High Flying Bird
High Flying Bird centers around Ray Burke (André Holland), a sports agent who’s navigating the NBA lockout, while trying to help his client, Erick Scott (Melvin Gregg). Burke uses the lockout to explore a proposition that could have lasting effects on the league and himself. Holland is a natural as Burke, smooth-talking and always making things happen. But he meets his match in Sam (Zazie Beetz), whose confidence bleeds through the screen. Steven Soderbergh has always been able to tell stories about hustlers with a heart of gold, and here the results are sublime. — Rodrigo @alwayscriticpod
Unicorn Store
With a somewhat delayed, near perilous, release date for Brie Larson’s first feature film as a director, Unicorn Store arrived at a time when both she and Netflix were cyberspace punching bags. Most of that is neither here nor there. Penned by Samantha McIntyre, Unicorn Store appears to be right up Larson’s street. Quirky, emotive, both grounded and in the clouds. The Oscar-winning actress dangles just enough of a carrot to keep us keen to see what her filmmaking talents can muster up next – should she choose that path. — Robin @Filmotomy
Apollo 11
When it comes to breathtaking wonder and scope, no other film has done it better this year than with the documentary Apollo 11. The story of the first moon landing has been told in one way or another for decades, and it’s a testament to this film, that it makes the iconic moment in history so compelling and exciting. Apollo 11 works as a symphony of sound, music, and movement, edited together so fluently. The results are epic and grandiose, celebrating perhaps the greatest endeavour mankind ever set out for itself. The amount of footage was taken from 70mm to 16mm film, still photography, and CCTV footage, making for an inspiring collage of a truly wondrous event. Filmed for IMAX screens, it is by far the biggest movie of the year as far as scope goes. Apollo 11 stays with you long after the astronauts come down from space and return to Earth. — Jeremy @jeremytwocities
Deadwood
When HBO premiered a little western-drama called Deadwood, critics and audiences loved it, but was cancelled after three seasons. In 2019, it came back as a made-for-TV movie. Deadwood: The Movie manages to somehow tie up so many loose ends from the past, while still working as a compelling movie in general. The cast, which has most actors from the show reprise their roles, is absolutely brilliant. The cinematography is great. The music is good. It’s simply a beautiful send-off for this show and these characters. It’s the Deadwood finale that the fans deserved. — Markus @TheMarckoguy
All That We Destroy
Hulu and Blumhouse partnered on a horror film anthology called Into the Dark, with this May’s Mother’s Day themed feature was All That We Destroy, directed by Chelsea Stardust. Samantha Mathis stars as the scientist mother of a budding serial killer, played by Israel Broussard. A geneticist with an in-home laboratory, she clones her son’s first victim, repeatedly, so that he can kill her, repeatedly. The theory that reliving his inaugural murder over and over will relieve him of his violent urges. Appropriately sterile at times, the smart, minimalistic production design feels both realistic and slightly otherworldly. A unique spin on the nature vs. nurture question, All That We Destroy solidifies Chelsea Stardust as a rising horror auteur on the prowl. — Brandon @BrandonStanwyck
Hail Satan?
Knowing really nothing about the subject prior to walking into this film, I was really surprised by this deep dive into modern Satanism. Specifically following The Satanic Temple, this breaks down the Christian lenses so many look at Satanism through and shows us how they are simply trying to make the world a better place – specifically through religious freedom. Its an interesting and engaging look at the work they are doing that shines a light on an actual major social issue that isn’t talked about nearly enough that will make you view nearly everything differently. — Carson @BP_MovieReviews
Captain Marvel
Despite being larger budgeted than indies like Half Nelson and Sugar, co-writers/directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck’s voice is present throughout Captain Marvel. From their character-focused approach (Carol even appears as an outsider), to their signature use of closeups, tight editing, and even a bit of handheld. They even let Brie Larson bring her more naturalistic acting approach, similar to her work in Room and Short Term 12. With influences from other iconic works, including RoboCop, Star Wars and even Richard Donner’s Superman, the film feels genuinely inspired all around. It all adds up to not only one of the absolute best MCU installments, but the most exciting, heartfelt, soulful and unique. — Simon @MOVIEFAN99_
Echo in the Canyon
This documentary takes a look at some musical groups, from the late 60’s, that had their beginnings in Laurel Canyon (a canyon in Hollywood Hills). Mainly focusing on the groups of The Byrds, The Mama’s and The Papa’s, The Beach Boys and Buffalo Springfield. Many of the band members are interviewed, as well as artists and musicians, who were involved or influenced by this music, including Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, Brian Wilson and many more. Some give us some insight to band dilemmas, or never before known events that occurred. I had goosebumps watching this documentary and I’d highly recommend seeing this film if you’re a fan of any (or all) of these bands. — Rosa @rosasreviews
Woman at War
Co-writer/director Benedikt Erlingsson’s Woman at War, is a refreshingly unique, funny eco-dramedy set principally in Iceland. Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir gives a rousing performance as Halla, a fiftysomething choir director with a twin sister. Halla’s actions are followed by the music of her mind, quite literally, to the very end as she stays committed to disrupting the flow of electricity via power lines in a bid to save Mother Earth. Woman at War works on several levels. The script presents to us a woman who is fiercely determined to exercise her self-autonomy via her principal of preserving a diminishing land in a global society, that ironically feels increasingly estranged from the ideal of self-preservation by largely neglecting conservation efforts. Halla’s desire for motherhood through adoption in middle age as a single woman, reflects a conscientiousness to grow her family tree in as unconventional a manner as her method of environmental activism is. — Jasmine May
Capernaum
Capernaum, directed by Nadine Labaki (Caramel, 2007), is an outstanding piece of work set in the slums of Beirut, and focusing on 12-year-old Zain who has been jailed for committing a violent crime. The film opens with him appearing at court as he wants to sue his parents for “being born” and his subsequent neglect. Through flashbacks the film tells the story of Zain in the lead up to his arrest and five year prison sentence. Labaki shows the disorder and misery of the refugees and children, and their life on the streets, through their superb acting, which is so natural and mainly performed by non-professionals. Capernaum was my Film of the Month back in March, and will undoubtedly be in my top films of the year. Powerful, raw and heartbreaking – a true masterpiece. — Ian @IanBradleyUK
