"Arrival" Review (****½)

Amy Adams stars in "Arrival."

Denis Villeneuve, one of our most consistent filmmakers, has crafted one of the best sci-fi movies of the decade with "Arrival." A slow-burn, intellectual approach keeps the story front and center—and what a story it is.

Amy Adams plays Louise Banks, a linguist whose skillset becomes invaluable when mysterious spacecrafts land around the world—twelve different ones to be exact. Hovering quietly above random locations across the globe, humanity has to make the next move. Do we attack? What do they want? Why are there twelve? These questions are only the beginning of the mystery that falls into the hands of Louise and her physicist partner Ian (Jeremy Renner).

Georgia Film Critics Association Announces 2015 Nominees

"Mad Max: Fury Road" and "Sicario" lead the pack; "Ex Machina," "Room," "Spotlight" land multiple nominations.

The Georgia Film Critics Association turns 5-years-old this year and has released the nominees for the last year in film. "Mad Max: Fury Road" leads the pack with 7 nominations. "Sicario" landed 6, with "Spotlight" and "Room" each getting 5. "Carol," "Ex Machina" and "The Martian" all earned 4 nominations.

Some surprises include "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" landing a sole nomination for Best Picture, "The End of the Tour" being honored for Jason Segel and Adapted Screenplay, director Ryan Coogler landing a Best Director nod without "Creed" getting nominated for Best Picture and Rose Byrne showing up in the Best Supporting Actress race for "Spy."

Documentary nominee "The Look of Silence" was also nominated for Best Foreign Film. A voting tie results in the GAFCA's first ever list of 7 nominees for Best Actress. Steven Spielberg's "Bridge of Spies" earned 3 nominations, as did "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Georgia-lensed "Furious 7" was nominated for Best Original Song. The Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema will be announced with the winners list on Friday. A shortlist of considered films is expected to be released as well.

Several of these films were found on the Georgia film festival circuit this year. "Frame by Frame," "I'll See You in My Dreams," and "Love & Mercy" all played at the Atlanta Film Festival. "45 Years," "Amy," "Anomalisa," "Best of Enemies," "Brooklyn," "Frame by Frame," "The Hunting Ground," "Room," "Son of Saul," "Spotlight" and "Youth" all played at the Savannah Film Festival. Additionally, "Frame by Frame" played at the Macon Film Festival.

Winners will be announced on Friday, January 8th. Check out the full list of nominees after the jump.

The Goods: 20 Should-Be Oscar Contenders from 2015

The year is over. A lot of films have come and gone, but a few managed to stick in our heads for perhaps longer than we expected. Will these titles and their stars pop-up on the Academy's list in a couple weeks? Probably not, but maybe they should! 

We have compiled 20 should-be contenders this awards season. Some of them might surprise you! Who do you think should be in the conversation? Check out our list and leave a comment.

The Goods: Emily Blunt's 10 Best Performances

One of the year's best films, "Sicario" continues to post gains in both box office revenue and awards buzz, especially for its lead, Emily Blunt. We've been fans of Blunt for a while here, following her from her early days in British indies through her Hollywood breakthrough in "The Devil Wears Prada" and her rise from solid supporter to bonafide leading lady. After her Georgia Film Critics Award nomination for "Looper," Blunt really started making some moves. Recent roles in films like "Edge of Tomorrow" and "Sicario" have us officially proclaiming—Emily Blunt has gone next level on us.

We know you love her too, so we put our heads together and came up with a list of the ten best Emily Blunt performances to date. Did your favorites make the cut?

"Sicario" Review (****½)

Emily Blunt stars as FBI agent Kate Macer in "Sicario."

French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve's new addition to his dramatic, suspenseful filmography ("Incendies," "Prisoners") is "Sicario"—a brutal thriller about a government task force and its hunt for a violent drug cartel along the United States/Mexico border. Armed with a brilliant cast and a heart-pounding score, Villeneuve delivers one of the year's most beautifully shot, exhilarating films.