ON THE BIG SCREEN
THE OSCAR RACE GETS HOT
AFTER THE HUNT
R
Almost everyone involved with this dark psychological thriller by first-time screenwriter Nora Garrett has had a romance with the Academy Awards, from Julia Roberts and her one win and three other nominations to Andrew Garfield’s two nominations, Chole Sevigny’s one and director Luca Guadagino’s one. It’s quite the pedigree for this ultra-contemporary story set at Yale, as the campus is rocked by sexual assault accusations brought against a white professor (Garfield) by a Black student (played by Emmy winner Ayo Edibiri). The implications run deep and will keep you debating social justice and sexual politics long after the credits roll.
BUGONIA
R
Will “Bugonia” be the film that finally brings director Yorgos Lanthimos his Oscar? He’s personally got five nominations so far, for movies including “Poor Things” (11 total nominations, four wins) and “The Favourite” (10 nominations, one win), and with his favorite actress Emma Stone back for “Bugonia,” there’s definitely a chance. This time they’re telling the story of a kidnapping, but not just any kidnapping. This one’s because the kidnappers believe their victim (Stone) is an alien. Mayhem as only Lanthimos can create ensues, with Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis along for the darkly comedic ride.
FRANKENSTEIN
R
With the endlessly fascinating story of “Frankenstein” created by Mary Shelley back in 1818, it’s not surprising that auteur Guillermo del Toro has turned his brilliant mind (“Pan’s Labyrinth,” “The Shape of Water,” “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio”) to telling the story once again. The three-time Academy Award winner has enlisted Oscar Isaac as his doctor, Jacob Elordi as the monster and two-time Oscar winner Christoph Walz as Dr. Frankenstein’s conniving financier, with Mia Goth and Charles Dance rounding out the cast. Still set back in the 19th century, del Toro’s version is already being touted as one of the best of 2025.
A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE
R
Two-time Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow (“The Hurt Locker”) is back with another tense thriller of a film, this time set over the course of 20 minutes, as a nuclear missile wings its way towards the USA. With Idris Elba as the president and Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Clarke, Greta Lee, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts and Caitlyn Dever rounding out a stellar cast, Bigelow’s movie is making waves as it strikes terror into the hearts of audiences with its all-to-real premise of the beginning of the end of earth as we know it.
TRON: ARES
PG-13
The “Tron” franchise, which began in 1982 with Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner jumping onto light cycles, setting off a science-fiction cinematic legend, returns after a 15-year hiatus with this third entry into the story of humans entering the digital world. “Tron: Legacy” came next, and now “Tron: Ares” picks up the tale in a whole new way, with Jared Leto as the AI digital creature who enters the human world. Jeff Bridges is still in the mix, along with franchise newcomers Evan Peters, Greta Lee and Gillian Anderson. Look for even bigger and better eye-popping visuals in this long-awaited sequel, whose earlier versions snagged three Oscar nominations.