Happy 2026 everyone! Before we get to the list I have a one thing to mention!
I have 6 reviews left from 2025 which include: 28 Years Later, Sentimental Value, Bugonia, Die My Love, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and Hamnet. Those reviews I plan on hopefully finishing by the end of next week.
Anyways 2026 looks like a very strong year for film and we are starting off pretty strong with January! Sam Rami returns with Send Help, Primate I’ve heard is pretty strong, The Testament Of Ann Lee, Dead Man’s Wire and The Chronology Of Water all expand this month (all of which are getting very good reviews), Charli xcx debuts with her first leading role with The Moment, We Bury The Dead seems like a solid zombie film and finally 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has gotten very strong early reactions and sounds like it matches with the previous film!
A brilliant but egotistical scientist brings a monstrous creature to life in a daring experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
Frankenstein is directed by Guillermo del Toro director of The Devil’s Backbone (2001), Hellboy (2004), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), Crimson Peak (2015), The Shape Of Water (2017), Nightmare Alley (2021), Pinocchio (2022) and a few others.
Guillermo del Toro and Frankenstein was a match made in heaven that was bound to happen at one point. There was talk for a long time about Guillermo del Toro wanting to make this passion project come to life and I’m glad we were able to see it do so because he absolutely hits it out of the park. From the performances, del Toro’s style fitting like a glove, the many beautiful technical aspects of the film and this deep understanding of Frankenstein’s monster how he sees the world plus finding beauty around him. Leads to such a beautifully done film that ends up being one of the year’s greatest.
Oscar Isaac as Baron Victor Frankenstein is fantastic, he captures the determined nature of the character to create the creature, over the course of the film we see this power get to his head and even treats the creature who saw Victor as a friend or this father figure. That’s especially the case with the final moments of the film, in which the creature ultimately sees Victor as this tragic flawed father figure. It’s a truly fascinating scene that really shares a lot about Victor as a character. Oscar Isaac does such a fantastic job of exploring Victor’s character, he especially shines when sharing the screen with Jacob Elordi (who plays the creature.)
Mia Goth plays a dual performance, this time as Lady Elizabeth Harlander and Baroness Claire Frankenstein. The latter performance we only get a few minutes of but it’s still a solid one from what’s presented. However Lady Elizabeth Harlander is where we get to see Goth’s talent really shine, while she is a bit absent during the film’s middle portion. She makes up for that with tons of memorable scenes, the love story going on here with the Creature is genuinely beautiful and has this tragic human feel that may actually make the viewer shed a tear. Mia Goth brings this beautiful and gothic like fairytale like performance that fits like a glove with Guillermo del Toro’s style and atmosphere, her chemistry with Jacob Elordi is phenomenal and the final moments of her character are devastating, even when she was absent for parts of the film. There is still this devastating and tragic nature that Goth nails down and is truly memorable.
Jacob Elordi as the Creature is a truly unbelievable performance, not only is this performance completely different from anything Elordi has ever done before. But it’s also one of those performances that leaves you in amazement, Elordi was already a strong actor but his performance as the Creature proves he can go even further with his talent. The Creature has this beautiful human theme going on here that Elordi perfectly captures, the Creature’s entry into the film with him being scared for a split second from water or him being fascinated by a leaf is truly beautiful, the body language that Elordi constantly displays as the Creature tells a story of its own. The Creature finding beauty all around him whether it’s intentional or not is heartwarming, Elordi’s dialogue is subtle and done in this beautiful way that makes the viewer see the film in the eyes of the Creature. It’s moments like these that truly bring out Elordi’s unbelievable talent, which ultimately leads to him delivering one of the best performances of the year.
The writing is phenomenal and only gets better over the course of the film. These themes of human connection, how the Creature sees the world, evolving as people, do not give into cruelness are all fantastic and explored perfectly. Some of which are done in a few short sentences, which tells the viewer everything they need to know as to what the film is tackling. The direction and screenplay from Guillermo del Toro brings the human element to the Creature in such a beautiful and touching way that captures the heart of the film. The attention to detail during the film’s quiet moments of the Creature just admiring the outdoors is fascinating and is quite honestly breathtaking.
The cinematography from Dan Laustsen is wonderful, it has the gothic look that immediately blends well with Guillermo del Toro’s style and brings the atmosphere front and center. The atmosphere starts out as this rich and building block like feel and slowly but surely evolved into something thrilling yet beautiful at the same time, it captures this new life feel that the Creature is going through, this whimsical and wonder touch that brings out the film’s strength which leads to the more emotional moments to pack more of a punch. Lastly there’s the passion of the subject matter, to say there is so much love poured into Frankenstein would be an understatement, Guillermo del Toro makes it known he is a huge fan of the subject matter and brings so much passion into the mix that helps create so many memorable moments that compliment the film.
Overall Frankenstein is another masterful film from Guillermo del Toro, it’s incredible that we got to see this passion project come to life. The cast are phenomenal, the story is masterfully told and the film itself is this beautiful exploration that you never want to leave.
When their evil enemy resurfaces after 16 years, a group of ex-revolutionaries reunite to rescue the daughter of one of their own.
One Battle After Another is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson director of Hard Eight (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Punch-Drunk Love (2007), There Will Be Blood (2007), The Master (2012), Inherent Vice (2014), Phantom Thread (2017) and Licorice Pizza (2021).
Paul Thomas Anderson continues to show why he is a master at his craft with One Battle After Another, a film that right out the gate immediately hooks the viewer into the film with its suspenseful and rich atmosphere, its sneaky score that creeps on you and its characters who truly make the film’s world feel complete. The beginning moments of the film start off with such a high note that the film keeps that note high as we get deeper and deeper into the film, which ultimately leads to a truly thrilling and powerful experience.
The performances are all fantastic here, each of the cast are able to bring something to the table that makes the film shine incredibly brightly. Especially when it comes to how perfectly the cast bounces off of each other when it comes to the dialogue. We get louder moments, we get humorous moments and we get a ton of quiet moments that are filled to the brim with tension.
Leonardo DiCaprio turns in a phenomenal performance, he plays Pat Calhoun/Bob Ferguson a member of the French 75. DiCaprio does a phenomenal job of playing this washed-up former member of this revolutionary group while also trying to be the best father he can be for Willa Ferguson (played by Chase Infinti), there are tons of wonderful moments between the two that are truly powerful. DiCaprio already being a phenomenal actor especially helps, because a role like Bob Ferguson is a bit demanding. There is this balance of humorous and suspense that needs to be captured in order to fully work and luckily that is the case for DiCaprio, underneath more humorous moments there’s a bit of pain that Bob displays and it’s noticeable to the viewer throughout the film. This is a very different performance from DiCaprio’s last couple of roles and he absolutely nails it.
Although Teyana Taylor sort of disappears from the film during the second half, her presence and what her character Perfidia does to help set up the film is felt throughout the experience. Teyana Taylor gives a powerhouse performance that instantly brings the viewer into the film’s world. The body language and her dialogue during the film’s intimidating moments with Steven J. Lockjaw (played by Sean Penn) shows another example of how much of a fantastic actress Taylor really is. The way she captures fear, determination and such really brings together on just how raw her performance really is.
Sean Penn is terrifying there is no other way to describe his performance, sure there are moments where the film is clearly making fun of him and a far right group known as “The Christmas Adventure Club” but make no mistake Steven J. Lockjaw is terrifying and truly evil, when he says lines that are meant to be comedic you feel this strong case of ire and hatred in his voice that never leaves your mind. The way Lockjaw escalates situations and how they can go from bad to worse just by Lockjaw entering the frame is truly haunting. Sean Penn is really great here and especially delivers scene in particular with Chase Infiniti.
Benicio del Toro and Regina Hall are both excellent here as well, Benicio del Toro gives a very likable and quite entertaining performance as Sergio St. Carlos, he gets one of the film’s most memorable scenes that feels like a large in scale thrilling atmosphere nuke that hits the film and makes it even more fascinating. Benicio del Toro also works incredibly well with Leonardo DiCaprio, the whole scene with the hidden passage that Sergio helps Bob to try and escape Lockjaw’s men is absolutely thrilling and filled to the brim with this scale that Benicio brings perfectly. Regina Hall only has a handful of scenes but does have one particularly strong moment that is incredibly memorable and very well acted, it can be argued that we did not get enough about her character Deandra but from what we got she contributed to the film’s story and world in this subtle and beautiful fashion.
Lastly there is Chase Infiniti who gives a star making performance, Infiniti plays Willa Ferguson who the film really puts us in the eyes of. Yes Bob is the main character of the film and we follow him the most out of everyone, however this very much feels like Willa’s story. It’s a story of where this ruined world is like hereditary being passed down until it reaches Willa’s generation and Infiniti does such a fascinating job of showing the pain and body language of someone who was caught up in the middle of everything. Willa’s bond with Bob evolves over the course of the film and sticks the landing due to how raw Infiniti’s acting really is, there is so much power put into her performance. One particular scene with Sean Penn is truly fantastic and captures this sense of survival in her eyes that is truly mesmerizing. We are going to be seeing a whole lot more of Chase Infiniti because this performance was truly something special.
The writing is fantastic, the film takes a horrifying world and scenario that has plenty of genuinely terrifying moments. Yet is able to add humor and hopeful moments is truly beautiful at the same time, the character writing in particular is so well done here. Each of the characters as I’ve described earlier are given something to contribute to make the film feel complete and they all succeed, there’s also this depth we get from each of them that is truly meaningful. Even if we physically don’t see Perfidia or Deandra for a number of scenes their presence is still felt and on its own gives them this character development. It’s a truly fascinating technique that not many filmmakers, writers and such can master but in the case of One Battle After Another mastery is all over the place.
Finally there is the technical parts of the film, the cinematography from Michael Bauman brings the film’s most memorable scene which some simply call it “The Hill scene” it’s a thrilling and a quiet yet explosive scene that captures the film’s atmosphere in a matter of seconds. The score from Jonny Greenwood is wonderfully done and truly paints the thrilling picture in a number of these scenes, some tracks start quietly and eventually keep growing in this subtle and careful way that creeps on the viewer. The large in scale nature of the film combined with the atmosphere works effortlessly, there’s so many moments where you are just looking around in the background of the film, there’s so much to explore in this giant painting that only adds more and more.
Overall One Battle After Another is a fantastic film and one of the year’s best, it’s an incredible experience that brings the viewer in almost immediately and never lets you go.
One Battle After Another is available on all VOD platforms
After a tragic event, a woman finds herself alone while everyone else continues with their lives as if nothing had happened.
Sorry Baby is directed by Eva Victor which is their directorial debut.
Sorry Baby is one of the most authentic films of the year, tackling the topic of sexual assault and the struggles of depression that comes with it is already a challenging task. But what Eva Victor does here is truly something special, not only do they tackle this in a way that’s incredibly real and flat out honest. But there is so much empathy and the film never loses track of its heart and soul, the humor is done in this clever way that brings these characters to life. Combining all of this makes for a unique watch that is unforgettable.
Eva Victor as Agnes is one of the best performances of the year hands down, the moment we are introduced to Agnes we get this raw feel. A woman who’s living her everyday life just like the average person, Victor does an excellent job of portraying this especially when it comes to having conversations with the rest of the cast. When the sexual assault eventually takes place, Victor’s performance becomes devastating. We can see the trauma eating away Agnes and showing trauma evolves over time and never really goes away. Underneath all of that however is shining heart that is Eva Victor’s performance, there’s this certain beauty and moving element that remains throughout this film.
One huge moment is Agnes having a conversation with Pete (played by John Carroll Lynch), the acting from Eva is truly fantastic here and the way they are able to constantly switch from many different feelings so effortlessly is truly incredible. Eva Victor captures depression in this way that everyone can identify and there were parts where I did see myself in Agnes. Agnes is a real character going through a terrible situation that happens to so many people and the way Victor portrays Agnes is truly magnificent.
The supporting cast is also fantastic here, Naomi Ackie, Lucas Hedges and John Carroll Lynch especially. Ackie and Hedges give very raw performances and capture the friend role perfectly. John Carroll Lynch has a huge moment towards the end that really fills in this type of person who is the kind of nice at a certain moment that you need. It’s an honest and beautiful performance that is one of the film’s many highlights.
The writing from Eva Victor is exactly what you would think of when someone says “a film that tackles its subject matter in a very grounded way.” The film starts out as any normal day and then quickly gets into its subject matter that so many people unfortunately went through. As I said before Victor tackles this in a very honest way, Victor shows the very real aftermath of sexual assault. It’s horrifying and we see Agnes trying to make sense of what happened. The film does not show the sexual assault instead the camera has this still frame outside of the house, we see it turn from day to night and that’s when Agnes emerges from the house with a silent track home. It’s an incredibly effective decision that gets the point across to the viewer effectively.
Yet underneath all of this as I said before there’s this light, Victor mixes in some humor, there are moments of beauty in small yet effective actions of humaneness. There are moments of healing, there is a small moment of a stray cat that Agnes finds and decides to take in. It’s a beautiful moment that tells the viewer a lot about Agnes as a character with only her actions. The theme of moving forward is also present here, the film does not really have an answer as to what moving on exactly is. That’s the sort of thing that varies from person to person, however the film does leave the viewer on a hopeful note one that is truly meaningful and powerful.
Sorry Baby is a powerful film that will leave the viewer with this certain level of beauty in its impact. The film manages to be funny, painful and loving all at the same time. Eva Victor’s level of attention to detail with the character writing of Agnes plus their direction is truly remarkable. Eva Victor is a name we are going to be seeing and hearing for a very long time.
Robert Grainier lives all of his years in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, working on the land, helping to create a new world at the turn of the 20th century.
Train Dreams is directed by Clint Bentley director of Jockey (2021)
If there is one word that can be used to describe Train Dreams it would be beautiful, this whole film has the atmosphere of the beautifully done poem that you can’t help but let go through you. There are plenty of moving moments and reflection on one’s past and loss, combine that with some excellent performances and beautiful character writing. You have yourself a very human experience that ascends much further than expected.
The performances are all quite fascinating, they all have this human condition like approach to them. That’s especially the case for Joel Edgerton as Robert Grainier who is the film’s center focus, the film recounts the 80 years of his life around Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Edgerton’s performance as Robert is nothing short of beautiful and it’s due to the film’s raw character writing of Robert that we get to see the beauty, loss and his past in such a detailed manner. During the film we see Robert reflect on his past and loss throughout his life, it’s ultimately a story about a man connecting with the beauty of Americana. Edgerton does such a brilliant job of showing this all in great detail, there are so many more quiet moments where the camera just sits on Edgerton allowing him to do this “think before speaking” style that gives him so much more power in his words. Edgerton has always been a very underrated actor compared to his peers and this film does such a fascinating job of showing just how incredible he really is as an actor.
The rest of the cast are just as phenomenal, even though it’s very much centered around Robert. That does not mean the rest of the characters do not contribute to the story. Felicity Jones as Gladys gives this beautiful support like performance towards Robert, there are even some moments that she delivers quite brilliantly. Clifton Collins Jr. and William H. Macy are both fantastic here as well, the narration from Will Patton is moving, beautiful and really fits the mood of the film. As well as bringing this exploration into the Americana.
The cinematography is absolutely stunning, this truly captures the feel of nature and the beauty of earth itself. It has this theme of wanting the characters as well as the viewer to connect with earth and nature, that mainly comes from how detailed the cinematography really is. Cinematographer Adolpho Veloso does such a brilliant job of bringing these quiet yet powerful shots into the mix, when you combine that with such an excellent score you get one of the most moving endings of the year that really moves you into tears.
The writing is absolutely gorgeous, as I said before there are a lot of themes the film explores in great detail. We explore these themes through the eyes of Robert, whether he is reflecting on the past or the losses he experienced throughout his life. There is so much here to the point where Robert ends up being one of the best written characters from a film this year. That’s especially the case when we reach the film’s final moments, where we see just how much Robert has explored and how far he has come, these final moments show he’s finally connecting to the Americana and even the beauty of nature. This is the prime example of beautiful character writing, the type of writing that sticks with you long after you watched the film for the very first time. These types of characters are hard to come by, but what Train Dreams does with Robert as a character is truly impressive.
Overall Train Dreams is such a beautifully done film that made me cry during the final act, it’s truly a beautiful painting that captures Robert’s story in such great detail. If you haven’t already make sure to check this one out.
Abruptly laid off after 25 years at the same company, a desperate man goes to extreme lengths to eliminate the competition for the job he wants.
No Other Choice is directed by Park Chan-wook director of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Oldboy (2003), Lady Vengeance (2005), The Handmaiden (2016), Decision To Leave (2022) and many others.
No Other Choice is yet another masterful piece of work from Park Chan-wook, it’s a film that captures so many different sort of themes all in one quiet yet effective film that gets progressively more and more absurd as it goes on with several different exploration points to bring this wonderful film together.
The performances are all phenomenal, each of the cast bring their own effective style into the film that matches the clever atmosphere. Lee Byung-hun as Yoo Man-su is a prime example of this, he brings this relatable and believable character who has this complex antihero traits. He has the worry, frustration and sadness of losing a job all of which combined together leads to the film’s very absurd moments that feel all too real, Lee Byung-hun captures all of this masterfully and even captures the film’s dark humor when the film requires the actors to do so. His subtle performance that combines humor with beautiful and striking quiet moments lead to Lee Byung-hun to give one of the best performances of 2025.
Son Ye-jin who plays Lee Mi-ri, Man-su’s wife is another huge part of why this film works so well. Much like Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin gives this effective performance that captures the atmosphere almost immediately, her interactions with Lee Byung-hun feel incredibly raw and have this beautiful support to it that really feels like a wife who deeply cares about her husband. There are so many beautifully done moments with Lee Mi-ri that it’s truly fascinating. Her subtle facial expressions and discussions she has with the rest of the characters truly shines through.
The writing is masterful work, that is not a huge surprise given how excellent of a writer Park Chan-wook is, however he goes for something very different here. While there are bound to be comparisons to Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite (2019), No Other Choice is going for something very different and even goes about the whole theme in different ways. The main theme here is the loss of a job, what happens when you put all of your time and energy into your job. When you are compared, visible only when you need to be exploited, what happens when all of that time and energy you put into your job was taken due to the higher ups. You are suddenly fired, you have this built up rage inside of you that you want to release badly. No Other Choice explores all of this in great detail and truly brings it all together masterfully, it all feels very raw and brutal that truly brings the film to another level.
The film’s dark comedy is an added bonus that helps make the film not become way too dark, there’s a beautiful balance here that is subtle, careful and leads to some genuinely funny moments. A lot of the comedy comes from the body language of the characters and how they express their words, it is not done in this over the top way. They are done in this relatable reactions that feel quick and straight to the point, there is so much layers to the film’s comedy that is truly fascinating.
Overall No Other Choice is a fascinating film that truly captures its themes and delivers with its characters!
No Other Choice releases in theaters December 25th!
Christy Martin never imagined life beyond her small-town roots in West Virginia, until she discovered a knack for punching people. Fueled by grit, raw determination, and an unshakable desire to win, she charges into the world of boxing under the guidance of her trainer and manager-turned-husband, Jim. Flaunting a fiery persona in the ring, her toughest battles start to unfold outside of it as she confronts family, identity, and a relationship that just might become life-or-death.
Christy is directed by David Michôd director of Animal Kingdom (2010), The Rover (2014), War Machine (2017) and The King (2019).
Christy tells the story of Christy Martin which mainly tells her rise to becoming America’s best known female boxer in the 1990s and later her coach turned husband James V. Martin’s attempted murder of her.
What starts out as a very by the numbers biopic ends up turning into something genuinely interesting and even disturbing, Michôd’s choice of mixing both the rise of Christy’s career and the abuse she faced is a very risky move but one that ultimately does payoff which is mostly thanks to the performances.
Sydney Sweeney does an excellent job here, it does take a bit of time for her to get into the core of her performance but she ultimately leaves the viewer with a very powerful impression. This is a much different type of performance for Sweeney, one that pushes her to her limits and brings out this raw and at times upsetting performance. The final act of the film brings this into detail brutally with one scene in particular that is quite upsetting, Sweeney delivers this incredibly well with genuine pain and betrayal in her eyes and voice, its horrifying and never really leaves your mind even after the credits roll. Sweeney is a main part of why Christy works as well as it does, she paints this portrait of Christy Martin a woman who had beautiful rise but also horrifying betrayal.
Ben Foster as James V. Martin is the other half of what makes the film work so well. Foster delivers a terrifying and disturbing performance, when the film explores the abuse Christy faced the film suddenly becomes this disturbing ticking time bomb. Foster’s ability to switch someone who is kind and constantly praising Christy to a manipulative and abusive monster who wants to destroy Christy is both quite impressive and disturbing at the same time. The interactions between the two have this horrifying rawness that could potentially feel relatable for abuse victims, both Foster and Sweeney truly bring this film from a traditional biopic into something a lot stronger and interesting.
The writing as I said starts out as this typical biopic, we explore the highlights of Christy Martin’s career and her rise to fame. Even if this does have familiar beats, you can’t help but root for her. Christy and her team are fun and engaging, some of the supporting cast do not get a whole lot to do but they make the most of it. As we get into the film’s exploration of abuse that’s when the film strays away from the usual biopic and brings in a much different atmosphere and direction.
The film’s fight scenes are pretty solid as well, there definitely are some odd camera choices but those are a far and few in between. For the most part you get these up close and striking shots that have strength on their own. The film does suffer a bit from padding in some areas and the supporting cast does feel a bit underutilized.
Overall Christy is a very solid film with fantastic performances and tells Christy Martin’s story of her career and her survival very well. It’s horrifying yet ends on a positive note for Christy.
Cast out from its clan, an alien hunter and an unlikely ally embark on a treacherous journey in search of the ultimate adversary.
Predator: Badlands is directed by Dan Trachtenberg director of 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), Prey (2022) and Predator: Killer Of Killers (2025). The film serves as the seventh installment in the Predator franchise.
When Prey (2022) revived interest in the Predator films I was very excited to see what he had in store next. To everyone’s surprised he had not one but TWO films planned out. Earlier this year Predator: Killer Of Killers released and as I said in my review it was excellent and that trend continues with Predator: Badlands, watching all three of these films it’s very clear that Trachtenberg loves the Predator franchise and that is especially clear here. Badlands has excellent performances, satisfying action scenes, this large in scale exploration and beautiful yet simple character writing that really goes a long way.
The performances are excellent, the center focus is Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning both of who give some of the best performances of the year. The two also dive quite deep into their characters and really bring out some truly fun and beautiful moments. Koloamatangi plays Dek a young Yautja outcast, while his character may seem like the typical warrior who needs to prove himself. The film goes a lot further than that, as he goes on his journey we get to see his character slowly but surely build over time, Koloamatangi’s performance really puts in the work as well. We can hear tons of emotion even through the Yautja speech, it gets to the point where you want to root for him and hope he accomplishes his mission. There’s a surprising amount of depth here that you do not see very often with these films, it might be a bit simple yes but it’s there and it helps build Dek into this quite interesting character we follow.
Elle Fanning plays a dual performance, Thia a damaged Weyland-Yutani Corporation synthetic who travels with Dek and Tessa a Weyland-Yutani synthetic and Thia’s sister, she serves as the antagonist of the film. What Elle Fanning captures the excellent balance of good and evil masterfully here, in one corner you have Thia who is hilarious, fun and a person who just wants to see the good in people. Then you have Tessa the cold, evil and whose only goal is to complete her mission. She puts up this fake act of caring for Thia all for taking advantage of her to get what she wants. Elle Fanning does such a brilliant job of bringing depth to both these characters, she’s able to show off just how wonderful she is as an actress while having so much fun with the performances. The trope of clone/evil versions of characters can be a bit on the lame side, however it absolutely works here due to just how much personality and power Fanning puts into both her performances.
The world building is quite fantastic, it’s definitely one of those films where the visuals of the film’s world as well as the large in scale nature does all of the talking. The film feels like an open world video game, that you lose yourself in and never want to leave. This large in scale nature lets the viewer explore all the different landscapes and creatures on the planet, even if some of the creatures are on screen for a few minutes it still feels like we know a lot about them simply due to the detail and how large in scale the film really is.
The film’s writing has this depth to it that really adds on as the film progresses, the underdog story that may have started as something simple evolves into a bigger beast. The film’s depth also has plenty of fun moments of dialogue, the humor works surprisingly well which is mainly due to the bond of Dek and Thia. The two characters have this fun and surprisingly wholesome bond that we slowly get to see form throughout the film. Which makes later scenes a bit more devastating when future events unfold.
Overall Predator: Badlands is yet another fantastic installment to the Predator franchise. It’s not known yet if Trachtenberg will be directing another Predator film, but I sure do hope we get to see even more of his love for this franchise.
Famous movie star Jay Kelly and his devoted manager, Ron, embark on an unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men confront the choices they’ve made, relationships with loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind.
Jay Kelly is directed by Noah Baumbach director of Frances Ha (2012), While We’re Young (2014), The Meyerowitz Stories (2017), Marriage Story (2019), White Noise (2022) and a few others.
After the disappointing White Noise (2022), I was hoping Baumbach would come back with something much stronger. He sort of did, Jay Kelly is not one of Baumbach’s absolute best films but it does admittedly have heart. There is something here that works perhaps it’s lines such as “All my memories are movies” or it’s the beautifully done supporting performances that really push the film into this beautiful area. Jay Kelly is definitely flawed but there is still so much to like about it.
George Clooney it’s solid here, it’s by far one of his better performances as of late. Clooney gives this very wounded performance of a famous actor who is constantly reflecting on his life choices, relationships and even his legacy. There are a lot of quiet moments that really set the scene and let them play out, Clooney takes it from there and gets to show off just how great of an actor he really is. Although not every single element of Jay Kelly’s (played by George Clooney) full comes together, there is still so much thought put into it here that you can’t help but love what’s being done.
The supporting cast is doing quite a lot of heavy lifting here, particularly Adam Sandler, Billy Crudup and Riley Keough. Adam Sandler is very strong here due to his character Ron Sukenick is often the one that who the viewer gravitates towards the most. The character writing for Ron is quite impressive, the film explores his character and his bond with Jay Kelly in this grounded way that really feels sincere. Sandler himself gives this subtle and heartwarming performance that shows he can juggle both dramatic and comedic moments expertly.
Riley Keough is the emotional part of the film, even if she does not get a whole lot in terms of character writing. There is this sense of meaning with her dialogue, some of the most powerful moments of the film come from her scenes with Clooney, there is this blend of independence, anger and resentment that builds up due to the cost of Kelly’s consuming career. She remembers the loss of family time and how it affected her, it’s these devastating moments that really help build the film.
Billy Crudup plays Timothy a former classmate of Kelly’s who is an actor that did not make it big, Crudup’s biggest comes from inside a restaurant where he has this monologue of reading food items. That may sound silly which while at first it is, however once Crudup escalates with emotion and vulnerability that’s when the viewer gets pulled in. What Crudup does here is nothing short of excellence, there is so much meaning, hurt and vulnerability in his voice that you really start to feel for Timothy as a character. How he is able to turn such a simple task such as reading off a food menu into something so devastating is truly remarkable.
The writing is solid here, while there are definitely some hiccups (especially during the first act) the film does eventually find its ground and hits the viewer with plenty of strong moments that display greatness. The whole theme of reflecting on your past choices and your relationships is truly a powerful one, something a lot of people have done and will continue to do. While the writing absolutely could have been a bit stronger with some of the exploration, I do think with what was given here was strong enough to push the film to the finish line.
Overall Jay Kelly is a solid film that does have some pacing and writing issues at times. However due to the performances and direction, this film works well enough to give this one a go!
Well here we are the final stretch of 2025, time flew by for sure and it’s honestly been a pretty strong year for film. It does seem like we are wrapping things up well since this month looks great!!
Very quickly, I’ve already seen No Other Choice it’s a fantastic film that I highly recommend going to see when it releases on Christmas.
Anyways what’s left for this year? I have a handful of reviews left to write which include
28 Years Later, Sorry Baby, One Battle After Another, Sentimental Value, No Other Choice, Frankenstein, Predator: Badlands, Christy, Bugonia, Die My Love, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You and Train Dreams. These reviews plus some new releases will make up of this month (I’m hoping to get these ones done by the end of next week). So keep an eye out!
Let’s get to the list
11. Man Finds Tape – Out Today (VOD)
10. Jay Kelly – Out Today (Netflix)
9. The Housemaid – December 19th (Theaters)
8. 100 Nights Of Hero – Out Today (Theaters)
7. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery – December 12th (Netflix)
6. The Voice Of Hind Rajab – December 17th (Theaters)
5. Avatar: Fire And Ash – December 19th (Theaters)
4. Resurrection – December 12th (Theaters)
3. Hamnet – Out Today (Theaters)
2. Marty Supreme – December 25th (Theaters)
1. The Testament Of Ann Lee – December 25th (Theaters)
Jerome Reviews... 