Matthew Steinke

A heartwarming and insightful vision on what makes life enjoyable and meaningful, what "Inner Workings" has to say might be considered cliché, but with very few inspiring looks at morality and life currently instated in filmmaking, "Inner Workings" message on how to balance life is welcome in my eyes, no matter how many times it has been used.

"Marriage Story" is both an immense achievement for everyone involved, but it's also a deeply thought provoking warning, and an undeniably intense experience. Both leading performances are worthy of accolades, and Mr. Baumbach does what every respectable filmmaker should do with a sensitive and harshly realistic topic. He doesn't glorify and exploit it, instead, showing us how damaging divorce can really be, in the most brutally honest, and eye opening way. Hopefully, other than being a massive success, this film can help not only couples, but everyone who sees it understand the importance of listening and persistence when it comes to the most important relationships in our lives.

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is not only an achievement in its ability to transport the audience to a whole other time, it's an achievement in it's storytelling, allowing the audience to simply go along in the lives of these three people, making for leisurely and enjoyable viewing. It's one of the most impressive and fun films of 2019.

While a marvel in it's technical aspects, Joker's message is far too muddled and unexplained to really leave an impact that is worthwhile. Instead it delivering it's message, it simply hints at it, which allows anyone to twist it into anything they see fit. And with a film that explores these dark topics, there should really be no room for ambiguity. The script also falls flat in several parts, with Phoenix sometimes delivering a haunting performance, and sometimes overacting to the point of silliness. Joker overall could've been an important film, but instead it's just a depressing film with no hope for improvement, reality wise or cinema wise. My Rating: 2.3/5

Noelle might be cliched in certain aspects, but as I watched it, I remembered how glad I was that we have one month of the year where we set aside our differences to show kindness to one another. And if a film like Noelle can spread that reminder, I think sitting through a couple of clichés is worth it.