James Gray’s cinema has often focused on themes of family and America, but his latest picture is particularly interested in how white privilege informs both subjects. The autobiographical drama “Armageddon Time” tells the story of a troubled Queens boy who discovers that, while his life is far from easy, he’s actually luckier than many – including a black classmate who becomes his closest friend.

Exceedingly thoughtful and self-critical, the film is steeped in the filmmaker’s sorrow for not recognising the ways in which he and those he loved contributed to an inequitable society that shows no signs of becoming less stratified. It boasts an impressive ensemble, including Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Strong and Anthony Hopkins.

Tim Grierson, Screen Daily