A paragon of American independent cinema.

It's no wonder that Linklater references this as one of the most inspirational works of the 80's. Rarely does a film reflect more palpably (and hopefully) a need to be made at any cost. Director Wayne Wang's pioneering work subverts the detective genre, reminiscent of the 1940's-50's golden age of film noir, and infuses it with the spirit of a pioneering, grassroots cultural documentary. Today, it remains an achievement of focused artistic vision, overcoming…

Containing both a plot and character arc that somehow feels less emotionally motivating than even the previous Wick entries, but Ana de Armas and the stunt team use the paper thin script as an opportunity to knock the action scenes out of the park. The choreography feels right at home, with de Armas's Eve showcasing the right amount of physical vulnerability, underdog grit, and willingness to fight dirty with whatever she can get her hands on. One standout scene being…

Fire.

We don't get too many hot takes on society and race relations like this in the film world, let alone from an Asian-American perspective.

Dir. Justin Chon delivers a searing character-driven drama that is equal parts Boyz n the Hood + Clerks + La Haine while also being something completely its own. The visuals range from intensely personal to lyrically stunning, the acting is raw and visceral, and the story is built to hit you straight at the core.…