Author:   Justin Souther

The Story: A young boy with facial differences finds himself in public school for the first time and must traverse the difficulties of being different. The Lowdown: While nothing special, here's a gentle, kind little film about understanding that doesn't get too manipulative.

The Story: Two dads try and navigate the holidays when their fathers (both of whom carry wholly different personalities) come to visit. The Lowdown: What should simply be a dumb, forgettable comedy is instead one imbued with the unfortunate task of trying to soften Mel Gibson's image, something that makes the endeavor feel a bit unseemly.

The Story: A recounting of Lyndon B. Johnson's rise to the presidency and the passing of the Civil Rights Act. The Lowdown: A perfectly OK movie that has notions of being something more meaningful, but without the talent behind the camera to accomplish such a thing.

The Story: A documentary about two people with Asperger's syndrome and how this affects their romantic relationship. The Lowdown: While a bit slow and meandering at times, the film has enough moments of true emotional weight to be a fascinating watch.

The Story: The story of Mark Felt, the FBI agent who became the Watergate source Deep Throat. The Lowdown: What wants to be a tight political thriller is instead a dramatically inert tale filled with sketchy direction and a wasted cast.

The Story: After the death of his daughter in a bombing, an unassuming Chinese immigrant with a past goes searching for the men responsible. The Lowdown: With only flashes of vintage Jackie Chan, what should at the very least be a fun little action picture is instead an overly serious and drab movie that's far too…

The Story: After a plane crash, a doctor and a photographer find themselves stranded in a snowy, mountainous wilderness and must figure out how to survive.The Lowdown: A fairly mediocre survival picture that slowly devolves into exaggerated schmaltz.

The Story: The life and artistic struggles of reclusive author J.D. Salinger. The Lowdown: A generally solid biopic that wants to cover too much of its subject's life and instead glosses over too much.

The Story: The final days of British rule in India, as seen through the clashes of different ideologies happening in the country. The Lowdown: A well-made period piece that does nothing exciting, new or unexpected.

The Story: The untold tale of Native American's influence on the history of rock 'n' roll. The Lowdown: An interesting facet of our national culture that's unfortunately hindered by its documentary format.

The Story: After his father ends up on his deathbed, a son travels to a small town to look after him and ends up in a friendship with a young woman. The Lowdown: A surprising little movie, gorgeously shot and intricate, with a wonderfully genuine humanity to it.

The Story: Two friends travel through Spain eating at fine restaurants and dealing with the intimate problems of their lives. The Lowdown: A classic case of diminished returns from a film franchise that was already a bit flimsy. Unfortunately, more of the same with only a good cast and an interesting ending going for it.

The Story: A down-on-her-luck bartender in a run-down New Jersey town dreams of becoming a hip-hop star. The Lowdown: A sometimes interesting film about misfits and underdogs that never quite transcends its melodramatic leanings and any real emotional resonance.

The Story: The story of the police shooting of Michael Brown and its aftermath. The Lowdown: A powerful document of a tumultuous time that nevertheless remains hopeful.

The Story: After botching a bank robbery, a small-time hood must figure out a way to get his brother out of Rikers Island jail. The Lowdown: An unintentionally silly and not very interesting deep dive into crime-ridden streets that's not very intelligent or entertaining.

The Story: The story of a woman, from her impoverished upbringing by dysfunctional parents to the way this affects her in adulthood. The Lowdown: A good (if unspectacular cast) can't push this film beyond its wonky structure and confused characterizations.  

The Story: Stuck in a loveless marriage, a woman begins an affair that leads to many dastardly things. The Lowdown: Punctuated by an excellent, entertaining performance by Florence Pugh, the movie is a curiosity in what it has to say about repression and gender dominance but suffers from some plot and characterization issues.

The Story: In '90s Manhattan, a family struggles with their personal lives, as well as their own relationships with one another. The Lowdown: Believably drawn characters are brought down by a lack of emotion and a '90s setting that serves little purpose beyond being generally distracting.

The Story: The story of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis and her husband, Everett. The Lowdown: A slow, serious portrait of an ugly marriage and an unlikely artist that lacks the proper heart to work.

The Story: A look at the lives of three young African-American men coming into adulthood in poor, rural North Carolina. The Lowdown: A worthy topic and very human study of struggle, race and class that falters due to the flaws built into its cinema verite style.

The Story: A look behind the scenes as master ballerina Wendy Whelan comes to terms with her aging body and the end of her career. The Lowdown: An occasionally human documentary that's best suited for those already fascinated by its topic.