Alone - John Hyams - Jules Wilcox is leaving everything behind to start a new life. She's made a clean and secret break from everything because she knows it's the only way she'd be able to pull it off. This means nobody knows she's gone, where she is or where she's headed. So when she runs afoul of a psycho on a lonely highway she's all, y'know, alone. No help coming. Lean and effective stalker/survival thriller from my second favorite Hyams.
Bacurau - Kleber Mendonça Filho, Juliano Dornelles - If the pitch "what if John Sayles made a Purge movie" doesn't grab you, I dunno what to tell you. I'm sure that wasn't the pitch, but it would've been mine. I think this one is best experienced blind and I fear I've already said too much - just take from that description ensemble cast of hardscrabble literally off the map community and buckets of blood.
Becky - Cary Murnion, Jonathan Milott - If watching a teenage girl go gruesomely Home Alone on some white supremacists isn't a feel good movie, I don't know what is.
Calm With Horses - Nick Rowland - Lugs who don't necessarily want to be thugs...when your instincts are bad, & much faster than your critical thinking skills & you've got to do some delicate work with two hamhocks full of thumbs there's a good chance you'll break my heart
Cut Throat City - RZA - Nothing new about this crude-cut slice of crime, but damn, when you've got a supporting cast that stacked and each of 'em are trying hard to be the one thing you remember about the movie you're bound to have some good memories.
I Care a Lot - J. Blakeson - Ultimately I don't think I liked it, but I've had a hell of a time trying to pick apart my conflicting reactions... I appreciate having to reflect... still chewing on it weeks later means it's worth noting
The Informer - Andrea Di Stefano - Just about zero personality and only knows two chords, but... turn it up loud enough "A stunning display of competence" may not do it for you, but a one-stop shop for all my macho bullshit cravings and a dose of properly gnarly violence. Thumbs up
Nobody - Ilya Naishuller - Ah the catharsis of petty grievance enthusiastically paid back with heavy interest is my pandemic jam. I love that this crazy action is Naishuller showing restraint too. I hope Duane Swierczynski is getting some secret royalties.
Promising Young Woman - Emerald Fennell - Another one I'm conflicted about, but pretty sure I come down on the plus side. I know a lot of folks aren't liking the message, but didn't go looking for one. In fact, the message I think a lot of people were hoping for is one I wouldn't get behind (though I would absolutely enjoy the movie). Anyway, it's a thriller that's pretty effective at pulling you along - does it completely shit the bed in the payoff? Mileage may vary, but a couple things I'm sure of: Carey Mulligan's great and I wish it had gone harder.
Sentinelle - Julien Leclercq - Olga Kurylenko is great as the soldier strung out on adrenaline and drugs and beginning to understand herself as an inevitable explosion searching for just the right enemy to make sure her front is toward when -
A Sun - Chung Mong-Hong - You'll fucking cry. You big baby.
12 Hour Shift - Brea Grant - Hilarious, gross, wonderful working class heroine/dirtbag capitalist syringes on the fringes thriller. So good to see Angela Bettis out front on a project and holy cow did I love Mick Foley in his small role - hey film makers, use that guy more. Enjoy your precious private healthcare industry ya filthy animals.
Whistlers - Corneliu Porumboiu - I am inspired by the innovative resourcefulness and bottomless determination of people trying to fuck other people out of money. You guys are my heroes?