Split Personality: “Malignant”
James Wan’s “Malignant” finds him returning to horror filmmaking—with some surreal twists, and even full-blown action scenes.
Culture Clash: “Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
Marvel’s Asian-influenced “Shang Chi” shows how you can liven up a long-running movie franchise with an injection of cultural context.
Déjà Vu: “Reminiscence”
“Reminiscence” follows the outline of a Nolan brothers movie, but does Lisa Joy’s directorial debut stand on its own?
Mix and Match: “Gunpowder Milkshake”
“Gunpowder Milkshake” knows its action movie clichés — but apart from its formidable cast, does it have any originality up its sleeve?
Character Sketchiness: “Black Widow”
Is “Black Widow” about giving an overlooked character her due, or is it really about propping up a new, younger successor?
Good and Soused: “Another Round”
The funny, touching “Another Round” is a rueful look at middle age and an ode to kicking back with a drink.
Tripped Out: “Nomadland”
Chloé Zhao’s “Nomadland” is a poetic investigation of landscapes and faces, a road movie without a destination in mind.
Anything Goes: “Soul”
“Soul” is another brain-spinning Pixar feature that wants to get playful with animation while tackling some Very Big Ideas.
Under Pressure: “Wonder Woman 1984”
In content and style, “Wonder Woman 1984” is a throwback to ’80s cinema — but does it stack up to its predecessor?
Historical Moment: “Antebellum”
“Antebellum” offers a fraught premise that moves from Civil War-era slavery to modern-day racial debate.