Movies

Some films fail, but do so innocuously. Others fail with more urgency—they mishandle material so important, so inflammable, that their mediocrity becomes a kind of insult. The Vigilante is that sort of film: a chintzy, slapdash action-thriller whose wobbly attempts at blockbuster ferocity trivialize the monstrous reality of child trafficking. There’s no deeper disappointment at the movies than when righteous indignation is reduced to bad lighting, tepid performances, and the hollow rattle of fake gunfire.

Takeshi Kitano's "Violent Cop" strides onto the screen as a gritty neo-noir spectacle, launched upon unsuspecting audiences from the fertile creative grounds of late '80s Japan. Reflecting the murky depths engulfed by crime and moral ambiguity, Kitano's directorial debut delivers a haunting exploration of justice wrapped in bleak inevitability. Streaming through the sinews of this cinematic canvas is a story that drifts between raw violence and the spirals of inexorable fate, all while marking the genesis of Kitano’s storied filmmaking career. The film's tapestry of themes, orchestrated by the unusual score juxtaposed against its brutal narrative, sets the stage for a uniquely hypnotic experience that both disturbs and captivates.

Welcome to the cinematic world of "The Vault," a 2021 Spanish heist thriller that hangs around like that one friend who overstayed their welcome at a party. Directed by Jaume Balagueró, this film tries to get by on the classic tropes of the genre yet ends up taking the route less traveled—mostly because it’s lost and doesn’t know where it’s going.

The holiday season! A time for joy, laughter, and that delightful mix of cinnamon and pine scent wafting through the air. This year, I’ve curated a Christmas movie list that’s as quirky as a reindeer on roller skates.