Hamnet (2025)

A fictionalized account of a young William Shakespeare and Agnes Hathaway, and what would eventually become the inspiration for Hamlet. It's a lot less dull than it sounds, as the bard himself takes a backseat to all the melodrama. Jessie Buckley (as Hathaway) easily takes best actress of the year in one of the most moving, affecting performances I've ever seen. I still don't know how to process it all correctly. So many tears, I never want to see it again.

4 soliloquies out of 5

All of Us Strangers (2023)

A lonely, troubled writer in a secluded tower block develops a budding relationship with his mysterious neighbor, all the while being inspired to revisit his estranged parents at his childhood home. There are a lot of things I admire about this movie, but unfortunately I found the whole thing a bit too predictable in spite of its earnestness. Regardless, there is a lot of pain and longing in this film which makes it all the more memorable and easy to recommend for film buffs. Probably one of the most distressing films I've ever seen (and very similar to a screenplay that I wrote a long time ago).

A remake of the Japanese film, The Discarnates, which was played for a completely different tone.

3½ train rides out of 5

Gladiator II (2024)

Ridley Scott returns to the director's chair 24 years later to bring us the sequel no one asked for. Taking place 16 years after the conclusion of the first story, Maximus is a distant memory and Rome has reverted back to its old ways. We are introduced to Hanno (Paul Mescal), who is taken into slavery, and you can just guess his connection to this plot. Rounding out the cast is Denzel and Pedro Pascal, whose allegiances flip-flop depending on the finicky demands of the script. This is another one of those films which audiences seem to lap up, but I can't for the life of me figure out why. It's technically competent but very dull, and never manages to rise out from underneath the shadow of the original Gladiator, which was superior in every respect. The plot feels completely derivative of what's come before, except this time we've got CGI baboons, rhinos and sharks added to the mix, along with even more senseless acts of violence in the arena. And, if you can believe it, Gladiator III is apparently already underway.

IIS flooded Colosseums out of V