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The Darkest Minds arrives as an action film directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Amandla Stenberg and Mandy Moore give The Darkest Minds a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Darkest Minds comes into focus without a long explanation: After a disease kills 98% of children, the survivors develop powers and are declared a threat. Across its 1h 44m running time, Jennifer Yuh

Eighth Grade arrives as a comedy directed by Bo Burnham, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Elsie Fisher and Josh Hamilton give Eighth Grade a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Eighth Grade comes into focus without a long explanation: An introverted teenage girl tries to survive the last week of her disastrous eighth grade year before leaving to start high school. Across its 1h 33m running time, Bo Burnh

RBG arrives as a documentary directed by Julie Cohen, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Ann Kittner give RBG a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in RBG comes into focus without a long explanation: The exceptional life and career of U.S. Across its 1h 38m running time, Julie Cohen keeps RBG careful about tone and generally effective. ⁠ The directorial personality of RBG comes from Ju

The Possession of Hannah Grace arrives as a horror film directed by Diederik Van Rooijen, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Shay Mitchell and Grey Damon give The Possession of Hannah Grace a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Possession of Hannah Grace comes into focus without a long explanation: When a cop who is just out of rehab takes the graveyard shift in a city hospital morgue, she faces a seri

The Girl in the Spider's Web arrives as an action film directed by Fede Alvarez, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Claire Foy and Beau Gadsdon give The Girl in the Spider's Web a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Girl in the Spider's Web comes into focus without a long explanation: Hacker Lisbeth Salander and journalist Mikael Blomkvist find themselves caught in a web of spies, cybercriminals, and c

If Beale Street Could Talk arrives as a romance directed by Barry Jenkins, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. KiKi Layne and Stephan James give If Beale Street Could Talk a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in If Beale Street Could Talk comes into focus without a long explanation: A young woman embraces her pregnancy while she and her family set out to prove her childhood friend and lover innocent of a crim

Hunter Killer arrives as an action film directed by Donovan Marsh, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman give Hunter Killer a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Hunter Killer comes into focus without a long explanation: An untested American submarine captain teams with U.S. Across its 2h 1m running time, Donovan Marsh keeps Hunter Killer alive in individual scenes and uncertain

Mortal Engines arrives as an action film directed by Christian Rivers, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Hera Hilmar and Robert Sheehan give Mortal Engines a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Mortal Engines comes into focus without a long explanation: In a post apocalyptic world where cities ride on wheels and consume each other to survive, two people meet in London and try to stop a conspiracy. Across

Forever My Girl arrives as a comedy directed by Bethany Ashton Wolf, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe give Forever My Girl a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Forever My Girl comes into focus without a long explanation: After being gone for a decade a country star returns home to the love he left behind. Across its 1h 48m running time, Bethany Ashton Wolf keeps Forever My Gir

Mary Queen of Scots arrives as a biographical drama directed by Josie Rourke, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie give Mary Queen of Scots a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Mary Queen of Scots comes into focus without a long explanation: Mary Stuart's (Saoirse Ronan's) attempt to overthrow her cousin Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie), Queen of England, finds her condemned to ye

Sorry to Bother You arrives as a comedy directed by Boots Riley, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. LaKeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson give Sorry to Bother You a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Sorry to Bother You comes into focus without a long explanation: In an alternate present day version of Oakland, telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success, propelling him into

Free Solo arrives as a documentary directed by Jimmy Chin, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell give Free Solo a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Free Solo comes into focus without a long explanation: Alex Honnold faces the biggest challenge of his career, climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Across its 1h 40m running time, Jimmy Chin keeps Free Solo controlled wh