Movies

In the Lost Lands is the latest endeavor from Paul W.S. Anderson, a film that might just leave you questioning whether you accidentally wandered into a multi-franchise mashup gone wrong. This epic dark fantasy features the talents of Milla Jovovich and Dave Bautista. One could say it’s a thrilling adventure, but only if your definition of ‘thrilling’ includes cramming Van Helsing, Mad Max, and a handful of other unrelated properties into a blender and hitting purée. What we’re left with is a cinematic concoction that raises the age-old question: Was anyone in the room when all these creative decisions were made?

In a world where hostage situations can spiral into cinematic gold mines, iHostage emerges as an enthusiastic yet utterly uninspired attempt to make you care about the life inside your local Apple Store. Directed by Bobby Boermans, this 2025 Dutch crime film attempts to serve up the thrills of a high-stakes standoff in Amsterdam, but instead leaves you wondering if it’s time to upgrade your popcorn to something a bit more exciting. If you ever wanted to see a movie that captures the inside baseball of Apple Stores while failing to uncover the depths of human motivation, this is your ticket to total tedium. Spoiler alert: It’s a hard pass.

In Youth We Trust is the latest offering from acclaimed director Puttipong Nakthong, making its impactful debut amidst a backdrop of stark adolescent turmoil within the confines of juvenile detention. This film continues Nakthong’s exploration of teenage violence, yet veers into a different realm, capturing the harrowing reality of life in a juvenile facility where young lives are shaped—or often distorted—by the brutal hierarchies of prison life.

The Illusionist artfully intertwines historical events with its fictional narrative, lending depth and authenticity to its already tantalizing plot. Among the historical touches is the fictionalized adaptation of the Mayerling incident, which adds an air of palpable tension to the story.

Clooney, alongside steady collaborators Grant Heslov and Willimon, crafts a film that compels viewers to grapple with the sobering realities of idealism in a cynical world. It’s a film that both captivates and challenges, laying bare the cost of ambition in the quest for power.

It’s What’s Inside, the 2024 cinematic cornerstone (or pitfall) brought to you by the innovative Greg Jardin. With a cast that reads like a “who’s who” of talented up-and-comers—Brittany O’Grady, Gavin Leatherwood, and a few others I may forget as soon as the credits roll—you might think I was in for a treat.