Cinema Snapshots: May 2026
What I watched last month...
Welcome to this month’s Cinema Snapshots! At the beginning of each month, I reflect on what I watched the prior month and provide a quick “snapshot” of my thoughts on those films. So without further ado, here are my Cinema Snapshots for May 2026.
The Drama
A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails.
Don’t get me wrong, Zendaya is a wonderful actress. But Robert Pattinson truly has become one of our finest actors of the day, offering some incredibly line deliveries and reactions in The Drama.
The middle of the film starts to get repetitive, but it’s well-made, has a lot to say about the commitment of love, and features some innovative editing choices. Good watch!
★★★★☆
Death by Lightning
The story of James Garfield, who rose from obscurity to become America’s 20th President — and Charles Guiteau, the man who assassinated him.
I don’t often review television or mini series, but occasionally, one leaves me speechless. This year, it’s been Death by Lightning. It shows a world full of opportunity but also of rejection. A political system in which anyone can be elected but can just as easily be manipulated. A society in which kindness and compassion can do so much, but not nearly enough. Set in the 1880s, the show demonstrates just how little things have changed in the American political system.
What more can I say? It has a great cast and is based on a remarkable true story. I didn’t know I needed a spiritual sequel to Hamilton, but here we are.
★★★★★ | Watch now on Netflix
Mother Mary
Long-buried wounds rise to the surface when iconic pop star Mother Mary reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer Sam Anselm on the eve of her comeback performance.
The film nearly lost me in the middle, but a good first act and great ending more than win out. Director David Lowery is a remarkable visual storyteller and the shots of the red “ghost” are instantly iconic.
I suspect there are one thousand interpretations of the film’s meaning (and I’m not even sure Lowery had an exact one in mind). But I kept coming back to the concept of God as the dressmaker. It’s not a perfect metaphor and requires some stretches, but the film has a lot to say about a broken person returning to their “Maker” in hopes of healing and restoration.
★★★★☆
Tuner
A talented piano tuner’s life is turned upside down when he discovers that his meticulous skills for tuning pianos can equally be applied to cracking safes.
The surprise of 2026 is Tuner, a boldly edited, wonderfully performed, and sharply written crime drama. Stars Leo Woodall and Havana Rose Liu share incredible chemistry, and Dustin Hoffman’s supporting role is brief but powerful. Tuner succeeds in large part due to how great they all are together.
And, of course, I love a film that works in unique musical qualities. Not only is the soundtrack great, but the premise revolving around a piano tuner immediately drew me in. You probably won’t see much promotion for this film, but I highly recommend it.
★★★★☆
Michael
The story of Michael Jackson, one of the most influential artists the world has ever known, and his life beyond the music. His journey from the discovery of his extraordinary talent as the lead of the Jackson Five, to the visionary artist whose creative ambition fueled a relentless pursuit to become the biggest entertainer in the world, highlighting both his life off-stage and some of the most iconic performances from his early solo career.
Michael hits on nearly every overdone biopic trope, features caricatured performances, and offers little more than stale recreations of music videos and concert performances.
Michael Jackson may have been a groundbreaking musician, but the film never tries to differentiate him from any other artist that’s managed to become famous.
★★☆☆☆
Swapped
A tiny woodland creature and a majestic bird suddenly swap bodies, forcing them to team up to survive the wildest adventure of their lives.
It’s difficult to guess the quality of a Netflix original film (there are some real duds), but I was shocked at how much I loved Swapped. It features gorgeous animation, stunningly beautiful music from Siddhartha Khosla, and compelling voice work from a celebrity cast.
The film tells a story you’ve seen a million times, which holds it back from being truly special. But this is (so far) my favorite animated film of 2026.
★★★☆☆ | Watch now on Netflix
Breaking Down the Arts & Faith Top 25 Films Directed by Women
The Arts & Faith community recently announced the Top 25 Films Directed by Women. Each year, a group of jurors nominates and votes on a top 25 list identifying the best spiritually significant films within a certain theme. This was the sixth list of which I’ve been a juror, but the nine month process the community and I spent in crafting this one has been…
