SOUND OF METAL
4.5 out of 5 stars
Ahmed is unbelievable as a drummer gone deaf. A rocker instantaneously tossed into a noiseless world is a terrifying thing, but he does his damnedest to reclaim the life he had & the woman he loves. His blazing performance is one of the very best this year.
Everything in relation to sound is incredibly innovative & downright remarkable in writer-director Marder’s feature film debut. It’s a well-executed, thoughtful examination of the Deaf community, particularly on how one views & handles such an abstruse loss. Is it an enhancement or an impairment? By the end of this extraordinary film, the answer is loud & clear.
HAPPIEST SEASON
3.5 out of 5 stars
Stewart leads a terrific lesbian love story wrapped in a holiday rom-com that’s smart, charming, & funny. Centering around a couple spending Christmas w/ one of their families where they don’t know either of them are gay, writer/director Duvall doesn’t take the traditional road travelled when portraying the difficulty of coming out. Sure, it’s covered in Christmas cheer, but the dumb importance of false appearances, the secrets destined to be brought to light, & the acceptance that’s so desperately wanted feels very honest. Stewart is splendid & Davis is great at frustrating the hell out of us viewers (that’s a compliment). They’re a part of a first-rate cast that includes Brie, Levy, & Steenburgen. But it’s Holland & Plaza whose supporting roles leave the biggest impression.
WILD MOUNTAIN THYME
1.5 out of 5 stars
The scenery is pretty, yet everything else is just plain ugly in writer-director Shanley’s Irish rom-com where the romance is awkward & the comedy is non-existent. Honestly, it’s beyond me as to how he convinced a first-rate cast to do this but bless their hearts. What is first believed to be a story of family farms & proposing to your one true love gets strange, baffling, & nearly embarrassing the more you watch. And Shanley saves the best for last w/ a shocking reveal. A shockingly stupid reveal.
LET HIM GO
3.5 out of 5 stars
Lane & Costner are stellar together as two loving grandparents traveling off the grid to save their grandson from a menacing family. They make this slow burn dramatic thriller more riveting & meaningful. And as soon as we’re introduced to a scene-stealing Manville, it’s apparent she isn’t interested in playing nice. Credit to the casting because the performances play a pivotal part in why this emotional & violent ride is so engrossing. There are times when writer/director Bezucha could pick up the pace a bit & get rid of a few unnecessary scenes that don’t serve the story. However, he wastes no time when things need to get tense & once they do – the edge of your seat is where you’ll be.
BLACK BEAR
2 out of 5 stars
Plaza delivers a knockout performance, a career-best, in a drama consumed by jealousy, lust, & an unrelenting creative process that goes nowhere. Split into two acts – the first starts off rather intriguing, but as roles are flipped & the look & tone changes, the second is absolutely draining. In this clash of life & art, writer-director Levine has some tricks up his sleeve, yet they’re hardly fascinating to watch unfold.
PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN
5 out of 5 stars
With such a dauntlessly inciting feature debut, writer-director Fennell goes places that would scare the hell out of other films. From basically the opening credits on – radiating confidence in what she wants to say & how to effectively show it – there’s no stopping her from getting what she wants. It’s sharp, stylish, & scathing.
In a performance unlike any other this year, Mulligan is a marvel as Cassie, an intelligent & cunning med school dropout who has a thirst for vengeance. Still, getting revenge doesn’t guarantee closure from the trauma & grief she’s suffering from. Fennell puts her in tender moments, which are significant in getting a closer look at her pain following a life-shattering loss. But anger is the driving force &, as we all know, payback is a bitch.
An unapologetic, cathartic, & darkly comedic thriller w/ an awesome soundtrack to boot. Fennell & a ferocious Mulligan have never had so much fun grabbing male entitlement by the balls & watching it squirm.
ZAPPA
3.5 out of 5 stars
An unparalleled artist gets a far from standard, embracive doc that Zappa himself would dig. Written & directed by Winter, he examines the monumental musical career that defied all music genres & birthed a totally new one. In addition, audiences get to know Zappa on a more personal level than ever before. For better or worse, music was his life & he never minced words when sharing his opinions on the times he was living in & the politics he detested. With over two hours of arresting archival footage & intimate interviews from family & those who rocked w/ the man – this is undoubtedly for fans of Zappa & for anyone out there who admires the creation of art.
WOLFWALKERS
4 out of 5 stars
As Cartoon Saloon’s best animated feature to date, we’re thrust into fantastic Irish folklore that’s visually bewitching w/ worthwhile metaphors that are deserving & not too difficult to pick up on. In a world where humans can transform into wolves, this magical & mesmerizing adventure runs wild w/ imagination & right through its trying actualities.
Fearing something you don’t fully understand, man v. nature, & a strong sisterhood are topics ably & cleverly crafted by director Moore & co-director Stewart to assuredly enchant & educate children & adults. It’s also just gorgeous to look at. The entire experience is highly affective & very rewarding.
GODMOTHERED
1.5 out of 5 stars
This family friendly fairy tale is cute for the first 15 minutes or so, then it’s predictable, generic, & 30 minutes too long. And w/ Bell & Fisher involved, the laughs should come easily – though director Maguire makes it look quite difficult. A sizable amount of that much-needed magic is seriously missing, giving audiences no chance for a happily ever after. At least Squibb is in it. She’s adorable no matter what.
NOMADLAND
4 out of 5 stars
A subtle, spiritual character study w/ an earnest, stoic, & immersive McDormand as a wandering widow whose van is her home after being a victim of the Great Recession. She’s joined by real-life nomads on an extraordinary, free-spirited journey of refusing a culture that has all but forgotten about them.
From writer-director Zhao, we get to behold the simple things in life, experiencing the closest to what many may consider complete freedom. Even so, no matter how far you travel, moving on remains a difficult thing to do. It’s poetic & atmospheric w/ breathtaking beauty.
DEAR SANTA
3.5 out of 5 stars
‘Tis the season for a bighearted doc that celebrates the USPS’s Operation Santa. For over a century, this gift of giving has made kids & adults alike feel special as their Christmas wishes come true. Writer/director Nachman captures Santa & his elves receiving every letter written & the grand generosity that follows in delivering every present. It’s terrific & tearful to see the holiday spirit in full force w/ not only children getting excited about St. Nick, but knowing there’s people out there who are truly changing lives on Christmas Day.
COLLECTIVE
4 out of 5 stars
Power, lies & demoralization drenches director Nanau’s informative & involving doc that exposes shocking truths. A deadly nightclub fire was just the beginning as journalists & a newly appointed Minister of Health seek to change institutionalized corruption & the rotten healthcare system in Romania. It’s a real-life political thriller that’s a commendation of investigative journalism & for anyone trying to keep democracy alive. No matter how infuriating or terrifying this gets, it’s nevertheless required viewing for us citizens around the globe.
RUN
2 out of 5 stars
In this painfully predictable paranoid thriller from writer-director Chaganty, a mother protects her daughter by any means necessary as the trust between them starts to severely diminish. The plot is rather preposterous & the twist it can’t wait to reveal isn’t all that shocking. Anything close of being actually clever or gripping is thanks to the two bang-up performances from Paulson & Allen. They bring some much-needed emotion to an otherwise campy B-movie that’s neither suspenseful nor substantial. This is unfortunately the exact opposite of Chaganty’s incredibly inventive & spectacular first film, Searching.
UNCLE FRANK
3.5 out of 5 stars
Writer-director Ball puts together an exceptional portrait of family, love & acceptance, but not without its share of hatred, heartbreak, & guilt. Bettany is amazing as a gay professor hiding who he is & who he loves from most of his family. But when it comes to his teenage niece, played by the fantastic Lillis, she wants to be just like him & escape the shackles of a small southern town. Through their touching ride in becoming the person they decide to be, she helps him face his fears that he’s been running from his entire life. It’s a stupendous self-discovery tale of taking on generational prejudice & having the courage to live your truth.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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