Nothing like hitting you with last weekend’s movies just before a new weekend is about to start!
Splitsville – Back when the pandemic had just begun, longtime friends Kyle Marvin and Michael Angelo Covino dropped a delightfully strange first feature film with The Climb. Their promotional circuit filled me with joy and I’ve been closely following their journey ever since. While I don’t know how well their first film did comercially, the critics, and myself, loved it. Then Kyle Marvin landed directional duties of 80 for Brady, with Covino as a producer. I’m convinced they took this higher profile film just so they could make their next project, and I am totally on board with that. Based on the fact that they landed Dakota Johnson and Adria Arjona means that others must delight in their strangeness. In this film, Marvin mentally goes through the wringer as his wife of only one year claims she wants to see other people. He seeks the solace of his good friend and learns that he and his wife are thriving because they are in an open relationship. Decisions that very even prove to really complicate things. Looking back, maybe scenes in this film revolve around and around for too long, but that’s what makes their personal style so fun and engaging. Me and audiences are mostly in on the joke, but it seems like they have such a fun time beating each other up that I can’t critique their style. Sadly I saw this in a theater all by my lonesome, but that just means I got to laugh out loud with reckless abandon. One of the best of the year for me!
Lurker – I saw this film on Sundance’s slate this year, but it was not available to virtual audiences. Luckily, my local indie theater got it, or else I honestly might have completely forgotten about it. Given that Saltburn’s Archie Madekwe co-stars, it’s hard to believe that this one is getting a bit swept by the wayside. And time and time again Theodore Pellerin proves that he is a master of the craft. Here he plays Matthew, who manages to casually worm his way into the world of budding musical superstar, Oliver. While he manages to get Oliver and his crew under his ruse, Matthew’s desire to make it on the coattails of Oliver, along with his extreme jealously makes him both very dangerous and scary. This cast is an indie film dream and every scene is awkward, uncomfortable, magnetic to the point of being unable to look away. This is an incredible first feature that really speaks to a situation that I think most celebrities, of any degree, probably have to deal with. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one ends up in my top ten by the end of the year.
Knives Out – Since I was unable to attend TIFF this year, I added salt to my wound by rewatching Knives Out since I was unable to see the final installment before it premieres later this year. It’s actually hard to believe how long ago this film aired. What was kind of crazy to see this time around was a scene where the Thrombey siblings were discussing Trump. The parallels are the same, though it is a shame it’s somehow so much worse now. Anyway, this is an expertly crafted caper, balancing comedy with sleuthing, and even a good bit of suspense. It’s kind of wild that this is the film that put Ana de Armas on the map, and that this is one of the few films where Daniel Craig gets to let his comedic talents shine. With an all-star cast like this, it’s hard for Rian Johnson to top his own work, but at least I will always have this masterpiece to fall back on. My favorite scene will always be Craig’s character coming face-to-face through a window with the senial Mrs. Thrombey as he exclaims “sweet bees!” This movie is perfection and it has me really excited to see how Johnson wraps up this trilogy.