Conclave
Conclave is a meticulously constructed political drama/thriller set in the Vatican. Similar to Succession and Game of Thrones, it is filled with scheming, backstabbing, and ideologies clashing in the name of self gain and God. The ensemble is outstanding with Ralph Fiennes leading this ensemble with a commanding tour de force. The atmosphere is claustrophobic, and this is amplified with a pounding score, immaculate sound design, and beautiful cinematography. Overall, Conclave is a wildly entertaining thriller set in the controversial world of the Vatican that will take the Oscars by storm.
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On Swift Horses
With so much talent in front of and behind the camera, I was shocked to find how tedious and boring On Swift Horses was. Instead of crafting a compelling narrative about the struggles of being a closeted member of the LGBT+ community during the 1950s, it was instead focused on how hot the ensemble was. Don’t get me wrong, the ensemble was great to look at, but their performances were woefully flat. On paper, there is a good story within On Swift Horses, but it is too boring to recognize it.
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Babygirl
Erotic thrillers are making a comeback, and they have never been sexier. Babygirl is a sexy and thought-provoking erotic thriller that dives into a complicated affair between a powerful, girl-boss CEO and her male intern. Right from the beginning the power-dynamics between the two are blurry and morally gray as Babygirl explores kinks, humiliation, and empowerment in the corporate world. Its moral ambiguity is both its greatest strength and weakness as it does feel like it falls short of saying something impactful, other than being honest about your kinks with your partner. However, the performances from Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, and Antonio Banderas more than make up for the lack of clarity in this seductive thriller.
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Bring Them Down
There is a reason why there is a saying “ don’t ever touch a shepherd’s flock” and Bring Them Down perfectly encapsulates why. In this Shakespearean tragedy, we witness one tragic action, one after another, after another, that leads to nothing but emotional misery and destruction. Christopher Abbott is a man of few words here, but he physically commands the screen with his presence. He is both tender, yet violent when pushed to his limits. While Barry Keoghan continues playing emotionally complex characters that will get under your skin. Director Christopher Andrews makes one helluva debut in Bring Them Down.
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Saturday Night
I am certain we would have guessed that Saturday Night Live, SNL, played out like a typical group project. Absolute chaos for 95% of the time, and then minutes prior to the presentation, you knock it out of the park. Saturday Night follows the 90 minutes, in real time, leading up to the premier to the first episode of Saturday Night Live as the cast and crew scramble to get the episode ready before the executives pull the plug. Director Jason Reitman was not kidding when he stated that this was a thriller comedy, where time was the villain. The ensemble is charismatic and charming as they fill in the shoes of some of the all time comedy greats. Filled with enough easter eggs to make any SNL fanboy happy and filled with enough chaos to keep the general audience entertained, Saturday Night is a fun time.
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The Piano Lesson
Adapted from the critically acclaimed play by August Wilson, The Piano Lesson is the most cinematic of the Wilson adaptations, yet the most uneven. Its uneven tone and the battling between narratives, does make it a bit uneven. Yet, The Piano Lesson is an incredibly strong directorial debut from Malcom Washington. Every scene is meticulously craft making for a compelling family drama rooted in legacy. Even though it is very obvious that this film is adapted from a play, it was still masterfully crafted. The performances across the board were powerful and commanding, with Danielle Deadwyler being the standout amongst this incredible stacked ensemble. Overall, The Piano Lesson is a film to not sleep on this Oscar season.
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Eden
Eden is a change of tone for Ron Howard as I went into this as blind as possible. It is his bleakest and wildest film to date, as we follow this insane true story of a group of settlers trying to survive on a desolate island in the Galapagos. It’s brutal, humorous, philosophical, and intense, as it delves into the complexity of human nature. It is truly an exploration of the survival of the fittest, but not by physical strength, but by mental and intellectual stamina. The entire ensemble gives fantastic performances by Ana de Armas steals the show as the manipulative and seductive baroness, easily giving her best performance of her career so far. Even though Eden is a little messy at points, it is a fascinating and wildly entertaining film.
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The Room Next Door
Despite winning the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival, Pedro Almodovar’s The Room Next Door feels undercooked. On paper, I think it has an interesting story that dives into the morality of euthanasia. Especially how it affects oneself and your family and friends. However, this exploration barely scratches the surface. For a film about ending one’s suffering and pain, those essential elements are missing from the film’s narrative. Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton try their hardest to elevate this exploration beyond the surface, but their talent can only take them so far. Sadly, it feels like Pedro won The Golden Lion, because he is Pedro Almodovar.
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