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-

QUICK HIT MOVIE REVIEWS: SPLICE & SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD

ON DVD



*Synopsis from www.rottentomatoes.com
Superstar genetic engineers Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) specialize in splicing together DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrids. Now they want to use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, Clive and Elsa secretly conduct their own experiments. The result is Dren, an amazing, strangely beautiful creature that exhibits uncommon intelligence and an array of unexpected physical developments. And though, at first, Dren exceeds their wildest dreams, she begins to grow and learn at an accelerated rate - and threatens to become their worst nightmare.

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed By: Vincenzo Natali

Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Horror

Review:

Splice is a confounding movie in that it’s overly self serious tone would be fine if it’d just stuck to its smarts which permeate it’s first 2 acts. Instead it de-evolves in a hodgepodge of eye rolling moments and dialogue in it’s final act which makes you wonder whether you’d been taken for a ride by the director, who also helmed the wonderful cult favorite Cube. It’s a real shame because before the final act there is a plenty to like here, the acting, direction and plot are refreshing original even if the story is a modern Frankenstein tome.

C-




*Synopsis from www.rottentomatoes.com
Immediately following the events of "Diary of the Dead," "Survival of the Dead," is the 6th film from George A. Romero to look at a world where Humans... Immediately following the events of "Diary of the Dead," "Survival of the Dead," is the 6th film from George A. Romero to look at a world where Humans are in the minority and the zombies rule.Off the coast of Delaware sits the cozy Plum Island where two families are locked in a struggle for power, as it has been for generations. The O'Flynn's, headed by patriarch Patrick O'Flynn (Kenneth Welsh) approach the zombie plague with a shoot-to-kill attitude. The Muldoons, headed by Shamus Muldoon (Richard Fitzpatrick), feel that the zombies should be quarantined and kept 'alive,' in hopes that a solution will someday be found.The O'Flynn's, who are clearly outnumbered, are forced to exile Patrick by boat to the mainland, where he meets up with a band of soldiers, headed by Guardsman Sarge (Alan Van Sprang). They join forces and return to the island, to find that the zombie plague has fully gripped the divided community.As the battle between humans and zombies escalates, the master filmmaker continues to reinvent the modern horror genre with wicked humor and pointed social commentary.

Rated: R for strong zombie violence/gore, language and brief sexuality

Running Time: 1 hr. 30 min.

Distributor: Magnolia Pictures

Directed By: George A. Romero

Written By: George A. Romero

Genre: Horror


Review:

Survival of the Dead is a tonally odd film in Romero’s Dead series, especially after the impressive if didactic Diary of the Dead. It’s difficult to get a feel for it until you realize that Romero is making more of a horror comedy than a straight up horror film in his usual vein. You always have to respect Romero’s desire to do what he wants and while it’s an interesting if odd choice, personally I would have liked to have seen a sequel to Diary, in the end Survival of the Dead feel flat and unremarkable.

C