Okja

Korean characters Host an array of international actors in this cleverly commercial creature creation. Though upbeat music, outlandish performances and Miyazaki-esque visuals keep the tone light, this meaty monster movie never shies away from gritty, bruising realism. Incredibly emotive heroine perfectly contrasts caricaturish capitalists and the ending is dishearteningly heart-warming.

Swiss Army Man

If Michel Gondry had directed Castaway… Dano’s Tom Hankson uses Harry Rotter’s magic wand to point his way home, while expounding on life, love, and masturbatory mothers. Confident swan-dive into uninhibited surrealism works well for the setup, but even the farts lose steam when they hit the straightened out twist.

Love & Mercy

Masterfully presents the pitch perfect parallel performances of Dano and Cusack.  Integrates documentary, cinematic and surrealist styles with the flair and skill of Wilson armed with an animal army.  Banks certainly generates interest, but it’s Giamatti’s Eugene-ics that make for the most compelling and disturbing part of this Beach Boyopic.

Prisoners

Gyllenhaal rechecks his zodiac and flinches at the result while Jackman and his co-stars deliver soulful, vulnerable performances as they navigate this mystic labyrinthine river of mystery (with s whistle of predictability).  Painted shades of gray by the moral ambiguity of characters and brilliant (or anti-brilliant) eye of DP Deakins.