OUR FRIEND
3.5 out of 5 stars
Written by Ingelsby & directed by Cowperthwaite, this impeccably tender tearjerker depicts the devastating effects cancer has on the Teague family & the incredible help they get from their unambitious yet lovable & loyal best friend. There’s nothing phony or exploitative about this real-life story, its handling is exceedingly poignant & honest w/ scenes that can be joyous or heartrending or both. With a trio of phenomenal performances – it’s extraordinarily emotional & earns every tear that will be shed. Affleck & Johnson are exceptional w/ Segel delivering a career-best.
IDENTIFYING FEATURES
4 out of 5 stars
Lead by a divine Hernández – dragging the deepest of worry, fear, & intrepidness behind her – this artful, astonishing Mexican thriller addresses the topical subject of immigration in the form of a nightmarish quest of a mother in search of her missing son. Visually stunning & quietly compelling, co-writer-director Valadez’s debut feature captures the personal & painful perspective of mothers left behind when their baby boys go in search of a better life in the U.S.; all the while dealing w/ the drug war carnage & what’s not being done about it. Beauty & horror can each be found in Valadez’s powerful imagery – making one unforgettable film w/ a devastating but ineludible ending in a land that’s a living hell for so many families across the border.
LOCKED DOWN
2 out of 5 stars
Hathaway & Ejiofor give solid star power to a light but unexciting rom-com heist movie set during these crazy pandemic times. They play a couple on the outs but have no choice but to quarantine together for a couple of weeks. Luckily, this gives them a chance to make their confessions before deciding on stealing a diamond that can give them freedom & maybe repair their relationship in the process.
It’s sort of weird to see living in a COVID-19 world on-screen, but it’s treated mainly as a gimmick in director Liman’s tonally incongruous narrative where more than half of it indulges in wine, promotions, poetry, & misery. By the time the heist part finally kicks in – we’re ready to call it quits. Its two leads have the charisma & capability of turning this into something worthwhile. However, they’re never given the chance since Liman & writer Knight are unable to nail it in the romance, humor, or action department. I would’ve taken 2 out of 3.
HERSELF
3 out of 5 stars
Co-writer & star Dunne is nothing short of sensational in her portrayal as a single mother on an emotional journey of literally & figuratively building a better life for her & her young daughters after escaping an abusive relationship. Directed by Lloyd, it’s an intimate story of survival w/ female resilience & simple kindness laying down the foundation. Unfortunately, this drama could’ve been more moving if not embroiled in cliches & familiarity. But in no way does that dismiss the empathy, determination, vulnerability, & strength Dunne gives us.
SAINT MAUD
3.5 out of 5 stars
An audacious psychological horror that succeeds in being sporadically shocking & utterly unnerving. Clark is incredible as a nurse traumatized by her past who turns to religion to cope, firmly believing she’s meant for something bigger. God-fearing and in a serious spiritual crisis, she feels she must save her current patient Amanda (the excellent Ehle). Though when one doesn’t want to be saved – it sure as hell doesn’t make for an easy undertaking.
As Maud sinks further & further into madness, God, the Devil, & mental illness are all at play. The result is something subliminal & savage. With her first film, writer/director Glass crafts a controversial, ambiguous, & intense character study of faith feeding fear, the scary similarities of religion & obsession, & that dangerously delicate mutation from savior to sinner & back again.
THE DISSIDENT
4 out of 5 stars
The shocking murder of Saudi journalist Khashoggi is uncovered in co-writer/director Fogel’s gripping & insightful doc of how & why it happened & those who continue in his footsteps to speak truth to power. Pieced together as a political thriller, so much is revealed of Khashoggi’s life & career, including his turning from an insider to an exiled to a dissident; all the while understanding the dangers it will bring from his home country that muzzles freedom of speech by any means necessary. What Fogel exposes is chilling & disturbing, tragic & infuriating. This grisly assassination tale is indisputably gutsy, probative & urgent – leaving us wondering where’s the fucking justice?
SUPERNOVA
3.5 out of 5 stars
Writer/director Macqueen’s romantic drama is simple in its storytelling, but the gentleness & compassion that comes through is beautifully captured. This touching, heartbreaking love story about saying goodbye presents two understated yet outstanding performances from Tucci & Firth. Together, they portray devoted partners going on one last road trip to relive past memories while stoically confronting the inevitable of what lies ahead. It’s a tremendous testament to a couples’ commitment & strength as the time comes to let go, & leaves those of us watching an emotional wreck.
PALMER
3 out of 5 stars
Aside from the predictability & typical tropes it can’t break free from, this story about second chances & acceptance achieves what director Stevens & the cast set out to do. It has a huge heart & is undeniably uplifting, but this wouldn’t be half the movie it is without a terrific Timberlake & his fatherly bond w/ the wonderful young Allen.
THE MARKSMAN
1.5 out of 5 stars
Guess who’s back once more w/ his old man action hero schtick? That’s right – our main man Neeson – but this one misses the mark completely. Only witnessing his very particular set of skills at the beginning & the end, co-writer/director Lorenz fills in the gap w/ a drudging road trip of Neeson’s ex-marine rancher & a young immigrant boy running from the Mexican drug cartel. Beyond being commonplace & predictable to a fault, the entire premise is a sad excuse of a thriller. If Neeson has only a few of these left in him, he better start choosing more wisely.
MINARI
4 out of 5 stars
A beautiful & heartrending immigrant story about starting over w/ a trio of tremendous performances from Yeun, Han & Youn. It’s emotional & empathetic, & through adversities & their aftermath – a deep connection is solidified w/ an American Korean family who have left California for farming in Arkansas. Presenting a personal, potent journey of conformation & working towards a better life in America, writer-director Chung tells a distinct way of life – w/ complex characters – that’s authentic & quietly stunning. Seen through a young boy’s eyes, we watch this small slice of life grow full & meaningful.
LITTLE FISH
3.5 out of 5 stars
A smart sci-fi romance where a memory loss virus called Neuroinflammatory Affliction (NIA) is sweeping through wrecking lives & erasing relationships as if they never existed. And though sharing in some similarities w/ our current pandemic, director Hartigan isn’t focused on the origins of NIA & how it spreads – but rather what it does to a person & how they choose to deal w/ it.
Believability is a big deal for such a premise & depending on how much you have will ultimately shape your experience. I personally had enough as this mind-bending drama is beautifully acted by O’Connell & Cooke. They portray a couple desperately trying to hold on to what they’ve built together, not knowing how long they have until all may be forgotten. The grounded emotions they each carry is moving & will certainly break your heart.
THE NIGHT
3 out of 5 stars
In director Ahari’s first feature, a couple w/ their baby spend the night at an empty, eerie hotel that will scare the secrets out of them. It’s a night they’ll never forget as the past comes knocking & there’s no escaping it any longer. What Ahari presents w/ this psychological horror is affective, having its fair share of gripping & haunting moments. Unfortunately, the buildup is far more intriguing than what happens after the mystery is unlocked. The finale falls flat when going off the rails in explaining to audiences what they already know.
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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