Jim Vejvoda

Unabomber never quite engages as either a psychological portrait or a police procedural.

Heart of the Beast is a gripping wilderness survival film that will work especially well on dog lovers and those who like to see Brad Pitt get beaten up.

Despite a solid cast and several moving sequences, the film is ultimately tripped up by a final act that clumsily strains to find something upbeat in what is an otherwise dreary saga of grief and rage.

The Brink of War is a well-meaning if overly academic approach to dramatizing this pivotal moment in Cold War history.

The brooding pace and relative silence that characterize writer-director Michael Sarnoski’s The Death of Robin Hood is more evocative of his standout debut film Pig than it is his far more mainstream A Quiet Place: Day One, making this elegiac but brutal period piece his most niche and least accessible film yet. Still, its heady mix of mournful drama and murderous action certainly distinguish it from the litany of other Robin Hood films in existence.

Pressure is quality dad content. War movie fans and WWII buffs should appreciate the film’s devotion to detail, while mainstream audiences will be treated to a taut, compelling story about the very real men behind the icons who ensured an Allied victory. Brendan Fraser makes Eisenhower flesh and blood, while Andrew Scott adds another whipsmart protagonist to his filmography with his nuanced portrayal of meteorologist James Stagg.

The Sheep Detectives is a very sweet, and often quite moving, family comedy about grief and death. I know that sounds weird, but director Kyle Balda and screenwriter Craig Mazin are mostly successful at threading that needle, with the broad humor of some of the human characters being the film’s weakest aspect. The sheep characters Lily and Sebastian have compelling arcs that highlight the movie’s themes of acceptance and growth. As dark as the story can sometimes get, there’s still enough warmth and wit to make The Sheep Detectives appropriate for younger audiences.

EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is a riveting, immersive experience that brings the King back to life for one last show.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere is small in scope and lacks stakes-heavy drama as far as showbiz biopics go, but as a character study of an artist trying to find his true self before the world of celebrity engulfs them, Scott Cooper’s film and Jeremy Allen White’s awards-worthy performance do The Boss justice.

Although its rapid pacing doesn't always allow for the dramatic moments to resonate for as long as they could, Baz Luhrmann's Elvis biopic is a heartfelt and moving tribute to the late rocker.