While the spectacle of the arena scenes is entertaining, there are several moments when the CG effects are distracting due to their unconvincing nature. Beyond the spectacle of combat is the story of political unrest as Rome suffers under twin emperors who are cartoonishly wacky and so idiotic that their downfall could be seen from a mile away.
Cillian Murphy's performance as Bill is great. Similar to Oppenheimer, it relies on Murphy’s facial expressions to show the inner turmoil his character experiences. Early hints suggest that Bill’s reaction to seeing the truth behind the Magdelene Laundries is also fueled by past traumas.
Snook’s deadpan delivery is wonderfully offputting while still maintaining an endearing quality. Her unique, eccentric comic sensibilities allow the character to maintain the innocence of childhood while delivering heart-wrenching dialogue.
This isn’t a raunchy comedy about college hijinks and no happy ending. It’s a grounded portrayal of what can go wrong with the indoctrination and extreme traditions in which some fraternities participate.
The Punishment does a lot with a simple premise, a small cast, and no real sets. It shows that you can make a good movie out of the simplest premise with the right combination of fine writing, cinematography, and acting.
The performances of the cast keep things interesting, and the writer does a good job of mixing in some humor, so that the film doesn’t feel overly dramatic. It all pays off with some very emotional and even cathartic moments by the end.
Simmons opens the film by gassing up his motorcycle in a rural area and shooting three people there for no reason. Even though his character is a psychotic killer, Simmons is charming in this role -- too charming in fact. His casual attitude towards his actions is funny and takes away from any feeling of dread that a thriller needs in order to be compelling.
John Lennon once said: Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans. And Adios Buenos Aires captures this sentiment perfectly. As Julio dreams of abandoning Buenos Aires in favor of a fresh start, he is forced to reckon with the people and events that hold him back.
In curating this lineup, I selected four films that all share one specific point of commonality: flawed people trying to make it through their day despite the odds being stacked against them. Some stories are more successful than others, yet these four films demonstrate a unique perspective in their search to make sense of our current American lifestyles.
Godfrey was returning to the area at the time to find inspiration for a book about the lives of the girls who live in a group home since they have nowhere else to go. There, she meets Josephine Bell, the de facto leader of the girls. Godfrey quickly learns of their harsh lifestyle and the fact that the city sees them as disposable.
Merriam-Webster landed on “polarization” for its Word of the Year. The dictionary maker defined the term as “division into two sharply distinct opposites; especially, a state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer range along a continuum but become concentrated at opposing extremes.”
Paris couldn’t care less what the rest of the world thinks about its food or anything else for that matter. There is also a croque madame on La Palette’s menu, the same sandwich as the monsieur, but served with a fried egg on top. Legend has it that the egg represents a woman’s broad-brimmed hat, and hence the madame.
