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 Shadows catches up ’24Reviews of films I only managed to see late in the game...
On this page:
AM I OK? |
BLINK TWICE |
REAWAKENING |
RICKY STANICKY
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| See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL | Last update 13.Dec.24 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Am I OK? Review by Rich Cline | 
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 dir Stephanie Allynne, Tig Notaro scr Lauren Pomerantz with Dakota Johnson, Sonoya Mizuno, Jermaine Fowler, Kiersey Clemons, Molly Gordon, Sean Hayes, Tig Notaro, Whitmer Thomas release US 6.Jun.24, UK 24.Jun.24 22/US 1h26 SUNDANCE Is it streaming? |
 Sharply written, directed and played, this comedy is packed with knowingly hilarious dialog and vivid characters who are easy to identify with. It's also tackling a theme that's rarely explored in movies, making the point that it's not unusual to question things about yourself even well into adulthood. And that life is generally much more blurry around the edges, resisting our attempts to put everything into a tidy box. Set in Los Angeles, the story centres around 32-year-old Lucy (Johnson), who relies on her best friend Jane (Mizuno) to continually push her. Jane is more settled with her boyfriend Danny (Fowler), and is planning to move with him to London for work. Meanwhile, Lucy has just admitted to Jane that the reason she has never had a boyfriend is that she's probably gay. So Jane immediately sets out to fix her up with her colleague Brittany (Clemons), who seems very interested. Of course, nothing is as simple as it should be. While this film is essentially a voyage of self-discovery, the script continually subverts the genre by adding ever-bigger questions. Jane likes to control things, and Lucy is afraid to take charge of her life, but both are going to need to make some big adjustments here. This is one of the funniest, most pointedly insightful scripts in recent memory, with terrific characters and situations that shift along with clever turns in the plot. So the astute, honest performances catch our attention, generating laughter and wonderful emotionality.
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Blink Twice Review by Rich Cline | 
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 dir Zoe Kravitz scr Zoe Kravitz, ET Feigenbaum with Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Alia Shawkat, Adria Arjona, Geena Davis, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Haley Joel Osment, Kyle MacLachlan release US/UK 23.Aug.24 24/US MGM 1h42 Is it streaming? |
 While the plot of this thriller raises more questions than it can answer, there's a creepy believability in the way the premise echoes news stories. It also features terrific actors who are unafraid to take on dark roles. So when things turn stomach-churning, we are genuinely taken aback. The script may shy away from some of its ideas, but it's a gripping little movie that keeps us on edge. At the centre are Frida (Ackie) and her best pal Jess (Sawkat), working as waitresses at a fundraising event when they are whisked away by charming billionaire Slater (Tatun) to his private island getaway. Things here are simply too good to be true, so Frida suspects there's some Get Out-style nastiness involved. Sure enough, serums derived from local flowers and snakes are having strange effects. Slater and his pals (including Slater, Rex, Osment and MacLachlan) seem to just be having fun, but something's up with Slater's assistant Stacy (Davis). Where this goes is extremely disturbing, although it's played for creepy entertainment value rather than as vile horror. And there are hints that some more audacious plot elements have been discarded in the edit. Because it begins to feel slightly out of balance, the film's impact wobbles a bit. But Ackie is excellent in the demanding central role, and as her connection with the up-for-it Tatum's Slater evolves, the actors are what pull us in, which allows them to deliver the snappy coda with gusto.
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Reawakening Review by Rich Cline |
Is it streaming?
|  There are several interesting things going on in this British drama, which is written and directed with a lovely light touch by Virginia Gilbert. The premise has echoes of The Return of Martin Guerre, but is pared down to essentially three characters who are grappling with grief, identity and ambiguity. While the script feels undercooked, the adept cast provides both intelligence and powerful emotions that keep us gripped. John and Mary (Harris and Stevenson) are a middle-aged couple who have lived with uncertainty since their 14-year-old daughter Clare (Kelleher in flickering flashbacks) ran away from home 10 years ago. And they've never given up looking for her. Then one day, Clare (Doherty) appears on the doorstep. Mary embraces her, but John is wary, unsure that this is really his daughter. And as he continues searching for the truth, their marriage begins to strain. There are a few gnawing details that feel off, such as the mention of a DNA test that never happens, and an investigating cop (Pinnock) who is being kept eerily out of the loop. On the other hand, the complex feelings John and Mary experience are beautifully played by Harris and Stevenson, who dig deeply into these people without ever relying on the usual movie cliches. These are bracingly honest performances that continually surprise us, and Doherty adds terrific textures of her own as the enigmatic Clare. While there are eventually enough clues to let the audience work out what is actually happening, they are presented in a cleverly off-handed way that adds a nice kick to the gentle mystery-thriller vibe. This also nudges the audience to lean into the story and characters, especially in a stunning climactic scene shot in a single take on Harris' face. Which makes it the kind of movie that leaves us with plenty to chew on.
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| Ricky Stanicky Review by Rich Cline |
|  dir Peter Farrelly scr Jeff Bushell, Brian Jarvis, James Lee Freeman, Peter Farrelly, Pete Jones, Mike Cerrone with Zac Efron, John Cena, Jermaine Fowler, Andrew Santino, Lex Scott Davis, William H Macy, Anja Savcic, Jeff Ross release US/UK 7.Mar.24 24/US 1h53 Is it streaming?
|  Harking back to his ruder filmmaking style, Peter Farrelly has offbeat fun with this comedy about three friends who have a trick to get away with bad behaviour. Although they're now grown men and should know better. While the concept is broad, the raucousness is grounded in solid characters. If the film had been given a theatrical release, it might have clicked with audiences looking for some escapist fun. As kids, three pals create the imaginary "Ricky Stanicky" to take the fall whenever they're in trouble. And they're still using him in their 30s. One day, Dean (Efron), Wes (Fowler) and JT (Santino) use Ricky as an excuse to escape to Atlantic City instead of attending JT's baby shower. Of course, life interferes with their plans, and they hire floundering actor Rod (Cena) to play Ricky for their families and colleagues back home. But this creates escalating mayhem with Dean and JT's boss Summerhayes (Macy). Never quite going completely over the top, the many-handed script finds strong humour in the characters and situations, while indulging in a continual stream of enjoyably tasteless gags. Some of these feel very corny (such as the clips of Rod's earlier performances), but most have a sharp connection to the story and bring out underlying elements about the men on-screen. The women are somewhat underwritten, although Davis is smart and focussed as Dean's journalist wife. There are also hints at more serious themes gurgling under the surface, as well as a wonderfully diverse cast that brings each scene to vivid life, making the most of the chaos.
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See also: SHADOWS FILM FESTIVAL © 2024 by Rich Cline, Shadows
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