The Testament of Ann Lee (2025)

The Testament of Ann Lee is a number of things at once. It is in many ways a traditional historical drama methodically telling the story of Ann Lee, early spiritual leader of the Shakers. Very much a costume period piece which labours to walk through the historical beats to tell a story that many modern audiences would not be familiar with. However at the same time it attempts to upend typical prestige cinema through genre bending flourishes such as ecstatic musical numbers and and experimental film making techniques. Despite the latter it errs on the former side, ending up a fairly standard historical drama telling the rather unique story of a unique woman whose influence is still felt today despite many not knowing of her. 

Ann Lee was seen by believers to be the second coming of Christ. As a Shaker, she lead group through charismatic mob reactions that earned them the name. They promoted equality of the sexes, celibacy, puritanism, and pacifism. The film explores these complications and leans into Ann's visions and chanting. The film is narrated to fill in plot blank spots and sometimes to highlight what is going on. 

The musical conceit should work. It's integrated well into the story of a religious group who focus on ritual and chants. Sometimes it works better than other times. I appreciated how it created a sense of otherness to the cult as it is often juxtaposed to the reaction of others to their singing and dancing. But other times it felt anachronistic. So much of the music is repetitive, with minimal refrains returned to over and over. The effect is jarring and doesn't engender the scenes to the audience. I was often relieved when the music was done. 

Seyfried has been praised for the role. I believe she is a talented actor who is always strong in what she does. But I don't think I see this role as giving her the opportunity to do her best work. Her character is an attention seeker, often acting out, so her performance often feels over the top and not in a way that feels original or outstanding. 

And the film is on the long side. I was ready for it to be over long before it was. While I felt this is a story that is interesting for a number of reasons, the film doesn't necessarily hold your interest well. It is a film that doesn't quite succeed which is likely why it missed out on getting many of the accolades some thought it should receive.

The Testament of Ann Lee

Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Lewis Pullman, Christopher Abbott, Tim Blake Nelson

Director: Mona Fastvold

Writers: Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold

Dhurandhar (2025)

Dhurandhar brought me back to the 80s. It is a Sylvester Stallone style action thriller which is almost comic in its over-the-top style action, and from what I understand, right wing political leanings. This is the sort of action film where the hero throws a lighter to blow up a building and walks away in slow motion as it blows up behind him. At almost three and a half hours it is epic in its scope and brutal in its violence. It is spectacle for sure and gripping throughout even if its messaging is rather suspect. 

Singh plays a cliche of an action hero. Stoic and muscly with flowing locks that put Jason Momoa to shame. He is undercover, embedded into Pakistani gangs to undermine them for India. While the film claims to be a work of fiction, I understand it is not only based on real events, but uses footage of actual violence from the conflict between Pakistan and India as part of its story. That might be unsettling enough as this isn't a dramatization of history but also due to the film's strong anti-islamic sentiment. There is not analysis of the complexities of the conflicts. This is very much a one-sided story framed in action movie glory. Perhaps American Sniper might be one of the closest American analogues but that film even had more self-consciousness of what it was doing. Maybe Top Gun is a better comparison.  

But I have to hand it to the film makers, Dhurandhar is extremely entertaining and watchable. Visually incredible with violent set pieces that are incredibly gripping. For a film this long, it is never boring, keeping the action an gore moving along at a kinetic pace. There are wonderfully filmed car chases, gun fights, explosions, all the things audiences into hyper-masculine films want without much moral ambiguity to get in the way. As a film, you could tear it apart for its lack of subtlety or nuance but you can't fault it for lack of entertainment value.  

Still, it's a film with limited views on heroism, no female characters that are developed or there to do anything but advance the mens' arcs, and some homophobic references. It is supportive of the Modi regime in India with only the slightest of veiling of that support. Set before his time, it implies a government like his is what India needs. It takes a lot of overlooking of (if we're being generous) problematic elements to truly enjoy Dhurandhar. 

Dhurandhar

Starring: Ranveer Singh

Writer/Director: Aditya Dhar

Pretty Lethal (2026)

Ballet is a brutal art form that takes an incredible amount of strength and toughness. It is also seen as hyper-feminine which isn't alway  associated with those qualities. The great conceit of this film is drawing those two polarities together and dismantling the myth of their incompatibility. That aspect of the film is truly interesting. But beyond that the film doesn't do much that doesn't feel paint-by-numbers. That doesn't stop it from being a fun watch even if it is a bit on the forgettable side. 

Pretty Lethal is filmed like a John Wick movie, one that leans into the humour and absurdity more than the Ballerina spin off that shares a lot with this film.  Where that film went in a more serious direction, Pretty Lethal keeps things light and breezy. The characters are archetypes and their arcs are rather predictable and expected. Little is going to surprise you watching this film. Again that isn't lethal to the film's enjoyment. Sure it could have risen to something more but it chooses instead to be just what one would expect and to run with that. 

And with that it does what it is trying to do well. It is a showcase for centring women characters into the sort of narrative that we are used to seeing male characters in. It doesn't do any of it any less than the endless plethora of films like this that feature men. Perhaps in that it manages to exceed expectations. It ends up being entertaining and it still manages to make its point about just how tough a ballerina needs to be be. 

Pretty Lethal

Starring: Uma Thurman, Iris Apatow, Lana Condor, Millicent Simmonds, Avantika, Maddie Ziegler

Director: Vicky Jewson

Writer: Kate Freund

Holy Days (2026)

Sometimes a movie is just so darn delightful that you watch it with a smile across your face the whole time. Holy Days is one of those movies, the story of three elderly nuns trying to save themselves and their convent from being sold to a developer all while helping a young boy who has suffered a lot of loss, find his way. So yeah, a big smile with maybe a few moments of sweet tears as well. 

Director Boltt brings a truly lovely energy to her film. The style she uses to tell her story is one that is infused with joy and visual beauty. I found her manner of film making truly brought out the emotions of the story. She also manages to film comedy extremely well which isn't always something many directors are good at. Holy Days had me laughing throughout with its very naturalistic humour that never felt forced or faked. 

The real prize here is seeing Davis, Margolyse, and Weaver play off each other. Each is such a true delight and really makes the most of their characters and story. Young Tamati has incredible screen presence too and is a great foil to his legendary castmates. 

I couldn't recommend Holy Days more. It really is just a joy of a film. 

Holy Days

Starring: Judy Davis, Miriam Margolyes, Elijah Tamati, Jacki Weaver 

Writer/Director: Nat Boltt

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (2026)

This movie is a lot of fun. Does it feel like there were corner cut in the screenplay/production? Maybe a bit. There are a lot of really entertaining set pieces. Maybe not all the emotional payoff is earned by the end due to some assumed character development. But overall M&N&N&A is an entertaining film that is worth a watch. 

The film mixes the smart-ass crime genre popularized by Tarantino with time-travel comedy which seems to be becoming its own genre. No it doesn't reach the heights of a Kill Bill or an Everything Everywhere All at Once. It never quite gets enough of a chance to breathe to be either. But as a smaller, more intimate piece it works. Its B-movie leanings (including its budget casting choices) don't take away from the fact that as a story its solid and even ends on a promise of something perhaps even better. For me it was solid enough and showed promise of something greater. 

I'm a big believer in cinemas but also that not every movie is destined for the big screen. I think this is a great example of how a film can work for streaming in a way that it may not have in a movie theatre. The script is smart enough to be satisfying, the cast talented enough to put on a good show, and the story is a strong one, so the whole thing is a really good time. 

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice

Starring: Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Eiza González, Keith David, Emily Hampshire, Auturo Castro, Jimmy Tatro, Ben Schwartz, Stephen Root, Dolf Lundgren

Writer/Director: BenDavid Grabinski

I Wish You All the Best (2026)

Perhaps the first mainstream non-binary coming of age film, I Wish You All the Best does follow typical queer film coming of age tropes but manages to do so in a way that doesn't feel tired or rote. Perhaps it is the sincerity which film maker Tommy Dorfman and lead actor Corey Fogelmanis bring to the film. 

The plot isn't surprising. Teen comes out, is thrown out of their home by religious parents, and has to navigate finding themselves with the support of a supportive group of friends and an off the wall art teacher. I know when I describe it I Wish You All the Best sounds cliche but the film's earnestness elevates it and it's hard not to watch without it getting you emotionally. The story might cut a few corners but its focus on the messiness of coming out, of growing up, and figuring things out is refreshing. So many mistakes are made on these journeys and the comfort with that that Dorfman has in telling it makes it feel real. 

Also Fogelmanis is wonderul, giving a really breakout performances as the main character and finding a real human inside the character. So despite some of the limits of the film everyone steps up and makes it a really watchable, really affecting movie.

I Wish You All the Best

Starring: Corey Fogelmanis, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Lena Dunham, Alexandra Daddario, Cole Sprouse, Amy Landecker, Brian Michael Smith

Writer/Director: Tommy Dorfman 

Project Hail Mary (2026)

Sometimes a movie comes along that is just a simple crowdpleaser yet captures something, just right for the moment and becomes destined to be a classic film loved for the ages. It doesn't necessarily need to be complex or perfect or without flaws. It just needs to be truly entertaining and accessible for almost anyone. Project Hail Mary is that sort of a movie and I'll be surprised if it doesn't become a big hit.  

I could get into why the film's plot cuts some corners and perhaps jumps from set piece to set piece conveniently wrapping each up with a little bow. I could discuss how the film is a little on the emotionally manipulative side. But I'd be a party-pooper so instead I'll just talk about why I enjoyed the film so much regardless of its imperfections. 

Project Hail Mary is an aggressively optimistic movie. As I said, it manages to solve each of its cataclysmic problems, usually rather quickly. Its central character is likeable with a capital LIKE and never lets the immense pressure of the plot bring him down. When you think about it the film's story goes to some very dark places. Very dark. Yet the film doesn't dwell there, instead finding the bright spots in the almost pure darkness and coming out shining. I think this is a big part of the appeal. Perhaps it is the film audiences need in 2026. 

Gosling is a big part of this. He is extremely charming and relatable and just appealing. It is hard to think of another A-lister who could have pulled this off. His charisma carries the film and truly makes it all work. He'll have you at hello and his delivery of the film's relentlessly cheerful humour is the secret sauce that brings Project Hail Mary to life. 

Lord and Miller have made a lot of rather happy movies and find a real joy in their storytelling. This may be a bit of a magnum opus for them, the sort of film that might define who they are as film makers. And that's not something they should be upset about. 

So yeah there were things I could focus on to pick apart about this movie but I just don't want to cause I had a good time and I want to sit with that. Project Hail Mary and its star won me over. 

Project Hail Mary

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, Priya Kansara, Orion Lee, James Ortiz

Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Writer: Drew Goddard