1) Seed of the Sacred Fig
 Disturbing and timely political thriller about an investigating magistrate in Iran who is torn between his job and his family. He finds out that the promotion came with some terrible strings attached. He is expected to lie about his investigations so the judge can unfairly convict or railroad innocent peaceful protesters, one of which was even maimed by soldiers. His daughters start to side with the innocent victims who are demanding women’s rights (many of which are their classmates), and the family which had been close begins to unravel. Although this film is technically a work of fiction, it has real footage of student protesters being beaten by police. This is reminiscent of the great family dramas of Asgard Farhadi like The Salesman and it as the most emotionally powerful and scathing film I have seen so far this year. Nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars in 2024. In Persian with English subtitles. Available for rent on Amazon.
 

2) The Shrouds
Bizarre and darkly funny body horror masterpiece which as written and directed by Dave Cronenberg, this somewhat autobiographical   film is about a man mourning the death of his wife (Cronenberg also lost his wife a few years back) who makes a fortune streaming films of dead people decomposing to their living loved ones. He is involved in a highly unusual love triangle between his wife’s sister who is the spitting image of his her, his AI companion who also looks like his late wife, and a woman with a dying husband who is going blind. As you can tell from this and many other films, our neighbors from Canada have a perverse sense of humor that is totally different from anything you’d find in America. This potent masterpiece is one of Cronenberg’s most personal works and it might end up being one of his signature works. Streaming on the Criterion Channel and VOD. 
 

3) Pavements
Fantastic, highly entertaining and riveting music film that fully captures the quirky appeal of Pavement, one of the most iconic 90s Indy rock bands. Pavement, comprised of ordinary museum workers, was one of the most critically acclaimed bands of their era, but they never had much of a commercial impact. This unconventional film combines documentary footage with hilariously invented false sequences (including one about a play based on their songs which I’m almost sure is false) and another about a biopic. All of this will be hysterical to their fans who will get all of the in jokes. In its own way this is as hilarious and as illuminating a film about rock culture as This is Spinal Tap. Playing at selected theatres.
 

4)The Brutalist
Epic length but powerful and absorbing biopic about a brilliant architect that was a part of the brutalist movement. He gets a big job designing a corporate building for a billionaire, but he has been mentally damaged by his negative experiences in Europe which cause problems in his job and personal life. Despite his financial and artistic success, he retains psychic scars from his oppression and experiences with anti-Semitism, and he tries to forget with alcohol and drug addiction. There was controversy because AI as used to change Adrien Brody s accent but his performance as unenviably magnificent Streaming on Max.
 

5) No Other Land
This powerful and unforgettable documentary made by an Israeli and Palestinian crew of artists records the horrific real-life destruction of buildings and schools in the west Bank.  It was nominated for the best documentary at the 05 Oscars. It has not been picked up by a distributor yet, but it refuses to die and keeps being revived for short runs   and single screenings in the Chicago area, and it is playing at Classic Cinema on the north side in August. For the perceived crime of making this film the director received a sentence of seven years of jail, losing all his property and getting a whipping. Luckily, he was out of the country and is not going back.  In Arabic, English, and Hebrew. 
 

6) Sinners
Ryan (Black Panther and Creed) Ryan Cooler puts together a thrilling, exhilarating, and totally unique horror/western/crime/musical film hybrid with a plot that is reminiscent of another genre jumping film, From Dusk till Dawn. It is basically about a pair of rascally thugs who use their ill earned mob money to open a bar and eventually go up against a gang of singing Irish vampires. If you have been dreaming of a film that explores post slavery African American culture with Irish folk dance sequences and vampires, this is for you. Coogler’s unique and visually dazzling movie is dripping with period flavor and all kinds of strangeness and ruled the box office for a few weeks. Streaming on Apple, Google Play and Amazon Prime.
 

7) Black Bag
A British intelligence agent/James Bond type is ordered to find out who betrayed his country and sold state secrets and stole a dangerous apparatus. One of the main suspects is his loving, competent seemingly perfect wife who is also in espionage. He invites all the suspects to an eventful dinner and not all of them make it home alive. This terrific thriller by Steve (Sex Lies and Videotape) Soderberg benefits from nuanced performances from the great Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender and an intelligent and suspenseful script which is top notch. Streaming on Peacock, Apple TV and Amazon.
 

8) River of Toads (Rio De Sapos)
Fascinating and hypnotic documentary about a healer in Veracruz who carries on the traditions of ancient magicians, exorcists and magicians and participates in a never filmed death ritual every year. Soaking in the exotic locale, seeing this film is like visiting another planet that has little in common with ours. Streaming on Mubi and available for rental at the Orland Public Library. In Spanish with English subtitles.
 

9) One of Them Days
Entertaining female buddy film/comedy about two roommates who experience terrible luck as they scramble to find enough money to make rent after one of the girl’s boyfriends steals all their cash. Featuring a surprisingly good and lively star making debut performance by the popular R and B singer SZA. Her co lead Keke Palmer, who plays her more responsible roommate is just as good and the two actresses have wonderful chemistry, Comedian Kat Williams is also amusing as a seer/ homeless guy who gives the two women advices, The film a so successful that it has been announced that a follow up is already being shot. Streaming on Netflix
 

10) Companion
Two couples meet in a secluded retreat where an unexpected murder occurs when a Russian guy tries to rape one of the females. At least one of the characters is an artificial companion and the film does a good job blending a basic neo noir pattern with high tech sci-fi elements and current social issues. This is no Blade Runner, but it is smarter and less conventional and better developed than last year’s similar themed M3gan or Subservience, but after this film is over, you may end up liking humans less. The audience may think they know here this is going but this suspenseful film turns the tables several times. Terrific cast of little-known actors give flawless performances including Jack Quaid from The Boys and Sophie Thatcher from Yellowjackets and The Heretic who is convincing and memorable in the lead. Streaming on Max. Streaming on MAX. Amazon Prime, Hulu and Apple.
 

Honorable mentions
11. Ballerina
12. Becoming Led Zeppelin
13. The Colors Within
14. Materialists,
15. Nona’s
16. Mickey 7
17. My Dead Friend
18. Paddington in Paris
19 Stelios (Greek)
20. 28 Years Later