First Reformed

Hawkes’ wings are clipped in Taxi Driver’s tight, tense second re-formation, which manages to achieve an impressive intensity through simplistic cinematography (carpet ride, aside) and terrifying timeliness. Startlingly human realism keeps plain-spoken message from becoming too heavy-handed, while organ-ic religious elements feel appropriately barbed without binding themselves to cheap mockery.

If Beale Street Could Talk...

…it would say an awful lot in very few words. Unfortunately, images are so poetically effective that they convey content too quickly and much of movie feels redundant, sustained only by beautiful score. Though narratively too concise, cleverly illustrates conundrum of conflicting prejudices against victimized women and falsely accused men.