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| Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott in "Sanctuary" Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com |
5) Sanctuary - One of the most enticing premises to come out of the first half of the year can be found in director Zachary Wigon’s psychological thriller. The story focuses on hotel-empire heir Hal (Christopher Abbott) who hires his regular dominatrix, Rebecca (Margaret Qualley) for the night in the room of one of his hotels. When he tells her that this is their last session, she doesn’t plan on ending their relationship so easily. Abbott and Qualley have superb chemistry as their characters battle each other in twisted mind games, offering performances that keep you hooked on every scene of their mental duel. The screenplay by Micah Bloomberg does well in setting up the relationship between Hal and Rebecca in the first third, and then has everything unravel as they try to outwit each other when things get tense. During all of this, we try to figure out what are the lies and what’s real in the things that they disclose. As a director, Wigon makes the most of the one-night, one-setting premise as he keeps the apprehension at a high rate, all while balancing the thrills, drama, and humor to bring us something that’s always dismantling our predications. This is a brisk, yet thought-provoking trip into the minds of two emotionally chaotic individuals, keeping you wondering how they’re going to move passed their conflicting needs. This is a thriller to which you should check in.
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| Keanu Reeves in "John Wick: Chapter Four" Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com |
4) John Wick: Chapter 4 - Who would’ve thought that the “John Wick” series would come as far as it has since the first film hit theaters in October 2014? Each film has been better than the last, leaving the latest entry something that HAD to be experienced on the big screen. This latest installment follows the titular assassin (Keanu Reeves) as he sets out for revenge against the High Table, the top council that left him for dead at the end of the previous film. Reeves shows a blistering commitment to performing the complex fight/weapons choreography for which this franchise has become famous. Everything that Reeves started has built to this, and to see how much he’s evolved with this character over four movies is terrific to watch. With a nearly three-hour runtime, the screenplay by Shay Hattan and Michael Finch expands the film’s world of assassins even further, employing eye-catching locations and an array of memorable new characters, particularly those played by Donnie Yen and Shamier Anderson. Chad Stahelski, who directed all of the films in the series, constructs some of the best action scenes you’ll see in a long time, using intricacy in both the fight choreography and camera movements to absorb you in the non-stop action that’ll thrill you from scene to scene. With everything that the series has built towards leading to this latest installment, “John Wick: Chapter 4” delivers on all fronts.
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| Matthew Maher, Matt Damon, and Jason Bateman in "Air" Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com |
3) Air - After a six-year break from directing, Ben Affleck makes a wonderful return with this biographical comedy-drama. In it, he tells the story of Nike basketball talent scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) as he sets out to create the Air Jordan sneaker and save his division from closing. Damon offers an inspirational performance as a man who’s unstoppable in his pursuit for business innovation, while Affleck and Jason Bateman offer great supporting performances as Nike co-founder and CEO Phil Knight and marketing VP Rob Strasser, respectively. However, the standout of the supporting cast is Viola Davis as Michael Jordan’s mother, Deloris, where she shows an unwavering love for her son and a keen business sense of what she thinks is best for him. The screenplay by Alex Convery offers a fascinating view into the Nike world as it involves several of the higher-ups in the company and has them converse over how they’re going to design the sneaker and have Michael Jordan sign with their company. Meanwhile, Affleck makes us feel the mounting tension of these business meetings as the characters race against the clock and try to make the impossible happen. With its talented cast, old-fashioned feel-good story, and Affleck’s direction, this movie’s a winner.
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| Jason Schwartzman and Tom Hanks in "Asteroid City" Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com |
2) Asteroid City - Throughout his career, Wes Anderson has given audiences several memorable comedies that audiences have enjoyed for over two decades, stories that’ve treated viewers to his distinct quirkiness with some moments of warmth. For his latest film, he provides a metatextual plot that simultaneously shows the events of a Junior Stargazer convention in 1955, with those events staged as a play, and the development of that play. As with many of Anderson’s films, this one is stacked with a talented cast, and each member is given a chance to be noticed. The cast is led by Jason Schwartzman and Scarlett Johansson, both of whom provide humorous, deadpan line delivery, while also showing some great emotional chemistry. As with some of Anderson’s other films, his screenplay utilizes specific literary motifs, with this story taking on the form of a play, having three acts and an epilogue. He creates an inventive scenario that becomes a look at the meaning of life and art, absorbing us in the plights of the characters in the play and the characters who are preparing that play. Anderson teams with his usual collaborators, such as cinematographer Robert Yeoman and composer Alexandre Desplat to bring his unique world to colorful life. With some of the most moving moments that Anderson has put to film (particularly one at the end of the behind-the-scenes storyline), this is easily one of his finest films. If you’re looking for something that’s vibrantly original in your summer moviegoing, “Asteroid City” has you covered.
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| Miles Morales/Spider-Man (Shameik Moore) in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" Photo Credit: RottenTomatoes.com |
1) Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - The best movie of the year so far also joins the ranks of sequels that are even better than their original. Directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, Justin K. Thompson continue the story of Miles Morales/Spider-Man (Shameik Moore) who does his best to balance his life as a superhero and high-school student. When he’s faced with a new villain called “The Spot” (Jason Schwartzman), he teams up with Spider-People from other universes to bring him down. Moore provides a vocal performance that builds on what he gave in the previous film, “Into the Spider-Verse,” showing a character who’s maturing and faced with choices that are more difficult than what’s he’s encountered before. Alongside Moore are Hailee Steinfeld and Oscar Isaac, who give poignant voice work as Gwen Stacey/Spider-Woman and Miguel O’Hara/Spider-Man 2099. The screenplay by Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, and David Callaham does a stellar job at expanding what came before by bringing us several new characters, vibrant settings, and rich emotion in Miles’ ongoing journey. Meanwhile, directors Dos Santos, Powers, and Thompson expand on the groundbreaking animation of the first film to display something that’s truly spectacular. Boasting an abundance of thrilling action and hard-hitting drama, this is a superhero movie that holds a massive vision, and you’ll be engrossed with every frame.
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