Crime 101 (2026)

An ensemble crime drama about a series of diamond heists committed along the 101 highway in Los Angeles, the plot involves a jewel thief, a detective, an insurance broker and a goon for hire, pinning them against each other's moral grey areas. There's a lot going on here, and little of it engaging to the viewer, despite the enormous star power behind it. It's a slow-moving thriller that only gets interesting when all the pieces fall into place, well over an hour into the film. Despite its attempt to recreate a '90s Michael Mann feel, it's a painfully average flick full of plot holes that is about as generic as the title suggests.

2 encrypted porn links out of 5

Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025)

Basically functioning as a feature-length music video for The Weeknd, this artsy psychological thriller is a bit like a Lynch-coded version of Purple Rain.

A drug-addled pop singer (Abel Tesfaye, playing himself) suffers from vocal cord strain and an impending nervous breakdown from a toxic relationship, when he meets an adoring, possibly unhinged fan after one of his shows. This film might be striving at something more than skin deep, but it still can't help feeling like a puffed-up vanity piece for exploring one's demons on screen.

2 blinding lights out of 5

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

"Do you think God gives a damn about miniature donkeys, Colm?"

"I fear he doesn't. And I fear that's where it's all gone wrong."

Set against the backdrop of the Irish Civil War of 1923, off a small village isle of Ireland, a man refuses to speak with his lifelong best friend without any given explanation. That's all you need to know. I honestly didn't know how they'd stretch that premise out to two hours, but I felt compelled throughout. This is a modern masterpiece and one of the best films I've seen in a long time.

5 dreams gone out of 5

Note: Unless you're familiar with Irish vernacular, watch it with subtitles on. 

Saltburn (2023)

A pitch-black comedic thriller about a lower-class university student that develops a crush on his rich classmate who invites him to spend the summer at his family's mansion, where he quickly adopts their hedonistic lifestyle. The excesses in this movie rubbed me the wrong way the whole way through, until you finally realize the stakes of just what is happening here. Will push buttons and engage the audience ick factor more than once, but it's worth the price of admission. The end result is rather twisted and insane, but kind of brilliant.

3½ sips of bath water out of 5