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Fascinating watch, especially as a former campus journalist. Really liked how they handled the implications of broadcasting the hostage crisis live — which also happened at the Manila hostage crisis in 2010 (the hostage taker watched the live broadcast and was able to see the police closing in, which was terrible).

Excited for Final Reckoning!

Basically Rivette’s The Mother and the Whore with how its depiction of the breakdown of a relationship feels punishing to watch, especially when you add the rehearsal scenes that would be a precursor for the even more punishing Out 1.

Still my fave Mission: Impossible.

Watched on Monday May 19, 2025.

Ethan Hunt really is the living manifestation of destiny.

Watched on Saturday May 17, 2025.

I actually prefer John Woo’s entry to this one. Saw a review on Twitter that stuck with me about how this one feels like a TV pilot, and you know what, it actually does. Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s still a standout though, and Benji’s intro is heartwarming.

Watched on Thursday May 15, 2025.

Watched on Thursday May 15, 2025.

John Woo was definitely inspired by Bollywood when he made this film. Still not the best M:I movie, but the 20-minute climax is an action masterpiece.

Interesting how what promises to be a crime epic turns into a tale of love and longing, in this case of Zhao Tao standing by her man even though he ultimately didn’t deserve it.

A masterclass in crafting a spy thriller, with all the Dutch angles and split diopters from Brian de Palma to savor.

Nice to see Jia using drones!

Has one thing in common with Drive My Car: dropping the title forty minutes in. And I respect that.

Watched on Saturday May 10, 2025.

Watched on Friday May 9, 2025.

Definitely not for dog lovers.

Might be the first time Jia Zhangke finally clicked for me. Arguably his first violent film that reminds me of Lino Brocka (if he had a bigger budget). Has a powerful final shot which may have inspired Scorsese with The Wolf of Wall Street.

Cheering whenever Zhao Tao appears like she’s a Marvel character. Also it’s hilarious that Joan Chen plays a Chinese worker who is told looks like the actress Joan Chen.

Watched on Tuesday May 6, 2025.

A competent genre-bending miniseries from Kim Jee-woon. Wonder how they could have done the second season if Lee Sun-kyun’s still alive. Also I don’t think I can see Hae Sung from Past Lives as a villain.

Watched on Monday May 5, 2025.

Great sound design film! This is indeed warfare.

Watched on Sunday May 4, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 4, 2025.

Watched this while translating the French titles in real time, like a real cinephile.

I’ve had a little time to sit with this one and this feels like a sociopolitical take on Tarkovsky, where time ruthlessly marches on and cultural changes will always be there and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. Very profound.

Watched on Friday May 2, 2025.

Watched on Thursday May 1, 2025.

An impressive debut from Jia Zhangke. Plays out like a mix of Lav Diaz and Paul Schrader with how it portrays a pickpocket dealing with ennui in a country on the cusp of change. I also liked the reflexive aspects of it, as if Jia was daring the actual Chinese police to stop him as he filmed guerrilla style.

Watched on Tuesday April 29, 2025.

Intoxicating watch. Love how it plays with form and time and space as it cycles between different Asian narrators, locations, and perspectives (that of the hapless Edward and his determined fiancee Molly).

Really interesting of David Cronenberg to frame his grief over his wife’s recent death with a tech conspiracy plot which I’d be happy to get lost in for hours, which is why I thought the ending felt jarring. I wanted more! Also I like how it’s very much timely which is impressive for a director in his eighties.

A take no prisoners action movie from Gareth Evans, with copious amounts of fake blood and squibs. Just the way I like it on a Saturday night.

Been meaning to direct a stage adaptation of Uncle Vanya ever since I saw it depicted in Drive My Car, so I needed to see this at some point. Kafuku is right: portraying Chekhov can be emotionally draining. At least I got so many ideas. We’ll live through the long, long days, and through the long nights.

Pretty underwhelming Hitchcockian thriller that doesn’t really pick up steam until the climax. Not a fan of the quick cutting but that’s just my editor brain talking. Meghann Fahy you will always be famous.

Kinda prefer this to A Working Man, with an entertaining plot to accompany Jason Statham kicking ass with some decent action choreography. To bee or not to bee?

Watched on Sunday April 20, 2025.

“Success is a gangbang. Failure is a lonely rapist hiding in the bushes.” - Steven Stelfox

Just watched the new Fast and Furious movie after ages again. Although I can’t help but view some plot points and stunts as pure BS, it was a pretty enjoyable movie.

The new Kingsman is awesome. Over the top action but still awesome as hell.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado is such a riveting movie. I just watched it, and it feels realistic and broad in scope. Kudos to Alejandro for being invincible, by the way.

Watched on Wednesday December 26, 2018.

Watched on Friday November 29, 2019.

Really enjoyed this multilayered horror period piece from Ryan Coogler. This one’s got some good old blues music and vampires trying to destroy it. Michael B. Jordan is amazing and the score from Ludwig Goransson has gotta be up there. Also I got chills from that one musical sequence at the club (you know the one).

Watched on Wednesday April 16, 2025.

Really amazed by the fact that the Japanese made this back in 1954: an innovative special effects vehicle about the dangers of nuclear warfare that also spawned the monster genre as we know it.

World premiere thanks to CCFF! I’ve been sitting on this project for a long time and I’m grateful to Oliver, Quinn and company for screening it on the big screen where it belongs. Coming soon to a screen (big and small) near you!

Watched on Friday April 11, 2025.

1. Mission: Impossible – Fallout
2. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
3. Mission: Impossible
4. Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation
5. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning
6. Mission: Impossible III
7. Mission: Impossible II
8. Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

• Sing Sing
• Parthenope
• On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
• Opus
• Death of a Unicorn
• The Legend of Ochi
• Friendship
• Bring Her Back
• Materialists
• Sorry, Baby

...plus 13 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Sinners
2. I'm Still Here
3. Cloud
4. Grand Tour
5. Better Man
6. Matt and Mara
7. Mickey 17
8. The Shrouds

• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• The Celebration
• Close-Up
• Drive My Car
• Hiroshima Mon Amour
• Manila in the Claws of Light
• Mirror
• Mulholland Drive
• My Night at Maud's
• The Novelist's Film

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Beast
2. Evil Does Not Exist
3. Anora
4. In Water
5. La Chimera
6. Challengers
7. Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World
8. Queer
9. The Substance
10. Dune: Part Two

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• 2001: A Space Odyssey

  Blu-ray. Part of Stanley Kubrick: The Masterpiece Collection box set

• Accattone

  Blu-ray. Part of Pasolini 101 box set from Criterion

• After Hours

  4K UHD / Blu-ray. Criterion Collection release

• After the Rehearsal

  Blu-ray. Part of Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema box set from Criterion

• The Age of Innocence

  Blu-ray. Criterion Collection release

• Air Force One

  - Blu-ray
  - VHS (1997)

• Alexander

  Blu-ray (The Final Cut)

• All About Eve

  Blu-ray. Criterion Collection release

• All That Heaven Allows

  Blu-ray. Criterion Collection release

• All These Women

  Blu-ray. Part of Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema box set from Criterion

...plus 300 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. On the Beach at Night Alone
2. Right Now, Wrong Then
3. Tale of Cinema
4. The Novelist's Film
5. Yourself and Yours
6. The Day He Arrives
7. Hill of Freedom
8. Oki's Movie
9. Woman Is the Future of Man
10. Woman on the Beach

...plus 22 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• 12 Weeks
• Your Mother's Son
• And So It Begins
• And the Breadwinner Is...
• The Cradle of the Brave
• Ang Pangarap Kong Holdap
• Asuang
• Balangiga: Howling Wilderness
• Ballot
• Bar Boys

...plus 104 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Drive My Car
2. Oppenheimer
3. Killers of the Flower Moon
4. Decision to Leave
5. The Zone of Interest
6. Past Lives
7. The Novelist's Film
8. The Beast
9. No Bears
10. Memoria

...plus 13 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Notorious
• The Birds
• Amarcord
• La Dolce Vita
• Greed
• The Hour of the Furnaces
• As I Was Moving Ahead, Occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty
• Napoleon
• Satantango
• Tie Xi Qu: West of the Tracks

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Feature films only. Selections from the Criterion Collection’s Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema release.

1. Persona
2. The Seventh Seal
3. Wild Strawberries
4. Winter Light
5. Cries and Whispers
6. Autumn Sonata
7. Through a Glass Darkly
8. The Virgin Spring
9. Shame
10. Smiles of a Summer Night

...plus 20 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Yi Yi
• Mulholland Drive
• Infernal Affairs
• Oldboy
• Evolution of a Filipino Family
• Tale of Cinema
• The Departed
• Hot Fuzz
• Taken
• Dogtooth

...plus 15 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Black Christmas
• A Christmas Story
• Die Hard
• Elf
• Eyes Wide Shut
• Gremlins
• The Holdovers
• Home Alone
• It's a Wonderful Life
• Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

...plus 5 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• 12 Angry Men
• Harakiri
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
• The Best of Youth
• Le Trou
• The Kid
• Witness for the Prosecution
• WALL·E
• Toy Story 3
• A Separation

...plus 77 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Terminator
• Terminator 2: Judgment Day
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
• Terminator Salvation
• Terminator Genisys
• Terminator: Dark Fate
• Hard Boiled
• RoboCop
• RoboCop 2
• RoboCop 3

...plus 72 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Feature films only

1. JFK
2. Platoon
3. Born on the Fourth of July
4. The Doors
5. Nixon
6. Natural Born Killers
7. Wall Street
8. Alexander
9. Any Given Sunday
10. Salvador

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Story of the Kelly Gang
• The Runaway Horse
• The Assassination of the Duke de Guise
• Rescued from an Eagle's Nest
• Those Awful Hats
• The Mended Lute
• The House with Closed Shutters
• Falling Leaves
• Raja Harishchandra
• Gertie the Dinosaur

...plus 289 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• 127 Hours
• Barney's Version
• Beginners
• Biutiful
• Black Swan
• Burlesque
• The Fighter
• In a Better World
• Inside Job
• The Kids Are All Right

...plus 141 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• The Snake Pit
• Stromboli
• The Postman Always Rings Twice
• Cuba
• Baby It's You
• Looker
• Mata Hari
• Maria's Lovers
• Double Indemnity
• Bacall on Bogart

...plus 18 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• After Hours
• Lost Highway
• Good Time
• Uncut Gems
• Victoria
• The Curse
• Shame
• Mikey and Nicky
• Tangerine
• Inland Empire

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Killers of the Flower Moon
2. Past Lives
3. Oppenheimer
4. The Zone of Interest
5. No Bears
6. The Boy and the Heron
7. Perfect Days
8. Poor Things
9. Anatomy of a Fall
10. May December

...plus 11 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

2019 has come and gone, and it was definitely a great year for the film industry. Many longtime series provided installments of massive proportions. Prolific directors brought new films to both theaters and streaming services. Foreign films came into the spotlight to provide relevant stories worldwide. Regardless of what kind of movie fan you were, there was something to satisfy your itch this year.

Revised from the original Loyola Maroon article

1. Parasite

   A Korean genre-bending thriller that is so brilliantly made that it will make any viewer find their faith in cinema ably restored.

   Click here for my review of Parasite for Loyola Maroon.

2. The Irishman

   One of Scorsese’s finest films since “Goodfellas” and “The Departed.” The sprawling crime epic strives to bury the myth of glamour being associated with a life of crime.

   Click here for my review of The Irishman for Loyola Maroon.

3. Portrait of a Lady on Fire

   A beautifully made French period drama with a decidedly modern twist.

   Click here for my review of Portrait of a Lady on Fire for Loyola Maroon.

4. Marriage Story

   An incisive yet sympathetic portrait of two artists going through a divorce.

5. The Lighthouse

   A dreamy and unsettling horror tale on the dangers of isolation. It is an instant classic thanks to the phenomenal performances of Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe.

   Click here for my review of The Lighthouse for Loyola Maroon.

6. Midsommar

   A dreamy and unsettling horror tale on the dangers of being drawn into a cult. It is a wickedly satisfying breakup tale.

7. Uncut Gems

   The Safdie brothers, as well as Adam Sandler, thrive on chaos, so it’s only imperative that the audience should feel the same way. It is the equivalent of being on a high speed train with no brakes.

   Click here for my review of Uncut Gems for Loyola Maroon.

8. The Farewell

   A heartfelt and relatable drama that centers on intricate family dynamics.

9. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

   Tarantino’s solid love letter to Hollywood cinema from the 1960s dazzles and excites while, at the same time, showing that he can actually adopt a restrained pace, which is refreshing for a chance.

10. Booksmart

    A bracingly refreshing coming-of-age comedy that’s free of cliches and is actually relatable for once.

It was the best of times, and then it was the worst of times. History had been made when the class warfare thriller Parasite, directed by Korean auteur Bong Joon Ho, became the first foreign film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Sadly, that particular event feels like a blip on the horizon, as the COVID-19 pandemic then rendered everything, the film industry included, into a standstill.

Movie theaters are in danger of being shut down, as not even Christopher Nolan’s latest film Tenet “saved cinema” last September. Cutting their losses, major studios have postponed their planned blockbusters, such as the latest James Bond film No Time to Die and Denis Villeneuve’s long-awaited Dune, so many times that the average viewer has become too enamored with the pandemic to care.

However, the pandemic has certainly given streaming services an enormous opportunity to keep the stay-at-home public entertained. From previously planned blockbusters such as Mulan (now on Disney+) and Wonder Woman 1984 (recently released on HBO Max) to indie films such as Hulu’s Palm Springs, it has become clear that streaming is the way of the future. Even the Academy has agreed to expand its options to include films released on streaming platforms; come next year, the next Best Picture might be a Netflix original.

In a year without blockbusters and awards season fodder, I proudly present the ten best films of 2020. In keeping with release guidelines, I have included films that are released in the United States this year. Most of the selected entries should be available on streaming platforms, as is the norm. Take the time to watch them all if possible, and have a worthy respite from the gloomy year that is 2020.

Click here for the full Loyola Maroon article.

1. First Cow

   The deceptively simple yet captivating tale of the American dream features a skilled cook, a Chinese immigrant, and a prized milking cow.

2. Never Rarely Sometimes Always

   Hittman’s empathetic film provides the touchy topic of abortion with a human face in Sidney Flanigan. It does so with an unyielding naturalism, coupled with some dreamy cinematography.

3. Boys State

   A compelling look at American democracy in action, as a thousand teenage boys from Texas meet up in an experiment to create a representative government for a week.

4. Dick Johnson Is Dead

   Confronting death has never been this unique, thoughtful, and ultimately touching. Johnson films her titular father as he faces his impending demise, and the result is a candid one that asks us to accept death as part of life, and that parental love transcends the living world.

5. I'm Thinking of Ending Things

   Kaufman taps into his existential side for a haunting puzzle of a film, which makes us face our fears about growing old and dying with regret.
   

6. Beanpole

   The Russian drama is haunting and captivating at the same time, as Balagov skillfully infuses a deeply moving tale of love into a grim snapshot of Russia in the days after World War II.

7. Lovers Rock

   Part of the Small Axe anthology series, McQueen’s free-flowing sensory experience is a much-needed antidote to 2020 and its lockdown glory.

8. Time

   Bradley’s documentary is epic and personal in equal measure. Featuring a Louisiana woman’s fight to release her incarcerated husband, it is an utterly transfixing chronicle of redemption and endurance. The story’s Loyola connection is just another reason to watch this masterpiece.

9. Bacurau

   A wickedly unforgettable Brazilian tale of social dynamics, “Bacurau” transcends genres to create an ode against modern colonialism.

10. Palm Springs

    The fun and lighthearted existential tale starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti has become a reflection of staying at home during the pandemic, especially in how every day seems to be the same.

...plus 18 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

For cinephiles and casual viewers alike, 2021 marked a slow yet sure return to the movies. The reopening of movie theaters has seen a gradual resurgence of long-awaited blockbusters, from Dune to Spider-Man: No Way Home. The return of the festival circuit in person has produced loads of critics’ favorites, from Titane to Drive My Car, while streaming services have never been more eager to put their collective foot into the awards season, with Netflix, for example, releasing Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog and Rebecca Hall’s ing.

As my journey as a budding cinephile continues, I myself have seen my share of films that inspired, entranced, entertained, and baffled me. As we start a new year with uncertainty and hope for the future of film, I hereby present the 10 best films of 2021 (with 11 that almost made the cut). Take the journey by watching these films and then come back to reality, rewarded and a little more enlightened to face it.

1. Drive My Car

   Note: Had I seen this in 2021, it would have been my top pick.
   

2. Titane

   Fresh off her cannibalistic debut Raw, Julia Ducournau presents an unpredictable and thrillingly original second feature. Titane might as well be a much-needed shot in the arm for the movies this year, as it finds the French director in clear command of her ongoing fascination with gruesome body horror. Moreover, beneath the collision of industrial waste with malleable human flesh lies an unexpected modern tale of companionship in these troubled times.
   

3. Licorice Pizza

   Paul Thomas Anderson presents a beautifully made epic tapestry of American cinema with Licorice Pizza. Watching it feels like chasing a cinematic high, as it explores the tricky machinations of young love as well as the unceasing need to be accepted as somebody. Featuring amazing performances from newcomers Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, PTA’s latest film takes a trip back to a fleeting moment in time where adolescence made one feel like taking on the world.

4. The Power of the Dog

   Jane Campion returns after 12 years with a restrained yet ultimately satisfying gothic Western. The Power of the Dog quietly holds nothing back as it strips away toxic masculinity, personified in Benedict Cumberbatch’s powerful performance as domineering rancher Phil. With equally solid performances from Kirsten Dunst and Kodi-Smith Mhee, as well as a lingering score from Jonny Greenwood, the film smolders with sexual tension, jealousy and resentment.

5. Spencer

   Legacy is out of one’s hands once they away, but Pablo Larraín gives sound to the suppression and strength of the late Princess Diana’s voice in Spencer. Kristen Stewart’s performance matches the ambiguous nature of the biopic. While she does not mysteriously melt into an exact replica of Diana, her humanity and hushed nature is familiar. As we follow this woman through persecution, we empathize with her powerlessness, hoping for her peace and liberation. (from the Loyola Maroon review by Ella Cheramie)

6. Red Rocket

   Sean Baker’s latest Americana slice of life is singularly entertaining, with a marvelous performance from Simon Rex as washed up porn star Mikey Saber. He may be an unlikable fictional character with his sleazy enterprising ways, but at the same time he is no different from many colorful personas populating the outer fringes of American society. Saber may be emblematic of the narcissistic cycle that America finds itself in, yet Baker does a great job of grounding him as a bracingly empathetic opportunist.

7. Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

   Much like Todd Haynes, Questlove’s first music documentary bursts with unparalleled energy in its celebration of a series of open-air concerts in Harlem in 1969. Summer of Soul features live performances from Black musical legends such as Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, the Staple Singers, Mahalia Jackson, and Nina Simone, interspersed with interviews from musicians and fans reminiscing about the Harlem Cultural Festival. It’s a beautiful time capsule to a historic event that also makes a compelling case for why art – and music – matters.

8. The French Dispatch

   Wes Anderson strikes again with a visually sumptuous delight. The French Dispatch reads like a charming visual representation of a particularly glossy magazine, and while its bracingly singular vision may end up alienating casual viewers, it’s a cinematic treat. Not that it’s entirely pleasing to the eyes at the expense of substance, as Anderson’s eclectic, quirky characters deal with the wonders and unpredictabilities of the world in their own entertaining ways.

9. The Velvet Underground

   Todd Haynes’s first music documentary exemplifies the unconventional style of his main subjects: the rock band formed by Lou Reed and John Cale in the 1960s that later broke countless boundaries for the genre. The Velvet Underground is more than a tribute to the band, as it also conjures up a fevered atmospheric portrait of New York City by paying homage to the 1960s experimental cinema of Jonas Mekas and Stan Brakhage with its form. Best played loud.

10. West Side Story

    From the first frame, it becomes clear that Steven Spielberg hasn’t lost his cinematic flair in his modern update of the 1957 Broadway play, which was previously adapted for the big screen in 1961 by Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise. Exciting, memorable and sincere, Spielberg’s West Side Story is the resoundingly epic culmination to a recurring series of musicals released in 2021.

...plus 12 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

The state of cinema in 2022 is more alive than ever. Ambitious spectacles from the likes of Marvel, Tom Cruise, and James Cameron brought everyone back to theaters. At the same time, ground-breaking indie films poured out everything everywhere all at once, enthralling discerning moviegoers and leaving them hungry for more.

As expected, it’s hard to pin down the best films of 2022. In fact, it’s even more likely that some of them may end up having belated releases around the New Orleans area (looking at you, Jafar Panahi’s subversive act No Bears among others). Either way, last year had something for everyone. And without further ado, here are the 10 best films of 2022.

Original Loyola Maroon article

1. TÁR

   Cate Blanchett stars in one of the most brilliant films of 2022. Widely regarded as the Great American Movie about cancel culture, Tár nevertheless defies easy categorization as it paints a picture of a truly complex character for the digital age. Blanchett becomes so committed to her performance as the titular composer that you might forget that Lydia Tár is actually fictional until the credits have rolled.

2. Decision to Leave

   South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook may be well-known for his ultra-violent revenge flicks, but he has recently transitioned into richly plotted thrillers. His latest film Decision to Leave is a gorgeously shot, Hitchcockian tale of a detective who falls for his suspect, played by Tang Wei in a magnificent performance. Beneath all the manipulative suspense that constantly keeps you guessing comes an achingly devastating depiction of love and longing.

3. Everything Everywhere All at Once

   No movie featuring the multiverse is ever easy to follow, and as such Everything Everywhere All At Once is not without its flaws. But it more than makes up for it by going all in on its genre anarchy. This film is, well, everything: multiverse, generational trauma, Asian-American representation, the struggles of relating to your queer children, existentialism, paying your taxes, etc. I could go on and on.

4. The Banshees of Inisherin

   How could a 2022 film with a seemingly simple premise have a deeper meaning? Martin McDonagh’s latest exercise in dark humor is singularly entertaining thanks to great performances from Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. They play two former best friends who wrestle with the sudden end of their friendship. McDonagh’s verbal wit keeps the Banshees on its toes as the whole affair inevitably descends into drastic consequences for everyone involved.

5. The Fabelmans

   After all the autobiographical tales from film directors depicting how their love affair with cinema first started, it’s Steven Spielberg’s turn. And by God is it such a nuanced one. “The Fabelmans” finds the director depicting his younger self as he comes to understand the rewards as well as the consequences of becoming a filmmaker.

6. Triangle of Sadness

   As a social satire, Ruben Ostlund’s Triangle of Sadness is uniquely entertaining. The Swedish director’s brand of satire may feel shallow compared to the likes of Michael Haneke and Lars von Trier, but the way he frames this sense of discomfort feels amusing at the same time; just don’t take it too seriously. “Triangle of Sadness” may state the obvious in a haze of vomit and feces, but you can’t take your eyes off it.

7. RRR

   If you have never checked out the wonderfully diverse world of Indian cinema, let RRR be your gateway drug. S.S. Rajamouli’s Telugu-language historical fiction epic turns the two real-life historical figures at its center, Bheem and Raju, into something larger than life. Deploying maximalist action sequences that can make the MCU blush, as well as the boundary-breaking power of song and dance, watching “RRR” is a memorable experience — especially when seen with a crowd.

8. Nope

   Jordan Peele’s third film is a multilayered blockbuster that dazzles the audience while also interrogating their sense of spectacle. Centering on the race to capture extraterrestrial evidence, Nope is a wonderfully paradoxical viewing experience. The title alone already emphasizes the negative, and yet you can’t help but look anyway.

9. Top Gun: Maverick

   The first of many films in this list that made going to movie theaters great again, Maverick capitalizes on nostalgia for the 1984 classic while also giving it narrative wings. Tom Cruise’s dedication to the craft of making movies pays off in spades as he engages in intense set pieces that keep the audience at the edge of their seats.

10. Babylon

    Damien Chazelle’s latest epic serves as a litmus test for anyone who cares about movies. It can be praised for its ambitious portrayal of Hollywood’s eventful transition from silent film to talkies in the 1920s, or it can be panned for the inevitable excess that it involves. Divisive upon its release, Babylon is nevertheless a three-hour love letter to cinema forged in fire while also serving as a tragic tale on Tinseltown’s tendency to ruin its dreamers.

...plus 12 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Manila in the Claws of Light
2. Insiang
3. Evolution of a Filipino Family
4. West Side Avenue
5. Himala
6. Manila by Night
7. Moral
8. Weighed But Found Wanting
9. Kisapmata
10. Batch '81

...plus 17 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Films that inspired me. In chronological order of release. One film per director.

• Tokyo Story
• Vertigo
• Hiroshima Mon Amour
• Pickpocket
• High and Low
• Persona
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• My Night at Maud's
• Manila in the Claws of Light
• Mirror

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Barber's Tales
2. Manila in the Claws of Light
3. Kisapmata
4. Moral
5. Cleaners
6. Insiang
7. Himala
8. Ode to Nothing
9. Norte, The End of History
10. This Is My Country

...plus 240 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Taxi Driver
2. GoodFellas
3. The Irishman
4. Raging Bull
5. The Wolf of Wall Street
6. The Departed
7. Killers of the Flower Moon
8. Silence
9. The King of Comedy
10. After Hours

...plus 16 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Mulholland Drive
2. Eraserhead
3. Blue Velvet
4. Lost Highway
5. Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
6. Inland Empire
7. Wild at Heart
8. The Elephant Man
9. The Straight Story
10. Dune

• Ad Astra

  Review (October 4, 2019)

• El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

  Review (October 20, 2019)

• Joker

  Review (November 2, 2019)

• Doctor Sleep

  Review (November 22, 2019)

• Ford v Ferrari

  Review (December 5, 2019)

• Knives Out

  Review (December 5, 2019)

• 6 Underground

  Review (December 24, 2019)

• The Lighthouse

  Review (January 2, 2020)

• Uncut Gems

  Review (January 2, 2020)

• The Irishman

  Review (January 2, 2020)

...plus 28 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Oppenheimer
• The Dark Knight
• Inception
• Interstellar
• Tenet
• The Prestige
• Dunkirk
• Memento
• Batman Begins
• The Dark Knight Rises

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Baby Driver
• Blue Velvet
• John Wick
• The Man from Nowhere
• Die Hard
• Manila in the Claws of Light
• Leonor Will Never Die

• Drive My Car
• My Night at Maud's
• Before Sunrise
• The Green Ray
• Oslo, August 31st
• Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time
• What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?
• Claire's Knee
• Boyfriends and Girlfriends
• Last Round

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Manila in the Claws of Light
2. Insiang
3. Weighed But Found Wanting
4. This Is My Country
5. Fight for Us
6. Jaguar
7. Cain and Abel
8. Macho Dancer
9. Ina, Kapatid, Anak
10. My Father, My Mother

...plus 45 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Seven Samurai
2. Ran
3. High and Low
4. Ikiru
5. Throne of Blood
6. Rashomon
7. The Hidden Fortress
8. Yojimbo
9. The Bad Sleep Well
10. Sanjuro

...plus 20 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey
2. Barry Lyndon
3. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
4. A Clockwork Orange
5. Paths of Glory
6. Eyes Wide Shut
7. The Shining
8. Full Metal Jacket
9. Lolita
10. Spartacus

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.