Tag: Mystery

“Eileen” (2023) starring Thomasin McKenzie & Anne Hathaway

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The stagnant waters of Eileen’s dull, stifled life as a solitary worker at a juvenile detention center in 1960s Boston, are unexpectedly disrupted when the institution brings in a new psychologist, the vibrant Rebecca. The fervent enthusiasm that blossoms between the two women almost immediately gives way to a closer relationship, until their fragile connection takes a dramatic turn. -Synopsis

You have to hand it to Anne Hathaway- she’s trying new things! Now, these roles aren’t all going to fit her right. As Rebecca, she wears a platinum wig (like a femme fatale from the days of noir). However, the real dangerous lady here is played by Thomasin McKenzie, a young/20ish Aussie actress w/ a LOT of talent. So far, I’ve seen McKenzie in Jojo Rabbit, The Power of the Dog, and Old. Eileen has a difficult home life, dead-end job, and “girl next door” looks (which helps the audience empathize w/ her plight). Elieen lives w/ her alcoholic/retired cop father, played by prolific character actor Shea Wigham.

The director, William Oldroyd, is a Brit who we can thank for “discovering” the FAB Florence Pugh (who was the lead in his debut/indie Lady Macbeth). This movie is inspired (in part) by Todd Fields’ critically-acclaimed drama Carol (which starred Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara). The 1st hour is intriguing, BUT that sense of anticipation is let down in the last half hour; the story is undercooked. I kept thinking that something was missing. What was the point here? FYI: There is a plot twist (involving another character) which could be difficult for sensitive viewers. Overall, I was disappointed, as I had high hopes for this movie!

“Leave the World Behind” (2023) starring Julia Roberts, Mahershala Ali, & Ethan Hawke

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There’s No Going Back to Normal. -Tagline for the movie

Amanda (Julia Roberts) and Clay (Ethan Hawke) Sandford leave the hustle of NYC (Brooklyn) for a quiet/ Long Island vacay w/ their 2 teen kids: 17 y.o. Archie (Charlie Evans- a 19 y.o. Aussie actor/musician) and 13 y.o. Rose (Farrah Mackenzie- now 19 y.o.) Their trip is interrupted by the arrival of a middle-aged man, G.H Scott (Mahershala Ali), and his 20-ish daughter, Ruth (Myaha’la), who own this luxury rental house. The Scotts (dressed to the nines for the Bronx Symphony) decided to leave the city when a blackout occurred. When the internet, TV, and radio stop working, as well as the landline, there is no way of finding out what is exactly happening! Loud sonic booms shatter the peace, animals start to migrate to weird places, and the physical/mental health of both families begins to disintegrate. As the renters are white and the owners are Black, issues of race clash and become distractions to the more disturbing events happening around them.

Amanda: Well, when I couldn’t fall back asleep this morning, I came over here. To watch the sunrise. And I saw all these people starting their day with such tenacity. Such verve. All in an effort to… make something of themselves. Make something of our world. I felt so lucky to be a part of that. But then, I remembered… what the world is actually like. And I came to a more accurate realization. I f*****g hate people.

My parents really valued assimilation. They were leaving a political system that had failed, and there was no desire on the part of either of my parents to look back with any rose-colored perspective. We were there to be American. They were extremely clear about that. I was raised like any other white kid in any other nice house in any other fancy American suburb. -Rumaan Alam (author of the source novel Leave the World Behind) in Vulture: September 15, 2020.

With Amanda, we get to dissect white entitlement, and I thought, What a fascinating challenge for America’s sweetheart [Julia Roberts] to examine that privilege. -Sam Esmail (director/screenwriter) in Vulture: September 15, 2020.

Yup, you heard right- former prez Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, are producers on this movie! Netflix won a bidding war for the rights to the novel by Rumaan Alam (a queer/Bangladeshi-American writer) in July 2020. Alam and his husband (photographer David Land) are raising two Black sons in Brooklyn; he has written re: adoptive fatherhood in NYT. Sam Esmail (best known for Mr. Robot) was attached to write/direct the movie; he is Egyptian-American. This is the 3rd collab btwn. Esmail and Roberts after Gaslit (2022) and S1 of Homecoming (2018). Leave the World Behind had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on October 25, 2023. It was released (select theaters) on November 22nd, then hit Netflix on December 8th.

G. H. Scott: A conspiracy theory about a shadowy group of people running the world is far too lazy of an explanation… especially when the truth is much scarier.

Amanda: What is the truth?

G. H. Scott: No one is in control. No one is pulling the strings.

The central Q posed here: What has modern life made of us? We are focused on tech and ourselves, so perhaps are losing what makes us human. There is plenty of meta commentary in this movie; for EX: Roberts’ character’s daughter, Rose, is obsessed w/ Friends (1994). The girl becomes V anxious when unable to stream the series finale. Many viewers (esp. near by age) will recall that Roberts was a guest star in one ep of the hit comedy series; she also dated Matthew Perry. Rose doesn’t get much empathy from Archie, who is the typical down-beat/self-concerned boy. Some viewers commented on his resemblance to a young Adam Driver: tall, pale, slim, w/ long-ish dark hair. I had somewhat high hopes for this movie, as the cast is good and the premise is intriguing. Several viewers noted that Hawke is playing a version of himself, which I felt also. This movie is TOO long (2 hrs. 18 mins) and lacks pacing (momentum); there are a few scenes w/ good tension.

[1] I think the movie was timely. COVID accelerated our isolation with everyone living in their own realities of happiness. I recommend watching this movie and thinking about how our world is rapidly changing. How many of us would be perfectly happy living in our bunkers of our own making with our own devices watching our own shows not needing to pay attention to the outside world? The movie takes it to the extreme with bombs dropping right outside, but I thought the point was powerful.

[2] It’s supposed to be a deep, political exploration of what would happen to the average citizen if America were to be destabilized. And the answer is: they’d sit around and wander around and generally mope around. That’s very boring. Nothing about this movie hits. Nothing about this movie hits any of the right notes. I want my time back!

[3] And if 2023 has shown us anything, it’s revealed to more and more people that maybe we’re just cogs turning in a vast machine that we can’t possibly understand. There are forces shaping the world that are bigger than our individual capacities, and maybe too complex for us to collectively confront. We lack a common cause. Because we often can’t even agree on what the problem is. And where we can and do see problems we only see the surface problems. We band-aid things, and we swat flies. But we’re not building the solutions that we need to build a better future.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Spoiler-Free Review: “The Lesson” (2023) starring Richard E. Grant, Julie Delpy, & Daryl McCormack

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This indie movie (filmed mostly in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic) is the 1st feature of director Alice Troughton; she directed TV shows in the UK and US. An Oxford grad/aspiring young writer, Liam Somers (Daryl McCormack), takes a tutoring position at the quiet/beautiful country estate of a famous novelist, J.M. Sinclair (Richard E. Grant). The teen son of this writer, Bertie (Stephen McMillan), desperately wants to attend Oxford; he was recently short-listed to the school (NOT accepted yet). Bertie’s mom is an artist, Helene (Julie Delpy); she’s the parent Liam will report to re: his progress. Liam is sometimes invited to have dinner w/ the family; he soon realizes that the estate holds dark secrets.

This ones for us literary nerds, former (or current) teachers, and/or fans of neo noir. The Lesson had its premiere at the Tribeca film fest (co-founded by Robert DeNiro). One of my Bangladeshi friends went into film production; she had an internship w/ this organization about 15 yrs ago. As many viewers/critics noted, Grant does a great job here; this role is meatier than the one in Saltburn (2023). It’s V cool to see Delpy (who is aging gracefully) in a role outside of indie filmmaker Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy. The French actress gets to show a different side to her acting.

Irish actors (incl. Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy, Barry Keoghan, and Paul Mescal) are getting a LOT of press lately; McCormack (now 31) is coming up right behind those critically acclaimed stars. After barely missing out on a role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, he starred opposite Emma Thompson in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022). The actor had to be quite vulnerable, incl. being unclothed in most scenes; he did a terrific job going toe-to-toe w/ a screen veteran. In 2023, McCormack was nominated for the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award, along w/ Naomi Ackie, Shelia Atim, Emma Mackey, and Aimee Lou Wood. I think he has a good chance of breaking into Hollywood; he is tall (6’2″), w/ large hazel eyes, and a lean (yet still muscular) physique. McCormack has dual UK-US citizenship, as his mother (who raised him) is white/Irish and father is Black American (from Baltimore, MD).


[1] I found “The Lesson” an engaging mystery.

[2] The performances here are some of the very best of 2023.

[3] Writer Alex MacKeith never lets go of the notion that writing as a profession or art can send writers down a dark path. […]

Isobel Waller-Bridge’s score tinkles enough to suggest tranquility or at least art films in general. Anna Patarakina’s cinematography captures languid summers at wealthy estates.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“The Gift” (2015) starring Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall, & Joel Edgerton

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The Past Will Be Your Present. -Tagline for the movie

Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) are a young married couple whose life is going just as planned until a chance encounter with an acquaintance from Simon’s high school sends their world into a harrowing tailspin. Simon doesn’t recognize Gordo (Joel Edgerton) at first, but after a series of uninvited encounters and mysterious gifts prove troubling, a horrifying secret from the past is uncovered after more than 20 years. As Robyn learns the unsettling truth about what happened between Simon and Gordo, she starts to question: how well do we really know the people closest to us, and are past bygones ever really bygones? -Synopsis (STX)

This is the 1st film written/directed/produced by Aussie actor Joel Edgerton; I hadn’t seen much of his work before. As he wanted to focus on directing, Edgerton filmed his scenes as Gordo after 2 wks of shooting and completed them in 7 days. He had his hair dyed reddish-brown and wore brown contacts; he naturally has brown hair and blue eyes. This is a 3-hander w/ Edgerton, Bateman (who grew up acting), and Hall (an under-rated British actress from many indies). The cast fit their roles V well; Bateman is known as an easygoing/likeable guy (who the audience will want to root for), while Hall is able to convey strength and vulnerability (w/o saying much).

I’ve been bullied and I’ve also been the bully. –Joel Edgerton (filmmaker) on the theme of the movie

Simon and Gordo grew up near this town in SoCal; Simon and Robyn recently moved into a mid-century modern house (w/ a LOT of glass). Simon has a new job at a big architectural firm; Robyn works from home as an interior designer. They seem to have a loving/strong marriage and want to have kids soon. Edgerton (who has a smaller role than Bateman and Hall) plays Gordo as a socially awkward striver eager to please. He leaves several gifts for the couple; secrets are eventually revealed re: Gordo’s connection to Simon. Bateman gets to stretch himself (show his range) here, esp. in the final act. This is a rare thriller that has (unexpected) thrills, even IF you’re a fan/know this genre well. It is best to go in NOT knowing much; this story will keep you on the edge of your seat (w/ its clever direction).

“Saltburn” (2023) starring Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, & Archie Madekwe

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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 Saltburn (streaming on Amazon Prime).

Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten. -Synopsis

Woo boy- what can I say re: this (unhinged) British/indie movie!? Yikes, it’s hard to put into words suitable for all ages of readers! I was curious b/c I’m a big fan of The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow. I have NOT yet seen the two miniseries of Brideshead Revisited (1981; 2008). After I watched Saltburn (written/directed by Emerald Fennell), I was a BIT surprised that it was free on Amazon Prime. Speaking of shock value, yeah- there are several scenes which were unexpected (rarely depicted in movies)! We’ll never look at bathwater the same way…

Barry Keoghan is trying to create a role out of the disparate parts of other ones (Norman Bates, Tom Ripley, Patrick Bateman), yet doesn’t get all the way there. He couldn’t have. There is no “there.” -Wesley Morris (New York Times)

The cast is made up of (mostly) fine/experienced actors, BUT w/ such poor writing/shallow character development, there isn’t much they can do. Keoghan (an Irish character actor) doesn’t disappoint; it’s TOO bad that this was his 1st leading role. Oliver speaks w/ a Liverpool accent; it is revealed that he comes from a comfortable middle-class family. Elordi (an Aussie who recently played Elvis in Priscilla) has potential; I hadn’t seen his acting before. There are a LOT of shots which linger over his handsome face and tall/lean body; I thought this was overkill (hey, I’m NOT a teenage girl). Felix’s parents, James (Richard E. Grant) and Elspeth (Rosamund Pike) are removed from their feelings and say whatever they want- it’s just absurd. Some critics (incl. POC) weren’t pleased w/ the way Felix’s cousin, Farleigh (Archie Madekwe), was depicted. Taking it back to the Ripley comparison, Farleigh (w/ a Black/American father and white/English mother) reminded me of Freddie Miles (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), as he is one of the few characters suspicious of Oliver’s motives. Just when things could get interesting, Farleigh is removed from the story! Oliver’s socially awkward/Math major friend, Michael, is played by Ewan Mitchell (one of the young stars of House of the Dragon).

This is a V glaring case of style over substance; I noted this before re: other (modern) media. As the time period is 2006/2007 (when Fennell was in college), we see looks which were popular then, incl. pierced eyebrows, bleached (damaged) blonde hair, long belts, etc. The real location for Saltburn is Drayton House in the village of Lowick in North Hampshire; it was built around 1300. Fennell stated she considers this “a vampire movie,” even though the story does not have supernatural elements. Oliver refers to himself as a vampire in the (now infamous) garden scene w/ Felix’s younger sister, Annabel (Sadie Soverall).

[1] For me, unfortunately its third act is probably its most memorable feature because it requires an enormous suspension of disbelief.

[2] The twists – I saw all of them coming, most are heavily contrived, and none felt shocking in the slightest. […] Saltburn is a seriously dull watch, the humour is barely present at all. I would have turned off after about an hour, but having got that far I stayed in hope of a clever ending. Nothing clever here, in fact, rather than clever they went for nonsensical.

[3] …the issue of character: no one in the film is a real person: all of them are pawns to serve the grand plot which, when dissected, falls apart. These aren’t people; they’re vehicles for the screenwriter (director, producer, etc.) to show off an interesting, but ultimately flawed story.

[4] Saltburn is a film that promises much, but delivers little. Despite its grand setting and talented cast, it fails to provide a compelling narrative or engaging characters. It’s a film that tries to be a critique of the English aristocracy and a psychological thriller, but falls short on both counts.

[5] The suspenseful bits aren’t suspenseful. The funny bits aren’t funny and the sexy bits aren’t sexy.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews