Highest 2 Lowest (2025) Film Review

When a powerful music mogul is targeted by a ransom plot, he is forced to fight for his family and legacy while jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma.

Highest 2 Lowest is directed by Spike Lee director of Do The Right Thing (1989), Malcolm X (1992), Inside Man (2006), Old Boy (2013), BlacKkKlansman (2018), Da 5 Bloods (2020) and many others. The film serves as an English-language remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese film High and Low.

Highest 2 Lowest is sort of a fascinating one, it’s obviously not going to hold candle to Kurosawa’s film but unlike Lee’s attempt at tackling Old Boy this one fairs a lot better due to its cast, the decently fun atmosphere and a few scenes that make the film stand tall.

Denzel Washington is to no one’s surprise quite fantastic here. Washington is one of those actors who constantly brings in powerhouse performances and here is no exception, while the writing does get very messy towards the end. Washington’s performance remains consistently striking throughout the film, it’s a classic showcase of a powerhouse actor who elevates the material even when said material is at its low points. A lot of what I said about Washington can be said about Jeffery Wright, his ability to portray a nuanced and authentic bond is incredibly investing.

A$AP Rocky is also quite excellent here as well, Spike Lee has said that Rocky went “toe to toe” with Washington and he is not exactly wrong. There are plenty of scenes here that display Rocky keeping up with Washington, the chemistry between the two works incredibly well especially during one certain scene that’s also one of the film’s best. This is the type of performance that shows a lot of potential for an actor.

The writing is where the film falls a bit, the character writing that we get from the first half of the film is quite great, we get some solid introductions to the characters. The writing itself does a pretty good job of making the New York setting feel alive, plus I will give credit where credit is due that this manages to be a quite different take on High and Low. With that being said the third act is where things fall apart, a lot of the character writing (or writing in general) that the rest of the movie built up to lacked power and led to messy execution.

With that being said, I do think Highest 2 Lowest is still quite great. The character writing definitely needed more power and the pacing ultimately does hurt the film in the end, but Spike Lee does seem like he’s having a blast directing the film and the cast really makes this work as well as it does.

Highest 2 Lowest is available on Apple TV+

8/10 B+

Pools (2025) Film Review

In the midst of her whole life falling apart, Kennedy attempts to somehow reconnect with her dead father, searching for permission to live her own life within a wild pool-hopping escape through the elaborate estates of her college town.

Pools is directed by Sam Hayes which is his directorial debut.

Pools is a coming of age film that may not exactly do anything brand new, however there is this theme of being young and having to grow up and how life can uppercut you that quickly connects to the viewer and it’s done in a way that feels very natural. Combine that with some strong performances, camerawork and direction you have yourself a charming little film.

Odessa A’zion has quickly become a rising star and this is yet another showcase of how great of an actress she really is. She plays her character Kennedy incredibly well and in this natural way that quickly gets the viewer invested into her character, she adds so many layers and depth to Kennedy. She has her own personal issues underneath it all and the way the film goes about exploring these issues is interesting and really shows how talented A’zion is as an actress.

The rest of the cast is quite great, while the character writing is not as strong for the rest of the cast. They all still turn in great performances, particularly Ariel Winter and Mason Gooding both of which I’m not exactly crazy about as actors. But I will admit that they do a pretty solid job here especially in one particular scene that shows some sort of depth for these characters.

The technical aspects of the film are surprisingly pretty solid, the cinematography from Ben Hardwicke has this summer vibe going on here which matches with the film quite well. The editing and camerawork which includes some zoom ins make for some decently funny visual language. The atmosphere also has this laid back summer feel that mixes well with the film’s more dramatic moments.

The writing has plenty of raw moments that helps these characters explore their issues in their personal lives, the humor can be a bit of a hit or miss and as I said before Pools is not exactly groundbreaking. However the film has this charming message and wonderfully funny atmosphere that you cannot help but enjoy.

Overall Pools is a fun little coming of age film that is backed by its cast, direction and technical elements.

Pools is available on all VOD platforms.

7/10 B

Roofman (2025) Film Review

After escaping from prison, former soldier and professional thief Jeffrey Manchester finds a hideout inside a Toys “R” Us, surviving undetected for months while planning his next move. However, when Jeffrey falls for a divorced mom, his double life starts to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.

Roofman is directed by Derek Cianfrance director of Brother Ted (1998), Blue Valentine (2010), The Place Beyond The Pines (2012) and The Light Between Oceans (2016).

Often times I find that films that are about bizarre true stories where if you told someone who was completely unfamiliar them they would look at you like you have five heads to be the most interesting. That’s especially the case here with Roofman a film that tells the story of Jeffery Manchester a spree robber who escaped prison and who hid in a Toys R Us, he escaped in June 2004 and was recaptured in January 2005. It’s a bizarre story that the film tells incredibly well, there is even a lot of heart in the film as well.

First and foremost the performances here are quite fantastic, Channing Tatum gives such a wonderful performance that captures the bizarre nature of the story as well as just being incredibly charming. He has so much charisma and works with the rest of the cast effortlessly, there’s this sense of vulnerability that is shown through the film’s more quiet moments. It’s a bit surprising to see given the film’s story but at the same time it’s not, Cianfrance’s usual bringing out career worthy best performances from several actors is present here and that can be argued for Tatum.

The film also does not undermine the effect the actions of what Jeffery (played by Channing Tatum) has had on the people in his life, even showing how people who were caught in the crossfire were hurt, it’s done in this way that is meaningful and shows everyone’s reactions in this detail that has a lot of emotion and power.

Much like Tatum, Kristen Dunst gives an incredible performance here. A lot of what I said about Tatum’s performance can be said about Dunst. Her chemistry with Tatum is absolutely wonderful and really elevates the film, the close-up shots of the two is emotional and really pushes the film to greatness. Dunst has this charm to her performance that also shares vulnerability, the scenes of Dunst and Tatum just talking about each other and sharing their life story are some of the film’s most powerful and intimate moments that truly make the film.

The writing is truly fascinating here, this is one of those films that gives the supporting cast no matter how small of a part they have something to do. LaKeith Stanfield is of course fantastic and Peter Dinklage gives a humorous performance. The writing also does a great job of balancing the dramatic moments with the humor, the humor is not the main focus of the story (which the trailer would make you believe that it is) but it’s still present and blends well with the dramatic moments. The character writing from this film is shockingly quite great, it brings the viewer’s interest quickly and does a wonderful job of giving these characters the rawness they need.

Finally there is Cianfrance’s direction which is quite excellent, as mentioned before he loves to bring out career best worthy performances and that’s the case here with Tatum. The humor and drama he brings to the story is carefully put together, one does not overwhelm the other. It’s all done in this sort of direction that has a lot of heart and care, which is a very interesting approach to such a bizarre story that really works.

Roofman is available on all VOD platforms.

8/10 B+

The Lost Bus (2025) Film Review

A white-knuckle ride through one of America’s wildfires as a wayward school bus driver and a dedicated school teacher battle to save 22 children from the inferno.

The Lost Bus is directed by Paul Greengrass director of The Bourne Supremacy (2004), United 93 (2006), The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Captain Phillips (2013), Jason Bourne (2016), 22 July (2018) and many others.

The Lost Bus follows the story of the 2018 Camp Fire in North California’s Butte County which ended up being the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history.

This is a film that really nails down its atmosphere, if it’s one thing that this film does such an excellent job with its showing how quickly all of this happened in a matter of minutes. While there are some writing issues and the character writing needed a bit more work, that does not take intensity and anxiety inducing feel of the film. It does such a great job of really unnerving the viewer and showing the destruction and the reactions from the characters is nothing short of devastating.

The performances are great, Matthew McConaughey is gives a much more quiet performance but at the same time it’s powerful. That is especially displayed with his scenes with America Ferrera who is just as terrific here. Together, the two really go all out with their performances and paint a stressful and emotional picture. The supporting cast while great do not get a whole lot to work with, although I will say the reactions of the fire’s destruction and hearing updates of the status of the bus have this sense of rawness that helps balance things out.

The writing definitely has its missteps, the character writing is missing heavily here that’s mainly due to the film being a bit too long. With a 130 minute run time you can really only do so much before certain moments start to come off as repetitive and the character writing either feels missing or incredibly weak. Despite this however, the writing gets a boost due to the film’s atmosphere and emergency like feel. It has the rawness that is just enough to forgive the film’s writing missteps especially with the performances from McConaughey and Ferrera who are consistently very strong throughout the film.

Overall The Lost Bus is a solid film that captures the destruction of the 2018 Camp Fire, it may have writing issues but the film does an excellent job of bringing rawness, quickness (when it comes to how quickly the fire happened) and power into the mix.

The Lost Bus is available on Apple TV+

Plainclothes (2025) Film Review

In the 1990s, an undercover officer is told to entrap and apprehend gay men only to find himself drawn to one of his targets.

Plainclothes is directed by Carmen Emmi which is his directorial debut.

Plainclothes is one of the most underrated films of the year as well as being one of most surprising. A very strong thriller with tense and powerful performances mixed with rich atmosphere makes this one feel all the more real especially with its themes.

Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey are both phenomenal here, the chemistry between the two is wonderful and they perfectly capture the film’s theme of romance being hopeless and dead thing from the start. Having to hide everything of what you are until it fills you up and destroys you, that’s something Blyth and Tovey depict masterfully, devastating performances that capture the film’s atmosphere and emotion. There is this physical passion between them but when you are only allowed to be shells of human beings, that gets to you incredibly quickly.

The film’s VHS-style is quite wonderful and really captures 1990s New York incredibly well, the cinematography from Ethan Palmer allows the viewer to explore New York in this classical way that is filled to the brim with atmosphere. The style also gives the film a more authentic feel that quickly brings the viewer into the film. The direction from Carmen Emmi is confident, raw and has this tenseness to it that helps both Blyth and Tovey’s performances stand incredibly tall.

The theme of performing different versions of yourself to navigate the world is powerfully done, in this case hiding sexuality which the film brings this heartbreak and tense atmosphere to compliment it all. While there is not exactly anything new discussed or explored here, the way that Emmi explores these themes and topics is what keeps the viewer intrigued.

Finally there is the writing which is done very well here, the build up from the start of the film to the complete turmoil at the end is worth the wait and results in a final act that does a splendid job of bringing its themes together. There is a ton of character moments here that Emmi throws in to make each and every scene all the more important and powerful.

Overall Plainclothes is quite great, it’s an intense and emotional thriller filled with strong performances and just being a cleverly put together film.

Plainclothes is available on all VOD platforms.

8/10 B+

Nouvelle Vague (2025) Film Review

This is the story of Godard making “Breathless”, told in the style and spirit in which Godard made “Breathless”.

Nouvelle Vague is directed by Richard Linklater director of Dazed And Confused (1993), The Before Trilogy (1995-2013), Boyhood (2014), Hit Man (2023), Blue Moon (2025) and many others.

Nouvelle Vague is the second of Richard Linklater’s films to release this year, while I do think Blue Moon is the better film by quite a lot. Nouvelle Vague is still a pretty decent film that accomplishes what it’s set out to do. Nouvelle Vague follows the shooting of Jean-Luc Godard’s film Breathless which was one of the first feature films of the Nouvelle Vague era of French cinema in 1959.

The performances are solid, I think a part of what makes Nouvelle Vague work as well as it does is a lot of the cast are either newcomers who are starting their career (which is kind of really neat in this context) or actors you will probably not recognize. It makes the film feel a bit more natural especially given that the film is about one of the first feature films of the Nouvelle Vague era.

Guillaume Marbeck does a fantastic job as Jean-Luc Godard, he gives this confident and striking performance that’s filled with passion, humor and this fun energy. There’s some scenes that are so well done from Marbeck, there are definitely a few hiccups as the film sometimes does get lost with its writing that feels uneven which in turn does hurt Marbeck’s performance just a tad. But it’s not nearly enough from him delivering such an interesting portrayal of a masterful director.

The black and white cinematography is quite effective, combined with the reconstruction of 60s Paris displays the amount of attention to detail that went into Nouvelle Vague. Richard Linklater clearly has a lot of love for this era of cinema and did his research, this does not feel like it was placed here for nostalgic reasons. This feels far more In line with an appreciation route, not only with the sets but with the people as well. Although not incredibly well written, we see vulnerabilities, actions and personalities of the people in this intimate detail that is striking.

The writing does have its issues with being uneven and some jokes not landing all that well. However there is an undeniable amount of charm here that does capture the time period quite well, even if the film’s pay off is incredibly predictable and follows a lot of the usual biopics about making art beats. Linklater adds personality here that puts this one ahead.

Overall Nouvelle Vague is a decent film that celebrates such a masterful director and film, if you know the story already you are not going to walk out of this film knowing anything new. However you will be satisfied enough with solid portrayal of the events.

Nouvelle Vague is available on Netflix.

7/10 B

The Toxic Avenger (2025) Film Review

A janitor becomes a social outcast when a freak accident at a chemical factory turns him into a mutant. However, he soon uses his newfound superhuman strength to battle slimy criminals and a corrupt CEO.

The Toxic Avenger is directed by Macon Blair director of I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore (2017). The film serves as the fifth installment and a reboot in The Toxic Avenger series.

While The Toxic Avenger might not have as much gore as its predecessors (I’m not exactly sure why there was talk about this film being “unreleasable”) the film still has a lot of charm and actually is strangely heartfelt in some areas.

The performances are all around pretty great. Peter Dinklage works well as The Toxic Avenger, he does not go incredibly far with it but I guess the reboot wanted to try a different approach which works well here. Kevin Bacon and Elijah Wood make for fun villains even if we do not get a whole lot of character writing for their characters. It ultimately can be ignored due to just how well Bacon and Wood work together and steal each and every scene they share together.

The film does not have the Troma insanity from the previous films, which while unfortunate gives us something that feels much different this time around. For the most part that works quite well, there’s this very heavy Sam Rami’s Spiderman trilogy feel here that works decently well. The film also surprisingly has heart, the bond between Winston/ The Toxic Avenger and Wade (played by Jacob Tremblay) is actually effective here. While the story arc goes the direction you think it’s going to go, it is still incredibly charming and at least adds some character writing.

The gore combined with the action scenes are a lot of fun, while you may not get the over the top scenes from the previous films. You will still get a ton of satisfying moments that will be enough to please fans of the series.

Overall The Toxic Avenger is a fun film that does not overstay its welcome, it focuses on its satire and entertaining the viewer. There might not be a whole lot to the film, but in cases like this that really is not a complaint!

The Toxic Avenger is available on all VOD platforms.

7/10 B

Steve (2025) Film Review

A head teacher at a reform school struggles to keep his students in line while also battling with his own mental health issues.

Steve is directed by Tim Mielants director of Patrick (2019), Wil (2023) and Small Things Like These (2024).

I hardly knew anything about Steve going in and after watching it’s a tense yet has a very strong heart in the middle of it all that it makes the film all the more likable. Combine that with a beautiful and meaningful performance from Cillian Murphy along with the supporting cast and you have yourself a great little film.

Cillian Murphy as Steve is the film’s best asset, he’s able to radiate warmth, empathy and focus to these young men who are forgotten and need someone for guidance. Murphy does such an excellent job of showcasing all of this, whether it be from the film’s stressful moments or its more quiet moments. Murphy always has something up his sleeve with his performance and that’s honestly one of the main elements of what makes such a fantastic actor. The Supporting performances are all great here as well, especially when working together. Jay Lycurgus in particular stands out, he’s the heart of the film and brings so much depth and power to his character Shy.

Although the film does lack really diving into the young men’s issues. The writing for the most part still stands, Murphy’s conversations with the cast are interesting enough to keep the viewer engaged and the direction from Tim Mielants is quite raw. The theme of human connection is especially done well here, it tells us how important it is to understand each other, find compassion and make a difference when in the face of isolation. A very real topic that is explored in this way that is filled with heart and passion.

The cinematography from cinematographer Robrecht Heyvaert has this beautiful tenseness to it, whether it be shots of the school’s fields or up close to the actors when arguments are happening. It’s all tense yet done in this beautiful type of filming style that gets a lot of detail and sharpness.

Although nothing the film discusses or explores is particularly new. It’s mainly due to the power of the cast and a lot of the technical elements that make Steve a solid watch, if you have not seen this one I recommend giving it a look!

Steve is available on Netflix.

7/10 B

Keeper (2025) Film Review

Terrifying visions plague a free-spirited artist when she travels to a secluded cabin with the doctor she’s been dating for one year.

Keeper is directed by Osgood Perkins director of The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015), I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House (2016), Gretel & Hansel (2020), Longlegs (2024) and The Monkey (2025).

Keeper is the weakest of Osgood Perkins’s work and is a very glaring step down from his last two films Longlegs and The Monkey. Longlegs was a thrilling and terrifying film that effectively used its atmosphere along with the performances to make for some raw moments. The Monkey did a very solid job of balancing comedy and horror together to make for a fun experience. Keeper unfortunately has no idea what it’s trying to accomplish it has some of the right material to make for a great film, but does not fully utilize them and ends up being a misfire.

Tatiana Maslany undeniably gives a fantastic performance who displays the emotion of fear effectively, even when the movie’s script completely falls apart during the later half she still is able to turn in a strong performance that at the very least the viewer walks away remembering. Rossif Sutherland gives a serviceable performance but unlike Maslany the script affects his performance and fails to come off as intimidating, he has a few decent moments here and there but there is just nothing here to really make him stand out.

As always Perkins does a fantastic job with the atmosphere, which combined with the one location setting makes for some thrilling moments that are effective. The cinematography from cinematographer Jeremy Cox has this hauntingly up and close feel that actually does make some of the movie’s jump-scares surprising great.

The script is the movie’s biggest downfall, while there is not anything offensively bad here. A lot of it serves as build up to the movie’s final moments which is unfortunately a huge mess. There is a lot of great ideas that the movie presents and even has this bizarre nature to it, but the movie does not end up exploring these ideas in great detail. Keeper is one of those movies where they throw a ton of ideas at the viewer and do not really explain or explore them, the movie sort of just expects you to know what it’s talking about and go with it.

That is a major problem when character moments are nonexistent up until the movie is almost over, by then the viewer has more than likely checked out and is completely taken out of the movie’s world. The personality of Perkins’s previous work is just not present here, the subtle character writing, the clever techniques with the camera are all absent which makes Keeper a very forgettable experience.

Overall Keeper isn’t a terrible movie, but it’s a very forgettable one that I can’t ever see anyone going back to.

Keeper is currently in theaters.

5/10 C

Queens Of The Dead (2025) Film Review

Brooklyn drag queens put their personal conflicts aside as they battle zombies craving brains.

Queens Of The Dead is directed by Tina Romero which is her directorial debut.

The only thing I really knew about this one going in is that it was directed by George A. Romero’s daughter, Tina Romero goes for a parody approach which works just enough to make for a decently fun film for the zombie genre even if it’s lacking in some areas.

The cast is strong throughout the film, while the script is not anything to write home about due to the cast’s talent they are able to make it work. Katy O’Brian, Jaquel Spivey, Nina Flowers, Margaret Cho and Dominique Jackson are all solid here. As a whole they work together nicely and make for some fun interactions and jokes that are chuckle worthy.

The film is fun on a technical level, the music is a lot of fun and captures the atmosphere the film is going for. I never thought I would see a film use Kesha’s song “Blow” but here it is and it’s done pretty well. The fast paced editing is sharp and electrifying and the cinematography from Shannon Madden has some fun personality going on here.

What’s mainly holding back Queens Of The Dead from being great is mainly the writing and genre cliches. While there are some decent jokes here, as the movie goes on especially during the later half there starts to be a lot more jokes missing than landing. The zombie horror element leaves a lot more to be desired, while it’s not done in a bad way. It’s not done in a very exciting way either, it very much feels like it’s just sort of there.

With that being said Queens Of The Dead still manages to be decently fun, I think Tina Romero has potential as a director this one just needed a stronger script to really make it standout.

Queens Of The Dead is available on all VOD platforms.

6/10 C+