe of an uneventful television episode, Artemis Fowl utterly fails in adapting the book series and ingratiating newcomers into its world. - DirectorStephen GaghanStarsRobert Downey Jr.Antonio BanderasMichael SheenA physician who can talk to animals embarks on an adventure to find a legendary island with a young apprentice and a crew of strange pets.1/10
Some moments of levity notwithstanding, Dolittle is a sloppily directed, middlingly voiced mess of a family adventure with the attention span of a horsefly. - DirectorJeff WadlowStarsMichael PeñaMaggie QLucy HaleWhen the owner and operator of a luxurious island invites a collection of guests to live out their most elaborate fantasies in relative seclusion, chaos quickly descends.1/10
Another serviceably banal effort from director Jeff Wadlow, Fantasy Island turns into a nightmare fast for viewers courtesy of atrocious writing and jarring genre blending.