On Thor: Ragnarok

Funny, colourful, escapist, but ultimately subject to the laws of Marvel and their predictable three act structure.

On Wind River

Taylor Sheridan is a mature, responsible, protest voice in an American cinematic landscape that is often more concerned with bombast and CGI. Wind River is a beautifully devastating film, told with a slight, but skilful touch and giving a voice to an issue and a people much in need of one. And he achieves all of this without sacrificing his desire to create mainstream cinema that will reach as many people as possible, for his films, whether he writes or writes and directs, should be seen be as many people as possible.

On Logan Lucky

Welcome back to film Steven Soderbergh. Logan Lucky combines the slightly impossible caper fun of Ocean's Eleven (2001) with the social commentary of white America's response to the financial crisis explored in Magic Mike (2012). It is a good as neither of these, but endlessly entertaining all the same.

On American Made

Fun and frivolous film about a real life event that was likely neither fun nor frivolous.

On Detroit

Documentary style filmmaking from Kathryn Bigelow focusing on the Detroit riots on the 1960s. Incredibly timely, impressive throughout and sadly not shocking in its conclusion that admonishes police brutality and reinforces the deep racism running within America.

On Dunkirk

There are films that use technology as a crutch to support weak stories, or to enhance their box office. Christopher Nolan has always understood that the future of cinematic technology lies in IMAX, but that the narrative must come first. Dunkirk's story is simple, but through narrative and editing trickery, told in a manner that attempts to reflect the confusion of war. Nolan's use of the 70mm feels utterly needed to properly tell the story he wants to. The extra space offered by the format makes Dunkirk immersive. It is as close to flying in a spitfire as almost all will experience.

On War for the Planet of the Apes

Entertaining third part to an impressive trilogy, in which the second film takes the crown. The special effects continue to set a high bar and this may be the first series of film where CGI characters are the most emotionally engaging. An ideal blockbuster.