Photo Credit (Freepik)

Eighth Grade

Even if the majority of us like to keep our middle school memories and thoughts hidden away in our shabby Lisa Frank diaries, nothing will bring that time period back into our consciousness quite like Bo Burnham’s directorial debut for eighth grade. After all, that might not be such a bad thing. The movie Eighth Grade will simultaneously warm and destroy your heart.

But really, this film is the full deal and should be seen by everyone who has ever attended junior high school. Somehow, Burnham is able to portray, to a frightening degree, what it’s like to be a young, socially awkward girl attending a public school. This film is hailed as an artistic accomplishment because of everything from the camera technique to the painfully realistic conversation and mannerisms of a junior high student.

DISOBEYANCE

In the 2018 US release of the film Disobedience, Rachel McAdams and Rachel Weisz play two women who have been in love since they were young. Their Orthodox Jewish families would never permit two women to be together, which is the main issue. Oh, and Esti, played by McAdams, is married to a man. That’s that. Your heart will definitely burst from all the emotions in this movie, and if you don’t cry at the end, you might want to see if you’re a genuine robot. Simply put, it’s a love story, and it’s incredibly lovely.

The mid-1990s

Jonah Hill’s fantastic coming-of-age movie Mid90s is best characterized as Freaks and Geeks meets RocketPower. A bunch of children with catchy nicknames like “Fourth grade” and “Sunburn” are at the heart of it. They spend their days skateboarding in the sun and coming up with inventive methods to make each other laugh. This film is set in the mid-1990s, as the title suggests, and it catches the spirit of the era flawlessly without being overly confrontational. If you wish to reminisce about a time when friendship was the norm, this film is full of community and good vibes, and it’s absolutely worth seeing.

A BEAUTIFUL BOY

When Little Miss Sunshine was released, we were all taken aback to see Michael Scott from The Office play a serious part and do it brilliantly. In Beautiful Boy, Steve Carell’s dramatic skills are on full display, and his range as an actor once again leaves us speechless. Based on David Sheff’s biography, the movie follows a father who is doing everything in his power to help his son overcome his crystal meth addiction. Timothee Chalamet portrays the drug-addicted son of Carell, who plays the empathetic parent. Chalamet’s acting isn’t too horrible, and calling him a “beautiful boy” is possibly the biggest understatement of the year. The kid is good, really. We hope to see Carell and Chalamet together in more movies soon since these two deserve every accolade Beautiful Boy could give them.

ISLAND OF DOGS

Wes Anderson once again astounds us with a film so strange and eccentric that it could only be the creation of a great artist. From the captivating images to the original idea that we have never seen before, Isle of Dogs is a work of art in every meaning of the term.

Furthermore, who wouldn’t want to be dog pals with Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum, and Bryan Cranston? This Anderson masterwork is the only place to find this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A welcome diversion from the movies we typically see in theaters, Isle of Dogs is a must-see for dog lovers.

ASSASSINATION NATION

What would happen if everyone you know and care about saw your most private online files? The answers are in Assassination Nation! Sam Levinson’s picture looks to be the ideal balance of gore and camp, making it a singular black comedy. This is the perfect movie to see if you’re looking for something that combines elements of The Purge with Mean Girls. Assassination Nation is thrilling in every way, from the amazing camera work to the vibrant graphics and the upbeat soundtrack. Despite having a lot going on, Levinson’s picture is effective and gives you a sense of vigor. This is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling movies of 2018 and possibly the most enjoyable one in a long time.

ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE

What do you get when you add Scottish high school students, upbeat music, and zombie attacks all at once to Christmas cheer? Of course, Anna and the Apocalypse! One of two things may have happened with this film because of all these strange tricks. It would be reasonable to assume that Anna and the Apocalypse would be either a bizarre yet exciting musical adventure or a gaudy, over-the-top headache of a movie. Thankfully, it’s the latter.

As the movie’s title suggests, a community is experiencing a zombie apocalypse, and in order to survive, a gang of teenagers must kill the zombies. Throughout, it manages to remain an enjoyable and imaginative movie, consistently coming up with unique ways to liven up the most straightforward sequences, such as when they kill zombies at a bowling alley. If you want an adventurous movie, this is a wonderful one.

DO NOT LEAVE ANY TRACE

Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie play a father and daughter who live in the woods in the 2018 movie Leave No Trace. With his daughter by his side, Foster’s character, who has severe PTSD, aims to live as far away from society as possible while navigating life on the fringes. While Foster’s character isn’t particularly interested in engaging with the outside world, McKenzie’s character finally longs to get out into civilization and experience everything she has been missing. Leave No Trace is incredibly underappreciated and thought-provoking.