84% Winner: The Shape of Water 123 min, R, [Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Thriller] [Guillermo del Toro] [22 Dec 2017]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 73%, Rotten Tomatoes: 92%, Metacritic: 87%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 4 Oscars. Another 101 wins & 293 nominations.
Actors: Michael Shannon, Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, Sally Hawkins
Writer: Guillermo del Toro (screenplay by), Vanessa Taylor (screenplay by), Guillermo del Toro (story by)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, American Sign Language, Russian, French Country: USA
Plot: At a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.
Rotten Tomatoes: From master story teller, Guillermo del Toro, comes THE SHAPE OF WATER - an other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones and Michael Stuhlbarg.
89% Nominee: Call Me by Your Name 132 min, R, [Drama, Romance] [Luca Guadagnino] [19 Jan 2018]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 79%, Rotten Tomatoes: 95%, Metacritic: 93%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 96 wins & 248 nominations.
Actors: Amira Casar, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg, Timothée Chalamet
Writer: James Ivory (screenplay by), André Aciman (based on the novel by)
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English, Italian, French, German, Hebrew Country: Italy, France, Brazil
Plot: Call Me by Your Name is the story of a sudden and powerful romance that blossoms between an adolescent boy and a summer guest at his parents' cliffside mansion on the Italian Riviera. During the restless summer weeks, unrelenting but buried currents of obsession, fascination, and desire intensify their passion as they test the charged ground between them and verge toward the one thing both already fear they may never truly find again: total intimacy.
Rotten Tomatoes: CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, the new film by Luca Guadagnino, is a sensual and transcendent tale of first love, based on the acclaimed novel by André Aciman. It's the summer of 1983 in the north of Italy, and Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious 17- year-old American-Italian, spends his days in his family's 17th century villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel). Elio enjoys a close relationship with his father (Michael Stuhlbarg), an eminent professor specializing in Greco-Roman culture, and his mother Annella (Amira Casar), a translator, who favor him with the fruits of high culture in a setting that overflows with natural delights. While Elio's sophistication and intellectual gifts suggest he is already a fully-fledged adult, there is much that yet remains innocent and unformed about him, particularly about matters of the heart. One day, Oliver (Armie Hammer), a charming American scholar working on his doctorate, arrives as the annual summer intern tasked with helping Elio's father. Amid the sun-drenched splendor of the setting, Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire over the course of a summer that will alter their lives forever.
78% Nominee: Darkest Hour 125 min, PG-13, [Biography, Drama, History, War] [Joe Wright] [22 Dec 2017]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 74%, Rotten Tomatoes: 85%, Metacritic: 75%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 2 Oscars. Another 40 wins & 63 nominations.
Actors: Ben Mendelsohn, Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James
Writer: Anthony McCarten
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English, French, German Country: UK, USA
Plot: Within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) must face one of his most turbulent and defining trials: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation. As the unstoppable Nazi forces roll across Western Europe and the threat of invasion is imminent, and with an unprepared public, a skeptical King, and his own party plotting against him, Churchill must withstand his darkest hour, rally a nation, and attempt to change the course of world history.
Rotten Tomatoes: During the early days of World War II, with the fall of France imminent, Britain faces its darkest hour as the threat of invasion looms. As the seemingly unstoppable Nazi forces advance, and with the Allied army cornered on the beaches of Dunkirk, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the leadership of the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman). While maneuvering his political rivals, he must confront the ultimate choice: negotiate with Hitler and save the British people at a terrible cost or rally the nation and fight on against incredible odds. Directed by Joe Wright, DARKEST HOUR is the dramatic and inspiring story of four weeks in 1940 during which Churchill's courage to lead changed the course of world history.
88% Nominee: Dunkirk 106 min, PG-13, [Action, Drama, History, Thriller, War] [Christopher Nolan] [21 Jul 2017]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 79%, Rotten Tomatoes: 93%, Metacritic: 94%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 3 Oscars. Another 64 wins & 227 nominations.
Actors: Aneurin Barnard, Barry Keoghan, Damien Bonnard, Fionn Whitehead, Lee Armstrong, Mark Rylance
Writer: Christopher Nolan
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English, French, German Country: UK, Netherlands, France, USA
Plot: Evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire, and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, France, between May 26- June 04, 1940, during Battle of France in World War II.
Rotten Tomatoes: Acclaimed auteur Christopher Nolan directs this World War II thriller about the evacuation of Allied troops from the French city of Dunkirk before Nazi forces can take hold. Tom Hardy, Kenneth Branagh and Mark Rylance co-star, with longtime Nolan collaborator Hans Zimmer providing the score.
86% Nominee: Get Out 104 min, R, [Horror, Mystery, Thriller] [Jordan Peele] [24 Feb 2017]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 77%, Rotten Tomatoes: 98%, Metacritic: 85%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 152 wins & 201 nominations.
Actors: Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Daniel Kaluuya
Writer: Jordan Peele
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English Country: USA, Japan
Plot: Chris and his girlfriend Rose go upstate to visit her parent's for the weekend. At first, Chris reads the family's overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter's interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he never could have imagined.
Rotten Tomatoes: Now that Chris and his girlfriend, Rose, have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy and Dean. At first, Chris reads the family's overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter's interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined.
89% Nominee: Lady Bird 94 min, R, [Comedy, Drama] [Greta Gerwig] [01 Dec 2017]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 74%, Rotten Tomatoes: 99%, Metacritic: 94%, External Reviews
Awards: Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 119 wins & 218 nominations.
Actors: Laurie Metcalf, Lucas Hedges, Saoirse Ronan, Tracy Letts
Writer: Greta Gerwig
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English, Spanish Country: USA
Plot: In 2002, an artistically inclined seventeen-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California.
Rotten Tomatoes: In Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig reveals herself to be a bold new cinematic voice with her directorial debut, excavating both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter. Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, Lady Bird is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home.
85% Nominee: Phantom Thread 130 min, R, [Drama, Romance] [Paul Thomas Anderson] [19 Jan 2018]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 75%, Rotten Tomatoes: 91%, Metacritic: 90%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 1 Oscar. Another 46 wins & 93 nominations.
Actors: Daniel Day-Lewis, Julie Vollono, Lesley Manville, Vicky Krieps
Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson
External Links: Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English, French Country: USA, UK
Plot: Set in 1950s London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.
Rotten Tomatoes: Set in the glamour of 1950's post-war London, renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) are at the center of British fashion, dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, debutants and dames with the distinct style of The House of Woodcock. Women come and go through Woodcock's life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and companionship, until he comes across a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover. Once controlled and planned, he finds his carefully tailored life disrupted by love. With his latest film, Paul Thomas Anderson paints an illuminating portrait both of an artist on a creative journey, and the women who keep his world running. Phantom Thread is Paul Thomas Anderson's eighth movie, and his second collaboration with Daniel Day-Lewis.
81% Nominee: The Post 116 min, PG-13, [Biography, Drama, History, Thriller] [Steven Spielberg] [12 Jan 2018]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 72%, Rotten Tomatoes: 88%, Metacritic: 83%, External Reviews
Awards: Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 97 nominations.
Actors: Bob Odenkirk, Meryl Streep, Sarah Paulson, Tom Hanks
Writer: Liz Hannah, Josh Singer
External Links: Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Website Language: English Country: USA, UK
Plot: A cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed the country's first female newspaper publisher and a hard-driving editor to join an unprecedented battle between the press and the government.
Rotten Tomatoes: Steven Spielberg directs Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in The Post, a thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post's Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents. The two must overcome their differences as they risk their careers -- and their very freedom -- to help bring long-buried truths to light. The Post marks the first time Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg have collaborated on a project. In addition to directing, Spielberg produces along with Amy Pascal and Kristie Macosko Krieger. The script was written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer, and the film features an acclaimed ensemble cast including Alison Brie, Carrie Coon, David Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, Jesse Plemons, Matthew Rhys, Michael Stuhlbarg, Bradley Whitford and Zach Woods.
86% Nominee: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri 115 min, R, [Comedy, Crime, Drama] [Martin McDonagh] [01 Dec 2017]Ratings & Reviews: IMDb Reviews: 82%, Rotten Tomatoes: 90%, Metacritic: 88%, External Reviews
Awards: Won 2 Oscars. Another 104 wins & 193 nominations.
Actors: Caleb Landry Jones, Frances McDormand, Kerry Condon, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson
Writer: Martin McDonagh
External Links: Wikipedia Rotten Tomatoes IMDb Language: English Country: UK, USA
Plot: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI is a darkly comic drama from Academy Award winner Martin McDonagh (In Bruges). After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter's murder case, Mildred Hayes (Academy Award winner Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson), the town's revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother's boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing's law enforcement is only exacerbated.
Rotten Tomatoes: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI is a darkly comic drama from Academy Award winner Martin McDonagh (IN BRUGES). After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter's murder case, Mildred Hayes (Academy Award winner Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson), the town's revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother's boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing's law enforcement is only exacerbated.