Author: Emma

American desi near DC blogging re: movies, TV, & more.

Spoiler-Free Review: “Companion” (2025) starring Sophie Thatcher & Jack Quaid

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Find someone made just for you. -Tagline

[first lines]

Iris: Most of the time it’s like… I don’t know. It’s like there’s this thick black cloud covering everything. Like we see the world, but we don’t really see the world, you know. We’re all just stumbling around directionless. No sense of meaning, no sense of purpose.

Since Iris (Sophie Thatcher- an up-and-coming British actress) and Josh (Jack Quaid) had their “meet-cute” in a grocery store, the couple have been inseparable. They seem deeply in love and V compatible! One weekend, they go to spend time w/ Josh’s old friends (Kat and Eli) at a lovely/spacious lakeside house. Iris is anxious, wondering if the others will like her. Kat (Megan Suri), who is dating a wealthy/older Russian- Sergey (Rupert Friend)- acts rude and cold to Iris. Eli (Harvey Guillen) and his doting bf, Patrick (Lukas Gage), are more chatty and friendly.

This is the feature film (streaming on HBO MAX) debut of a (promising) young American- Drew Goddard. It’s tightly edited, well-paced, and most of the cast do a good job. It’s NOT a “typical” horror, BUT a psychological thriller. The tonal shifts- from horror to comedy- will keep you on your toes. Gage (seen on S1 of The White Lotus) gets to show his range. Check it out for yourself; go in knowing as little as possible!

Related Shows To Watch:

The Outer Limits (S3: E1) – Bits of Love

A painter, Aidan Hunter (Jon Tenney), chats w/ his best pal, has breakfast w/ his parents, then spends time w/ a beautiful/blonde. His modern home is run efficiently by Emma (Natasha Henstridge), a computer that provides whatever Aidan needs. Sounds like a good life, right?

The Outer Limits (S4: E15) – Mary 25

Innobotics Corp. is looking for their next big product; exec Charlie Bouton (Tom Butler) proposes an android nanny- Mary 25 (Sofia Shinas). This is a variation on Valerie 23 (S1: E2), a companion that was discontinued after it developed feelings for its owner. Valerie 23 was a total disaster! Bouton is so confident that Mary 25 will function correctly that he takes it home to care for his children.

“Materialists” (2025) starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, & Pedro Pascal

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SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Materialists (released June 13, 2025).

Some people just want more. -Tagline

A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex. -Synopsis

Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a 34 y.o. matchmaker for a high-end dating service (called Adore) in NYC. At the wedding of a client, Charlotte (Louisa Jacobsen- currently on The Gilded Age), Lucy meets Harry (Pedro Pascal), the brother of the groom. Lucy calls Harry “a unicorn;” he’s wealthy (via family money/finance career), tall, handsome, charming, and intelligent. As Lucy and Harry are having a convo, her ex-bf John (Chris Evans) enters the scene, presenting Lucy w/ a can of Coke and bottle of beer (her drink choice). John is also tall, handsome, and charming; however (at age 37) still working as a cater waiter/struggling theater actor. John’s (Sunset Park, Brooklyn) apt (shared w/ 2 roomies) was built in-studio; Celine Song (screenwriter/director) shared pics of where her husband (Justin Kuritzkes- screenwriter of Challengers) had formerly lived as reference. FYI: Sunset Park is NOT cheap these days; a Lyft driver who’d moved 3 yrs ago to Virginia had paid $1,500 for a one-bedroom.

Harry: I don’t know if you like me or if you just like the places I take you.

From her job, Lucy has gleaned that “a perfect match” can be made based on: upbringing, education, income/wealth, attractiveness (incl. height). A few in my (small) audience were surprised upon learning re: the leg-lengthening surgery (price: $200K). This is a real thing, though much less common than nose jobs or breast implants. Most of Lucy’s clients are portrayed as shallow; the women want someone at least 6 ft. tall and making over $500k/yr. The men want a gorgeous/fit woman (model-esque) who is much younger than them. Everyone’s expectations are unrealistic in this milieu; marriage is a business transaction (as it often was until the past 100 yrs, incl. here in the US).

Song worked for a professional matchmaking service for 6 mos. about 10 yrs. ago. Song (raised in her native South Korea and Toronto, Canada) made a big splash in Hollywood (NOT just the indie film scene) w/ her 1st movie- Past Lives (2023). John Magaro, who plays the voice of Mark P. (offscreen), was one of the 3 leads in that movie. I was V surprised when I learned that Song was taking on a rom com (NOT my fave genre- LOL)! Unfortunately, there was little “rom” (romance) or “com” (comedy) in Materialists; it was marketed all wrong (as many critics/viewers commented).

Lucy: […] If the service I was providing you was building you a man, then of course I can build you a man with everything on this list. But I can’t, because this is not a car or a house. We’re talking about people. People are people are people are people. They come as they are. And all I can hope to find for you is a man that you can tolerate for the next fifty years, who likes you at all. And you are not a “catch,” because you are not a fish.

There is zero (onscreen) chemistry btwn Johnson (a V limited actress) and her two (more experienced) leading men- Pascal and Evans. I saw these actors having more fun during the promo tour. We never see why Lucy loves (and in the end- chooses) John; it’s quite a missed opportunity! They hail from the same (working-class) background, were a couple 10 yrs. ago, and used to fight re: money. Many were put-off (or angered) by the manner the film dealt w/ the aftermath of an assault (NOT seen) to one of Lucy’s clients, Sophie (Zoe Winters- recently in Succession). Y’all don’t want a headache- just skip this one! IF you want to see an (effective) love triangle which is funny, I recommend Broadcast News (1987).

[1] Celine Song’s style is unmistakable – lingering shots, dialogue that feels like internal monologue, and a quiet ache humming underneath it all. […] By the end, I didn’t feel uplifted. I felt… thoughtful. A bit heavy, even.

[2] The storytelling of body language, lack of words, the lack of explanation, lack details in their dialogue, the simplicity didn’t really add to the story, whereas Past Lives worked perfectly.

[3] The weak link is Lucy herself. As the titular “materialist,” she’s meant to evolve from pragmatic matchmaker to romantic lead, but she remains frustratingly underwritten. Johnson, whose signature style often leans toward aloof detachment, doesn’t help. There’s little insight into Lucy’s inner world or motivations.

[4] To truly move beyond materialism, we need more than just emotional rebellion. We need healing, self-awareness, and wisdom.

[5] The jokes aren’t funny. The romance isn’t romantic. The drama is flat.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“The Departed” (2006) & “Infernal Affairs” (2002)

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The Departed (2006)

Lies. Betrayal. Sacrifice. How far will you take it? -Tagline

The state police in Boston is waging war on the (Irish-American) mob. A recent police academy grad, Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), is assigned to infiltrate the syndicate run by crime boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). DiCaprio gained 15 lbs. of muscle for his role. Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) is an informer for this syndicate; he is quickly rising in the Special Investigation Unit (SIU). Each man becomes deeply consumed by their double lives, gathering info about the plans and counter-plans of the operations they’ve penetrated. In time, it becomes clear to both the mob and the police that there is a mole in their midst! Martin Scorsese said that didn’t realize this was a remake of a 2002 Hong Kong film (Infernal Affairs) until after he had agreed to direct it. In 2003, Warner Brothers bought the remake rights to Infernal Affairs for $1.75M.

Originally, Nicholson turned down his role, but after a meeting w/ Scorsese, William Monahan (screenwriter), and DiCaprio, he was finally convinced. Nicholson had previously done a few comedies, and wanted to play a villain again; he considered Costello to be the ultimate incarnation of evil. As research for his role, Damon worked w/ a Massachusetts State Police unit (Boston). He accompanied them on routine patrols, participated in a drug raid, and was taught proper police procedures (EX: how to pat down a suspect). As a kid, Sullivan is mentored into crime business by Costello, who becomes the father figure he never had. Costigan, coming from a crime-ridden family, decides to become a police officer. Capt. Queenen (Martin Sheen) and Sgt. Dignam (Mark Wahlberg) send Costigan undercover to find out more about the criminal underworld (incl. Costello). With his family’s past, Costigan fit’s perfectly into the situation!

I saw this movie (NOT long after it came out); however, I didn’t recall much about it! When I recently re-watched it, I realized why- it’s basic (few surprises and little flavor). I expected a LOT better from Scorsese! I heard that they shot on location in Boston, BUT you can tell a LOT was done in the studio. The dialogue is NOT impressive; also, if you hate cursing, then avoid this movie (filled w/ f-bombs). As for the (dumb) love triangle, it was unnecessary; there was no heat (chemistry) between the actors involved. Vera Farmiga met w/ a real LAPD psychiatrist to prep for her role. The psychiatrist read the script; she told Farmiga that Madolyn (her character) did pretty much everything wrong- LOL!

[1] I couldn’t feel for Leonardo. He was crying and breaking up after what? SIX MONTHS? Damn! Tony Leung was a undercover for nine years and he didn’t sign up because he chose to, he signed up because that was the only way he could be a cop! Martin Sheen got shafted in his role. There was no time for his character to develop a believable relationship with Leonardo. His screen time was wasted. […]

Mark Walhberg and Alec Baldwin got shafted, too. Mark Walhberg was reduced to a foul mouth asshole turned plot device. […] The only bright spot in this movie is Jack Nicholson. But even his talent is wasted because he had no one but “Mr. French” to play off his evilness. The classic scene of the original Infernal Affairs had Jack’s character to confront his counterpart in the police station with some of the most memorable moment of the film. Jack has no counter part in “The Departed” and his brilliance was wasted.

[2] Some scenes have a lot more impact in Infernal Affairs than in The Departed. I’m gonna cite 3 scenes which are some of the most important in the story in my opinion:

-The death of Wong/Queenan: In IA, Wong falls suddenly, lands on a taxi cab, taking Yan by surprise. When Yan realizes Wong is dead, you can feel the suffering Yan goes through by the loss of the only person who knows he’s a cop, but also (mainly) by the loss of his friend.

– In The Departed we see Sheen falls in slow-mo until he hits the ground in a splash of blood. There’s absolutely no connection, no friendship between DiCaprio and Sheen. We see DiCaprio almost on the verge of crying. But why? He’s not his friend and there’s still Wahlberg to prove he’s a cop.

-The death of Sam/Costello: In IA, Ming seems to show a desire to redeem himself and become a good man for his girlfriend. When he confronts Sam in the parking lot during the raid, he kills Sam to remove any evidence he’s a mole and restart on a blank slate.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Infernal Affairs (2002)

Andy Lau (who US audiences may recall from House of Flying Daggers) and international star- Tony Leung (recently seen in Shang-Chi)- are the lead actors in this Hong Kong crime/police drama. Chan Wing Yan (Leung), an undercover cop, has spent the last 10 yrs. infiltrating various gangs and exposing their criminal dealings. Inspector Lau Kin Ming (Lau) is a police mole secretly working the Triad (the same gang w/ which Yan is currently affiliated). After an expensive drugs transaction goes wrong for both the gang and the police, each side suspects that they have a traitor in their midst. In an ironic turn, it falls to each of the two moles to find out who it is!

I saw this movie (streaming on HBOMAX) earlier this Spring. It’s tight (well-paced), exciting, and the acting was good- unlike The Departed. I was pleasantly surprised; I haven’t watched many Hong Kong-set action films yet. The world of the film is gritty, moody, and feels lived-in, unlike the cleanliness/blandness of the sets/locations used in The Departed. I connected more to Leung; unlike in his (Western) movies, he is youthful, sports longish hair/bangs, and is slouchy (reflecting his down mood/tiredness). The two women in the movie don’t get much to do; I wish they’d been more developed. However, this is mainly a world of men (displaying machismo and enacting violence), and women’s presence is a rarity.

[1] Both leads are perfect. Lau’s cold calculating intellect against Leung’s anguished and tormented heart, complimentary opposites. There aren’t enough words to commend this fresh, invigorating film…

[2] Both main actors do a good job of maintaining the intensity of the story. There are certainly countless parallels to be drawn between the characters, but what struck me most were the contrasts between the two: Ming is a cold, devoted and ruthlessly efficient; Yan has been reduced to a tired and neurotic wreck after a decade of living in fear.

[3] A seriously refreshing police thriller that cranks up the tension to the max. There’s no overblown gunplay or buddy cop crap here, this baby is tight as a drum and will have your nails down to the quick. Superb performances, a tight script and tense direction make this a winner in every department.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

NYT: Best Films of the 21st Century

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To I.D. the definitive films of the 21st C, NYT polled 500+ of the world’s most influential directors, actors, and critics. Each was asked to name the 10 best movies released since JAN 1st, 2000. Their votes were compiled to create a ranked list of the 100 films. (The ones I have seen are in bold.)

1. Parasite (Bong Joon Ho)
2. Mulholland Drive (David Lynch)
3. There Will Be Blood (Paul Thomas Anderson)
4. In the Mood For Love (Wong Kar Wai)
5. Moonlight (Barry Jenkins)
6. No Country For Old Men (Joel & Ethan Coen)
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry)
8. Get Out (Jordan Peele)
9. Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki)
10. The Social Network (David Fincher)

11. Mad Max: Fury Road (George Miller)
12. The Zone of Interest (Jonathan Glazer)
13. Children of Men (Alfonso Cuaron)
14. Inglourious Basterds (Quentin Tarantino)
15. City of God (Fernando Meirelles)
16. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee)
17. Brokeback Mountain (Ang Lee)
18. Y Tu Mama Tambien (Alfonso Cuaron)
19. Zodiac (David Fincher)
20. The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese)


21. The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson)
22. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson)
23. Boyhood (Richard Linklater)
24. Her (Spike Jonze)
25. Phantom Thread (Paul Thomas Anderson)
26. Anatomy of a Fall (Justine Triet)
27. Adaptation (Spike Jonze)
28. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan)
29. Arrival (Denis Villeneuve)
30. Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola)


31. The Departed (Martin Scorsese)
32. Bridesmaids (Paul Feig)
33. A Separation (Asghar Farhadi)
34. WALL-E Andrew Stanton)
35. A Prophet (Jacques Audiard)
36. A Serious Man (Joel & Ethan Coen)
37. Call Me By Your Name (Luca Guadagnino)
38. Portrait of A Lady on Fire (Celine Sciamma)
39. Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig)
40. Yi Yi (Edward Yang)


41. Amelie (Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
42. The Master (Paul Thomas Anderson)
43. Oldboy (Park Chan-wook)
44. Once Upon A Time in Hollywood (Quentin Tarantino)
45. Moneyball (Bennett Miller)
46. ROMA (Alfonso Cuaron)
47. Almost Famous (Cameron Crowe)
48. The Lives of Others (Florian Henckel Von Donnersmarck)
49. Before Sunset (Richard Linklater)
50. Up! (Pete Docter)


51. 12 Years A Slave (Steve McQueen)
52. The Favourite (Yorgos Lanthimos)
53. Borat (Larry Charles)
54. Pan’s Labyrinth (Guillermo Del Toro)
55. Inception (Christopher Nolan)
56. Punch-Drunk Love (Paul Thomas Anderson)
57. Best in Show (Christopher Guest)
58. Uncut Gems (Josh and Benny Safdie)
59. Toni Erdmann (Maren Ade)
60. Whiplash (Damien Chazelle)


61. Kill Bill Vol. 1 (Quentin Tarantino)
62. Memento (Christopher Nolan)
63. Little Miss Sunshine (Dayton & Faris)
64. Gone Girl (David Fincher)
65. Oppenheimer (Christopher Nolan)
66. Spotlight (Tom McCarthy)
67. TAR (Todd Field)
68. The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow)
69. Under The Skin (Jonathan Glazer)
70. Let The Right One In (Tomas Alfredson)


71. Ocean’s Eleven (Steven Soderbergh)
72. Carol (Todd Haynes)
73. Ratatouille (Brad Bird)
74. The Florida Project (Sean Baker)
75. Amour (Michael Haneke)
76. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Joel & Ethan Coen)
77. Everything Everywhere All At Once (The Daniels)
78. Aftersun (Charlotte Wells)
79. Tree of Life (Terrence Malick)


80. Volver (Pedro Almodovar)
81. Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky)
82. The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer)
83. Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel & Ethan Coen)
84. Melancholia (Lars Von Trier)
85. Anchorman (Adam McKay)
86. Past Lives (Celine Song)
87. The Fellowship of the Ring (Peter Jackson)
88. The Gleaners and I (Agnes Varda)
89. Interstellar (Christopher Nolan)
90. Frances Ha (Noah Baumbach)


91. Fish Tank (Andrea Arnold)
92. Gladiator (Ridley Scott)
93. Michael Clayton (Tony Gilroy)
94. Minority Report (Steven Spielberg)
95. The Worst Person in the World (Joachim Trier)
96. Black Panther (Ryan Coogler)
97. Gravity (Alfonso Cuaron)
98. Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog)
99. Memories of A Murder (Bong Joon-ho)
100. Superbad (Greg Motolla)

“All We Imagine as Light” (2024) starring Kani Kusruti, Deepa Prabha, & Chhaya Kadam

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In Mumbai, Nurse Prabha’s routine is troubled when she receives an unexpected gift from her estranged husband. Her younger roommate, Anu, tries in vain to find a spot in the city to be intimate with her boyfriend. A trip to a beach town allows them to find a space for their desires to manifest. -Synopsis

This is the 1st Indian film to screen in competition at Cannes in 30 yrs; it was awarded the Grand Prix in 2024. The topic is NOT something we see V often- the emotional and social lives of 3 ordinary/working women living in a big city (Bombay/Mumbai). What brings the women together is the fact that they work at the same clinic and a shared language (Malayalam). Prabha (Kani Kusruti) is an experienced nurse in her 30s whose husband moved to Germany yrs. ago; they have rarely been in contact. Anu (Divya Prabha) is a 20s nurse who is secretly dating a (Muslim) man; she is Prabha’s roomie. Parvaty (Chhaya Kadam) is a cook in her 50s; she is widowed w/ an adult son.

Anu: How could you marry a total stranger? I don’t think I could.

Prabha: You might think you know someone, but they can also become strangers.

The writer/director, Payal Kapadia, is NOT afraid to look at (uneasy) topics of loneliness, uncertain romantic relationships, and socioeconomic struggles. Now, some of you’re wondering what is the big deal about Hindus and Muslims dating in modern India!? Just look up what’s occurring in PM Modi’s government, when you get a chance. Parvaty is facing eviction from her (long-time) home b/c she lacks certain documents. A developer wants to tear down her building to raise up luxury condos. Kapadia uses a cinematic style that is both personal (close-ups of the women) and expansive (wide-ranging shots of the cityscape). In the third act, the story moves from the hustle/bustle of Mumbai to a quiet/rural village (the ancestral home of Parvaty). I don’t want to reveal TOO much; check this film out if you want an alternative to Bollywood.

[1] The film beautifully juxtaposes the stillness of personal struggles against the relentless pace of urban life, creating an intimate yet universal portrait of longing and resilience. However, while the storytelling is subtle and poetic, it lacks a true climax, leaving certain narrative threads unresolved. Despite this, the film’s delicate atmosphere, compelling performances, and evocative cinematography make it a poignant, meditative experience that lingers beyond the screen.

[2] Kapadia’s direction doesn’t hold back in any scene, in any frame. While Ranabir Roy also deserves appreciation for the mersmerising cinematography. The screenplay is topnotch. Kani Kusruti achors the film with her splendid, characteristically restrained performance as Prabha. And Chhaya Kadam is a treat to watch.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews