Six 100-Word Movie Reviews

1. Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (2026) Director: BenDavid Grabinski, Actor: Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Eiza Gonzalez

I love time travel movies. I would have loved “Nick & Mike & Mike & Alice,” but by the middle half, the film loses its steam. Vince Vaughn (Nick) cleverly plays two versions of himself. James Mardsen (Mike) and Eiza Gonzalez (Alice) are also along for the adventure. Secondary characters, like Keith David, Jimmy Tatro, and Stephen Root, felt like such wasted talent. One can do a lot with time travel plotlines, but it’s evident that the writers ran out of ideas. The characters sit around having a full conversation about the series “Gilmore Girls,” which has nothing to do with the story.

2. Stranger Things Season 5 (2025), Director: The Duffer Brothers, Actors: Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder

“Stranger Things” ended months ago, and I am still left with several unanswered questions. The actors have come a long way in the decade since starting the show. With how prolonged filming was between seasons, the actors outgrew their roles. “Stranger Things” has so many subplots, conversations, and character arcs that it overloads viewers. The Duffer Brothers got too carried away with the show's popularity, starting filming before the script was finished. I always felt that the show should have ended at season 3. The final episode was an epic showdown. There will never be another show like “Stranger Things.”

3. Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man (2025), Director: Rion Johnson, Actors: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close,

The hit mystery franchise returns with another riveting “Knives Out” movie. “Wake Up Dead Man” may follow the usual stakes, but no, there’s a movie up its sleeve. One of my pet peeves about Daniel Craig’s Detective Benoit was his southern accent, but here it made sense with the change in his physical appearance. A supporting cast plays characters on the suspect list, but surprisingly, the film resorts them to the background. Glenn Close is the best performance. She needs an Oscar nomination. Rion Johnson’s direction is uneven, specifically with the characters. “Wake Up Dead Man” is an on-edge thriller.

4. About a Boy (2002), Directors: Chris Weitz and Paul Weitz, Actors: Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult, and Toni Collette

Growing up has two definitions. There’s childhood, and learning to grow as an adult. “About a Boy” is an early 2000s movie that snuck past the radar. You can never go wrong with the charming Hugh Grant (Will). Attention, cinema goers, I found a Nicholas Hoult (Marcus) movie when he was a child, before he reached stardom. My Toni Collette (Fiona) fan heart brought me to this movie. Chris Weitz and Paul Weizts made “About a Boy” (2002) a film about mental health, isolation, and the importance of human connection. Even if you like solitude, you shouldn’t always be alone.

5. Shattered Glass (2013), Director: Billy Ray, Actors: Hayden Christiansen, Peter Sarsgaard, Steve Zahn

Ever since I started in journalism, I have found more films based on the subject. “Shattered Glass” is a well-acted film, though it repeats several layers of the story. Hayden Christiansen plays Stephen, a journalist, who always has a ruse up his sleeve. He knows how to level with people. The supporting cast includes Peter Sarsgaard, Steve Zahn, and Hanz Azaria in visceral performances. Director Billy Ray brings audiences into this world, but it would have been better if the story were more ambiguous. In other words, journalism is a serious world, and you must be careful with every decision.

6. Teen Spirit (2018), Director: Max Minghella, Actors: Elle Fanning and Zlatko Buric

When you have a dream, don’t give up on it. There are several music films, but "Teen Spirit" enforces how you shouldn’t let stardom go to your head. The talented Elle Fanning lights up the film as Violet. Fanning did all her own singing. Violet’s mentor, Vlad, is played wonderfully by Zlatko Buric. Buric has been in more movies than you think and has an expansive acting career. This was Max Minghella’s directorial debut. The cinematography boasts energetic imagery, particularly in Violet’s singing scenes. Minghella has a unique vision, though it trails off, implementing similar tropes in all musician stories.