What an extraordinary performance from newcomer Vicky Knight, who has to carry an entire film on her shoulders. Her task is doubly astounding considering that her character, Jade, is severely damaged—both inside and out—and bringing her to life requires a vulnerability that would likely frighten even the most seasoned actors. In the new film “Dirty God,” Jade’s name alone provides insight into her soul. We see in the opening that Jade bears horrible scars

In the first five minutes of the Pau Masó's latest film “Complete Strangers, the audience is treated to a visual homage to Brian De Palma and the Italian giallo films (whether on purpose or just by accident), as the camera tracks a figure in long dark hair and a stylish coat while they navigate their way to what will turn out to be a sexual rendez-vous.

As the unknown character

Since international travel is currently all but impossible the movies provide a way to visit other parts of the world—as they always have. And it was of tremendous importance to writer/director John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt,” “Moonstruck”) that Ireland, the land of his forefathers, be a main character in his new film “Wild Mountain Thyme,” adapted from his play “Outside Mullingar.”

Raise your hand, all you movie lovers and cinema buffs who hardly hesitate when asked what is the most important movie ever made or, alternatively, what it the best film of all times, before you answer, “Citizen Kane.”

“Mank,” David Fincher’s movie about the script of that brightest of all gems, was originally written a few years back by Fincher’s father and called “American.” Now, starring

David Fincher’s “Mank” is not a film for casual moviegoers. This is an absolute truth. It is a highly stylized piece taken from a decades-old screenplay from David Fincher’s father, Jack and ghost co-written and reshaped by son David and Eric Roth. This is a film that has essence and a old-school sensibility when it comes to how to film it but, unfortunately, it is also a film which never fully realizes the drive and power of its subject, Oscar-winning

In the wild and uncertain world of music Shane MacGowan reached for them both. But Julian Temple’s documentary is far from a rise and fall film that takes pleasure in the destructive behavior of its subject. “Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan” is the kind of film that tells the story of the musician/writer/poet’s life while getting to the spark that began the fire burning within him. We get to the very depth of him