Movie and Television Reviews.
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“Wuthering Heights”
“Wuthering Heights” may be the most unromantic and unerotic story about doomed lovers ever made. Its message, about how tragic it is to deny our urges, is delivered with the subtlety of cannon fire. On another level, it offers an interesting, if bombastic critique of the novel upon which it’s based. Not recommended.
No Other Choice (South Korea, Park Chan-wook)
No Other Choice is a tale of two movies. I enjoyed the satire and slapstick-filled first half, less so its cold and didactic second half. Overall, the movie’s dizzying style and committed performances won me over. Recommended.
Continue reading No Other Choice (South Korea, Park Chan-wook)
Train Dreams (Netflix)
Train Dreams tells an ambling, pensive and melancholy story through beautifully lived-in performances and stunning natural photography. The movie evokes our sympathy and compassion for everyone left puzzled by life’s inscrutability. Highly Recommended.
The Choral
When the world is on fire, thank goodness there’s art to temporarily remind us of the beauty of life. This is the heart of The Choral, a WW1 period piece that evokes universal truths about art and the horrors of war. Ralph Fiennes delivers another memorable performance as the arrogant conductor tasked with the impossible. …
Is This Thing On?
Stand-up comedy is one-man’s idea of therapy in Is This Thing On?, a movie that speaks to the importance of holding onto what you love even as responsibilities mount. Will Arnett gives a career-defining performance in this funny and heartfelt movie about overwhelmed, middle-aged adults. Highly Recommended.
The Friend
How a pet and its new owner finding each other in The Friend is very familiar ground, but it works because the story is told with empathy and sensitivity. Naomi Watts and Bill Murray are touching as a professor and her mentor, who both accept a Great Dane into their lives. A charming little drama. …
Cloud (2024, Japanese, director Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
As a crime thriller, Cloud has plenty of intrigue, hidden motivations and shocking violence to satisfy fans of the genre. However, writer-director Kiyoshi Kurosawa elevates the material by turning it into a puzzle that ultimately reveals a bleak message about the universal nature of criminality. A brilliant film. Highly recommended.
Continue reading Cloud (2024, Japanese, director Kiyoshi Kurosawa)
The Housemaid
If you enjoy watching well-made movies about beautiful people doing all the wrong things, The Housemaid is for you. The trio of Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and Brandon Sklenar make this trashy psychosexual thriller a blast. Recommended.
Hamnet
Hamnet is a poetic film, one that uses the language of cinema to speak to us about art, life and the disparate impact they have on us. It’s also a beautifully made film with memorable performances throughout, featuring Jessie Buckley at her peak. One of the best films of the year. Highly recommended.
Detroit Cineaste 