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Normal is a funny and unapologetically violent bloodbath of a movie. It’s grounded by another winning turn by newfangled action movie hero Bob Odenkirk, who adequately fills the role of the unstoppable geezer with a sense of humor. The movie is skimpy, but I enjoyed it for what it is. Recommended. detroitcineaste

The Drama is entertainment as provocation. The movie’s fun is in how it directly engages the audience with a moral question that’s impossible not to have an opinion on. It’s overwrought and implausible, but very entertaining. Featuring a career best performance from Zendaya and an unforgettable turn from Robert Pattinson. Recommended. detroitcineaste

I didn’t hate The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, because that would imply that it invoked an emotional response from me. The movie is energetic but inert, a story with no purpose besides offering up visuals. Little kids and fans of the games may enjoy it, but for me the movie was listless and uninvolving. Not recommended. detroitcineaste

While Project Hail Mary is a thoroughly enjoyable space-set adventure yarn, what makes it special is its unbridled optimism for humanity and science. This feel-good movie unironically believes that when the chips are down, we’ll rise to the occasion. I sincerely hope that’s true. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

Like its eponymous character, The Life of Chuck contains multitudes and is difficult to categorize. It's by turns apocalyptic, fantastical, nostalgic and horrific. Broadly speaking, it’s an existential treatise disguised as a heartwarming coming-of-age tale that ultimately works because its charm and amiability. Recommended. detroitcineaste

If anything, Undertone proves that using podcasting as the basis for a horror movie has minimal returns. While there are spooky moments, the film is a mishmash of ideas that never lead anywhere besides scary noises and shadows. Not recommended.

Bugonia fits squarely within the “science fiction as metaphor” tradition, where the question being asked is both philosophical and incredibly consequential. Underneath the alien paranoia and kidnapping plot lies a delightfully quirky character study reflected through a **** lens. As a fan of challenging sci-fi, I loved it. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste

Hoppers is an entertaining if thematically slight film. It bears the visual hallmark of past Pixar greats but contains only a smidgeon of philosophical insight and emotional weight of their classics. While it’s fun and its constructive messages resonate, the movie is primarily a cartoon. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Sentimental Value is a touching family drama told with an abundance of sympathy and compassion for its anguished characters. Accordingly, it’s an acting showcase for the four co-leads who keep their characters grounded and relatable. Decidedly unsentimental, the film provides unfiltered insight on why we torture ourselves with the past. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Crime 101 is a solid entry to the cops and robbers genre, featuring a terrific cast and stylish direction. I didn’t buy Chris Hemsworth in the leading role, but the movie works because it’s well-made and exciting. Recommended. detroitcineaste

“Wuthering Heights” may be the most unromantic and unerotic story about doomed lovers ever made. Its message, about how tragic it is to deny our urges, is delivered with the subtlety of cannon fire. On another level, it offers an interesting, if bombastic critique of the novel upon which it’s based. Not recommended. detroitcineaste

No Other Choice is a tale of two movies. I enjoyed the satire and slapstick-filled first half, less so its cold and didactic second half. Overall, the movie’s dizzying style and committed performances won me over. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Train Dreams tells an ambling, pensive and melancholy story through beautifully lived-in performances and stunning natural photography. The movie evokes our sympathy and compassion for everyone left puzzled by life’s inscrutability. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste

When the world is on fire, thank goodness there’s art to temporarily remind us of the beauty of life. This is the heart of The Choral, a WW1 period piece that evokes universal truths about art and the horrors of war. Ralph Fiennes delivers another memorable performance as the arrogant conductor tasked with the impossible. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Stand-up comedy is one-man’s idea of therapy in Is This Thing On?, a movie that speaks to the importance of holding onto what you love even as responsibilities mount. Will Arnett gives a career-defining performance in this funny and heartfelt movie about overwhelmed, middle-aged adults. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste

How a pet and its new owner finding each other in The Friend is very familiar ground, but it works because the story is told with empathy and sensitivity. Naomi Watts and Bill Murray are touching as a professor and her mentor, who both accept a Great Dane into their lives. A charming little drama. Recommended. detroitcineaste

As a crime thriller, Cloud has plenty of intrigue, hidden motivations and shocking violence to satisfy fans of the genre. However, writer-director Kiyoshi Kurosawa elevates the material by turning it into a puzzle that ultimately reveals a bleak message about the universal nature of criminality. A brilliant film. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

If you enjoy watching well-made movies about beautiful people doing all the wrong things, The Housemaid is for you. The trio of Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and Brandon Sklenar make this trashy psychosexual thriller a blast. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Hamnet is a poetic film, one that uses the language of cinema to speak to us about art, life and the disparate impact they have on us. It’s also a beautifully made film with memorable performances throughout, featuring Jessie Buckley at her peak. One of the best films of the year. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

Zootopia 2 has a lot going for it, including splendid animation, excellent voice acting, sight gags and witty movie references. The central mystery is more convoluted and less involving than before, but the wacky new characters make for an entertaining watch. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Cumberbatch is in peak form in The Thing With Feathers, where he brings the emotional turmoil of the widowed father to gut-wrenching life. The film’s literal depiction of grief and despair, as well as Dad's battle to overcome both, is as audacious as it is honest. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Wicked: For Good is a morose conclusion to this duology, which has been theme park filmmaking at its worst. What saves it are the heartfelt performances of Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and a handful of good songs. Dorothy deserved better. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste

In Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, the myth roars back to life in this mostly successful adaptation. Jacob Elordi’s performance is a standout, while Oscar Isaac is miscast. Filled with beautiful and grotesque imagery, the film struggles for greatness and occasionally reaches it. Recommended.

Nuremberg brings a little-known WWII story to life in this crowd-pleasing genre piece. Oscar winners Rami Malek and Russell Crowe deliver big time performances that play to their strengths. Although the film is traditional in every respect, it speaks to our present with surprising resonance. Recommended. DetroitCineaste

Roofman is a heartfelt movie that entertains the old fashioned way, with interesting characters and winning performances. Channing Tatum and Kristen Dunst are engaging in the leading roles, and Tatum’s performance represents a career best. It’s movie magic rendered at human scale. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Blue Moon is an engrossing snapshot of the artist in free-fall, with a delightful performance by Ethan Hawke at its center. Its insistence on shrinky-dinking Hawke down to size is a humorous distraction, but not a fatal one. Margaret Qualley radiates glamour as his potential love interest and lifeline. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Black Phone 2 manages a difficult balancing act of continuing the story while also taking things in a new direction. As a love letter to A Nightmare on Elm Street and Eighties horror movies, it’s scary but not as tense as the original. Amidst all the blood and gore, Madeleine McGraw emerges as an actor to watch. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Like its predecessors, Tron: Ares is a visual feast for the eyes and ears. If you put your brain on hold and ignore how ludicrous it is, the movie is entertaining fluff. Greta Lee brings a welcome human touch to the techno-leaden proceedings. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste

Good Boy takes its novel premise–a horror story told from the point of view of a dog–and uses it to deliver a surprisingly compassionate ghost story. Although the movie is scary enough, its insight into the relationship between humans and dogs is haunting and memorable. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Brimming with expertly-staged, gripping action sequences, One Battle After Another is a funny, sexy and insightful look at revolutions and the people who fight in them. A bold and confident throwback to the political thrillers of the Sixties and Seventies, it speaks directly to the dangers of our currently hyper-polarized political climate. Recommended. detroitcineaste

A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey fails because its story is neither cohesive nor captivating. However, if you’re curious and have time on your hands, the movie creates a beautiful world for Margo Robbie and Colin Farrell to wander through at their peak handsomeness. Not Recommended. detroitcineaste

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is precisely that, a joyful celebration of the characters who've been part of our lives for the past fourteen years. Funny, nostalgic and sentimental, it’s a perfect farewell to the franchise. Recommended. detroitcineaste

An effective if unsurprising concluding entry to this highly successful horror franchise. It follows the demonic possession playbook to the letter and manages to be creepy, if not scary. If anything, it sets the table for the upcoming Halloween season. Mildly Recommended. detroitcineaste

There’s nothing funnier than watching a married couple toss viscous barbs at each other. Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are exquisitely acerbic as British love birds who transform into scorpions. This is a big screen comedy that deserves to be seen with a crowd. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Nobody 2 is an okay continuation of the original, content with leaning heavily on Bob Odenkirk and his grueling fight scenes. The family scenes help to balance things, and there should have been more of those. The movie is entertaining, but nothing special. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste

Writer-director Zach Cregger is firing on all cylinders with Weapons, a thoroughly creepy and scary horror movie with a dark sense of humor. The movie's layered, nonlinear plot structure, haunting imagery and memorable performances make for a spellbinding experience. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

The Bad Guys 2 is better than the original. Its themes are more complex and mature, the comedy is brash and bold, and the voice acting is superb. As far as animated sequels go, this is one of the best. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

The Naked Gun is funny stuff, but not at the level of the classic Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker films that inspired it. Even still, the jokes that work are exceptional and Liam Neeson’s late-career pivot into playing the class clown was a smart one. Recommended. detroitcineaste

In charting a new way forward, Marvel shrewdly looks to the past with Fantastic Four: First Steps. The movie is a fun joy ride, with memorable characters, a wonderful production design and exciting action sequences. One of the best science fiction films in years. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Although Eddington has some laughs and several intense action sequences, the movie flounders as a recreation of Covid-induced psychosis. A satire misfire. Not recommended. detroitcineaste

Superman is a lot. Stuffed with characters and subplots, the movie takes time getting into a rhythm. But when it does, it’s a strange, wild ride. Writer-director James Gunn’s film honors Superman’s roots while taking him in wonderfully weird new directions. For the first time in years, I cared about Superman and wanted to see what happens next. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Jurassic World: Rebirth is a perfunctory sequel that swaps the silliness of the previous trilogy for a dull grimness. Aside from the dinosaur mayhem, the movie is a frustrating bore that takes no chances and offers no surprises. Not Recommended. detroitcineaste

F1: The Movie is the kind of blockbuster Hollywood used to make: bold, flashy, loud and incredibly fun. Although the story is formulaic, everyone from leading man Brad Pitt on down is totally sincere in what matters most, which is entertaining us. F1 is easily one of the best made action movies of recent years, the definition of big screen entertainment in every sense of the word. Highly recommended. detroitcineaste

Elio is a cute and occasionally funny science-fiction film that emphasizes emotional healing over excitement and wonder, things that Pixar once was known for providing. The film is a jumble of ideas that never come together, a well-intentioned but meandering adventure. Mildly recommended.

Materialists is a surprisingly cerebral reworking of the romantic comedy genre that’s more interested in having philosophical conversations about love rather than meeting our expectations. Rest assured, it provides just enough romance and laughs to satisfy the faithful. Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans are pitch-perfect as the handsome and mature love triangle. Recommended.

Unbearably taut and pitiless, Dangerous Animals is a terrific people versus shark movie. It’s a well-acted thriller that takes its genre inspirations seriously and uses them to great effect. Recommended. detroitcineaste

What elevates Jane Austen Wrecked My Life above the typical romantic comedy is its approach. The film unfolds at a leisurely (European) pace, which allows its richly drawn characters, keen observations, sharp dialog and earthy humor to win us over. It’s an unassuming little gem that respects its characters and the audience’s intelligence in equal measure. Highly Recommended. detroitcineaste

When it’s not indulging in pointless franchise nostalgia or constantly reminding us that Tom Cruise is the chosen one, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is an entertaining, well-made action movie. Come prepared for top-notch action surrounded by eye-rolling distillations of Cruise’s **** worldview. Mildly Recommended. detroitcineaste

The Amateur is an entertaining alternative to the “one man wrecking crew” films. It uses Rami Malek’s geeky nature to good effect and the supporting cast are all solid. The movie doesn’t reinvent the spy thriller or the revenge fantasy but offers an interesting take on both. A well-made and entertaining film. Recommended. detroitcineaste

Although it is repetitious, contrived and ultimately ridiculous, Drop held my interest until the end. It’s nowhere near as good as the thrillers it emulates. It’s a trashy potboiler heavy on style. Mildly recommended. detroitcineaste