MOVIE REVIEW: INFINITY POOL

 

Guided by a seductive and mysterious woman, a couple on vacation venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism and untold horror. A tragic accident soon leaves them facing a zero tolerance policy for crime: either you'll be executed, or, if you're rich enough to afford it, you can watch yourself die instead.

Director: Brandon Cronenberg

Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman, Jalil Lespert, Thomas Kretschmann, Amanda Brugel

Release Date: January 27, 2023

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated R for graphic violence, disturbing material, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and some language

Runtime: 1h 57m

Review:

Infinity Pool is a nightmarish, hallucinogenic fever dream of a film that keeps you off balance throughout.  Brandon Cronenberg's is disorienting almost from the moment it starts and it rarely lets the gas off the petal as it descends further into twisted tale.  His film borrows inspiration from the work of Kubrick, Polanski, Giallo and his father's earlier films.  Together it makes for strangely beautiful collection of wonderfully composed shots of horrible images that leave a lasting impression.  A handful of scenes area a full-on assault on the senses which will leave your retinas burning if you don't break into an elliptic seizure.  This is the type of film that delivers certain sequences which will be burned into your mind and linger long after the film's finished.  The madness onscreen wouldn't work as well if you didn't have such committed turns from the film's leads.  Luckily, Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth are locked in throughout delivered layered but gonzo performances.  Skarsgård's uses his general good looks to his advantage by playing against type as the film's reveals the sad sack of man his character truly is.  It’s incredibly effective especially since the film keeps you wondering who or what we are watching make great use of the unreliable narrator.  Mia Goth continues her recent hot streak with another fascinating turn that ranges from alluring to manipulative to malicious.  Goth moves so easily between these different emotions and attitudes that you can't keep her eyes off her when she's onscreen.  Skarsgård and Goth make for an excellent juxtaposition as his turn is far more subtle and measured while she slowly reveals the extent of her character's manic depravity with impressive aplomb.  The story once you have a moment to gather your thought is thematically dense enough to leave you thinking about what it’s trying to say about the excesses of the rich among other things.  Infinity Pool isn't the kind of film that will be for everyone but that doesn't make it any less impactful or effective.   

A

MOVIE REVIEW: MISSING

 

When her mother disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June's search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it's too late. However, as she digs ever deeper, her digital sleuthing soon raises more questions than answers.

Director: Nicholas D. Johnson, Will Merrick

Cast:  Storm Reid, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney, Nia Long

Release Date: January 20, 2023 

Genre: Drama, Thriller 

Rated PG-13 for some strong violence, language, teen drinking, and thematic material.

Runtime: 1h 51m

Review:

2018's Searching was a fairly impressive thriller that used our modern screen centric life to great effect.  Missing serves as an in universe follow up with a stand alone story that only references the first film in passing during it's opening via a true crime show retelling. First time directors Nicholas D. Johnson and Will Merrick do a solid job of establishing their setting and character dynamics early on before moving onto the central mystery.  It’s a kinetic series of window and screens that feel authentic for the better part of the film even when the plot starts to stretch credibility.  The central mystery is engaging enough to let you buy into some of larger logical leaps the story takes especially in its final act.  It’s an immensely watchable film due in large part to its effective cast lead by Storm Reid.  Reid carries the film with impressive ease especially since she's mainly performing on her own and reacting to what she sees onscreen.  She possesses a believable authenticity which makes the film work much more than it would in the hands of a lesser actress.  The supporting cast is solid but there's a noticeable drop off from Reid's work with Joaquim de Almeida faring the best.  Missing does falter a bit once the reveal occurs, especially since its telegraphed fairly early on, but that doesn't keep the film from being far more engrossing and entertaining than it should be.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: WOMEN TALKING

 

Women in an isolated religious colony struggle to reconcile with their faith after a series of sexual assaults.

Director: Sarah Polley

Cast: Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, Judith Ivey, Ben Whishaw, Frances McDormand

Release Date: December 23, 2022

Genre: Drama

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content including sexual assault, bloody images, and some strong language

Runtime: 1h 44m

Review:

Sarah Polley’s Women Talking is a meditative drama is the kind of film that’s driven by its script and cast.  Polley takes a minimalist approach which allows the focus to remain centered on its subject matter and characters.  A handful of sweeping landscape shots and post assault flashbacks make up the small visual flourishes she utilizes during the course of the film’s runtime.  The film’s central meetings feel more like a stage play as we listen to the character describe the terrible state of this situation and ruminate on how to escape and possible consequences.  This isn’t the kind of film that isn’t going to be for everyone with its dialogue-centric approach and heavy subject matter which some people might find to be little more than pretentious award fodder.  It’s definitely a certain type of film but that doesn’t keep it from being impactful for those willing to take the time to appreciate the performances on screen.  The ensemble of actresses on screen deliver excellent performances throughout with each of them given ample time to shine. The characters do lean a bit more into types than fully realized characters but that doesn’t make them any less effective.  Rooney Mara is decidedly hopeful, Claire Foy intensely fiery but Jessie Buckley’s conflicted character is the most interesting of the group.  Buckly’s performance dominates the latter portion of the film with a measured and complex performance that’s rather mesmerizing.  Ben Whishaw, Judith Ivey, Michelle McLeod and Sheila McCarthy make the most of their screentime in vital supporting turns which gives the film its beating heart.  Women Talking is the kind of film that allows you appreciate the power of words especially when delivered by a stellar cast.

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: M3GAN

 

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a lifelike doll that's programmed to be a child's greatest companion and a parent's greatest ally. Designed by Gemma, a brilliant roboticist, M3GAN can listen, watch and learn as it plays the role of friend and teacher, playmate and protector. When Gemma becomes the unexpected caretaker of her 8-year-old niece, she decides to give the girl an M3GAN prototype, a decision that leads to unimaginable consequences.

Director: Gerard Johnstone

Cast: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Stephane Garneau-Monten

Release Date: January 6, 2023

Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for violent content and terror, some strong language and a suggestive reference

Runtime: 1h 42m

Review:

M3gan plays like the strange offspring of The Twilight Zone episode, I Sing the Body Electric, and the Chucky franchise.  It’s the kind of genre film that could have recycled tone and tropes from various other sources, Speilberg’s A.I., HBO’s Westworld or the original Westworld movie, to deliver passable entertainment.   Thankfully, Akela Cooper’s screenplay is self-aware enough to try something different and embrace some of the funnier elements of the conceit and deliver a film that will deliver more laughs than actual scares.   Gerard Johnstone directs a sleek, efficient film that’s easy to enjoy, especially once the opening act sets up the introduction of the titular android.  Once M3gan shows up, the film really finds it footing due in no large part to well the live action/FX creation works as a character.  It’s a fascinating bit of screen alchemy with the character feeling authentically artificial while still having a clearly defined persona.   Amie Donald physical performance combined with Jenna Davis voice work serve as the life blood of the film, making incredibly watchable especially when it leans into the funnier aspects which are best left as a surprise.  The supporting cast is solid but Voilet McGraw interactions with M3gan really make the film pop before the fairly sanitized homicides start happening.   The plot, itself touches on themes like technology raising our children but it’s nothing terribly in depth or meaningful. The film moves at such a fast pace that you get the sense there is a more detailed longer cut of the film somewhere which expands on some the story threads.  Needless to say, that there’s something to explore in the inevitable sequel which will hopefully maintain the same level of fun as this entry. 

B+