Mother Mary (2026) Film Review

Long-buried wounds rise to the surface when iconic pop star Mother Mary reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer, Sam Anselm, on the eve of her comeback performance.

Mother Mary is directed by David Lowery director of Pete’s Dragon (2016), A Ghost Story (2017), The Old Man & The Gun (2018), The Green Knight (2021), Peter Pan & Wendy (2023) and a few others.

Mother Mary is the very definition of a film that is not going to be for everyone, however everything about this film just comes together in this haunting little present that you can’t help but stay invested in as the film goes on. Between the performances, the use of the one location setting, the haunting atmosphere, the music and the film’s exploration of pain and relationships and where art comes from the film is truly highlight from this year.

The performances from Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel are truly captivating, throughout the whole film it feels like Hathaway right on the edge of collapse and is quite lost on what to do. It’s this grounded mindset that truly brings her character Mother Mary to life and delves into the film’s theme of pain and relationships. Hathaway also nails it with the film’s original songs, they are all sung with power, passion and with the type of atmosphere that the film requires. Coel gives a performance that shows a tremendous amount of confidence and strength, she immerses herself into her character Sam Anselm and brings in this sincerity that truly is captivating.

The film heavily relies on the chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel to really do the talking and luckily they do just that. The many conversations the two have are incredibly investing, talking about old memories, or their bond. There is a lot here that just works due to how talented the two really are, they do such a fantastic job of matching the film’s haunting atmosphere. Their long confrontation is intense and built on silence, every moment it feels like you are listening in on a grounded conversation. Due to this, the two give some of the best performances so far this year.

The writing is quite fantastic, the whole exploration of pain and relationships plus where art comes from is incredibly well done and is told in both this artistic and human manner. There are these moments of pain being expressed that are hauntingly beautiful, they truly capture this bond between Mother Mary and Sam Anselm that truly is highlighted quite beautifully. The ending only adds to this in this quite wonderful and well executed closing to the story.

The film’s atmosphere combined with its one location setting are fascinating. The atmosphere almost immediately captures this haunting, thrilling and beautiful feel of a film where you are not sure where it’s going to go just yet but you are fully on board. The one location setting brings the tense nature to the film especially when it comes to the confrontation of Mother Mary and Sam Anselm, it almost feels like a stage production at times which only adds to the film’s power that it displays.

Finally there is the music, Charli xcx, Jack Antonoff and FKA Twigs all worked on the soundtrack and each of the songs brings something different to the table. I do think Burial and Cut Ties are my personal favorites here, but all of the songs are fantastic. They all have their own story to tell, their own atmosphere and Anne Hathaway sings absolutely wonderfully. They all add up to such a fascinating story that really invests you into the film’s atmosphere.

Overall Mother Mary is one of the best films of the year, as I said before, it will most certainly not be for everyone but if it does sound like your thing you will not be disappointed.

Mother Mary is available on all VOD platforms.

10/10 A+

Wasteman (2026) Film Review

Follows parolee Taylor whose fresh start hopes are jeopardized by cellmate Dee’s arrival. As Dee takes Taylor under his wing, a vicious attack tests their bond, forcing Taylor to choose between protecting Dee and his own parole chances.

Wasteman is directed by Cal McMau which is his directorial debut.

Wasteman is a film that I knew very little about going in and walking out of it, this ended up being one of the best films of 2026 so far. From the brilliant performances from David Jonsson and Tom Blyth, to the detailed and disturbing exploration of the UK prison system, finally the thrilling atmosphere that will keep you focused the whole way through. The film has it all in this 90 minute package that is truly a powerhouse.

The performances from David Jonsson and Tom Blyth are what make this film and contribute to just how fantastic it really is. David Jonsson plays his character Taylor with such power and delivers an old soul type of performance, the whole story of Taylor seeking redemption is truly fascinating. Jonsson portrays Taylor as a character who is constantly wrestling with deep sorrow and the huge mental toll of trying to reconnect with his son. It’s a powerful and grounded performance that keeps building up as the film goes on, Jonsson has shown time and time again that he is one of the best actors of his generation and that is especially the case here.

Tom Blyth plays Dee an incredibly unpredictable, chaotic and volatile cellmate who brings this incredibly tense atmosphere into the film. Dee is the direct opposite of Taylor which only leads to several fantastic on screen tension moments, Blyth does such a fascinating job of putting so much chaotic and unpredictable energy into the performance, he does this in a very grounded approach rather than a cartoonish one you might see in other prison dramas. Much like Jonsson, Blyth has shown he’s one of the best of his generation and that continues to show here.

But what makes Jonsson and Blyth so fantastic in the film is them together, the back and forth dialogue, the constant tension in the room it’s all there that builds this incredibly thrilling atmosphere that strikes the viewer when they least expect it. The two are perfectly paired and go all out with their talent, the two’s chemistry is built on mistrust, necessity and this fragile sense of mutual survival. It’s truly some of the most effective chemistry from a film so far this year.

The look into the UK prison system is quite interesting and at times disturbing. Such as the lack of funding for staff which allows the prisoners to run rampant, smuggle, assault or kill. The film’s bleak atmosphere really paints this disturbing picture of focusing less on rehabilitation and more of the system struggling to keep order. The film leans into realism by having the location be the Shepton Mallet Prison, an extra touch is that 50% to 80% of the extras and background actors were actual former prisoners. Which gives the film even more rawness both in its story and the atmosphere.

Overall Wasteman is one of the best films so far this year. It’s a fascinating film from start to finish and truly paints this disturbing picture. The performances from Jonsson and Blyth alone are a reason why you should watch this one!

Wasteman is available on all VOD platforms.

10/10 A+

The Christophers (2026) Film Review

A once-celebrated artist’s children enlist a forger to access his unfinished canvases in a deceptive bid to secure their inheritance.

The Christophers is directed by Steven Soderbergh director of Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen, Magic Mike (2012) Logan Lucky (2017), Unsane (2018), Kimi (2022), Presence (2025), Black Bag (2025) and so many others.

The Christophers is a much smaller scale film from Steven Soderbergh, even smaller than films such as Presence (2025). What we have here is mainly two people talking about art and the artistic creation and legacy of it all. Combined together, the film ends up being a quite interesting ride with a nice little mystery thrown in.

The performances from the cast are incredibly strong here. Ian McKellen plays Julian Sklar an aging artist whose children are trying to gain access to his unfinished canvases so they can secure their inheritance. While Julian is boastful and unapologetic, McKellen infuses him with sadness wistfulness and vulnerability. There is points where the artist has to confront his legacy and its truly some of the film’s strong moments. McKellen also goes for this more theatrical performance like you would expect in a play, with monologues that capture the film’s focused atmosphere and his interactions with the rest of the cast truly do make this yet another fascinating performance from McKellen.

Michaela Coel is the other half of what makes the film so great, she does a splendid job, her interactions with McKellen are investing. But I think what really pushes her to greatness is this silent performance, there are times where she spends sizing up the situation or listening. Those moments do all the talking and are able to convey what she is thinking or feeling without uttering a word, her character Lori Butler is calculated and waits to see how certain situations play out. Or how Julian is going to react. It’s this silent powerhouse performance that truly sticks to the viewer the whole way through the film.

James Corden and Jessica Gunning provide for strong supporting roles, they don’t have much in the way of character moments. But they do give solid performances that help build the mystery of the film and have great interactions with McKellen and Coel.

The writing is quite strong, there is this whole theme of art ownership whether certain paintings were made by the author or the person who forged them. This question is asked quite a lot throughout the film and the film keeps the question going even after the credits role. Julian throughout the film talks about how the art world has reduced his body of work and all of the power he put into his work into a price, during these moments we can hear the pain in his voice and how much it’s deeply affected him.

Overall The Christophers is a very interesting film, the pacing can definitely drag at times but I do think the rest of the film especially the performances make up for it almost immediately.

The Christophers is available on all VOD platforms.

7/10 B

Alpha (2026) Film Review

Alpha, a troubled 13-year-old, lives with her single mom. Their world collapses the day Alpha returns from school with a tattoo on her arm.

Alpha is directed by Julia Ducournau director of Raw (2016) and Titane (2021).

Alpha is a pretty big departure from Ducournau’s previous work, where as Raw (2016) and Titane (2021) were much more on the horror side of things as well as being disturbing in their own ways. Alpha opts to go for a much more sadder and dramatic direction, that I do think benefits the film for the most part. Even if I do think this is a step back from Ducournau’s previous work, I definitely appreciate her going for something a bit different here even if not everything comes together.

The performances are all around fantastic, Tahar Rahim’s performance as Amin who is Alpha’s addict uncle is an incredibly heartbreaking performance. He brings this tragic humanity element to this role that really goes into very raw directions that hit the viewer like a truck. Rahim is able to balance warmth and vulnerability with his character and becomes the film’s emotional anchor, Amin’s story is rough to listen to but it’s by far one of the film’s strongest areas due to just how real Rahim’s performance really feels.

Golshifteh Farahani also gives an incredible performance, she plays a character simply known as Alpha’s mother which I do think in a strange yet effective way that works well with the story being told. Farahani does such a terrifying yet powerful job of portraying a traumatized mother who is doing everything to protect her child. She captures the chaotic elements of the film as well as the constant antagonizing fear of protecting a child. Her scenes with Rahim are easily some of the film’s best and truly help elevate the film’s material. Her performance much like Rahim’s is heartbreaking and will really pull the viewer into the experience.

The film serves as an allegory for the AIDs crisis which for some people has some polarizing results, I will admit that not everything works here. But I do think there is a level of thoughtfulness that does shine through, that is perhaps due to the film’s performances and effectiveness on atmosphere. I do like the theme of bodies changing, cracking and let go, it’s devastating in its own right.

The cinematography from cinematographer Ruben Impens is quite effective as it paints this world that looks like it breaks on the edges in every single way. Physically emotionally and spiritually, it’s quite a brutal look of when all three of these elements just break, what do we have left? What is there to do? It’s questions like these are quite haunting.

I won’t say much else since I do think Alpha is the sort of film that you do have to really experience for yourself. Overall Alpha has its flaws, but I do think Ducournau sticks the landing. It might not be as great as her previous work, however I still think this is still a very strong film!

Alpha is available on all VOD platforms.

8/10 B+

Lightning Round Reviews: They Will Kill You and Reminders Of Him!

A woman takes a job as a housekeeper in a NYC high-rise, unaware of the building’s history of disappearances. She soon realizes the community is shrouded in mystery.

They Will Kill You is directed by Kirill Sokolov director of Why Don’t You Just Die (2018) and No Looking Back (2021).

They Will Kill You is a movie that I wish I had a lot more to say but this is definitely one of those cases where “what you see is what you get” rings completely true. I do not mean this in a bad way, while the story is a large mess it’s everything else that really helps push the movie to the finish line.

Zazie Beetz is truly great here as it does seem like she was having the time of her life, even if some of the one-liners can come off as incredibly corny. Beetz is able to make the one-liners work decently well, she goes completely all out here especially during the film’s bizarre third act that actually compliments her performance. Myha’la, Patricia Arquette and James Remar are all great here as well, they contribute the right amount to leave an impact on the viewer.

The film definitely borrows from Read Or Not (2019) and Kill Bill (2003) it’s very noticeable and unfortunately does lead to some moments that aren’t as impressive since they have been done multiple times before. However the film’s action scenes are still genuinely fun and they have the chaotic atmosphere to back them up. The gore is also quite fantastic as well, if you are fan of action films with a lot of gore this one will definitely do the trick.

Finally there is the film’s bizarre third act which I actually think is the film’s strongest area, It’s incredibly campy and James Remar’s voice work is truly fascinating. What I do love about the third act is it’s not afraid to go all out, it unleashes all of the chaos that the film was building up to and stands by it.

Overall They Will Kill You might not have a whole lot going on story wise, but I do think everything else combined together makes this one at least worth a watch.

They Will Kill You is available on all VOD platforms.

6/10 C+

After prison, a woman attempts to reconnect with her young daughter but faces resistance from everyone except a bar owner with ties to her child. As they grow closer, she must confront her past mistakes to build a hopeful future.

Reminders Of Him is directed by Vanessa Caswill director of Love At First Sight (2023).

Reminders Of Him is the third film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s books. I have only seen It Ends with Us (2024) which was terrible, I never got around to seeing Regretting You (2025) and looking at the reactions and reviews I’m probably going to keep it that way.

I guess by the default Reminders Of Him is the best of the bunch but that is really not saying a whole lot, while there are some decently done dramatic moments which is mainly thanks to Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers. The movie almost immediately reminds you that you are watching a Colleen Hoover adaption and throws in some very poorly written dialogue that takes you out of the movie almost immediately.

The movie is about as predictable as you can really get, it’s one of those cases where you are just waiting for certain events to happen so the next one can proceed with how you expect them to. The chemistry between Monroe and Withers is also just not there at all outside of a few decent moments. It’s a shame because these are two really great actors they just have the misfortune of being stuck with a shallow script.

Overall there truly is not much else to say here, Reminders Of Him is a very forgettable movie that really overstays its welcome with a runtime of 114 minutes. Hadn’t it been for Monroe or Withers, the results would have looked far more ugly and terrible.

Reminders Of Him is available on all VOD platforms.

4/10 D+

Charliebird (2026) Film Review

When a music therapist begins working with a unique young patient, she is confronted with her past and what it means to live. Set in a small, rural town in Texas.

Charliebird is directed by Libby Ewing which is her directorial debut.

Charliebird is certainly a sad one, while there might not be anything exactly new going on here. The way the film tells its story and brings the chemistry between its two main characters front and center is what makes the whole thing work.

Samantha Smart who is also the film’s writer gives a strong performance and has a lot of star potential. It’s the type of performance that you fall in love with immediately, her performance as Al is truly touching and empathetic. The conversations she has around her are raw and quite investing to the viewer as well, similarly Gabriela Ochoa Perez who plays Charlie a terminally ill patient is excellent as well. We slowly start to see Charlie let people in and over the course of the film she melts into this beautiful bond with Al that is the film’s heart.

Together, Smart and Perez truly make the film. The entire film is built around the two’s chemistry and the film only adds more and more to their bond, there are tons of character driven moments that keep the film fresh rather than resorting into melodrama and very cliched tropes about illness.

The writing does have its moments of awkwardness but with the combined efforts of director Libby Ewing and writer Samantha Smart, what we get here is a pretty authentic look at medical and emotional care. We see Al and Charlie’s lives connect in this beautiful and genuine way. The themes of not getting attached and dealing with constant grief are beautifully done, what is a healthcare worker for terminally ill patients supposed to say or do with the advice “don’t get too attached?” that’s a question that this film asks and it does such a fantastic job of exploring it in great detail.

Overall Charliebird is a very strong directorial debut from Libby Ewing, it’s a very beautifully told story that is very character driven and will no doubt reach the viewer’s heart.

Charliebird is available on all VOD platforms.

8/10 B+

Tribeca Review: The Last Day (2026)

Inspired by Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, The Last Day unfolds over a single summer day in New York, where the lives of two mothers briefly entwine. Julia, a writer and mother, is unsettled by creative stagnation, unprocessed grief, and the approach of her daughter’s adolescence. An unexpected encounter with Taylor—a labor and delivery nurse in the midst of a postpartum crisis—pushes Julia to reconsider the life she has built, and whether she can rediscover herself within it.

The Last Day is directed by Rachel Rose which is her directorial debut.

The Last Day was the final film I watched for this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and it’s a solid film to end on. There are definitely some frustrating moments that the film opts to not really elaborate on, however between the performances, the atmosphere and the many swings the film makes adds up to a quite interesting experience.

The performances are what really make the film, Alicia Vikander gives a strong performance that luckily she’s able to fully go all out with. It’s refreshing to see Vikander tackle a script that actually allows her to use her acting talent because there are some incredibly striking moments here that really remind you of just how excellent she really is. The scene with Wagner Moura (his only scene) during the film’s first act is a standout, Vikander and Moura bouncing off of each other dialogue wise is truly fascinating to watch and leaves the viewer thinking of this scene in particular.

What Victoria Pedretti does here is outstanding, even if the film largely does not focus on Taylor’s (played by Victoria Pedretti) story, the scenes that we do get are quite fantastic and show just how fantastic Pedretti is as an actress. She captures the dark side of motherhood, there’s many scenes of Taylor just breaking down. Trying medication after medication, Taylor clearly loving her kids but can’t make it through the day it’s all there that really makes the viewer feel for Taylor as a character. Pedretti’s facial acting and body language is also quite fantastic here, you can see the struggle on her face and her eyes it’s hard to watch at times yet it really adds to the film.

I do think the compare and contrast element of Julia (played by Alicia Vikander) and Taylor’s stories is interesting although I do wish we got to see a lot more of Taylor’s. While Vikander does a great job as Julia and the story being told is solid, it does not have the connection that Taylor’s story has, there are interesting ideas in Julia’s story that are presented but the film does not quite land them when it comes to execution. With that being said there are still powerful moments here that go the long way, the film’s style adds a few weights into the mix that help the film stand out.

Overall The Last Day is an interesting one, not every single part of it works. But for the most part it’s a pretty solid film with some excellent performances that make the film worth experiencing.

The Last Day currently has no release date.

7/10 B

Tribeca Review: In Memoriam (2026)

A terminally ill actor becomes obsessed with being featured in the Oscars’ “In Memoriam” segment, exploring ego, humility, and legacy.

In Memoriam is directed by Rob Burnett director of We Made This Movie (2012) and The Fundamentals Of Caregiving (2016).

In Memoriam perhaps has one of the most unique premises I’ve heard of so far this year. The whole idea here is an aging actor is faced with terminal cancer but then wants to make it on the In Memoriam section of the Oscars ceremony, it’s a very eye catching idea that works quite well. While there are a few hiccups along the road, the film does a great job of executing its ideas and helps build its characters around it.

Marc Maron gives one of the best performances of his career, he’s able to balance the film’s dramatic and comedic moments expertly which leads to some genuinely hilarious and impactful dialogue exchanges. He plays off the supporting cast incredibly well, his most hilarious moments come in when he’s on screen with Michael McKean and his best dramatic moments come in when he’s on screen with Talia Ryder.

Speaking of which, Talia Ryder continues to show that she is incredibly underrated. The little moments of Maura (played by Talia Ryder) wanting her father Langston (played by Marc Maron) to teach her about acting have this raw atmosphere to them that you really can’t help but love. The father and daughter bond the two display throughout the film is the heart of it all, it leads to an admittedly predictable yet beautiful ending that will absolutely make you shed a tear or two.

The rest of the cast is great, as mentioned earlier Michael McKean is quite hilarious. Megalyn Echikunwoke makes for a fun addition during the film’s second half and Lily Gladstone although not having a large presence in the film, still goes all out with her performance. The dialogue exchanges between her and Maron are some of the film’s highlights.

As far as writing goes In Memoriam is quite strong, it goes for this dramady type of feel that really works. It’s definitely understandable if some moments could feel like a whiplash for some viewers, but luckily the film does a great job of mostly preventing that by having plenty of down to earth serious moments yet strangely funny. The theme of the time someone has left when faced with a situation like cancer is truly well done and has this sense of care that’s put into it.

The film is admittedly very predictable especially during the second half as it does have a ton of genre cliches. However I don’t think that ruins the movie, the performances, the beautiful moments and the premise itself keep this one afloat. It’s the type of film that you root for due to it just being so charming and in the end the film reaches that finish line.

Overall In Memoriam is a very charming and caring film that has some great performances and is quite hilarious. At times it can feel familiar but one thing is for sure that the film will leave you with a great impression.

In Memoriam currently has no release date.

8/10 B+

Tribeca Review: Clean Hands (2026)

The inspirational true story of hero drug cop turned recovery advocate Kevin Simmers and his daughter Brooke. The film examines the American drug crisis from the opposing eyes of cop and addict who were also father and daughter.

Clean Hands is directed by Jake Allyn who previously directed Ride (2024).

Clean Hands is based on the true story of Kevin Simmers and his daughter Brooke the latter of which struggled with opioid addiction. The two navigate the American drug crisis on opposite sides of the law. While the film does strike in a lot of familiar categories, there is this beautiful level of rawness when it comes to the film’s performances that are quite easily the best part of the film.

Zach Braff and Esther McGregor work wonders with the film’s father and daughter dynamic, there are plenty of moments here where the film really focuses on the facial expressions of the characters. That’s especially the case with Brooke, we see the pain and tears in her eyes that is truly gut wrenching to watch at times. McGregor does such a fantastic job of really bringing these moments right to the viewer and you constantly are reminded of what she’s going through as the film goes on.

Zach Braff gives a very strong dramatic performance here, Kevin Simmers’s devotion to his daughter’s wellbeing is commendable and leads into some very powerful moments between the two. Braff is definitely more recognized for his comedic work, but Clean Hands shows he is incredibly capable of dramatic work.

Clean Hands does unfortunately suffer from incredibly slow pacing and familiar story elements (even if the film is based on a true story.) The film also confuses itself by jumping ahead without bringing this connecting piece, however these issues are largely in the first act. Which I guess does work in the film’s favor since the rest of the film does pick up once it enters the second act. With that being said, you would not be blamed if you felt completely taken out of the film by the second act.

Overall Clean Hands is not a bad movie, it’s an admittedly powerful story with some excellent performances that are bound to make you shed a tear or two. If you can get through the first act and the meds that comes with it, you will probably end up liking the film.

Clean Hands currently has no distribution

6/10 C+

Tribeca Review: Rain Reign (2026)

The story follows Rose, a neurodivergent 12-year-old obsessed with rules and homonyms, who embarks on an emotional search for her missing dog during a superstorm.

Rain Reign is directed by Erika Burke Rose which is her directorial debut.

Rain Reign is a very straightforward coming of age story that works mainly due to its cast, the care that Erika Burke Rose put into the story and its quite authentic portrayal of neurodivergence.

The performances are quite beautifully done across the board. Felice Kakaletris (a neurodivergent actress) plays Rose a 12 year old neurodivergent girl who we follow throughout the film. We get to see her personality and some traits that tie into the film’s story, one of the main ones being homonyms something that Rose loves (hence the title of the film.) Kakaletris does such a beautiful job here, not only does the performance feel authentic but Kakaletris fills with this anxiousness of feeling out of control. The beautiful delivery lets the viewer see behind Rose’s shields whether that be heartache or frustration, she has a bunch of quiet moments that truly are effective. It’s a well done performance that the viewer quickly grows attached to and never lets go.

Jeremy Sisto and Paul Rudd are also both fantastic here. Sisto plays Wesley, Rose’s father who is going through rough trauma making caring for his daughter a lot harder. Sisto brings a lot of depth to a performance that could have easily went down the “one dimensional” route. Rudd plays Uncle Weldon the direct opposite of Wesley, he has a much better gentleness and connection. Combined together, Sisto and Rudd both do wonderful here and are at best when they share the screen with one another.

As someone who is neurodivergent how the film portrays neurodivergence is very well done. We get to see how Rose sees the world, how she communicates with the people around her and her general understanding of certain situations. One early scene of Rose having to be excused from the classroom and taking deep breaths is truly touching. Later in the film a classmate of her’s is sharing their experience with the storm that just occurred, the classmate was on the verge of crying so Rose asks “do you need to step outside” and goes with the classmate. This is by far my favorite scene of the film simply because we see Rose look at the people around her and wants to bring this light into the world.

There’s also the beautiful third act involving Rose’s dog Rain, not only does it have some solid character moments for all the characters. It’s a sweet ending that ties up all the film’s plot lines in a nice little bow, sure the way these plots are tied up are not anything new and certainly won’t surprise the viewer. But there is this level of charm that you can’t help but appreciate.

Rain Reign is not anything new, but as I said before it’s the film’s performances and authenticity that really sells it and pushes it to the finish line.

Rain Reign currently has no distribution

7/10 B