A modern American epic that soars on the strength of Paul Thomas Anderson’s writing & direction and the electric ensemble cast, #OneBattleAfterAnother is a strong contender for best film of 2025. Check out my review of the film, now in theaters! #CinescapeReview
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An ambitious, cosmically charged super-hero adventure, Matt Shakman’s #FantasticFourFirstSteps stumbles due to a miscast leading man, thin writing and pedestrian direction, but is nevertheless entertaining enough to recommend. #CinescapeReview
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A sharp examination of the absurdity, discontent and division of the early days of pandemic era America, Ari Aster’s Eddington is bound to polarize but may be one of 2025’s films to stand the test of time. #CinescapeReview
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A brilliant piece of absurdist comedy that manages to mine some pathos in its exploration of the desire for acceptance within relationships, Andrew DeYoung’s #Friendship manages to be hilarious, disturbing and even touching all at once. #CinescapeReview
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A horror-thriller that is thin on storytelling but full gory thrills, Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein’s #FinalDestinationBloodlines certainly isn’t the best entry into this decades old franchise but there’s no arguing against it as a worthy addition. #CinescapeReview
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An exhaustingly experimental and formless album companion piece in the shape of a film, Trey Edward Shults’ well made psychological thriller #HurryUpTomorrow is a piece of cinema that contains multitudes, most of which unfortunately don’t work. #CinescapeReview
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Cliche ridden and empty, #ClownInACornfield feels more suited for a direct to VHS display stand in 1999 than it does for modern theaters. Despite not being an especially well made film, it still manages to serve as mindless fun. #CinescapeReview
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A charmingly hilarious though simply and effectively drawn story, James Griffiths’ #TheBalladofWallisIsland is a feel-good watch that deftly balances its quirky humor with a sincere character study, making for an uplifting film that is easy to enjoy. #CinescapeReview
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A contrived and altogether unnecessary sequel, Paul Feig’s #AnotherSimpleFavor fails to improve upon its predecessor’s storytelling and performances despite the sardonic tone and a romantic Italian setting that is perfect for a murder-mystery. #CinescapeReview
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An imperfect but spirited action movie from Marvel Studios, Jake Schreier’s #Thunderbolts* works best when it’s exploring the psychological and interpersonal dynamics of its titular team, though feels a bit too familiar at times to past MCU efforts. #CinescapeReview
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A hypnotic psychological thriller, Lorcan Finnegan’s #TheSurfer is a deranged look at one man’s obsession causing him to unravel. While a bit intense for some, the filmmaking on display and Nicolas Cage’s unhinged performance make for a great movie. #CinescapeReview
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A cold though strangely heartfelt meditation on grief from David Cronenberg, #TheShrouds is a solid movie that explores the human desire to find meaning in endings and the new beginnings that spring from them. #CinescapeReview
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A simple but exceedingly well made adventure-fantasy, Isaiah Saxon’s #TheLegendOfOchi is a welcome spin on its genre that features some of the year’s best cinematography and direction of a family film. #CinescapeReview
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Proudly flaunting its cinematic, cultural and folkloric influences in the service of telling a story both thrilling and touching, #Sinners is one of the year’s best films so far and as such easy to recommend. #CinescapeReview
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A well made, but unfortunately underwhelming romantic melodrama, Daniel Minahan’s #OnSwiftHorses fails to make it out the gate despite its solid ensemble and period production. #CinescapeReview
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A violent and visceral Iraq war thriller, Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza’s #Warfare is a simple but gripping film that is among the most intense of the year so far, grabbing hold of the audience and refusing to let go. #CinescapeReview
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A tightly constructed and entertaining thriller, Christopher Landon’s #Drop has great brevity and smartly placed tonal shifts that are navigated with aplomb thanks to the effective writing and a surprisingly strong lead performance from Meaghann Fahy. #CinescapeReview
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A beautifully understated comic-drama about grief and companionship, Scott McGehee and David Siegel’s #TheFriend is a wonderfully relatable film that boasts exceptional performances from Naomi Watts, Bill Murray and its canine star, Bing. #CinescapeReview
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An IP misfire that forgets to tell a compelling story that allows audiences to invest in it, Jared Hess’ #AMinecraftMovie seems less interested in its narrative than it is in shoving references to the source material down viewer’s throats. #CinescapeReview
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A horror-comedy that somehow manages to be both derivative and entertaining all at once, Billy Bryk and Finn Wolfhard’s #HellOfASummer finds ways to inject enough humor to keep its familiar slasher story enjoyable throughout. #CinescapeReview
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A solid character drama, Samir Oliveros’ #TheLuckiestManinAmerica features a terrific cast led by a fine lead turn from Paul Walter Hauser that captures its time period without feeling cheesy. #CinescapeReview
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A shaggy comic-drama, Michael Angarano’s #Sacramento is a quietly enjoyable watch with some solid performances, especially from Michael Cera. While the film ends up feeling a bit slight, there is enough to appreciate that makes it easy to recommend. #CinescapeReview
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An atmospherically melancholic noir, Duke Johnson’s #TheActor is a solid film thanks to its elliptical storytelling and an excellent André Holland. While its melodramatic cinematic stylings may not appeal to all, this is an easy film to recommend. #CinescapeReview
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A disturbing horror film about the helplessness and indignities of old age, James Ashcroft’s #TheRuleofJennyPen is an often unsettling and visceral watch, but also boasts a pair of excellent performances from Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow. #CinescapeReview
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Check out my review of David Ayer’s cliche ridden and over long action-thriller, #AWorkingMan, now in theaters! #CinescapeReview
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An uneven exercise in comedic horror, Alex Scharfman’s #DeathOfAUnicorn is a film that never quite knows what it wants to be or what kind of story it’s telling, making for a moviegoing experience that is less than magical. #CinescapeReview
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