Paddington

Escapes the dark jungle of mediocrity from which most animated animal movies hail, by maintaining an attitude of emotional empathy and brilliantly orchestrated visuals tucked under its hat. Despite maleroom and bathtub shenanigans, Kidman’s adult woman still feels a few notches too caricaturish, even for this almost unbearably endearing adventure.

The Shape of Water

Del Toro advances from Pans to buckets in this super saturated surrealist romance. His foreign perspective only enriches this alarmingly deep dive into American culture of the early 60s, and Hawkins’ emotionally loud performance patches plot-holes to ensure that ludicrous elements still hold water and Abe Piscine can swim spectacularly.

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.