Stanley’s Picks

Stanley’s 3rd Pick : Return of the jedi

The Rebel Alliance prepares for a final battle against the tyrannical Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker returns to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, while coming to terms with his destiny as a Jedi and his connection to Darth Vader. As the Emperor schemes to crush the Rebellion with a new Death Star, Luke confronts Vader in a climactic duel, hoping to redeem his father. Meanwhile, the Rebels, with help from the Ewoks, launch a daring assault on the Death Star’s shield generator on Endor. In the end, Vader turns against the Emperor to save Luke, sacrificing himself and bringing balance to the Force.

Stanley’s 2nd Pick: Mufasa

Mufasa: The Lion King is a prequel to the beloved classic, telling the origin story of Mufasa — the future king of the Pride Lands and father of Simba. Narrated by Rafiki with insights from Timon and Pumbaa, the film explores Mufasa’s rise from a young orphaned lion cub with no royal blood to a legendary leader. Alongside his loyal friend Taka, who later becomes Scar, Mufasa navigates challenges, betrayal, and destiny. The story reveals how he earned the respect of the kingdom and laid the foundations for the legacy Simba would one day inherit.

Stanley’s 1st Pick: Conclave

Conclave is a gripping political thriller set within the secretive walls of the Vatican. After the sudden death of the Pope, the College of Cardinals gathers from around the world to elect a new leader of the Catholic Church. Among them is Cardinal Lomeli, a thoughtful and principled man tasked with overseeing the sacred proceedings. As the conclave unfolds, hidden agendas, secrets, and unexpected revelations threaten to derail the process. With global implications hanging in the balance, Lomeli must navigate faith, power, and truth to help choose the next pontiff—while discovering that the greatest surprise may come from within.

MC’s Picks

MC’s 3rd Pick: Heretic

In the psychological horror film Heretic, two young Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes (Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East), visit the home of Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant), an eccentric man who has expressed interest in their faith. Initially welcoming, Mr. Reed’s demeanor shifts as he engages the women in increasingly unsettling theological discussions. The situation escalates into a terrifying ordeal when the missionaries find themselves trapped in his home, subjected to psychological manipulation and forced to confront their beliefs in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. As the line between faith and fanaticism blurs, the women must rely on their wits and convictions to survive.

MC’s 2nd Pick: American Fiction

American Fiction is a sharp, satirical drama that follows Thelonious “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright), a frustrated African American novelist and academic who’s tired of the publishing industry’s demand for clichéd and stereotypical Black stories. In a moment of protest and mockery, he writes an outlandishly exaggerated “Black” book under a pen name—only for it to become a massive success.

As Monk grapples with the unintended fame and hypocrisy of his double life, he’s also forced to confront personal family issues, including aging parents, grief, and identity. The film cleverly explores themes of race, authenticity, artistic integrity, and what it means to be truly seen in America.

Based on Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, American Fiction is both hilarious and deeply poignant, offering a biting critique of cultural consumption and the expectations placed on Black creators.

MC’s 1st Pick: Juror #2

Directed by Clint Eastwood, Juror #2 is a gripping legal thriller that delves into themes of guilt, justice, and moral ambiguity. Nicholas Hoult stars as Justin Kemp, a journalist and recovering alcoholic in Savannah, Georgia, who is selected to serve on the jury of a high-profile murder trial. The case involves James Sythe (Gabriel Basso), accused of killing his girlfriend, Kendall Carter (Francesca Eastwood), after a public altercation.