Mank is nothing more than a metaphorical celluloid sled of failed dreams and misguided ambition burning to ash in a fiery furnace fueled by frustratingly combustible emptiness.

There is a breathless sonic majesty to Darius Marder’s superb Sound of Metal that left me a discombobulated mess long after the drama had ended.

Happiest Season is a comfortingly romantic present almost guaranteed to bring its recipient joy, and all things considered in a year overflowing with humbug this small gift of holiday cheer is more than enough to satisfy.

Thanks to the talented cast a lot of the humor worked for me, and as relentlessly energetic as The Croods: A New Age can be, I still spent the majority of my time watching it with a gigantic grin plastered on my face.

While harmless and not altogether without its minor pleasures, Vanguard is instantly forgettable, and if one wants to see Chan at the height of his creative powers I suggest re-watching the original Police Story trilogy instead of this.

2067 is aggressively underwhelming, and even though writer/director Seth Larney makes the most of his limited budget, this is one science fiction adventure I’d rather have avoided going on.

V for Vendetta plays a little differently in 2020 than it did in 2006, that’s for certain.

Freaky is an imaginative body-swap horror-comedy where thrills and chills relax comfortably alongside giggles and guffaws with intoxicating grace.

Let Him Go is a quiet meditation on grief, forgiveness, regret and family that managed to leave something of a noticeable impression, tragedy, joy, misery and sacrifice all melding into one, powerfully impactful emotional response richly deserving of a few empathetic tears.