Justin Chang

Film critic Justin Chang reviews the new film by writer-director Eliza Hittman who made the acclaimed coming-of-age dramas 'It Felt Like Love,' and 'Beach Rats.'

This captivating underdog film centers on two strangers who meet in the Oregon Territory circa 1820 and start their own baking business — which requires stealing milk from the territory's first cow.

Director Benh Zeitlin conjures up some practical magic in a loose retelling of J. M. Barrie's classic story. But ultimately, Wendy's clever twists aren't enough to keep your attention from wandering.

The latest adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma is as handsome, clever and rich as its famous heroine — and I mean "rich" in the caloric sense, as well. I wanted to snack on every pastel-hued surface of Kave Quinn's production design, which suggests nothing less than a frosted cupcake come to life — a feast of lace bonnets and high collars, gilded frames and glass chandeliers.

In Tbilisi, Georgia, two male dancers in the national dance ensemble embark on a secret love affair. It's a fairly straightforward drama of first love — enhanced by the vitality of the setting.

Set in Leningrad shortly after World War II, Beanpole centers on two women who find themselves deeply scarred by their wartime experiences with the Red Army.