Amanda Seyfried can’t save ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ from its own cold ambition
It’s tempting to compare *The Testament of Ann Lee* to “The Brutalist,” but that comparison flatters this film more than it deserves. Writer-director duo Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet have previously demonstrated their capacity for elegance, with “The World to Come” being their most complete and emotionally coherent work. However, this latest effort feels more enamored with its own seriousness than with the fundamentals of storytelling.
Slow burn, strong lead: “The Secret Agent” earns its time
Often times during Awards Season I’ll hear about a film that I usually don’t get a chance to see until getting a screener link for awards consideration. The Secret Agent fits squarely into that category—a title that’s been quietly circulating among critics for months, earning serious admiration, and once you finally sit with it, you understand why.
“Avatar: Fire and Ash”, Avatar third chapter finds its limits
When we last saw the Sully family—Jake (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), their sons Lo’ak (Britain Dalton) and the late Neteyam (Jamie Flatters), their adopted daughter Kiri (Sigourney Weaver), youngest child Tuktirey (Trinity Jo-Li Bliss), and human teenager Miles “Spider” Socorro (Jack Champion)—they were grappling with a devastating loss of Neteyam following their battle against the resurrected Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang).
“Tapawingo” is a strange, sweet comedy that refuses to be cool
“Tapawingo” feels like it was fished out of a half-forgotten VHS bin—sun-bleached cover, crooked sticker, and all. Director Dylan K. Narang and his co-writer Brad DeMarea have crafted a comedy that wanders through its own weird ecosystem with the confidence of someone wearing tube socks with church shoes.
“Marty Supreme” is Timothée Chalamet’s sweaty spring toward Oscar glory
Timothée Chalamet keeps swinging for that inevitable Oscar nomination, and in Marty Supreme, he may have found the role that edges him closest yet. Directed and co-written by Josh Safdie (flying solo without brother Benny this time), the film is only loosely inspired by table-tennis legend Marty Reisman.
Will Arnett shines in director Bradley Cooper’s warm, funny, “Is This Thing On?”
Academy Award nominee Bradley Cooper shifts from music to stand-up comedy for his third directorial effort, “Is This Thing On?” from Searchlight Pictures. Cooper also co-stars in the film and co-writes the screenplay alongside Will Arnett and Mark Chappell.
“Zootopia 2”, a smart, surprising sequel that still has something to say
After a nine-year wait, Walt Disney Animation takes moviegoers back to the world of Zootopia in the aptly named sequel “Zootopia 2.” Byron Howard returns as director, with Jared Bush co-directing and writing the screenplay.
“Sisu”: road to revenge delivers brutal mayhem and a mythic hero
Finnish filmmaker Jalmari Helander returns to the blood-soaked frontier he established in the surprise cult hit “Sisu”, and this time, he brings even more firepower, fury, and ferocity.
Brendan Fraser finds heart and humanity in Tokyo in the highly enjoyable “Rental Family”
Academy Award Winner Brendan Fraser teams up with director Hikari for the heartwarming film “Rental Family” from Searchlight Pictures. Hikari also co-writes the script with Stephen Blahut.
“Trap House” turns revenge into family business
This gripping setup feels authentic rather than stylized, and Dowse, who gained experience directing character-driven comedies before moving on to darker themes, keeps the camera grounded. This is not glossy action; it has the raw feel of gunpowder and regret.
“Sarah’s Oil” strikes gold — a heartfelt biopic that unearths black history’s hidden gem
The film draws inspiration from the incredible true story of Sarah Rector, a spirited African American girl brought to life by Naya Desir-Johnson. Set against the backdrop of the early 1900s in the Oklahoma Indian Territory, Sarah holds an unwavering belief that beneath the seemingly barren land she has been allotted lies an untapped oil reservoir.
“Violent Ends”, southern blood, slow burn, and the price of payback
The revenge film has retained a familiar essence for decades, characterized by themes of blood, betrayal, and inevitable payback. However, “Violent Ends,” written and directed by John-Michael Powell and produced by IFC, takes a different approach by avoiding the rush into violence.