A Ghost Story (2017)

In this singular exploration of legacy, love, loss, and the enormity of existence, a recently deceased, white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to try to reconnect with his bereft wife.

A seemingly ridiculous, but bold premise (presenting a ghost in a cloth) is masterfully pulled off in an intense, touching and thought-provoking tale with great performances and some excellent cinematography; a minor masterpiece.

Out of the Furnace (2013)

When a young man mysteriously disappears and law enforcement doesn't follow through fast enough, his older brother takes matters into his own hands to find justice.

At its core a simple revenge story is heightened by excellent location cinematography and great performances throughout; Woody Harrelson is particularly efficient as a sinister low-life crook.

Maltin**: "A story that would have been exploitation-movie fodder in the 1970s is played here with a heavy hand, straining for significance. Good performances and vivid location work can only go so far."

To Die For (1995)

A beautiful but naïve aspiring television personality films a documentary on teenagers with a darker ulterior motive.

Slyly made satire with an excellent performance by Nicole Kidman  has lost some of its bite over time, probably because much of it has come true.

Halliwell*: "A deft satire on the worship of celebrity for its own sake and the way television can elevate the ordinary to heroic status, though it takes aim at an exceptionally easy target - a small-town girl - without managing to hit the bull's-eye."

Maltin**1/2: "Kidman is perfect...this black comedy seems to make all the right moves, but plays out its story with a surprising lack of irony; by the climax it has nothing more to offer."

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

A depressed uncle is asked to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.

Meticuluosly performed and produced slice-of-life drama, at times heart-wrenching, but also a bit drab, espacially as the plot keeps piling up the blows of fate.