Spotlight

All the Pope’s Men is a witty and well-paced look into the world of investigative journalism. Keaton and his birdlings masterfully match their real-world counterparts as they delve into emotional territory with appropriate tact and objectivity.  Though Mystic Zodiac is no mystery, it manages to hold viewers in incredible suspense.

The Double

Two Eisenbergs are not better than one in this dull Dostoyevsky depiction.  Feels like a stage-play directed by Gilliam’s corpse and populated by un-empathetic caricatures of uninteresting people.  Ayoade achieves a singular vision. Unfortunately, it isn’t one worth seeing.  Perhaps film was intended as the double for its impressive Enemy.

The Rover

Michod’s McCarthy-esque Mad Max is a brooding and beautiful character study of an ambiguously good and/or bad Guy who goes on a brutal and brutally simple journey, pausing only to adopt a mentally handicapped vampire.  Intense performances, precise pacing and a well-crafted world lead to a doggone interesting title-pertinent ending.

Third Person

Get Taken for a few Hours in an Adaptation of grief by Neeson’s Beautiful Mind.  Meandering, unusual parallel story film in which the frame is 1/3 of the picture.  Phenomenal performances keep over-long film from dragging.  2/3 of people won’t get it, but it really caters to that third person.

Spy

McCarthy is Austen Powers in Spiesmaids, which Bonds silly predictability with heart-felt genre love and despite detours manages to eventually hit its target.  Supporting cast brilliantly lampoon themselves, though American Law is as off-putting as it sounds.  Heavy-handed fat jokes get shaken and stirred in with clever satire for mixed results.

Selma

A historical piece that marches steadfastly forward from start to finish and follows Lincoln’s lead, depicting a hero by focusing on one event.  Never gets beaten down by gravitas of the subject matter.  Oleyowo was the right leader for this powerful piece and his performance is a dream come true.