Nathan Box

For me, their interactions within the walls of the Coliseum are symbolic of the power struggle between authoritarianism and democracy. With each encounter, the pendulum swings closer toward the will of the people. As the last battle plays out, we bear witness to the scale of Rome’s power, the longing for change, and the sacrifice needed for that change. As the credits rolled, I once again felt amazement to witness such a struggle so beautifully told.

This film has profound things to say about happiness, relationships, parenting, appearances, inner truth, and escape. It poses questions that left me debating friends in my living room the first time I saw it. It must have led to countless parking lot debates when it was originally released in theaters. American Beauty was a mirror held up to the 90s and the perfect film to close out a decade where everything was being redefined.

With a wonderful little twist that reveals the truth about the crime family, and an ending building toward two worlds colliding together, I think this film is more than worth your time. For all its faults, it is funny, heartfelt, introspective, and filled with courage.

This film delivers on an interesting idea and gives a more nuanced villain who longs for something normal. Doctor Strange yearns for something similar in the form of a love that will never be his. This longing is interesting but is not enough to support the weight of an entire film meant as nothing more than a vehicle delivering us to the next stage in the universe.

The Northman is violent. The environment and landscapes are characters, just as important as any person appearing on screen. It gets weighed down in mythology that few of us know or understand. If you can ignore this, it remains an epic revenge flick that felt brutal, crushing, and visually stunning. I recommend giving it a chance, but I warn you it is not for the faint of heart.

Everything Everywhere All at Once was a cinematic journey I did not want to end. Its first 30 minutes deserve a second watch just to provide some clarity, but when it finds its footing, it delivers a film I will never forget.

As the spotlight on the girls becomes brighter and brighter, so do the stakes and potential for embarrassment. This film handles these moments with beautiful grace and humility. Giving us a behind the scenes look at the pressure facing this family, we come to understand how far they have climbed. We also leave this experience with a better understanding of the public road before them.

I have religiously watched the Academy Awards for nearly three decades. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the weakest Best Picture winner I can remember watching. If my job is to judge it by its romantic intent, then it is a completely decent and accessible picture. As far as one of the greatest movies of all-time? I am not so sure.

As the hill is taken, celebration and reward take over. With countless casualties, I think we grow to understand the true cost of war. With lives lost, bodies destroyed, and minds wrecked forever, there is no glory to be found in war.