This is perhaps the most films I’ve watched in one weekend since Sundance. Finally! And let me tell you, not a weak one in the bunch.
Hard Truths – If I’m being honest, I didn’t really pick on the fact that Pansy Deacon was severely suffering from depression and anxiety. She just struck me as a really miserable and mean woman. But after finally putting those pieces together, I realized her lashing out and criticizing were her ways of coping with those severe illnesses. It doesn’t help that her family are just doing the bare minimum. The real strength comes from her sister, Chantelle, who couldn’t be more of her sister’s opposite. Though there have been misunderstandings between them in the past, that sisterly bond is strong and it’s what helps Pansy want to make a change. It’s almost a bit like a slice of life film; a superb drama.
Black Bag – This was a slick, almost old school style spy thriller from Steven Soderbergh, so you know it was good. Katherine and George are a married couple working for British intelligence. That means there has to be a lot of trust, because they can hide away secrets with the phrase “black bag.” Only this time, George has been told that Katherine could be the buyer of an extremely dangerous software program code that could kill thousands. There are other suspects in this game, but it’s definitely harder when it could be your spouse. They do keep repeating their loyalty to each other, but the couple also have too many close friends whispering doubts in their ears. It’s a well thought out plot with plenty of zigging and zagging to keep you guessing.
Novocaine – I saw this film directly after Black Bag in the theaters this weekend, and this one couldn’t have been more different. Nate is a banker living a pretty unadventurous and solitary life mainly due to the fact that he cannot feel pain. His outlook on life changes drastically when he finally goes on a date with his co-worker, Sherry. They’ve got real sparks, but when she gets kidnapped in a bank robbery, Nate throws all of his cautions out the window to save her. That’s all I’m really willing to say because there was lots of fun twists and turns in this film to keep you on your toes. Just know that there will be plenty of gore and laughs.
Get Away – A British-Irish family decides to take a holiday to a remote Swedish island to take part in their annual play about how the island was once sequestered, ravaged, and even impacted by cannibalism way back in the day. It’s clear as they make their way to the island that they are not welcome. They are even less so once they actually get there, though their B&B host, Mats, seems to be the only exception. Though everyone on the island seems unsettling, Mats is the most – he plays his part well. And just when you think this family is going to get theirs, the tables totally turn in a twist I did not see coming. Maybe I wasn’t paying attention, but it made me smile in delight. An unconventional, fun horror film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
His Three Daughters – I’ve been meaning to watch this stacked drama for quite some time. I am still shocked that it never received much awards season love, similar to Hard Truths, but here we are. Sisters, Katie and Christina have arrived at their old family home, an apartment in New York, where they take shifts watching over their dying father. Though their stepsister Rachel has been the only one there taking care of him up to that point, Katie finds flaws in all that she has done and isn’t doing at this particular time. Their bond is a broken and strained one that reaches an all-time fever pitch in their father’s final days. When they do finally reach a common ground, a final monologue from their father is heartbreaking, but at least they were able to mend something in time. Another quality drama from the weekend.