Periodically you see a film that transcends all expectations; a movie that emanates the purest joy, sincerity, and profound happiness.  Japanese director Hikari, co-wrote the script with Stephen Blahut referencing agencies that hire actors to play real, mostly missing, family members in Japanese society. It is stunning, and filmically astounding plus a huge homage to Tokyo and the luscious landscape …

“Wicked the First” thrilled me to the bones and deeper; it accomplished what a fine film should: stunning, innovative scenario, based on the fantastical book by Winnie Holzman and bestselling novel by Gregory Maguire.  Composer Stephen Schwartz delves into the depths of his creative cache and scores in “Wicked: For Good”; actors Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo (“Glinda” and “Elphaba”) …

Never has wickedness been served so mellifluously, deliciously, supercalifragilisticexpialidociously sensational as in director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”; a film so splendidly crafted, acted, choregraphed it was impossible to breathe with the breath, depth of its wonder. Every glittering glorious moment resonates with truth, integrity and lessons for living, understanding and embracing the goodness of the unknown, outlier, no matter their …

Jennifer Lawrence gives a career-defining portrait of madness and angst in “Die My Love” based on the 2012 novel by Arina Harwicz; director/writer Lynne Ramsay (“We Need to Talk About Kevin”) pulverizes viewers with the detrimental effects of postpartum depression’; “Grace” (Lawrence) was muddled before we meet her and her boyfriend “Jackson” (instinctive performance by Robert Pattinson) whose relationship, defined …

We are birthed with a cry and die with a sigh, or rattle. Director Oliver Hermamus gifts viewers a particularly poignant portrait of two young men instantaneously connected by their love and understanding of timeless folk tunes. Meeting at the Boston Conservatory in 1917 “Lionel” (Paul Mescal) and “David” (Josh O’ Connor) gracefully, plaintively, tenderly fall in love as Lionel …

Director Kelly Reichardt’s films creep in through the back door and emerge fully bloomed, in the living room, 75 plus minutes later. She is a mastermind of the benign, allowing viewers into the lives of the least noticed: working class, ordinary souls, nonthreatening or intimidating but through her lens, interesting. A myriad of movies define her intuitive aesthetic; my favorites …