I didn’t make nearly enough of a dent in my must-watch list this past weekend, but I guess I have to start somewhere.
A Different Man – After being out the weekend this opened at my local indie cinema, I managed to catch on the very last day they were playing it! The staffer who introduced the film compared it to a milder version of The Substance which had me really intrigued. I can say that it is in fact nothing like The Substance, though I can see where that comparison is coming from. Edward is a struggling actor with neurofibromatosis who after connecting with his attractive new neighbor, decides to move forward with a trial that promises to remove the deformities caused by the genetic condition. After his face totally transforms, everything else in his life starts to change for the worse. It’s truly a look at embracing who you are and realizing the good things in your life are there because of that. Really interesting film, although the ending kind of spiraled a little too quickly for my preference.
Brothers – I had no idea this doofy movie existed, but when I saw the title and Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage standing beside each other, I knew I was going to check it out, no questions asked. The pair play twin brothers who grew up in a house of burglars. When things don’t go right on a job for Jady, it’s Moke’s chance at a normal, crime-free life. When Jady gets out though, Moke is the first person he goes to see. He promises there is one easy job: retrieving the emeralds their mother’s boyfriend swallowed 30 years ago. They end up meeting up with their sly and untrustworthy mother while also trying to outrun a crooked and crazy cop. This film had all the right parts, but it was just very middle of the road.
Conclave – As a Catholic (possibly lapsed at this point), I found the tense trailer for this film very intriguing, so you know I marked its release date on my calendar. Truly, the film was extremely tense for its two-hour runtime. I applaud it for making it seem like more sinister things were going to come to light, when in fact, it was just normal, everyday sins any old man would commit. Not saying they were acceptable, but given how long these men commit themselves to the church, it’s not bad. No, we aren’t talking child molestation in this particular film, but think more along the lines of bribes and infidelity. The big reveal at the end really got me, though again, it probably won’t be that mind-blowing to many viewers. If this is the worst that could come to the Catholic church, then I think they need to chill out. Great film!
Woman of the Hour – Initially going around as The Dating Game, Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut does center around that famous gameshow from the 70s, though it pays particular attention to Sheryl Bradshaw and her brush with serial killer Rodney Alcala. Sheryl is floundering to make it in LA, but just as she about to consider hanging it up she gets booked on The Dating Game by her agent for “exposure.” You can already tell that Sheryl is wary of most men, mainly because they are all pretty sleazy to varying degrees. Her path to the stage is cut between scenes of “contestant number three,” Rodney Alcala, as he picks through women throughout the country. He’s particular in picking women that no one will miss by making them feel special. Kendrick does an excellent job of creating an eerie atmosphere over the whole film that makes you want to look over your shoulder. The real kick is how many times Alcala was reported over the course of a decade before he was finally sent to prison for his crimes. Excellent!