Velvet Buzzsaw

Art meets horror in Velvet Buzzsaw.

Josephina is fed up with the shallowness of the art world. Then she stumbles upon a collection of masterworks, guaranteed to make her rich. She’s ready to play the game once again, and her perfectly pretentious colleagues all vie for a piece of the action.

The problem? This art was created by a man haunted, who didn’t want his pain shared with the world. If his creations are exhibited against his wishes, the price to pay will be high indeed.

This is a good concept for a horror movie, and it provides some fun, symbolic death scenes. Although character development is lacking, you’ll get the picture.

Destroyer

Destroyer is a murder mystery, and then some.

Detective Erin Bell has issues. She’s fixated and angry, and it’s not healthy. But she doesn’t seem to care: There’s another case to solve.

Be patient with this movie. Its alternating timeline adds minutes, but it also adds to the anticipation—and a brilliant payoff.

Mary Queen of Scots

This movie is based on a true story.

Mary is many things: determined, young, beautiful, smart—the list goes on. And good thing it does; Mary has inherited the Scottish throne amidst strong opposition to her Catholic faith. Many people look to her Protestant cousin, Queen Elizabeth of England, to make a change. But it’s not that easy.

Though some violent scenes add nothing to it, this movie shines at showing just how formidable Mary is. The same can be said of the actress who plays her.

Outlaw King

Outlaw King is based on true events.

The Scottish and the English have feuded for years, at great cost. An uneasy peace now exists, with England in charge. But for how long will the Scots allow a foreign tyrant to rule?

The sets and settings will transport you to medieval Scotland. Some (though not all) of the acting will, too.

Manhunt

Du Qiu is a corporate lawyer who has saved his company from ruin. The future is bright. Then, Qiu’s spotless record is called into question. Soon enough, both his company and the authorities are out for blood. Does our lawyer have enough brains to survive? Does he deserve to?

This movie has a fun multicultural aspect, with alternating Mandarin, Japanese, and English lines. But little character development and lots of unbelievable interactions make it more silly than serious.

Train to Busan

The Train to Busan might be the only way to hide from the zombies.

Workaholic Seok-woo has neglected his daughter for the last time. Soo-an is fed up, and demands to see her mother in Busan. Dad obliges, buying two train tickets. Why, then, is Soo-an still so upset? A zombie infection tearing through the population might have something to do with it.

This is a good, exciting story. And the movie doesn’t rely on jump scares or manipulative music.

The Sisters Brothers

The Sisters Brothers is not your average Western.

The Commodore has given assassins Eli and Charlie Sisters another job. It’s more of the same for the brothers. But for us, each day is a new, surprisingly evocative experience.

Everything about this movie is excellent: the writing; the editing; the cinematography; the acting; the music.

Mission Impossible: Fallout

Mission Impossible: Fallout is impressively exciting.

Ethan Hunt spies for an agency concerned with only the most difficult of missions. His current mission is to thwart an army of assassins lead by an unknown mastermind possessing nuclear weapons. 

The movie surprises again and again without inducing eye rolls—something difficult to do given the arguably comical premise. 

Black Panther

Black Panther is a groundbreaking (superhero) movie.

Wakanda will soon have a new leader. This super-advanced African nation has kept its prosperity and technology hidden from the world for years. Will this policy of deception continue? And will power change hands without a fight?

Though laudable in its use of black actors and themes, as a movie it is just fine.

The Hateful Eight

A cast of characters meets in chance encounters to create The Hateful Eight. 

A deadly blizzard fast approaches. The only viable shelter begins to fill with strangers, each more intriguing and secretive than the next. Things heat up inside. 

The acting is excellent, with two consequences. First, the movie sparkles when the characters size each other up. Second, the (many) scenes of violence can be difficult to watch.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Jumanji is great fun, equal parts adventure and humor.

A grab bag of teenagers is stuck in detention. Procrastination and peer pressure lead the group to play an old video game called Jumanji.

This uber-interactive video game may be too much for its players to handle. But learning about their characters' strengths and weaknesses may enlighten the teens about their own. 

Only God Forgives

Only God Forgives is a violent drama about retribution.

Julian will avenge his brother Billy, who has been punished for committing a terrible crime. How far Julian must go depends on the whim of his drug-dealer mother, with whom Julian has a disturbing relationship. A ruthless police captain complicates things. 

Strange pacing and lighting add to the uneasy atmosphere. Long scenes may be as boring for some as the violence is jarring for others.