Duplicitous Minds 

In 'Maestro,' we're left with an impression but not with an understanding of the main character.

With The Father, writer-director Florian Zeller- who wrote and developed the play upon which the film is based- pulls no punches as he confidently makes every effort to put the audience in the mind of someone whose grip on reality has all but vanished. It’s a dazzling testament to Zeller’s abilities as a director as he makes his first transition from stage to film appear as if he’s been working behind a camera his entire career. The dialogue he fashions with co-writer Christopher Hampton, along with the work of production designers Peter Francis and Cathy Featherstone, collectively makes the downward spiral of dementia startlingly tangible, doing so in a way that can be comprehended by everyone except the person it directly affects.

Tran Quoc Bao succeeds in telling us a story about martial arts, human decay, and friendship. The originality shown by his filmmaking is admirable and brings fresh air to the classic Chinese martial arts genre.

Only time will tell what this new Black Panther and movie will show us with all of the old and new elements of the superhero craft integrated. 

The Fog follows more of a 1950s creature feature plot than a late-70s slasher with three legendary scream queens.

This powerful story shines with poetic animation, an exploration of deeper truths, and the protagonist's complex search for identity.