Director Masaaki Yuasa’s latest film is a unique rock opera set in Japan’s 14th-century Muromachi period. By blending modern rock music with historical themes, the film gives a voice to those forgotten by history and sets a new standard for animated storytelling.

“TAR” is Todd Field’s first feature film in 16 years, and it’s an ambitious psychological thriller about the fall of the Berlin Philharmonic’s first female principal conductor. The film captures the spirit of the 2020s, especially the rise of cancel culture. Cate Blanchett’s powerful performance and the film’s visual style stand out, but its long runtime and complex structure mean it will mostly appeal to a select audience. By focusing on artistry rather than entertainment, it’s the kind of film that “critics rave about while general audiences are left perplexed.”

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is a standout film that combines bold, experimental visuals with a universal story about the bond between parents and children. The film’s creative use of watercolor effects and Da Vinci-inspired sketches is especially impressive for a big-budget production, offering viewers a fresh visual experience. The story focuses on the simple but powerful theme of fathers and sons, a hallmark of Lord and Miller’s work, and delivers a more complete coming-of-age story from the parents’ perspective. The film’s answer to the idea of 'making your own story' is both surprising and inspiring, reinventing the Spider-Man narrative in a new way.

This film was incredibly confusing, but that confusion is key to its main point. In a multiverse where nihilism and love intersect, emotional connection emerges as a powerful response to chaos. The story moves viewers from a laundromat to the farthest reaches of the universe. Director Daniels fully leans into strange and crude humor, creating a silly but touching sci-fi story that feels uniquely their own. The film Everything Everywhere All at Once is the 2023 Academy Award-winning Best Picture, directed by the duo known as “The Daniels,” Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.