Lisa Frankenstein

• Director: Zelda Williams
• Writer: Diablo Cody
• Starring: Kathryn Newton, Cole Sprouse, Henry Eikenberry, Carla Gugino

Grade: B+

Diablo Cody is one of the few remaining superstar screenwriters left in Hollywood today. The Oscar winner has done tremendous work on various projects, from critically acclaimed films like Juno to cult classics like Jennifer’s Body. Her signature dry humor and skillfully written dialogue makes her an auteur writer, placing her among the ranks of Charlie Kaufman or Tony Kushner. 

The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

• Director: Francis Lawrence
• Writer: Michael Lesslie, Michael Arndt
• Starring: Tom Blythe, Rachel Zegler, Peter Dinklage, Viola Davis, Jason Schwartzman, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera

Grade: B+

The Hunger Games franchise was a major part of my childhood. I sat in the theater opening weekend for every film in the now decade-spanning series, from the very first The Hunger Games in 2012 to Mockingjay – Part 2 in 2015. It was my gateway into franchise films, and I enjoy each movie in this series in its own way. That said, I was not excited to see The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. 

Next Goal Wins

• Director: Taika Waititi
• Writer: Taika Waititi, Iain Morris
• Starring: Michael Fassbender, Elisabeth Moss, Kaimana, Chris Alonso, Rhys Darby, Will Arnett, Taika Waititi

Grade: B

Next Goal Wins is the latest polarizing film from writer and director Taika Waititi. It stars Michael Fassbender, Elizabeth Moss, Kaimana and, as is often the case, Waititi himself. The film follows Thomas Rongen (Fassbender), a down-on-his-luck soccer coach, who takes a job to coach the American Samoa soccer team, the lowest-ranked team in the FIFA world rankings.