Futuristic films that portray grotesque experiments tend to be different than a usual sci-fi or horror flick. The science behind David Cronenberg’s Crimes of the Future displays an unsettling goal and theme. Think artificial intelligence meets crimes and corpses. Or even think about characters believing their ego or talent is more than it can be via synthetic technologies. Crimes of the Future is audacious from its creative plot and structure to its evolution of disturbing science. For Cronenberg, I found this one to be enthralling in terms of its title, but also the amount of realism in its directing to create something more vibrant than technological terror.

I thought Cronenberg had reached his level of depth and explicit content with Crash in 1996, a film where sexual energy was connected to infidelity, car crashes, and technologies. All those factors played into deadly goals. The goals are just as deadly in Crimes of the Future. The only difference is that it is more tolerable and a little less sexual, but still rather elaborate and just as twisted as Crash. Cronenberg has always had a fascination with insects, and that factors into the alarming aspects of his directing. The correlation to insects in Crimes of the Future is people’s anatomies working like their immune systems have stomach bugs to help their immunity remain afloat.

Cronenberg has an eye for eerie thrillers. The films that have grasped my attention the most have been A History of Violence (2005), Eastern Promises (2007), and A Dangerous Method (2011), all of which starred Viggo Mortensen. Mortensen’s vibe can be either disturbing or positive; however, he can portray all kinds of roles despite his mellow-toned attitude. Mortensen’s mellow-toned attitude in Crimes of the Future steps up the level of science, technology, fear, and the many features of artificial intelligence for dangerous purposes. Many of the characters in the film have no idea what their dangerous experiments holds in terms of irreparable consequences.

 Crimes of the Future gears on Saul Tenser (Mortensen) and Caprice (played by Lea Seydoux). The setting is an unknown futuristic world. The era of the film is one where humans can connect themselves to synthetic technology to help them with many factors of their anatomy. This can create many transformations and mutations. However, the technologies pose a risk because some people are jumping way ahead of their time. With their assistant Timlin (played by Kristen Stewart), the realizations of dangers in the technology of human species begin to take serious risks because the synthetic surroundings cause acceleration in many arenas. For Saul and Caprice, their goal is to use the synthetic surroundings to create an art show believed to take audiences’ breath away. However, some have a different goal in mind for the strange technology. There is Lang Daughtery (played by Scott Speedman), who wants to use the technology in hopes to bring his son back to life somehow. The different uses of the evolving artificial intelligence go in many strange waves in Crimes of the Future. With knowing the works of Cronenberg, though, I expected there to be quite a bit of awry.

The concept of synthetic environments and technologies for humans is a new idea of evolution in Crimes of the Future. From Cronenberg’s mind, though, there is no good in this technology. The good is in where it benefits the evil sides of its usage. That is where the questions spiral out of control for its characters and its audience. The risks of using synthetic technologies are violations of many laws in this one-of-a-kind sci-fi thriller

As I have said, the technology in the film violates norms because much of the experiments are not approved. I found the film to be eerie of its clarification towards what is right and wrong. I also found it to the plot to be out of focus. However, it being out of focus tended to grow my fascination towards what other uses the synthetic environments can create in Crimes of the Future. It is an experimental tale of love, loss, fame, and creativity on layers of different evils. Crimes of the Future will hold its audience in deep fascination of science from the mind of Cronenberg.

Artificial intelligence may seem cool in today’s world, and it may seem cool in the beginning of Crimes of the Future. There may be times, though, where the software may not be as realistic or trustworthy as its audience expects. Be ready for some glitches of terror and unexpected surprises in the most revolutionary and dark paths of Crimes of the Future. This is one to go in with an open mind. I did enjoy this one though. Three and a half stars.

Emma Thompson is an actress who can portray all types of characters. She can play a dark book author (like she did in Stranger Than Fiction in 2016) or a quirky, magical nanny (like she did in Nanny McPhee in 2006). Thompson can also play someone seeking true desire as she does in Good Luck to You, Leo Grand where her performance is audacious and grand. In this movie, she is delicate with emotions and fierce with what she wants. The most vibrant part of this role allows her to display her mellow-toned and quiet attitude like she has done in a variety of her other roles. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is different for Thompson, and she delivers a knockout performance like no other. Prepare to be wowed in the twisted scenarios that transpire in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande.

Director Sophie Hyde sets Good Luck to You, Leo Grande like it is a series of episodes. The setup reminded me of the HBO series In Treatment in which there are different sessions with different clients on different days of the week. There are different sessions in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, however, each of them involves meeting up with an escort. It is intriguing that the sessions include moments of confusion and feelings of inadequacy, but it is not all that disturbing or raunchy. The subject matter is quite risqué, and Thompson is brave to open her risqué side in this film. Viewers will ponder many questions during her journey as the sessions continue throughout the film.

Thompson is Nancy Stokes, a lady getting close to sixty who is in the mid-life crisis stage of her life. She feels she wants to experience some wild fun in her life and what comes to mind is sex. The main difference, however, is that she is really seeking more connection over sex. She hires a young escort, and his name is Leo Grande, played by Daryl McCormack. Leo works as an escort, and through sessions with Nancy, it turns out to be more than just the usual meetups.  In fact, Nancy starts to see through his eyes the individual Leo himself could be outside his shady career. Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, is a journey of lust, disconnect, and awareness which grow as Leo and Nancy engage in their risqué behaviors.

The shy side of Thompson is where her performance is stellar, and the eccentric side of McCormack is where he shines. Leo wants the scenarios to include communication. For Nancy, she wants Leo to be more open about other positives things in his life. The problem is that in the beginning she hired Leo only for sex which leads to the emotions between Nancy and Leo to weave between dramatic scenes. In the end, there is light for both Nancy and Leo.

The shift in the behavior patterns is where Good Luck to You, Leo Grande can sometimes have fragments of disconnection. Thompson’s role transitioned during the movie to the heartfelt side that I know from her other performances. This side of her performance allows the film to be an empathetic journey of figuring out the right path forward. Not only does Nancy move forward with her life, but also helps Leo move forward from the misdirection in his life. The film is witty, funny, touching, and a hard R dark comedy. Despite the risqué scenarios in the film, Good Luck to You, Leo Grande is an instant classic that is almost spectacular. Three and a half stars.

As the sun rises and the planes start to rev their engines, the opening salvo of summer blockbuster entertainment is launched with Top Gun Maverick. I felt I had to fasten my seatbelt as soon as the opening sequence began.

Thirty-six years in the making, Tom Cruise is back as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell. Cruise’s performance is reminiscent of the first film, and the game of planes and dog fights in the sky are taken to new horizons. Top Gun Maverick is nostalgic and carries on the legacy of that first film.

Tom Cruise is definitely one of the main draw making Top Gun Maverick spellbinding, but it has a lot more going for it. The Kenny Loggins theme song, “Danger Zone”, always sets my mindset for an exciting Top Gunexperience. The music in the film fades in and out in smooth transitions, cuing the audience as the action moments begin. Director Joseph Kosinski knows how to continue the traits of what Tony Scott created, bringing the important pieces to mesmerizing new levels. The continued franchise has similar lighting and cinematography, so fans will feel they are back in the 80s with all the unforgettable moments of what makes Top Gun exciting.

The plot starts with Cruise as Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in his own world, doing his own types of flying and working with his own planes. But his skills are still needed, and he is recruited by Adm. Beau ‘Cyclone’ Simpson to train new pilots that are stepping into the game. Among the pilots there are many new faces, including Lt. Natasha ‘Phoenix’ Trace, played by Monica Barbaro, Lt. Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd, played by Lewis Pullman, Lt. Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin, played by Glen Powell, and more.

But the rookie who poses the biggest challenge for Maverick is Lt. Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, played by Miles Teller. Rooster is the son of ‘Goose’, played by Anthony Edwards, who died in the first film. The last thing Maverick wants to do is put ‘Rooster’ in danger, but there is the quote in the film that, “It’s not the plane, it’s the pilot,”. Rooster is determined to be the man he saw his father to be, and to continue the legacy that Maverick and the others created back in the day. The heat of competition rises and it becomes the adventure of a lifetime, an epic ride of trial and terror.

But Top Gun Maverick is not all life and death. Cruise also starts a relationship with Penny Benjamin, played by Jennifer Connolly.

It was the adventures in Top Gun Maverick that left me breathless, though, especially with seeing it in the premium format of Dolby Atmos, a high-end technology that allows you feel the sound and fully experience the heat of the moments. The mission is complex, the skies are ready, and Top Gun Maverick is the opening excitement of summer blockbuster entertainment. The film is triumphant, mesmerizing, and daring. Top Gun Maverick is simply a knockout cinematic experience. Four stars for Top Gun Maverick.