INFINITY POOL
“Like Possessor, Infinity Pool is an excellent movie, but one which I will likely be very selective as to whom I recommend it. But it is an utterly wild piece of work, filled with enough outrageous ideas, visuals, and set pieces to float several films.” – Oscar Goff, Boston Hassle
BABYLON
“Babylon features the best opening of the year.” – Duane Miller, Cinemania World Podcast
TRUMPISM & THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY
Filmmaker Charlie Spickler set out to explore the rise in anti-Jewish bigotry in the Age of Trump, and the result – Trumpism & The American Jewish Community – is a thoughtful and provocative film that provides context for how former President Trump, in effect, gave permission for such transgressive behavior to re-emerge in public.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies
PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH
“Puss In Boots: The Last Wish is a huge disappointment. The lure of a franchise is that it’s easier to market a known commodity. That works for donuts and hamburgers, not so much for creative storytelling.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies
THE WHALE
“Brendan Fraser gives the performances of a lifetime in The Whale.” – Duane Miller, Cinemania World Podcast
“I’m happy for Brendan Fraser, and I’m thrilled that he’s emerged from his exile a stronger actor than ever. I just wish his return came in the form of a film I could recommend anyone go see.” – Oscar Goff, Boston Hassle
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AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER
“As for those visuals, Cameron has been dazzling us for years and the innumerable artists and technicians have created an alien world that seems as real as the view out your window. Listing them all is undoubtedly what pushes the film to just over the three-hour mark. It’s been suggested that at this length the return of the movie intermission might not be a bad idea, especially for a movie called The Way of Water.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies
THE APOLOGY
“The Apology is a talky two-character drama that purports to be a psychological thriller. It might hold the interest of viewers who find themselves as snowed in as the people are here, but just barely.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies
AMERICAN MURDERER
“This is the story of a charming, lowlife grifter who crossed the line, not a serial killer. In the end, it’s less about that heinous crime than the living wreckage Brown left in his wake.” – Daniel Kimmel, North Shore Movies
EMANCIPATION
“Emancipation may not be a perfect film, an explosive action movie buried in a wannabe prestige picture, but in it Will Smith avoids an Oscar slump and further cements his status as a top-tier actor.” – Derek Deskins, EDGE Media Network
THE WHALE
“Simply put, The Whale is yet another attempt by Darren Aronofsky to use provocation to achieve empathy, though here we’re treated to a story that has quiet disdain for its poor characters, their poor situations, and the poor, dying fat man at the center of it all.” – Sam Cohen, EDGE Media Network
CHRISTMAS BLOODY CHRISTMAS
“If you’re here for overdetermined commentary on seasonal goodwill, you’ve come to the wrong place. If you’ll accept a fire ax to the face in lieu of fellowship, though, Begos will provide.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine
A COUPLE
“A Couple may make an interesting double feature with Todd Fields’ Tár, whose great, difficult, genius man is a great, difficult, genius woman.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine
“Wiseman’s work has always been interested in human nature, and the framework of A Couple simply provides him with an alternate means through which to view it. Taken as part of the Wiseman oeuvre, it is a quietly revolutionary work, one which secures his status as one of film’s most vital voices.” – Oscar Goff, Boston Hassle
WHITE NOISE
“I was utterly charmed by this strange little movie, which manages to do everything a good adaptation should do and quite a bit more. The cast is uniformly excellent, clearly having a ball sinking their teeth into DeLillo’s deliciously surreal dialogue; particularly good are Sam Nivola, May Nivola, and Raffey Cassidy as the three elder Gladney children, who volley their banter back and forth with remarkable comic precision. Less expectedly, the film is a treat to look at, a visual delight far beyond what one might expect from either a DeLillo adaptation or a Baumbach film.” – Oscar Goff, Boston Hassle