Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin’s new documentary Free Solo is a thrilling look at the most dangerous form of climbing through the eyes of Alex Honnold, one of the most accomplished free climbers of all time. The film follows Honnold as he attempts to scale the daunting El Capitan rock formation in Yosemite National Park without the use of ropes or protective gear. Glib psychoanalysis periodically threatens to sap the film’s energy, but every second focused on Honnold’s daredevil ascent is breathtaking and gut-wrenching, transforming it into one of the best documentaries of the year. Minor spoilers ahead…

When is a gimmick not a gimmick? Aneesh Chaganty answers this question with his slick and thrilling directing debut Searching, the second film of the summer with Asians in lead roles. A straightforward mystery of a father in search of his missing daughter, Searching is a nimble and sharp story told through the lens of modern technology - the entire film is conveyed through screens, UIs, and cameras. A concept that easily could have come across as cheap and tacky instead elevates the film in ways that are exciting and surprisingly moving. Buoyed by a magnetic John Cho, the film is deeper and more thoughtful than your average cyber-thriller. Mild spoilers ahead…

Crazy Rich Asians, the long-awaited film based on the 2013 novel of the same name by author Kevin Kwan, is a milestone in Asian-American filmmaking and representation. The film works best not as a romantic comedy, but as an exploration Asian and Asian-American identity in ways not often seen in mainstream media. Despite a sometimes uneven script and a reliance on genre tropes, Crazy Rich Asians is a vital stepping stone for Asians in Hollywood, elevated by a sprawling cast led by a charming Constance Wu. Mild spoilers ahead...

They just don't make them like this anymore. In the age of superheroes and large-scale sci-fi epics, Mission: Impossible - Fallout is a refreshing throwback to balls-to-the-wall stuntwork that manages to thrill and amaze just as adeptly as its shinier CGI brethren. The first true sequel in a six-film franchise, Tom Cruise's iron will to entertain with insane physical setpieces, along with Christopher McQuarrie's sharp script and direction, mark this Mission as one of the best. Mild spoilers ahead...

We're only half way through 2018, and we've already seen our fair share of great films. From sweeping blockbusters to quiet indies, this year has produced a diverse pool of cinematic gems, and it isn't even awards season yet. Consider this the first installment of our semi-annual best of list. Our favorite films of 2018 so far are...

Much more than just a horror movie, Hereditary is an emotional experience designed to upset and traumatize. Brutal and beautiful, first-time feature director Ari Aster crafts a harrowing tale that is as engrossing as it is difficult to watch. Aided by haunting direction and cinematography, along with a bravura performances from Toni Collette and Alex Wolff, Hereditary is a pitch black exploration of family dynamics and the fallout of dark supernatural secrets. Mild spoilers ahead...

The home stretch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Three is finally here, and the Russo brothers deliver an epic, brutal, and oftentimes scattered showdown with the Mad Titan Thanos. Buckling, even if never caving, under the weight of the preceding 18(!) films, Avengers: Infinity War can't quite live up to the high-water mark year the MCU has had, but it damn well tries and it's a minor miracle that the film works as well as it does. Mild spoilers ahead...

One of the most decorated directors of the past few decades, Steven Soderbergh has made a name for himself with his daring forays into experimental filmmaking. In some ways, Soderbergh challenges the very concept of the auteur filmmaker: with no trademark look or style, his diverse filmography ranges from mainstream blockbusters like the Ocean's films, to micro-scale stunt-casted indies like The Girlfriend Experience and Haywire, to prestige period television like The Knick. Soderbergh's latest film, Unsane, is a thrilling master class in suspense that works in tandem with Soderbergh's eye for experimentation, but it's not for everyone. Mild spoilers ahead...

Thoroughbreds, which started its life as an unproduced stage play by Cory Finley, is a fresh and confident debut for the first-time director. Dark, humorous, and sharp, the film is aided by two magnetic performances from Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke, and a special assist from some of the best sound editing in a film this year. Mild spoilers ahead...

Under the Radar is a column by Strange Harbors that explores hidden gems in pop culture. Whether it's a little seen film, an underappreciated television show, or a forgotten comic, there's a lot of quality stuff out there that goes relatively unnoticed. This column's job is to shine an oft-needed light on these overlooked, but ultimately worthwhile, works. This week, we'll be taking a look at the short-lived but excellent Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - a television series that captured the magic of the James Cameron films way more than their later sequels ever did.

An uplifting celebration of blackness, Black Panther represents a momentous turning point in black cinema. Ryan Coogler has crafted one of the most poignant explorations of African culture and what it means to be black. The main character just happens to kick ass and wear a cat costume. Mild spoilers ahead...

Netflix, in an unprecedented move, dropped an entire feature-length film onto unsuspecting audiences right after the Super Bowl last night. The third film in the Cloverfield franchise developed by J.J. Abrams, The Cloverfield Paradox is a new sci-fi film that attempts to tackle parallel universes, space adventure, and giant monsters...and fails miserably. Uninspired, lazy, and mostly just nonsensical, The Cloverfield Paradox is a waste of a perfectly executed marketing stunt. Mild spoilers ahead...

Under the Radar is a column by Strange Harbors that explores hidden gems in pop culture. Whether it's a little seen film, an underappreciated television show, or a forgotten comic, there's a lot of quality stuff out there that goes relatively unnoticed. This column's job is to shine an oft-needed light on these overlooked, but ultimately worthwhile, works. This week, we'll be taking a look at the Canadian sci-fi import that's currently streaming on Netflix: Travelers.

Don't let its grindhouse and exploitation trappings fool you, Brawl in Cell Block 99 is a fantastic film that puts Vince Vaughn to great use in a way you'd least expect: as a take-no-prisoners asskicker. A film that depicts a slow unraveling of a man's life that suddenly explodes into bone-crunching madness and gruesome violence in its third act, Brawl in Cell Block 99 will change the way you look at Vince Vaughn forever. Minor spoilers ahead...

Premium channel Starz gets into the prestige sci-fi game with Counterpart, an espionage thriller starring J.K. Simmons and featuring spies, parallel universes, and games of Go. Although the series doesn't officially premiere until this Sunday, Starz has made the pilot available for viewing since December 10th of last year. Fringe by the way of The Americans, the Counterpart pilot offers thrills and suspense at a brisk clip and introduces us to its dizzying world with a rock solid first outing. Minor spoilers ahead...

The tracking shot. The long take. Whatever you decide to call it, no other cinematic device tests the prowess of a film director like a long scene uninterrupted by any cuts. Directors love the tracking shot because a beautiful long take proves more than anything that they know what they're doing: dialogue must be timed perfectly, camera operators must be on point, action choreography must hit their marks, and no mistakes can be made. The longer the shot, the harder it is to film. So, in my humble opinion, here are the five greatest tracking shots of all time...

Marvel's Runaways fails to capture the magic of its source material. While the comic is now considered a classic of the modern Marvel era, this new adaptation can't seem to muster the focus, charm, and creativity of the original. A disclaimer: as a huge fan of the original comic, it is impossible for me to review this show objectively. If you are looking for a review that can judge this show on its own merits, this one may not be for you. Mild spoilers ahead...

Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi is the second installment of the modern trilogy of films that started with The Force Awakens. The Last Jedi is an uneven film that has lower lows than its predecessor, but also higher highs. The film is saddled with dull subplots and wheel-spinning, but a rollicking and completely unpredictable third act revives an otherwise limp entry in the Star Wards canon. Minor spoilers ahead...