Top Gun: Maverick - 4/5

This movie outshines its predecessor in every way. The plot is solid with outstanding pacing and storytelling. Even the gratuitous shots of jets being jets, which was the main draw of the original, are cleaner shots with smoother tracking in more dynamic locations. It offers a compelling story behind the action façade by doing away with the notion that a sequel needs to be bigger and more bombastic, a lesson the industry sorely needs to learn. If you don’t remember much of the original don’t worry: this film reminds the audience of the important plot points as they become relevant.

Closest comparison: It’s like Top Gun by way of Stealth (2005).

Setting: War
Plot: Spec Ops
Tone: Action

The Town - 4/5

This movie is a modern heist classic, focusing more on the camaraderie of the lowlife thieves than on the sleuthing of the detectives tracking them down or even the thrill and mechanics of the heists themselves. It’s fun to watch the four main leads fully immersed in their characters and bouncing dialogue off each other. In that there’s a playfulness to the drama that doesn’t sacrifice the impact of the story to engage the audience.

Content warning: brief female nudity

Closest comparison: It’s like Four Brothers by way of American Heist.

Setting: Crime
Plot: Heist
Tone: Lowlifes