Challengers is about passion. One character doesn’t have enough of it. Another has too much of it. And a third is denied it. Tennis is the perfect game for this story because as much as you’re competing against someone else you’re also competing against yourself. Art’s struggles on the court reflect a collapse of confidence in his personal life. Much of the film is about establishing why his confidence has shattered and bringing him to a point of catharsis and breakthrough…

Monkey Man takes Hindu mythology and applies it to the modern day politics of India. It assumes a strong stance against a rising tide of nationalism and homogeneity, and celebrates differences between people and the core beliefs of hinduism. All of this is packaged in a Wick-ian revenge thriller that slowly transforms into a call-to-action for the current generation, asking them to pay attention to more than their own interests and fight for a cause. 

Sound of Metal isn’t so much about hearing loss as it is about addiction, acceptance, and peace. Ruben’s newfound deafness is important but it’s more the mechanism that drives the story as opposed to what the story is about. Even though Ruben’s four years sober, he still hasn’t learned how to be still and alone with his own thoughts. The journey he goes on with hearing loss is what guides him, eventually, to serenity. Music couldn’t be the answer. Neither…

Civil War is about inner turmoil. This is most obvious with the literal civil war going on within America between the Western Forces and the President. But most of the story focuses on war photographer Lee Smith and her loss of faith in journalism, struggles with PTSD, and mentorship of Jessie. But, at the core, she struggles with her humanity. War photography demands a certain emotional distance, but what happens if you close off your heart entirely? Lee’s existential crisis parallels…

The Menu is a critique of classism within cultures. In the film, it’s directly applied to the culinary world, pitting a $1250 multi-course dining experience against a $9.95 burger. What does the consumer prefer? What does the chef prefer? But the message extends to other arenas. The movie industry comes to mind. The fashion industry. A Danielle Steel book vs. a Virginia Woolf novel. Does more intellectual always equal better? Does more expensive always equal better? 

The ending of Mulholland Drive is cryptic, experimental, bizarre, and—fittingly—very, very Lynchian. David Lynch has become known for his ambiguous, enigmatic scripts. As his stories unravel, they don’t necessarily open up. If anything, the more and more information you receive, the more and more confused you may become about the logic of the film.

Hereditary is a film that explores family trauma, grief, faith, and mental health. Its limited perspective allows for a tremendous surprise as we catch up on the depth of backstory that’s led to current events. A narrow film, Hereditary manages a sense of scope through its exploration of the afterlife and intimation that demons really and truly exist. Of note, is the film’s structure. The first half is mostly grounded in reality. After a tragedy, the later portion becomes more…

Tenet explores the concept of inversion, allowing objects and people to move backward in time. The film navigates the conflict between free will and predestination, set against a mission to prevent a future catastrophe. Central to its plot is the battle against a future that seeks to destroy the past to save itself, introducing the grandfather paradox. The narrative delves into themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and existential threats, underscored by the Sator Square's symbolism of time's cyclical nature. Tenet offers…

The simple explanation for Everything Everywhere All At Once is that it’s about generational trauma. There’s that phrase: Hurt people hurt people. Meaning that someone living with trauma will often inflict trauma on the ones closest to them. Which is exactly what we see with Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh). When she decided to marry Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), her father, Gong Gong (James Hong), disapproved. Evelyn felt blackballed by her parents, abandoned by them. And it led to a lot of unprocessed…