Review by Zach Dennis

Snowden is a deeply flawed film. The movie runs long and falls into cliches in order to evoke the emotions of the audience, but it succeeds in at least posing the question of whether or not Snowden is a true patriot for what he did.

Review by Zach Dennis

Blair Witch is another in a long line of modern horror films aimed at giving the audience what it wants — a few scares over the course of 90 minutes — and nothing more. It is disappointing to relegate a genre to its most banal features and be satisfied with that, but it seems like it is where we are with horror today in the mainstream.

Review by Zach Dennis

The Light Between Oceans is never poor because of its narrative choices, but it loses its punch about halfway through and never finds it again.

Review by Zach Dennis

I don’t think Don’t Think Twice cured my dislike for improv, but it gave me more understanding. We are all on the ride of life and whether or not the highs and lows of that ride coincide with where we want them to be is completely up to chance. And despite its cringe-inducing characters, Don’t Think Twice succeeds at making you reflect on that — regardless of what step you’re on.

Review by Zach Dennis

In a time when many seem to be striving to recapture American values, this heartwarming film from writer/director David Lowery accomplishes the goal and all while working within a format that has been wrought with uniformity for so long.

Review by Zach Dennis

Jesse Eisenberg fields a strong performance in the lead role, even if overshadowed by the stellar work of Berlin, Stott, and Stoll, and for the most part, Cafe Society is as delicious as the wining and dining being done on screen.

Review by Zach Dennis

In a world post Blackhat and Mr. Robot, Jason Bourne feels like the average person’s understanding of modern technology with none of the eye-opening moments that the franchise has been known to illuminate on.

Review by Zach Dennis

It isn’t a game-changer for either the franchise or blockbusters as a whole, but Star Trek Beyond is a welcome reminder that characters and story matter for blockbusters, and that doesn’t always mean that bigger is better.

Review by Zach Dennis

The technical craft and engaging writing of some of the better works of Scorsese are lacking from The Infiltrator, but the film makes up for that with a strong performance by Cranston and an exploration into the work of an actor and the two-faced mentality that has to be taken to succeed.

Review by Zach Dennis

The Shallows lacks the characters and craft that made Jaws such an iconic film, but that’s also because it never wants to be categorized in the same field. In its own rights, it is a highly successful summer pop entertainment thriller that contains all the elements you would want out of a summer day at the movies — beautiful woman, majestic scenery, and a giant shark getting in the way of both.

Review by Zach Dennis

The BFG is not near the upper echelon of Spielberg’s work, but it is yet another recent reminder of how talented he is as a director. It has echoes of the past and allows for more playful moments near the end — creating both one of the more enjoyable family films of the year and one that will surely be re-evaluated in later years as a hidden gem of the director’s canon.