2025 Movies: High Honorable Mention Picks

 

By Mark Pukalo

Some tremendous individual performances, four outstanding foreign films, a few more laughs, chills and plenty of tears describe most of the recommended 60 films in my high honorable mention category for 2025.

You could add 10-13 movies to this list from my blog on the best documentaries of last year as well, but these films either just missed my top 25 or entertained me enough to urge people to take a look.

The "Joe Lunardi's first 5 or 6 out" category has been retired. Thanks for the memories Joe. Without being able to come up with another catchy name, we'll go with the "Sky High Five Honorable Mentions" this time to recognize those films that narrowly missed my top 25.

It's just one old man's opinion. However, I enjoy recommending films that I enjoyed in one way or another. Some people like a lot of action, chilling horror, good clean fun or goofy comedy. I like movies that make me laugh, think and cry - or a lot of the first two. 

On this list, you have a great variety for your viewing pleasure.

*The Blockbusters - "Frankenstein" (left) was better than expected on Netflix, "Avatar: Fire and Ash" is quite a visual experience, "Superman" is a great renewal for the series, "The Naked Gun" provided plenty of gags while "Jurassic Park: Rebirth" and "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning" did not disappoint.

*The Performances - Rose Byrne thoroughly deserved her Golden Globe for "If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You" (also the best name for a film this year), Ethan Hawke ruled the big stage in "Blue Moon," Adam Sandler and George Clooney shined in "Jay Kelly" and the Rock did himself proud in "The Smashing Machine." Zoey Deutch is also fantastic in "Nouvelle Vague."

*Animated Standouts - This was not as good a year for animated films as 2024, but "Zootopia 2" (I want to hang with Judy Hopps) and "Lilo & Stitch" (Stitch, too) were a lot of fun.

*The Emotional - Have plenty of tissues available for the end of both "Bob Trevino Likes It" and "The Voice of Hind Rajab," along with parts of "My Dead Friend Zoe," "The Friend," "Sketch," "Rebuilding," "The Long Walk," "The Lost Bus" and "The Wedding Banquet."

*The Near Misses - "Relay" had potential for the top 10-15 overall until the script went a bit off the rails near the end (and I don't mean the twist, which was good) while "Is This Thing On?" had a few bumps in the storyline but was ultimately quite entertaining.

*The Shocking - "Vulcanizadora" (right) has one soul-crushing scene, but is a really dark, fascinating movie overall about depression and guilt. There are some eye-grabbing moments in foreign films "Cloud," "It Was Just an Accident" and "No Other Choice." You could put the body horror film "Together" and the Iraq War story "Warfare" in this category as well.

*The Offbeat - There are plenty of these on the list, including the wacky "Magic Farm," along with "The Mastermind," "Sharp Corner," the old-style "Dead Mail" and "Mickey 17."

*LOLs- Along with "The Naked Gun," you had plenty of laughs from "One of Them Days," "The Phoenician Scheme" with a strong performance from Michael Cera, and even "The Roses" - however it would have been better if the best laughs were not all in the trailer.

*The Surprising - "Vulcanizadora" certainly belongs in this category as well because I did not expect to be pulled into the story as I was. "Fairyland" is a solid under-the-radar film about life before and during the Aids epidemic in San Francisco for a father and daughter, "Love, Brooklyn" is a unique relationship story, "Presence" a unique ghost tale and "Twinless" a unique buddy story. I can also say I was surprised at how much I liked "Final Destination: Bloodlines" because I had never seen the others in the series until the week before and thought most were average or bad.

*The Embarrassing? - Critics, including some of my favorites that I follow, will rip me for this pick. However, I enjoyed "Song Sung Blue." I went in with low expectations and was entertained for 90+ minutes. It may not be technically better than some of the best of the medium honorable mentions if you nitpick the film. I don't care. I had fun with it while Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson (left) each did a solid job.

There are so many more to mention. 

The Sky High Five all spent time in my top 25 at one point. Some of the films I saw in the past few months just pushed them out. Three are emotional journeys while "Jay Kelly" asks the question - what is the price of stardom? 

"Materialists" also examined the different ways on how people try to find the right match. As Dakota Johnson's character says, "Dating takes a lot of effort. A lot of trial and error. A ton of risk and pain. Love is easy."

My top 25 films of 2025 will be posted around March 1 - two weeks from Oscar Night. Until then, enjoy this recommendation list and pick out the ones you want to try.

Remember what Luther said in "Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning," - "Our lives are not defined by any one action. Our lives are the sum of our choices."

The Sky High Five Honorable Mentions

Jay Kelly - A successful movie star (George Clooney) does some soul searching as his career enters its late stages and realizes he missed a lot of important things in life. Adam Sandler provides an Oscar-worthy performance as Kelly's manager.

Materialists - Dakota Johnson plays a New York City matchmaker who must find what's in her heart after running into her old boyfriend (Chris Evans) and meeting a seemingly perfect single man (Pedro Pascal). Celine Song's follow up to "Past Lives" is just as well written.

My Dead Friend Zoe (right) - An Afghanistan veteran (Sonequa Martin-Green) struggles with trauma and her estranged veteran grandfather (Ed Harris) while dealing with the ghost of her best friend (Natalie Morales) in the military. It is a very good watch in many ways.

Rebuilding - Josh O'Connor stars as Dusty, a divorced cowboy who is trying to put his life together after a fire levels his farm. Meghann Fahy (Drop) stars as his ex-wife and Lilly LaTorre is sweet as Dusty's young daughter. It is sad, sweet and inspiring.

The Voice of Hind Rajab - Gut-wrenching dramatization based on the true story of a rescue attempt for a five-year-old girl trapped in a car with dead bodies in Gaza. It is emotional and maddening. It reminds of the film "United 93" in the way it was made. There is a special place in Hell for Netanyahu, the Israeli Army and their supporters.

High Honorable Mention 

The Accountant 2 - Autistic genius Christian Wolf (Ben Affleck) and his brother (Jon Bernthal) use their special powers to team up for good in this entertaining action sequel.

Avatar: Fire and Ash - A new dangerous Na'Vi tribe threatens the peace on Pandora. The third edition of the series is too long at 195 minutes, but gets better as it goes on. I liked the first two a little better.

Ballerina - Anna de Armas is beautiful and fierce as an assassin trained by John Wick's company who leaves the group to find her father's killers. Better than expected.

Black Bag - A long-time secret agent is tested when his co-worker and wife is accused of espionage. It's a finely crafted mystery with terrific acting from Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender and especially Marisa Abela in a supporting role.

Blue Moon - Ethan Hawke (left) is amazing for 100 minutes as Lorenz Hart, a former collaborator with Richard Rogers on musicals before his drinking problem becomes an issue. Hart visits the after party of Oklahoma!, which Rogers has written with Oscar Hammerstein. Hart holds court with several people, including a 20-year-old he wishes to be his muse (Margaret Qualley). Very well written.

Bob Trevino Likes It - A young woman connects with a man on social media with the same name as her awful father and they build a sweet relationship. You need a pile of tissues for the ending of this emotional film.

Caught Stealing - A former high school baseball star (Austin Butler), now working as a bartender in NYC after a career-ending injury, has his world go into turmoil after gangsters come looking for his neighbor. It's a thrill a minute with some humor.

Cloud - Japanese thriller centers on Yoshii, a young man trying to make money as a reseller of goods at markups. His increasingly shady dealings cause problems with former employers, suppliers and buyers who eventually hunt him down. But he finds help from an unlikely source.

Dead Mail - Creepy Indy based on a true story about a kidnapped man who is able to escape for just enough time to put a plea for help in the mailbox, setting off a series of events with the post office in Peoria. It is dark and chilling. It just needed a slightly better ending.

Ella McCay - A smart, young woman (Emma Mackey) deals with scandal and family issues while she is elevated from Lieutenant to Governor. It is a nice, pleasant story with a few laughs. Just not a top 25 caliber film.

Fairyland - Sophia Coppola produces this story about a gay man who moves a young daughter to San Francisco after his wife dies suddenly. Alycia Abbott grows up in an unusual, yet educational, environment as she navigates life. Emilia Jones (right) graces the screen as the older Alycia in the film based on a true story about writer Steve Abbott.

Final Destination Bloodlines - The sixth in the series is probably the best, with a few twists and turns, including an apt ending. While they are kind of inventive at times, I found all six closer to comedies than horror films.

Frankenstein - Director Guillermo del Toro's new depiction of the monster story, which centers on Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) and his dilemma after bringing the body to life without knowing what to do next. It was better than expected and Mia Goth stands out in a supporting role.

The Friend - A writer (Naomi Watts) receives custody of a dead colleague's Great Dane and slowly builds a relationship with the big guy. It's an enjoyable 90 minutes.

The Gorge - It's a little hokey at times, but the science fiction action story is entertaining from start to finish. American Miles Teller and Russian Anya Taylor-Joy play expert snipers guarding a mystical gorge, who fall in love.

If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You - A mother (Rose Byrne) tries to manage life's issues with a handicapped child, a husband thousands of miles away and an adversarial relationship with a fellow therapist (Conan O'Brien). Byrne (left) is amazing and should battle Jessie Buckley for the Oscar.

Is This Thing On? - Will Arnett plays a man going through a divorce who finds comfort in stand-up comedy after trying it at a club to get in free. There are a few confusing parts of the script, but you leave with a good feeling.

It Was Just an Accident - Iranian film about a man who runs into a former prison torturer, who victimized people with minor offenses. Vahid eventually has doubts about the man's identity and what to do with him, bringing the body around to others tortured by peg-legged Egbal. The ending reminds of "The Blair Witch Project."

Jane Austen Wrecked My Life - A young bookstore worker is forced to follow her dreams at a writer's retreat and begins to find herself. It's one of those under-the-radar, unique stories that pulls you in because the lead (Camille Rutherford) is so likeable.

Jurassic World Rebirth - In the latest edition of the series, a brave crew travels to an island where experimental dinosaurs were created that proved too dangerous for the park. Scarlett Johansson leads the mission to collect samples that will help cure diseases. It's illogical, yet entertaining.

Lilo & Stitch - A sweet young girl befriends a lost, trouble-making alien in Hawaii. I enjoyed this new story of Stitch from start to finish. The little guy is awesome.

The Long Walk - Stephen King's story of a dystopian society where young men make a long winner-take-all, loser-loses-all walk. It is way better than I expected with an ending left to your interpretation.

The Lost Bus - Matthew McConaughey stars as a new bus driver, who must try to save a load of kids when a California fire erupts around them. It is intense, emotional and well shot.

Love, Brooklyn - A writer (Andre Holland) juggles relationships with his ex and a new love interest - a widowed single mother. Holland (Exhibiting Forgiveness, Moonlight) provides another solid performance in this interesting slice of city life (right).

Magic Farm - Quirky is the word for this film that follows a documentary film crew, which travels to the wrong country to interview a strange musical group. The characters make it entertaining.

The Mastermind - A failed architect goes on the run after his heist of four paintings with three lowlifes goes bad. J.B. (Josh O'Connor) continues to compound his troubles along his journey in this entertaining and simple film directed by Kelly Reichardt (First Cow).

Mickey 17 - Director Bong Joo Ho (Parasite) has fun with this off-beat comedy about a man who agrees to be cloned (Robert Pattinson) and die many times for research. One of them survives. Oops.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning - Similar to the previous film in the series with stunts, but it is a little more confusing and a little less fun. The film is too long, but Tom Cruise and beautiful Hayley Atwell make it fun enough.

The Naked Gun - There were some really good gags and Liam Neeson was fine as Frank Dreben Jr., but it did not quite live up to the hype overall. It still climbed to the bottom of this level on second viewing.

No Other Choice - A murder/comedy? Park Chan-wook's follow up to "Decision to Leave" centers on a man who gets desperate after losing his job to AI. It wasn't quite as funny as I expected with Man-su trying to eliminate candidates for a job he wants with Moon Paper. Son Ye-jin is wonderful as Man-su's wife.

Nouvelle Vague (left) - Director Frank Lickliter's film about the birth of French new wave film making, centering on former critic Jean-Luc Godard's work "Breathless." Zoey Deutch is delightful as the female star in the film (Jean Seberg).

Now You See Me, Now You Don't - A magician group re-unites for one last job - or is it - joining up with three young guns. It's just an entertaining film, with a few illogical moments.

Nuremberg - An Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley (Rami Malek) examines Nazis before the Nuremburg Trials. Outstanding performances from Russell Crowe as Hermann Goring and Michael Shannon as Justice Robert H. Jackson bring this movie home.

One of Them Days - Roommates race to try and make money after one of their daffy boyfriends blows the rent money on a bad business deal. Keke Palmer and SZA make it work in plenty of wacky scenes.

The Phoenician Scheme - Another quirky film from director Wes Anderson with an amazing cast. The story involves a scheme by a maligned wealthy businessman (Benicio del Toro). Mia Threapleton (Kate Winslet's daughter) and Michael Cera shine the brightest in this dark comedy.

Presence - Director Steven Soderbergh's stirring ghost story is carefully shot and told. I loved the pacing and the subtleness of the film about a family that moves into a house with a unique ghost. 

Relay - This is a classic thriller until the final 20-25 minutes becomes illogical and unnecessarily physical. Riz Ahmed deserved Oscar nomination consideration as a recovering alcoholic working to help whistle blowers through a special service.

Roofman - An affable criminal hides away in a toy store after escaping prison and finds love through his new identity. The film, based on the true story, is quite entertaining and Channing Tatum along with Kirsten Dunst have good chemistry.

The Roses - Funny remake of "The War of the Roses" finds Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch fighting throughout with plenty of funny lines and situations. However, I saw all the hilarious parts in the trailer.

Sharp Corner - Ben Foster (right) stars as a middle-aged man whose idyllic family life falls apart after buying a house on a dangerous curve. The accidents that occur take over his mind and cause him to make poor decisions.

Sketch - A young girl's sketchbook falls into a magical pond and her drawings come to life, separating and eventually bringing together a pair of siblings with a father hurting from the mother's death.

The Smashing Machine - The Rock is great as UFC legend Mark Kerr in this stirring drama about his rise and fall. Emily Blunt stars as his companion, who becomes a big part of the story. There are a few parts where it lost me, but it is a strong film overall - partially about the beginnings of UFC.

Song Sung Blue - Likeable story about two down-on-their-luck performers coming together to form a wonderful duo playing Neil Diamond music. Every time it starts getting hokey, it recovers. Kate Hudson is wonderful and Hugh Jackman does a good job impersonating Neil.

Summer of 69 - Abby (Sam Morelos) is a young high school senior who hires a stripper to teach her tricks to impress a dream boy. SNL's Chloe Fineman is funny as Santa Monica, the stripper. It's just a fun ride.

Superman - The new version of the superhero story is told very well by director James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) with Nicholas Hoult taking on the Lex Luther role. I bought in to the entertainment. Crypto (left) is cool, too.

Thunderbolts - The "new" Avengers emerge to try and save the world in this deeper-than-it-seems action drama with fewer laughs than expected. Some of the characters are good, but I was not thrilled with the Sentry.

Together - Mystical, horror, drama about a couple (Dave Franco and Allison Brie) who move to the country and get infected by an ancient potion that draws them together in horrible ways. It's creative enough to get into this category.

Twinless - Two young men meet at a twins support group and form a friendship, but there is a secret looming in one's past. It's a creative, thought-provoking film that works from start to finish.

Vulcanizadora - I was told not to start or end the day by watching this dark film and that advice was correct. It has a horrific scene or two. Two down-on-their luck men venture into the forest to carry out a heinous act, but the surrounding story makes it an intense, unique work.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery - The third in the series brings Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) to a church where radical priest Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) is murdered. Josh O'Connor is great as the young priest who arrives before the murder. It's the second best of the three.

Warfare - A brutal depiction of the Iraq War as a platoon of Navy Seals is ambushed in a small town. Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland direct this detailed account of a true story, which shows how pointless the military missions were.

The Wedding Banquet - A gay son makes a deal with a lesbian friend to get married and fool his Korean mother, who makes a surprise visit. It is an entertaining story with a few laughs and a nice ending.

A Working Man - Levon Cade (Jason Statham) returns to his old profession as a counter terrorist when a local girl is kidnapped (Arianna Rivas). It's  "The Beekeeper" with a little more violence. But it has a heart and Rivas is good.

Zootopia 2 - Not sure why the sequel took nine years, but Judy Hopps (right) and Nick Wilde team up to save the city again. It is probably my pick for the best animated film of the year.

28 Years Later - Almost three decades after a plague forces survivors to a small island, a father and son journey into dangerous lands. It starts slow, but the family drama and the discoveries make it more compelling as time goes on.

A Special Year: The Best Documentaries Of 2025

 

By Mark Pukalo

Documentary features can educate, dig deeper into subjects, bring important issues to light or just simply entertain. In 2025, a big group of strong films in this category hit all the right notes and stirred emotions.

There were several excellent music documentaries on artists I knew and didn't know. Others made you think, made you furious or made you laugh.

The extended 2020 Oscar year of movies had several strong documentaries. I put three in my top 30 films overall - "The Bee Gees: How to Mend a Broken Heart," "Crip Camp" and "Collective." I broke out 12 from that year which were extraordinary. 

None of the documentaries in 2025 quite made my top 25, but at least 11 and perhaps as many as 13 will end up in the top 100 when that is completed in a few weeks. The top seven stand out above the rest - three on music and entertainment and four more serious. Put them in any order, make it a seven-way tie for first. They are all terrific - top 60 overall for the year.

However, I tend to lean toward the entertainment side, so I put two excellent films about deceased artists at the top of the mountain. 

Jeff Buckley was one of those shooting stars that came and went in the music industry, a darling of critics but virtually unknown to the general public. It was great to learn his story. Go see it (right) on HBO Max.

John Candy is one of the greatest comedic actors of all time, yet there was so much more to learn about him from his Second City TV days to the movies through CFL ownership. You can see it free if you have Prime.

The "Alabama Solution" (HBO Max) and the "Perfect Neighbor" (Netflix) are just emotionally, gutting documentaries that are exquisitely made. I loved the new wave band Devo growing up and was fascinated by their story on Netflix. I kept looking for myself in "Secret Mall Apartment" (now on Netflix) because I visited the parking garage where it was filmed a few times during that period in Providence. I had a chance to rent "Mr. Nobody Against Putin" after this list was originally posted and it is also an amazing work of art and courage.

Those seven incredible films I can fully recommend. About 16 or so more that I have seen are well worth watching.

There are also several well-reviewed documentaries I have not viewed yet, including Oscar nominees "Come See Me in The Good Light" and "Cutting Through Rocks." In addition, "Videoheaven," "Megadoc," "2000 Meters to Andriivka," "BLCKNWS: Terms and Conditions," "Art for Everybody," "Seeds," "Palestine 36" and "Apocalypse in the Tropics" are well-reviewed docs.

We are not counting the SNL Documentaries around the 50th anniversary, which were all fantastic. I will leave out the thorough and interesting "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" doc as well because it came out in two sections. 

Since "OJ Made in America" was nominated despite being a several part series in 2017, the Academy has seemed to shy away from including docs that are long or have several parts. No doubt the "Mr. Scorcese" doc will be a good watch and "My Undesirable Friends Part 1: Last Air in Moscow" - at 324 minutes - should be interesting about young independent journalists in Russia. Hope to see those at some point down the road.

However, until I see more in the next few years, here is my rating of the best documentaries in 2025. Like I said, seven could be one and two could be five.

Top 20 Documentaries

1. It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley - Fascinating music film about the deceased singer/songwriter, who produced one of the great debut albums of all time "Grace." The story of an artist I knew little about, except having "The Last Goodbye" on my Itunes, is told quite well and brings a tear to your eyes.

2.  John Candy: I Like Me - In depth study of the life and times of one of the greatest comedic figures of the last 50 years. Everybody enjoyed his work, but didn't have time to get to know him. This film lets you know more about the Canadian icon.

3. The Alabama Solution - The story of the disgusting treatment of prisoners in the state of Alabama, told through phone messages from inmates. The directors did an amazing and dangerous job putting the film together.

4. Mr. Nobody Against Putin - Teacher Pavel Talankin's first person account of the way the Russian regime controlled information and worked on indoctrinating youths at school in the small mining town of Karabash. Although we knew this type of thing was happening, it is stunning to see it so clearly.

5. Devo - Another wonderful music documentary this year about the new wave rock band, named after a sort of political movement - De-evolution. Learned so much about the activism of the group, which started during the Kent State shootings. Are We Not Men? Put them in the Hall of Fame.

6. Secret Mall Apartment - The story about a group of artists in Providence who film while they build an apartment in a vacant space between the mall and its parking garage. I was in that parking garage during this period! It's unique and entertaining.

7. The Perfect Neighbor - Incredible footage of a racist woman's continued calls to the police about her neighbors before and after tragedy strikes. One of the best edited documentaries I have ever seen.

8. Pavements - A unique look at the alternative 90s band Pavement, which I had never heard of. The story is told alongside the making of a fake biopic and a strange musical about the band. Sneaky good.

9. Sly Lives! - Interesting, informative documentary on the under-appreciated Sly Stone. Some great interviews in this one bring out his talent and faults of the late Rock and Roll Hall of Famer.

10. Clemente - The story of the great Roberto Clemente, whose Hall of Fame baseball career and life were cut short by a plane crash. The interviews, highlighted by Francisco Lindor, and the footage are outstanding.

11. Predators - The story of the television show "To Catch a Predator" and its spinoffs is shocking at times and puts the process on trial. It brought back memories. I thought it could have hit the show even harder, though.

12. Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery - Wonderful documentary about the three-year Lilith Fair Music Festival, started by Canadian superstar Sarah McLachlan. The footage and interviews are tremendous, including a few scenes (I think) from a show I went to in Hartford.

13. The Tale of Silyan - A farmer in Macedonia (left) adopts an injured stork and nurses him back to life while he tries to sell his land. It is poignant and compelling. In other years, it might be top five.

14. STANS - Documentary about Eminem through the eyes of fans. I thought it was an interesting way to tell the story of Marshall Mathers.

15. Becoming Led Zeppelin - Documentary on the legendary rock band, which examines the birth of the foursome through two albums. Might have worked better as a three-part series on a streaming service. I wanted more on the rest of the band's career.

16. Cover-Up - Netflix documentary about investigative reporter Seymour Hersh, who has helped uncover many government atrocities. It is a good look at what goes into this type of work.

17. The Counting Crows: Have You Seen Me Lately? - Unique look at the band who rocketed to stardom after a big debut album despite the lead singer's mental illness. Adam Duritz created some great music and dated both Courtney Cox and Jennifer Anniston. Talk about a Daily Double.

18. Surviving Ohio State - A very strong documentary about a disgusting coverup at Ohio State. It's Larry Nassar, but perhaps even worse. How can people be such uncaring cowards? The story from the referee in the locker room about doctor Robert Strauss is horrifying while Ohio Representative and former OSU assistant wrestling coach Jim Jordan's response was despicable.

19. Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story - A very good documentary about the making of Jaws in 1975. I loved the way they used thoughts about different parts of the film from a long list of today's great directors.

20 (tie). Luther: Never Too Much - Learned a lot from this documentary about one of my favorite voices of all time. Luther Vandross (right) did much more than I even thought.

Wick is Pain - More interesting than expected documentary on the making of the John Wick series. It's long, but I stuck with it throughout.

OTHERS (19)

aka Charlie Sheen - Off the wall documentary about the life of the damaged actor, who has been in and out of drug hell. The interviews about him are better than his revelations.

Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything - Detailed story about the long-time talk show host. It is amazing the range of people she was able to interview.

Cheech & Chong's Last Movie - A humorous film about one of the great comedy duos of all time. It's a linear look at their career together. Good. Not great.

Depeche Mode: M - More of a concert video than anything, blending in some things about Mexican culture during their tour. The Hall of Fame band has a unique sound.

Every Time You Lose Your Mind: A Film About Failure - The story of a band that I never heard of - to be perfectly honest. It seems they could have been an alternative form of Nirvana, but drug abuse ended their rise. 

Grand Theft Hamlet - Perhaps I need to be a Gamer to understand the film (left) more, because it went a bit over my head. However, it was quite inventive, unique and technically strong. During the pandemic, a group attempts to put on a performance of Hamlet within the game.

The Idaho Student Murders - One of several takes on the gruesome murder of four classmates and friends. There are no real twists, just a detailed examination.

In Waves and War - Strong story about former Navy Seals, going through PTSD after many missions, who undergo experimental psychedelic treatments in Mexico.

My Mom Jayne: A Film by Mariska Hargitay - Informative documentary about Jayne Mansfield. It was an education and I did not know that Captain Benson was her daughter. The last 30 or so minutes are riveting.

One to One: John & Yoko - Stylish film about John Lennon and Yoko Ono when they moved to New York, concentrating on their social activism. 

Orwell: 2+2=5 - A comprehensive look at George Orwell's writings about propaganda and authoritarianism that are still true in today's broken society. Yes, "1984" was a vision of 2016-26. It's interesting, but a bit of a jumble.

Paradise - Documentary about Joe Hollis, who is a famous gardener living on the edge of the Eastern mountains cultivating edible plants. It's thought-provoking at times. 

Sally - Interesting look at the life of Sally Ride, the first woman to be launched into space. She was pretty amazing and this doc reveals something few knew about her.

Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy - Informative story on the wonderful Mexican singer's rise to stardom and tragic end. 

Sunday Best, The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan - Historic take on the great Ed Sullivan and how he welcomed so many black performers on his show from 1948-71. Very educational.

Tom Petty: Heartbreakers Beach Party - Cameron Crowe rejiggers a documentary he worked on in the 80s with great inside stories and interviews with Tom and the band. Petty is so missed.

Untold: The Fall of Favre - Nothing new here, although it went in depth with Jenn Sterger. We learned a little from her. Needed more stuff on the Mississippi scandal.

We Bury Our Secrets - HBO Max documentary about a family that finds their father buried under the house after 56 years. The mystery of his death is sort of interesting, but not super compelling.

Zodiac Killer Project - Charlie Shackleton tells the story of what could have been his true crime documentary on California highway patrolman Lyndon Lafferty's quest to prove George Russell Tucker was the Zodiac Killer. It is an interesting way to tell the tale. Shackleton could not acquire the rights to Lafferty's book from his family.

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Medium Honorable Mention: Disappointing, Harmless, Ambitious 2025 Films

 

By Mark Pukalo

Some near misses, a couple handfuls of over-rated and disappointing films, several harmless streamers and a few pleasant surprises fall into the biggest category of my very thorough look at the year in movies for 2025.

Medium Honorable Mention is the home for 87 films that either just missed being recommended or had just enough to make them worthy of a longer look. It spans probably from Companion (below), Weapons and The Testament of Ann Lee at the top to charitable picks like Kinda Pregnant, My Secret Santa and Father, Mother, Sister, Brother - among others. 

If you follow Letterbox, these are 2.5s out of 5 - some of them closer to 2.35s and others nearer to 2.99s.

I am being too mean to a few films and too nice to others. This was a difficult year for putting films in order from 80-130. Many seem at the same level, but in different ways. You might put a few of these films in your top 25. To each his or her own.

The most disappointing films for me this year included Julia Roberts in "After the Hunt," Margaret Qualley in "Honey Don't," the disjointed Bruce Springsteen biopic "Deliver Me From Nowhere," the pretentious "The Life of Chuck," Glen Powell in "The Running Man" and Ayo Edebiri in "Opus." I didn't have lofty expectations for "Wicked: For Good," so I can't say it was disappointing.

The pleasant surprises were the slasher film "Heart Eyes," Sydney Sweeney in both "Americana" and "Christy." Meanwhile. Daisy Ridley did a good job with a poor man's version of Diehard named "Cleaner."

The near misses? We could say "Weapons" had a chance to be good and did not deliver a clear message. "American Sweatshop" also had a very interesting premise, but the story did not go anywhere.

At least 16 films made for streaming kept my attention enough to make this category, led by "Happy Gilmore 2," "Nonnas," and "The Wrong Paris." None of them pissed me off and they all gave me a little entertainment without going to the theater.

It was a big bold beautiful journey in film during 2025, and I am halfway there. Still to come is a separate blog on the best documentaries, the high honorable mention list and the top 25.

But, first? Go to your happy place and check out this list. Those with stars next to them are on the edge or within the top 100 films of the year.

Medium Honorable Mention 

*The Amateur - A preposterous, yet entertaining, spy drama as a CIA geek (Rami Malek) tries to avenge the murder of his wife against forces from all sides.

American Sweatshop - An interesting concept and an attractive lead actress (Lili Reinhart), but this film ends up disappointing. A young woman working at an internet monitoring service is horrified by a video she sees and is compelled to investigate.

Anaconda - Jack Black and Paul Rudd have fun trying to put together a sequel to the snake horror film by the same name. There's a lot going on in this one and most of it is funny, including a cameo from Ice Cube.

After the Hunt - A professor is accused of sexual impropriety with a star student and the question becomes who is telling the truth. The acting is good from Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield. The script has too many holes and the storyline is not unique.

A House of Dynamite - Director Kathryn Bigelow's new film is a non-linear examination of what could go on if a single missile is launched at the United States and the culprit is not known. It is compelling. Just not deep enough.

*Americana - An offbeat tale in a small South Dakota community where a rare Lakota Ghost shirt is stolen and put up for sale. The characters and the twists brought it close to High Honorable Mention, led by Sydney Sweeney (right).

Audrey's Children - Natalie Dormer shines as Dr. Audrey Evans, who fought to provide groundbreaking cancer treatments for children and develop the Ronald McDonald House for the families of cancer patients. It's an emotional story, but not quite as good as last year's "Joy."

A Minecraft Movie - The story, based on the video game, takes a while to get going. However, it provides a few laughs and is mildly entertaining.

A Nice Indian Boy - The young son in a traditional Indian family struggles with his place as a gay man. It's a decent story, although it does not reach a higher level.

Another Simple Favor - The sequel to "A Simple Favor" brings Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively back together. The script was a bit illogical the first half of the comedy/mystery/drama. It recovered a bit in the final half hour.

Back in Action - Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, retired super agents, are drawn back into service years after becoming parents. It's fun and the kids are great.

The Bad Guys 2 - Sequel to the fun original finds our likeable criminal troop recently out of prison, but framed for a heist soon after. It gets better as the movie goes on.

Be'len - The triumphant story of a lawyer in Argentina who worked to free a woman wrongfully convicted of infanticide, The events, which led to abortion becoming legal in the country, are better than the acting and the film's flow.

Between Borders - Based on a true story about an Armenian family who is forced to leave their home due to ethnic cleansing and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Eventually they try for asylum in the United States. It's a well-told story.

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey - A fantasy love story for two people who do not believe they deserve it. If you take it as literal, it is very hokey. If you just watch without expectations the two great actors (Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie, left) make it watchable.

Boys Go To Jupiter - Offbeat, inventive animated film with several themes. It mainly centers on a lower-middle class youth (Billy 5000) trying to get ahead in a futuristic world. There are a few laughs, but it is a little unfocused. That's fine and I love the Rozebud character.

Brick - Interesting mystery thriller as a couple must work with neighbors to find a way out of their apartments, which have been covered by an impenetrable wall. It held my attention throughout.

Bride Hard - Took a little time to get rolling, but Rebel Wilson provided enough laughs to make it entertaining. She plays a secret agent, who foils a robbery attempt at her friend's wedding.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy - Harmless, but uninspiring chapter in the story of the under-rated British girl. In this one, she is starting over after the death of her husband.

Captain America: Brave New World - If you compare it to some of the Marvel movies lately (Morbius, Madame Web, The Marvels) it is pretty good. It just doesn't entertain enough to approach the Avengers films or the previous Captain Americas.

Champagne Problems - Cookie-cutter Netflix romantic comedy about a young executive (Minka Kelly), sent to France to acquire a champagne brand, who falls for the son of owner. There is a very funny scene with a German man defending Hans Gruber. LOL.

Christy - Sydney Sweeney stars as the champion boxer Christy Martin, who was caught in a controlling relationship with her manager. It is educational, entertaining and better constructed than anticipated.

*Cleaner - An imperfect thriller that pays homage to "Diehard" as Daisy Ridley tries to save her brother and get the bad guys. Ridley is very good as a military veteran, window cleaner and bad-ass hero.

Code 3 - A comedic drama about life as a paramedic with Rainn Wilson in the lead and Lil Rel Howery supporting. It is a reasonable watch.

*Companion - Josh (Jack Quaid) brings his life-like robot (Sophie Thatcher) on a retreat with friends and the plan he had does not work. Thatcher is great as the "companion" and there are some neat things, but it just doesn't quite get to a higher level.

Den of Thieves 2: Pantera - Follow up has Gerard Butler joining the bad guys to try and steal some valuable jewels. The film, with holes in the script, is entertaining enough.

Dog Man - It's a cute cartoon, good enough to sneak into this category. I did get a kick out of the reporter girl constantly hitting the police chief in the face with her microphone.

Drop - A mother (Meghann Fahy) is threatened by anonymous messages to kill the first date since her abusive husband died. The second half of the film was much better than the first.

Eden - Ron Howard film based on a true story about a group of outsiders that settle on a remote island, but can't seem to get along. One of Sydney Sweeney's best efforts.

Eleanor the Great - June Squibb joins a Holocaust survivor support group by mistake and takes on the identity of her recently-diseased friend. Some of the emotional scenes late in the movie save it from a lower classification.

Elio - Likeable animated feature about a young science fan who is plunged into an adventure with alien lifeforms he must find a way to understand. It's sweet.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps - Superhero MCU film that starts out a bit hokey, but ultimately becomes more entertaining by the final half hour. Not dazzling enough to be higher.

Father, Mother, Sister, Brother - Three somewhat boring stories strung together without a connection. The first is not interesting until the final few minutes, the second is a waste and the third is okay with two interesting actors. The final section saves it from a lower spot.

Fight or Flight - One critic described it as "Bullet Train" on a plane and that fits. It was entertaining, but the script kind of developed some holes in the final act. I think Josh Hartnett and Charithra Chandran could pull off a decent sequel, though.

Good Boy - Dark horror film about a dog trying to save his chronically-ill master from evil spirits at a secluded cabin. The way they shot the 73-minute film was interesting and Indy (the dog) is great.

Good Fortune - Keanu Reeves plays a discount angel - who normally helps people avoid accidents while texting and driving - trying to help a man going through a tough time. There are some laughs and it gets much better in the final third.

Guns Up - A former policeman, looking to make more money, joins a credible crime organization and is caught in between when a sinister leader takes over. Kevin James and Christina Ricci add spice to the sort of comedy/drama that is preposterous, but fun enough.

G 20 - Terrorists take over an international summit and President Sutton (Viola Davis) uses her skills to try and save everyone. It's entertaining for a streaming film.

*Hallow Road - Psychological thriller about a couple who get a late-night call from their frantic teenage daughter after she got into a car accident on a deserted road. The couple's trip to help their daughter takes many strange turns and ends with a mystery.

Happy Gilmore 2 - Sequel to the Adam Sandler classic is very entertaining overall, but loses a little spark in the last 30-40 minutes. Loved the cameos by real pro golfers, though, and Margaret Qualley has a great hip turn.

Havoc - A detective going through internal troubles (Tom Hardy) tries to uncover a mystery after a drug deal gone wrong. It's sort of a mess of uninteresting violence until some semblance of a plot near the end.

Heads of State - Action thriller with John Cena (President) and Idris Alba (English Prime Minister) teaming up to save the world from terrorists and a rogue vice president. It's entertaining enough. Priyanka Chopra always makes things better, too.

*Heart Eyes - The "Heart Eyes Killer" is at it again on Valentine's Day and couples are in trouble in this comedy/slasher film. I ain't saying "what's up man?" to a guy in a mask from now on.

Honey Don't - Barely makes this category because I love Margaret Qualley. Qualley's detective character Honey O'Donohue (left) would be intriguing if she had a good script to work with. Very disappointing film, and the ending is abrupt.

The Housemaid - The first 1:15-plus was pretty strange and sometimes laughably bad, but the final 45 of this thriller with Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney was actually satisfying. 

How to Train Your Dragon - A likeable story based on the 2010 cartoon by the same name as a young Viking befriends a lost dragon and the two help save both species.

I Love You Forever - I appreciate the effort by director Cazzie David (Larry's daughter). The toxic boyfriend is too obvious from the beginning, though. Sofia Black-D'Elia's character was too smart to stay in the relationship and make it a totally believable story.

Invention - Odd little film about a young woman dealing with issues after her doctor turned conspiracy theorist father dies. Callie Hernandez is good as the daughter navigating through her father's weird business partners. It gets a little too offbeat or else it would have been better as a 71-minute film.

In Your Dreams - Sweet animated feature about two siblings' journey into dreams to try and repair their parents relationship. 

I Wish You All The Best - A non-binary high school student (Corey Fogelmanis) is thrown out of the house by his staunchly-religious parents when he comes out. Ben seeks refuge with his sister (Alexandra Daddario) and her family, going on a journey of self-discovery.

Kill the Jockey - An alcoholic, yet talented jockey in hock to a mafia head suffers a major accident that sends him on a different journey for this wacky comedy that works in a weird way.

Kinda Pregnant - I got a kick out of this Amy Schumer film about a woman who fakes a pregnancy for attention. There's a few hilarious scenes that get it into this category, much higher than most critics.

KPop Demon Hunters - Likeable cartoon featuring a girl band (right) that fights against demons. Rumi is a very good character as she tries to lead everyone out of the darkness.

La Dolce Villa - Harmless Netflix drama about a father (Scott Foley) who visits his daughter (Maia Reficco) in a small Italian town where she is trying to find a home. Hope we see Reficco more often.

The Legend of Ochi - A young Ukrainian girl goes on a journey with an injured baby Ochi, a mystical creature that has terrorized the small village. It is also a family drama that ends with a few tears and sneaks into this category.

The Life List - Sofia Carson shines as a young woman who pursues life-long dreams after her mother dies and leaves a message. It's both predictable and likeable.

*The Life of Chuck - There were some good things in this non-linear story about life in general. But this falls in the category for me of a film that thinks it is smarter than it is. Didn't hate it. I was just underwhelmed and a little annoyed by the narration. 

Madea's Destination Wedding - Have not watched a lot of this series. However, I found it quite humorous as the clan travels to the Bahamas for Tiffany's wedding.

*Magazine Dreams - A sometimes vague and other times interesting character study of an ambitious bodybuilder (Jonathan Majors) with social deficiencies. There's enough here to make it worth a watch, but it fails to give a clear message in the final 15-20 minutes.

The Map That Leads Me To You - Pretty good Prime original film about a young woman on vacation in Europe who finds the love of her life, but there are complications.

My Secret Santa - Harmless Netflix holiday film with Taylor (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Matthew (Ryan Eggold) meeting cute and falling in love at a ski resort. It gets very hokey and awkward at the end after Taylor is unmasked as Santa Claus, but it's still likeable enough.

M3GAN 2.0 - I don't care that it didn't have enough horror for that fan group. It just got too unfocused as the film went on. There were a few laughs from snarky Megan (left) and it was somewhat entertaining. Don't think some of the best things in the trailer were in the film, though.

Nobody 2 - The first hour of the sequel is pretty disjointed and going nowhere interesting. Bob Odenkirk, as a sort of freelance secret agent with skills, makes it work in a fun final half hour.

Nonnas - Vince Vaughn plays a down-on-his-luck man who decides to buy a restaurant with his brother after their mother dies and hires a group of old ladies to run the show. It's mildly amusing.

Novocaine - Nate (Jack Quaid), a man who cannot feel pain, goes all out to rescue the girl of his dreams. Much more humor was expected.

Opus - A feature writer (Ayo Edebiri) travels to a compound where a music icon controls a cult-like community. Ayo tries and John Malkovich is stylishly creepy as the pop star, but more was needed before the reveal at the end.

The Pick Up - Entertaining heist drama on Prime, starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria and Keke Palmer. It's illogical at times, but that's par for the course on these kinds of films.

Picture This - A harmless rom-com on Prime with the beautiful Simone Ashley playing the lead girl, who is told by guru that she will find a soulmate at her sister's wedding. 

Plainclothes - Tense thriller about an undercover cop, who works in a unit to arrest lewd men at the mall. He is drawn to one of the targets and becomes obsessed, sending is life into mental turmoil. It's uniqueness gets it into this category.

Predator: Bad Lands - A science fiction story about a predator outcast teaming with an android (Elle Fanning) to topple the evil doers is way more entertaining than I was expecting.

The Running Man - Director Edgar Wright's remake of the 1987 film about a man (Glen Powell) who joins a contest that awards him if he can survive assassins for 30 days. The outline of the story is better than the execution.

Snow White - Rachel Zegler always commands your attention and this rehash of the Disney classic is not an exception. It was slightly better than my very low expectations and the music was average.

Sovereign - A father and son define themselves as sovereign citizens, a group of anti government extremists, and go on the run. Great acting from Nick Offerman and Jacob Tremblay. I wasn't wild about the script.

Spinal Tap II: The End Continues - The sequel to the iconic comedy film has plenty of laughs along the way, but is far below the classic original. Elton John and Paul McCartney appear.

*Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere - The story of the period in Bruce Springsteen's career before he released the album "Nebraska." Jeremy Allen White provides a Golden Globes nomination-worthy performance as The Boss, but this movie does not have enough depth and speeds up way too much at the end. It was poorly directed in my opinion.

Straw - A single mother (Taraji Henson) going through a very tough time faces a series of unlucky events during a single day that put her in an impossible situation. However, an understanding police woman helps her survive in this passable Tyler Perry film.

Swiped - The unauthorized story about Whitney Wolfe, who helped found Tinder and - after being harassed out of the company - created Bumble. Lilly James as Wolfe makes it watchable.

*The Testament of Ann Lee - Historic take on Ann Lee, who founded the Shakers religious sect in the 18th century around New England. Amanda Seyfried is outstanding in the lead, but the film did not grab me as I expected. It's still a powerful work.

Tron: Ares - The Ares program sends agents from digital world on a specific mission and they meet their match. It's entertaining to a point with Jared Leto and the great Greta Lee, but it doesn't quite reach a higher level for this kind of cartoonish action film.

Urchin - A homeless man named Michael (Frank Dillane) tries to fix his life after being jailed for assault, but it becomes quite difficult for him.

Valiant One - Decent war story about a group on a mission to South Korea, which experiences a storm as they leave and crash lands in North Korea. Ending could have been better, but it is a good watch overall.

*Weapons - Film had a big buildup. In my opinion, it did not deliver much in the end. The story of a mystical force drawing children out of their houses over night, causing grief and blame, was not nearly as deep as I expected. But it was still worth a watch.

*Wicked: For Good - The sequel to last year's Wicked is not better or worse. It did not deserve a Best Picture nomination. The story and the production are average. It is grand, though.

Wish You Were Here - Julia Stiles directs the unique love story as Charlotte finds love, loses it, finds it and loses it again. It's Death and Love together, with a nice performance from Isabelle Fuhrman.

Words of War - The story of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered on Putin's birthday after writing on the atrocities in Chechnya. As an educational film it is good, but it fails as a dramatic movie.

The Wrong Paris - Predictable, cliched, Netflix rom-com takeoff on a Bachelor Show. However, it is likeable because the adorable Miranda Cosgrove makes it so. 

You're Cordially Invited - Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon go to war after their family weddings are double-booked at a remote island. It's predictable and still fun.

Some "Minor" Value To These 2025 Films

 

Mark Pukalo

This category of my 2025 movie rankings includes many of the most disappointing films of the year and others that provided just enough entertainment in different ways to avoid the bottom.

I have been calling it low honorable mention in the past. but it should be renamed "barely watchable." Depending on your taste in films, you may get more from some of these films than me. I just could not put them higher.

The most disappointing films on this list of 73 are "Death of a Unicorn," "The Luckiest Man in America" and "Die My Love." I had read poor reviews of Colin Farrell's "Ballad of the Small Player" beforehand, so I can't say I was surprised at how lifeless it was.

The trailers for "Death of a Unicorn" made it seem like it would be way more fun and Paul Walter Hauser (above) tried hard to improve a substandard story on an interesting subject in "The Luckiest Man in America." 

I realize "Die My Love" is mostly about a woman dealing with post-partem depression and it was supposed to be a bit rough, but I was more annoyed than interested about what was going on. "If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You" did a much better job with a similar subject.

I offered some charity to "Flight Risk," "Electric State" and "War of the Worlds" which have been features of many top 10 worsts of the year. They each had a few elements that made me keep my eyes on the screen until the end. I also did not want to be cruel to "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" and "The SpongeBob Movie," because they are fine for their genre. SpongeBob is way better, almost making medium honorable mention.

Otherwise, there are no real surprises here. If you watch 300 movies per year, I would say many of these are at least worthy to be put on while you are relaxing at home. There is plenty of star power in these films, including Daniel Day Lewis, Robert DeNiro, Natalie Portman, Cillian Murphy, Nic Cage and others.

I'm not stopping you from viewing any of them. But I did warn you. Keep your expectations low.

Barely Watchable 

The Actor - A bit actor (Andre Holland), who was likely a womanizer, awakes in a small Ohio town with Amnesia and meets a nice local girl. He returns to New York to figure out what has happened and never feels comfortable. It's an interesting premise, but a little too vague and mystical.

The Alto Knights - Two crime bosses fight for control of New York City. Robert DeNiro plays both Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, who were once friends. The plodding film barely makes this category.

A Merry Little X-Mas - Alicia Silverstone in a predictable "sort of" romantic comedy for the holidays. It's your typical film this time of year on Netflix with a small amount of laughs. The drones were funny.

Anenome - It's actually a whole lot of nothing with some fine acting in between. A man (Sean Bean) visits his brother (Daniel Day Lewis) in a remote forest to summon him home to talk to his troubled son. It drags quite a bit.

The Astronaut - Rough year for Kate Marra. Her husband lost her in the sewer in "Friendship" and she crash-landed after a mission to space before going through an ordeal in this film. The surprise ending almost got it to the medium honorable mention list.

Ballad of a Small Player - Edward Berger created a masterpiece with "Conclave," but the talented director produced a mess with this one. Not real sure what the point was in the cliched story of a high-rolling gambler (Colin Farrell) on the slide.

Black Phone 2 - I don't mind sequels, but they have to give you something to embrace that's different or humorous. The dream realm?  Come on, man. The original wasn't bad. It did not need a follow up.

Bloody Axe Wound - A comedy/slasher film about an aging serial killer trying to hand over the hardcore video-making business to his adopted daughter. Lead Sari Arambulo is appealing. Hope she gets some better roles.

Bone Lake - The plot of this sexual thriller has plenty of holes, but there's just enough intrigue and uniqueness to keep you going for 90 minutes. 

Bring Her Back - The makers of a very good horror film "Talk to Me" went over the top on this one with body horror and a rather thin plot line. Just your average violent horror flick. Twins Danny and Michael Philippou will do better.

Bring Them Down - Well-acted, but rather dull, film about two neighbors feuding over the theft of sheep in Ireland. Christopher Abbott and Barry Keough star in the family drama.

Clown in a Cornfield - I'm stealing this from an Ebert.com review, but it is sort of a cross between "It" and "Scream." The slasher film about a small town in the Midwest is better than expected and Katie Douglas has a future with her cute girl-next-door looks.

The Conjuring: Last Rites - I really did not watch much of this series, but I tried to get through the horror of the finale and I accomplished it. It works enough to reach this level.

The Cut - Orlando Bloom tries real hard with a substandard script in this boxing film about an Irishman trying to return to the ring after a decade.

Dangerous Animals - Expected this to be in the lowest category, but I stayed with it. An Australian madman likes feeding young women to sharks.

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie - Daffy Duck and Porky Pig attempt to save the world from an alien attack. A few laughs.

Dead of Winter - A widow (Emma Thompson) travels to a remote lake where she once enjoyed a wonderful trip with her husband, but there is danger ahead with a strange couple who live nearby. Not a particularly compelling thriller.

Death of a Unicorn - Elliot (Paul Rudd) hits a mythical creature on the way to the secluded home of rich potential clients with his daughter (Jenna Ortega), and all hell breaks loose. It's more weird than funny most of the time. Ortega's character saves it from being lower on the list.

Deep Cover - A group of improv comedians go under cover on a mission for the police and get deep into their new personas with some unsavory people. It's fine.

Die My Love - Jennifer Lawrence (left) is very powerful as a woman struggling with life and marriage after the birth of a child. Other similar movies have been much better. This falls in a category of films that think they are smarter than they actually are.

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale - I enjoyed the first two films, but this one was like a meaningless episode of the TV series. My crush on Michelle Dockery made it watchable on Peacock, though.

Duplicity - A decent mystery thriller on Prime about a police shooting of an unarmed black man with a few twists near the end. Much better than some of the latest Tyler Perry efforts.

Eenie Meanie - It's Baby Driver with a girl and an inferior script. Samara Weaving does her best in a below-average role. Not as bad as expected, though.

Electric State - Big budget movie about the aftermath of a war between robots and humans in which a sister tries to find her brother, who is being used for his advanced brain by an evil corporation. It's a mess, but has a few good moments in the second half.

Everything to Me - A driven young woman, with a goal to be the next Steve Jobs, must deal with a difficult family life and friends who are not as focused on major success as her.

Exterritorial - A recovering soldier has her young son kidnapped at the US consulate in Germany before fighting to prove the corruption and find her boy. Lead actress Jeanne Goursaud is fierce and gorgeous.

Flight Risk - A pilot (Mark Wahlberg) hired by a criminal to kill a government witness creates a dangerous trip from Alaska in a small plane with a smart and tough Air Marshall (Michelle Dockery) on board. Expected worse. Still not very good.

Fountain of Youth - Natalie Portman and John Krasinski, two estranged siblings, go on a quest for an ancient artifact. It is not National Treasure. It's not awful. It just needed to be way more fun.

Freakier Friday - I either didn't watch the first one or don't remember it, but there was nothing really entertaining in this sequel about a magical switch of bodies between a mother (Jamie Lee Curtis) and daughter (Lindsay Lohan). See right.

Freaky Tales - Four stories from Oakland in the late 1980s are intertwined, involving music, crime, basketball and social interaction. Sleepy Floyd scored 51 points in an NBA game? It was kind of disjointed for me.

Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie - The popular Netflix musical/comedy show for children comes to the big screen with  Kristen Wig and Gloria Estefan making appearances. Can't be too mean and put it lower. I'm sure the little kids liked it.

Goodbye June - Kate Winslet's directorial debut about four diverse siblings spending time with their mother before she dies is solid, but somewhat slow and not particularly unique.

Grand Tour - The story of a confused or cowardly man who takes off on his fiance before the wedding. The woman finds him eventually and goes on a journey herself. Not quite sure what they were getting at, but the old-style film was different at least.

Griffin in Summer - A pretentious young playwright becomes infatuated by the handyman his mom hires and welcomes the young man to his high school play cast. Everett Blunck plays the young boy with personality and the likeable Abby Ryder Fortson (Are You There God? It's Margaret) shows up.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle - A different scenario than the 1992 film. It doesn't feel like anything new with Maika Monroe and Mary Beth Winstead brawling throughout.

Hot Milk - A young woman (Emma Mackey), trapped by a domineering mother with a mysterious illness, travels with her to the Spanish coast and finds herself. Kept waiting for more intrigue. 

Ice Road Vengeance - Just some illogical Liam Neeson violence and fun. The script is cliched and forced, but you have heroes to root for.

Inheritance - Maya (Phoebe Dynevor) is the daughter of a former spy who gets drawn into an international conspiracy by her estranged father. It is a mess, but Dynevor is compelling enough before a poorly executed ending.

Into the Deep - A woman who lost her father to a shark attack fights the fear when caught in a battle with modern-day pirates on the water. Richard Dreyfuss, of all people, shows up as the wise grandpa for the young woman.

Last Breath - Woody Harrelson stars as the senior member of a team that inspects underwater pipelines and he tries to save a co-worker stuck at the bottom of the ocean. There's nothing really new here, but it isn't horrible.

Left-Handed Girl - Somewhat interesting Chinese film about a family (left) struggling to make ends meet in Taipei. Nina Ye is wonderful as the little girl and Shih Yuan Ma is a powerhouse as her "sister." Academy Award-winning director Sean Baker co-wrote the film with director Shih-Ching Tsou. The final 20-30 minutes lost me.

London Calling - Passable comedy/drama with Josh Duhamel as an assassin with sight issues sent away, following a botched job, to take care of the son of a crime boss and make him a man. Not as bad as it could have been.

Love Hurts - A realtor trying to live a normal life is pulled back into conflict with his former crime boss and brother. Ke Huy Quan is fine in the lead and there are a few laughs. However, it's mostly just boring fight scenes.

The Luckiest Man in America - Based on a true story of a broken man who figures out a way to beat a game show and win a lot of money. Paul Walter Hauser tries, but the rest of the cast is not able to make an awkward script into an entertaining film.

My Mother's Wedding - Kristen Scott Thomas directs and stars as the mom, who is getting married for the third time after being widowed twice and her three diverse daughters arrive home for the ceremony. Not enough depth to this story, basically about grief.

My Oxford Year - I love Sofia Carson, but this is her worst film yet. The relationship is way too quick to develop and there is little chemistry. Carson saves it from the bottom, though.

Ne-Zha 2 - Follow up to successful animated film from China is hard to follow. You probably have to see the first one. But it looks good, at least.

Night Always Comes - Vanessa Kirby stars as Lynette, a woman who spends 24 hours trying to raise $25,000 to buy a house she is renting after her dopey mother spends the down payment on a car. Kirby is strong, but the Netflix film didn't pull me in.

O'Dessa - A Dystopian science fiction rock opera about a talented young singer who travels to the authoritarian center city to spread her music. It's a mess, but Sadie Sink (left) draws your eyes and tries.

Off Track 2 - A woman in a failing marriage takes on a long-distance bike race to escape her problems. The first one, about cross-country skiing, had a little more heart.

The Parenting - Couldn't really get into this story about a haunted house where two couples are meeting with their dating sons. I guess some liked it, but it was blah to me.

Parthenope - The story of a beautiful, intelligent diva born in Naples, who navigates through an eventful life as men fall at her feet. Celeste Dalla Porta (right) is stunning. She should get some better roles going forward.

Playdate - Stepdad Kevin James in a comedy caper made for Prime. It seems light and funny at first, but sort of goes off the rails with a group of cloned kids.

Play Dirty - Your basic heist film with Mark Wahlberg leading a group of thieves trying to steal from fellow thieves. Rosa Salazar (Alita: Battle Angel) plays the double-crossing beauty well.

Predator: Killer of Killers - Dark animated film with a lot of action, but it did not really grab my attention enough to hone in.

Rabbit Trap - Dev Patel stars in this psychological horror film about a couple who go into the wild to create sounds for a new album. The isolation, childhood trauma creeping in and a strange visitor make for some mystical happenings. It's a bit too vague, but the first-time director shows promise.

Regretting You - Messy tragedy turned love story with good-looking people. Based on a book by Colleen Hoover (It Ends With Us). Nice to see McKenna Grace grown up. She is a good actress.

Sacramento - Buddy film with Michael Cera and Michael Angarano driving to Sacramento, ultimately to resolve issues about becoming a father. With the solid cast, which includes Maya Erskine and Kristen Stewart, I was expecting better.

Seven Veils - A young woman is tapped to direct an updated version of her mentor's opera and it brings back teenage traumas. Amanda Seyfried is good in the lead and Rebecca Liddiard is wonderful in a supporting role, but the concluding half hour does not deliver much.

Shell - Elisabeth Moss (right) plays a struggling actress who tries a program with a mysterious health guru (Kate Hudson) to try and look younger, but she gets gruesome results. It's kind of along the same lines as "The Substance," and not quite as good.

Sister Midnight - A young Indian woman, struggling with an arranged marriage, begins to open up after some overnight experiences in this dark comedy. Hard to explain, but Radhika Apte is good in the lead role.

Smurfs - Moderately cute cartoon about the little guys rescuing Papa in Paris. The animation and the songs are passable.

The SpongeBob Movie: The Search for Square Pants - The likeable, yet dim, Square Pants takes on a challenge to prove he is a "big guy" to his boss Mr. Krebs. It's more goofy fun than expected, but not quite enough to rise into the medium category.

Steve - Cillian Murphy is brilliant as a damaged counselor at a reform school in England going through a stressful day. It's solid, just not any more than that.

Strange Harvest - Sometimes humorous mockumentary about a serial killer in California who performs ritualistic murders. The cops are actually quite funny.

The Surfer - Nic Cage plays a former surfer trying to buy his father's old house on the water in Australia, but there is a group of bullies that own the beach. Let's just say, he has a bad day. However, the plot is kind of a mess.

Tornado - A young Japanese girl flees from an evil group of men trying to get the fortune she hid after her father was killed. It is an interesting, different kind of western.

The Toxic Avenger - A down on his luck janitor at an evil drug company (Frank Dinklage) is transformed into a sort of super hero - after being exposed to toxic waste - and fights the bad guys. Better than expected.

The Ugly Stepsister - A modern-day Cinderella story, which uses some pretty gross body horror. Just not my bag, but it was stylishly done enough to avoid the lower level.

The Unholy Trinity - A man returns to his hometown to avenge his father's death and find the gold he hid. However, he gets involved with local disputes in this Western with a solid cast.

War of the Worlds - The new wave version of the classic movie on Prime uses drones, computers, surveillance and government criminality. It is somewhat entertaining if you put aside the ludicrous scenarios as Ice Cube and his family try to save the world.

Watch the Skies - A young woman joins her father's former UFO Sweden group to try and find him years after his disappearance. Was expecting more and the main character should be more compelling.

Winter Spring Summer or Fall - Harmless meet-cute love story on Prime with Jenna Ortega and Percy Hynes White (My Old Ass) figuring things out. It is not a particularly unique script.

Wolf Man - When a son's father is finally declared dead after being missing for a long time, he takes his family to their old cabin. However, there is a wolf man there. It all makes sense, it has Julia Garner, but there is little to like here.

The Woman in Cabin 10 - Keira Knightley's latest is a mystery that we uncover a little too early in the film. Keira (right) is great as usual in this somewhat ordinary story of identity crimes on a yacht trip with creepy rich people.

40 Acres - Dystopian story about a group trying to survive and protect their farm from evil invaders. Danielle Deadwyler stars as the fierce leader. It does not draw your undivided attention. However, it has some intensity.

100 Meters - Japanese animated film that follows a gifted young sprinter and a boy with anxiety issues who he takes under his wing. The two become top national sprinters and compete against each other down the road. I didn't find it particularly thought-provoking.