The Favourite

A Clockwork Lyndon applies Lanthimos’ self-aware style to an otherwise conventional albeit hilarious premise to shockingly entrancing effect despite a seemingly stroke-slowed final act. All About Emma features animalistic actresses wigging out wonderfully amidst sea of wigged men while wielding wickedly smart dialog that feels equal parts Shakespeare and Sorkin.

Dark Places

Charlize is the only bright spot amidst an otherwise dismal display.  Unrewarding Hoult leads a painfully inept and overdue investigation that somehow successfully proves that several small coincidences are all actually just… one ridiculously massive coincidence.  Dissatisfying plot resolution and disappointing failure to get as dark as it should.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Mel’s missing from post-apocalypto chase extravaganza, but Tom fills (at least one of) his shoes admirably.  Hard-E wanders the wasteland silently for one act before shedding his Bane mask and joining the glorious insanity.  Extensive dark night aside, proof that for Maximum results, studios should let their directors go Mad.

X-Men: First Class

Kick Ass director fixes Origins with series saving reboot. McAvoy and Lawrence hold their own, but Fassbender delivers powerhouse performance followed closely by six superpowers of Kevin Bacon. Inferior to first two films on account of mediocre supporting mutants, sub sized plot holes, and too much shrieking First Class flying.

A Single Man

Beautiful and contemplative freeform character study elevated to excellence by sublimely nuanced performance of Colin Firth. Strong supporting cast too; Goode is great, but Moore is better. True surprises are the editor and first-time director Tom Ford, who craft a piece of art. Watch, errr… listen for Jon’s Hamm-eo appearance.