Monthly Archives: July 2026

07.30.26
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Spider-Man: Brand New Day

Four years after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker has been forgotten by the world and has isolated himself as he fights crime full-time as Spider-Man. His past and future converge as he investigates a new threat and undergoes a potentially dangerous evolution.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is very much a continuation of the web-slinger’s MCU arc, while marking a new chapter and direction for the hero. Peter’s sacrifice leaves lasting consequences of guilt and grief for him as he enters a humble era in his life where he’s become a private detective of sorts and a city-wide hero. This sleuth side of Spidey is very fun to see, as are the changes and solitude he’s put himself through since losing everything. That said, though we’re out of the high school era of the character and in a far more emotionally heavy arc, the movie still has plenty of humor to offer. Jon Bernthal’s inclusion as the Punisher fits seamlessly into Spider-Man’s MCU tone, especially thanks to the fun dynamic he and Tom Holland form onscreen. Zendaya continues to prove herself to be one of the most outstanding performers in these films, as MJ has evolved significantly. It’s also a delight to see Tramell Tillman and Liza Colón-Zayas here, who are perfectly cast and deliver so much presence and intrigue.

The conflict itself takes many unexpected directions, and even if it treads familiar ground, all of it feels emotionally true and fleshed out. The stunt choreography is also one of the film’s most glowing stars, with expertly crafted action scenes and some of the coolest across all four of the films. It feels like the conclusive nature of No Way Home is still honored here, as Destin Daniel Cretton sets out to rewrite the DNA of the Tom Holland Spidey saga, but all the heart we felt from his portrayal of the character before, as well as his bonds with Zendaya and Jacob Batalon’s characters, are all there, too. That former film is still honored with the fresh direction here, but what feels strongest in Brand New Day is that we’ve seen the character truly mature over his multi-film cinematic journey, and while all that comic and film fans hold dear about one of cinema’s most beloved heroes is front and center, there are also plenty of surprises for fans and casual moviegoers alike.

07.18.26
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The Odyssey

It’s never a surprise when a Christopher Nolan film proves to be the most epic theater experience of the year. But what constantly continues to impress is his ability to transport us on journeys that feel so much bigger than our own lives, even though they look so much like our own world. Majestic, nail-biting, and outright spellbinding, The Odyssey turns one of the great mythological stories into one of the greatest cinematic journeys ever told. Homer’s epic proves the perfect battleground for Nolan’s love of telling stories out of linear order, and the movement of different storylines and events across time is thrilling to follow and creates an even more powerful experience than if we were to have discovered the story in sequence. Nolan also assembles a massive ensemble cast led by Matt Damon, who leads with a loyalty mixed with a dangerous hubris Odysseus has, who desires to “defy the gods”. Tom Holland gives possibly his best performance yet as Odysseus’ son Telemachus, though Anne Hathaway steals the show in that corner of the story as Penelope. Robert Pattinson and Jon Bernthal are also excellently cast, and Elliot Page is also a special standout, no matter how minor his role is. The many big players who also leave a huge impression include Himesh Patel, John Leguizamo, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, and Charlize Theron.

The most incredible effect The Odyssey has is making everything feel real, thanks to Nolan’s disdain for CGI, while we also don’t have the same sweeping extreme wides we’re used to in almost all his other films, at least not the same amount. We’re immersed in the sets that are right in front of our eyes and often look visionary. The action is so thrilling it’ll have you leaning forward into your seat, while maintaining that brutality and harshness that never make the fighting look outright entertaining the way they might in other action epics. Part of what makes the magic so breathtaking is Ludwig Göransson’s score. It’s exhilarating, overwhelming, and grandiose in new ways every scene. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography allows everything to feel real, even though the imagery stems from mythology, and Jennifer Lame’s editing is expertly meticulous. Despite its long runtime, the film moves at a fast pace, and every second matters. Everything we love about Nolan is here: the epic scale, the practical sets, the jumps in time, but the film is so much greater than the sum of its parts. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that delivers in beauty and scope, demanding to be seen on the world’s largest movie screens, then unpacked, before going back to watch it again, and again, and again.

07.01.26
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The Invite

A conversation between two neighboring couples at a dinner party turns into something far more unexpected and challenging, as the couples are forced to confront the most uncomfortable and hilarious truths.

One of the funniest movies to come out in years, Olivia Wilde’s The Invite is lifted by its leading performances and exploration of ideas in its clever one-location setting. The concept may be something we’re no strangers to, but the fleshed-out couple dynamics, hilarious dialogue, and plot turns make this one quite worth the time and enjoyment. Seth Rogen is giving one of his best performances as a man who counters every situation with honesty, while Wilde’s character is the opposite, her night driven entirely by the gratification of social approval. Edward Norton greatly stands out as someone whose demeanor is perhaps what we’d consider eccentric, but his outlook on people is liberating and free of judgment. Penelope Cruz also gets the chance to show how funny she is, but her character is also the most emotionally intelligent of the bunch.

Though the jokes often come at a rapid pace and deliver laugh-out-loud payoffs, every character remains deeply empathetic, not necessarily despite their flaws or destructiveness, but rather because of them, portraying relationships with a complexity that can be discussed, as well as the multifaceted nature of humans themselves.