Film-Forward

Franz

For her ambitious biopic about Franz Kafka, director Agnieszka Holland refuses to take the obvious route.

It Ends

The feature film debut of Alex Ullom makes for a confident first impression.

How to Divorce During the War

A tale of a marriage falling to unhappy pieces, its aggression mirrored by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine not far away.

The Rivals of Amziah King

This represents a welcome return for Matthew McConaughey, reminding us how daring and liberated an actor he can be.

The Bend in the River

A quietly fascinating continuation of Robb Moss’s chronicling of five friends over the decades.

The Wrong Girls

If anything is proven by this new and rare female-led stoner movie, it is that there is always a new generation of marijuana enthusiasts willing to try to earn our laughter and complicity at the expense of their addiction.

Union County

At first, this feels almost like a documentary on the opioid crisis: There is little cinematic flourish, and the acting feels raw.

The End of Oak Street

A pulp concept mixed with ‘80s-inspired storytelling and gory, pulse-pounding execution. It never loses sight of the fun that comes from such absurdity.

Cookie Queens

An apt title for this sticky-sweet yet charming documentary that follows four girls as they try to reach their sales goals during Girl Scout cookie selling season.

Olmo

With the quirkiness of Napoleon Dynamite and the horniness of Superbad, yet beholden to a style all its own, Olmo stakes its claim in the coming-of-age pantheon.