Materialists is a surprisingly cerebral reworking of the romantic comedy genre that’s more interested in having philosophical conversations about love rather than meeting our expectations.  Rest assured, it provides just enough romance and laughs to satisfy the faithful.  Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans are pitch-perfect as the handsome and mature love triangle.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/06/24/materialists-movie-review-and-analysis-dakota-johnson-pedro-pascal-chris-evans/
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Unbearably taut and pitiless, Dangerous Animals is a terrific people versus shark movie. It’s a well-acted thriller that takes its genre inspirations seriously and uses them to great effect. Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/06/17/dangerous-animals-movie-review-and-analysis-jai-courtney-hassie-harrison/
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What elevates Jane Austen Wrecked My Life above the typical romantic comedy is its approach. The film unfolds at a leisurely (European) pace, which allows its richly drawn characters, keen observations, sharp dialog and earthy humor to win us over. It’s an unassuming little gem that respects its characters and the audience’s intelligence in equal measure. Highly Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/06/10/jane-austen-wrecked-my-life-movie-review-and-analysis-camille-rutherford-laura-piani/
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When it’s not indulging in pointless franchise nostalgia or constantly reminding us that Tom Cruise is the chosen one, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is an entertaining, well-made action movie.  Come prepared for top-notch action surrounded by eye-rolling distillations of Cruise’s cockeyed worldview.  Mildly Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/06/03/mission-impossible-the-final-reckoning-movie-review-and-analysis-tom-cruise-hayley-atwell/
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The Amateur is an entertaining alternative to the “one man wrecking crew” films.  It uses Rami Malek’s geeky nature to good effect and the supporting cast are all solid.  The movie doesn’t reinvent the spy thriller or the revenge fantasy but offers an interesting take on both.  A well-made and entertaining film.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/05/27/the-amateur-movie-review-and-analysis-rami-malek-rachel-brosnahan/
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Although it is repetitious, contrived and ultimately ridiculous, Drop held my interest until the end.  It’s nowhere near as good as the thrillers it emulates.  It’s a trashy potboiler heavy on style.  Mildly recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/05/20/drop-movie-and-analysis-meghann-fahy-brandon-sklenar/
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Thunderbolts* may not be everyone’s idea of a good time at the movies, but I appreciated it for doing something (mostly) different and making me feel something I rarely feel about superheroes: compassion.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/05/13/thunderbolts-movie-review-and-analysis-florence-pugh/
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Sinners is an audacious work of art, full of ideas rendered in breathtaking imagery, with captivating performances and soul-stirring music.  The film’s raw, emotional power is undeniable.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/05/06/sinners-movie-review-and-analysis-ryan-coogler-michael-b-jordan-hailee-steinfeld/
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The Electric State is passable family entertainment that is also conspicuously inert.  It may hold the title as the most a film adaptation has ever departed from its source material in cinematic history.  Then there’s the uncanny way the film serves as meta commentary on itself and the filmmakers.  Regardless, the movie is a strangely compelling viewing experience, even for the wrong reasons.  Toss-up.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/04/29/the-electric-state-netflix-review-and-analysis-chris-pratt-millie-bobby-brown/

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is undeniably sentimental and nostalgic, banking on the feelings the audience has built up for these characters over the years.  That said, the movie is very funny and surprisingly heartfelt.  Like Bridget, this movie occasionally wobbles but it comes out on top in the end, smiling.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/04/22/bridget-jones-mad-about-the-boy-review-and-analysis-renee-zellweger-hugh-grant/
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A Working Man is a satisfactory throwback to the “one man as unstoppable army” films from the Eighties.  Although it’s well made and Jason Statham is reliably tough, the overwhelming seriousness of the story prevents it from being more than a standard search-and-kill-everyone mission.  Credit to director David Ayer for jazzing things up with an assortment of outlandish villains and phantasmagoric sets.  Mildly recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/04/15/a-working-man-movie-review-and-analysis-jason-statham/
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The Order is a solid law enforcement thriller, featuring exceptional performances by Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult.  Although I had issues with the movie’s pacing and focus, the view it provides of the world of white separatism is as gripping as it is troubling.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/04/08/the-order-2024-review-and-analysis-jude-law-nicholas-hoult/
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The Day the Earth Blew Up is funny, visually inventive and, unlike Warner Brothers Discovery, honors the legacy of the Looney Tunes cartoons.  The movie is a testament to what hand-drawn animation can achieve when in the right hands.  Although 2025 is only three months old, this movie is already the front-runner for comedy of the year.  Highly Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/04/01/the-day-the-earth-blew-up-a-looney-tunes-movie/
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Steven Soderberg’s visually arresting direction and charismatic performances from Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender ensure this modest tale of skullduggery is always entertaining.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/03/25/black-bag-movie-review-and-analysis-cate-blanchett-michael-fassbender/
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The Rule of Jenny Pen is a savagely funny little horror movie.  The gripping performances by Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow alone make it worth watching.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/03/20/the-rule-of-jenny-pen-review-and-analysis-geoffrey-rush-john-lithgow/
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What makes The Truth vs. Alex Jones fascinating is the window it gives us into the machinations of Alex Jones to hijack the tragedy to enrich himself.  Highly recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/03/11/the-truth-vs-alex-jones-review-and-analysis-hbo-max/
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Heart Eyes is a surprisingly touching, funny and scary horror-comedy mashup a well-acted, well-made and thoroughly entertaining throwback to the genres it celebrates.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/03/05/heart-eyes-review-and-analysis/
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Captain America 4 isn’t perfect, but it's a serviceable, entertaining entry that implies the MCU is headed in the right direction.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/02/25/captain-america-brave-new-world-2025-review-and-analysis-anthony-mackie-harrison-ford/
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Anora reminds us what movies made for adults look like as well as the emotions they can make us feel over the course of two hours.  The film is Sean Baker’s crowning achievement and one of the best movies of 2024.  Highly recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/02/20/anora-2024-movie-review-and-analysis-mikey-madison-sean-baker/
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Companion is a very good science-fiction comedy, with a nasty streak that yields a lot of laughs.  Even though it conspicuously abandons many of the themes it introduces, the movie is a lot of fun, carried along by superb performances by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid.  Recommended.
https://detroitcineaste.net/2025/02/12/companion-movie-2025-review-and-analysis-sophie-thatcher-jack-quaid/
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