I Am Mother (2019)

 

In the wake of humanity's extinction, a teenage girl is raised by a robot designed to repopulate the earth. But their unique bond is threatened when an inexplicable stranger arrives with alarming news.

Above-average, highly imaginative sci-fi post-apocalyptic drama slyly takes its time to reveal is mystery; suspenseful, tense, well directed with excellent special effects and good performances.

 

Rose Byrne

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Byrne

Insidious (2010)

A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.

Run-of-the-mill occult thriller may have some good production and a better cast, but is still as predictable and occasionally as most of the other ones. 

Maltin**1/2: "Old-fashioned haunted-house thriller aimed at adults boasts effective scares and a dark, mysterious mood, but it plays as a belated knockoff of POLETRGEIST. Decent B melodrama..."

The Place Beyond the Pines (2012)

A motorcycle stunt rider turns to robbing banks as a way to provide for his lover and their newborn child, a decision that puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop navigating a department ruled by a corrupt detective.

Ambitiously long-spanned drama offers good direction, cinematography and some good performances, but its intention to say something about guilt and fate doesn't quite convince and the narrative is more episodic than epic.

Maltin***: "Ambitious story of fathers and sons, fate and destiny...Deeply emotional story is played with great feeling by a fine cast.what some might see as a series of coincidences is well wrought by director and cowriter Gianfrance into a cohesive and credible saga. Also makes great use of its locations in Schenectady, N.Y."

X: First Class (2011)

In 1962, the United States government enlists the help of Mutants with superhuman abilities to stop a malicious dictator who is determined to start World War III.

Typical modern-day superhero extravaganza: great production value and some good bits, but very slow to get started and the heroes' diverse superpowers seem silly and arbitrary.

Maltin**1/2: "Good story tries to cover too much ground and introduces an abundance of characters...but the appeal of Marvel's X-Men remains intact, especially in the solid perforances of McAvoy and Fassbender. Newcomers Lawrence and Hoult score while Bacon seems miscast. A couple of surprise cameos will please series fans."

The Dead Girl (2006)

The clues to a young woman's death come together as the lives of seemingly unrelated people begin to intersect.

Intense, complex and harrowing study of the various lives involved or affected by a horrific crime; direction is speckless and the cast is superb.

Maltin***: "Intriguing if downbeat vignettes are linked by an overall rumination about violence toward women in our society. Writer-director Moncrieff offers her actors a superior showcase, and they're all terrific."