Eliza Scanlen (Old, HBO’s Sharp Objects) may be a name that doesn’t roll off the tip of our tongues yet, but very well could in a few years if she continues to piece together performances as she has in Little Women, The Devil All The Time, and Babyteeth, she could find herself in the same conversation as her Little Women co-stars Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, and Emma Watson. Some may think she’s already there but still needs the supporting body of work. In either case, her performance as Jem Starling, a 17-year-old discovering her identity while growing up in a Kentucky fundamentalist Christian community, is nothing short of mesmerizing in Laurel Parmet’s, albeit flawed, directorial debut, The Starling Girl.
Category Archives: 2023
The Covenant (2023)
If you hadn’t known it beforehand, you would never know that Guy Ritchie directed The Covenant. Known for movies (The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Snatch, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Gentlemen, and Sherlock Holmes) with clever plots, quick-wit scripts, and fast-moving action, The Covenant feels wholeheartedly different. Perhaps, this film differed so much from the norm that he felt the need to put his name in the title. The Covenant is, by far, Ritchie’s most realistic film and is entrenched in events from recent history. Had the film been based on a true story, The Covenant Ritchie’s first attempt at a warm movie had the potential to rival American Sniper, Hacksaw Ridge, or Black Hawk Down.
Air (2023)
Ben Affleck continues to prove that he is the closest person, past or present, with a chance (however slight) to unthrone Clint Eastwood as the greatest actor/director combo ever. It will take a herculean effort to unseat Eastwood’s five Oscar nominations for directing (wins for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby) to go along with over 35 other directing credits, as well as nearly 60 acting credits. Affleck, at just 50 years of age, very well could surpass Eastwood’s acting credits, but another 35 directing credits seems like a stretch. Air is Affleck’s fifth feature-length film. Three of his previous four (Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Argo) have resonated strongly with critics and audiences, while his fourth (Live By Night) wasn’t that far of a drop-off. What’s great about Affleck as a director is his drive and creativity. The staples of his directed movies are taut scripts, formidable, seasoned casts, and expert artisans (cinematographers, sound engineers, production designers) who he allows the freedom to shine. Air delivers on all fronts. It’s a movie that would be difficult not to enjoy.
65 (2023)
The first major letdown of 2023 is, without a doubt, the Adam Driver-led (Marriage Story, Paterson) 65. The trailer was amazing. There is much-deserved credit to those video editors for making a movie that felt bland and like it would be so much more. I really wanted to like a movie. Even as the poor critic reviews started coming in (34% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), I remained hopeful. Sadly, that hope was distinguished throughout a poorly-directed movie that tried too hard to build mystique and tension before failing to deliver.
Creed III (2023)
What I initially thought was nothing more than a cash grab using the Rocky moniker with the 2015 movie Creed, the Michael B. Jordan-led franchise has effectively carved out a niche in sports cinema. Dare I make the blasphemous claim that the first three Creed movies are better than the first three Rocky movies? I’m not willing to go that far, though I can confidently say that Creed III is much better than the cartoonish Rocky III, the weakest of the first four Rocky films.