The Substance (2024) ***

Excellent body horror movie starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.

Civil War (2024) ***

The film tries hard to hide its political message, but there are more than enough hints as to where its actual sympathies lie. Nick Offerman's president is a barely disguised Donald Trump, Jesse Plemons' genocidal soldier doesn't need to carry a tiki torch to be easily identifiable, and the numerous mentions of Charlottesville aren't subtle at all. A weird (and unlikely) alliance between Texas and California aside, it's basically an anti-MAGA allegory masquerading as an anti-war one. 

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) ***

A very good sequel to the 1988 classic.

Deadpool And Wolverine (2024) ***

A self-reflexive, brechtian deconstruction of the superhero genre, using parody, irony, sarcasm and coarse language in a fresh and innovative way.

Wicked (2024) ***

The entire cast is superb, but Ariana Grande still manages to steal the movie from everyone else. It's a star-making bravura performance of the highest order, and her greatest show-stopping musical number, "Popular", is the highlight of the entire film. Songs:

"No One Mourns The Wicked"

"Dear Old Shiz"

"The Wizard And I"

"What Is This Feeling?"

"Something Bad"

"Dancing Through Life"

"Popular" ***

"I'M Not That Girl"

"One Short Day"

"A Sentimental Man"

"Defying Gravity"

Conclave (2024) ***

Way better than "Angels And Demons", a very suspenseful political drama full of intrigues during an election of a pope. The final twist is a bit much, but all the rest is pitch perfect.

Drive-Away Dolls (2024) ***

Enjoyable comedy about two lesbians crossing paths with a group of inept criminals.

Challengers (2024) ***

Perverse drama about a love triangle involving two tennis champions.