January 13, 2020
Directed by: Max Barbakow
Written by: Andy Siara
On November 9 in Palm Springs, Nyles (Andy Samberg) was attending the wedding of Tala (Camila Mendes) and Abe (Tyler Hoechlin). At the reception, Nyles bonded with Tala's sister, Sarah (Cristin Milioti). Suddenly, an angry man named Roy (J.K. Simmons) began shooting Nyles with arrows. Nyles ran into a cave with a mysterious light. Sarah followed him and was sucked into a vortex. When she woke up, it was the morning of November 9 all over again.
This film uses the same time loop device famously used in films like "Groundhog Day"(1993), "Source Code" (2011), "Edge of Tomorrow" (2015) and "Happy Death Day (2017). Despite being a very familiar trope, "Palm Springs" still managed to make the whole thing very entertaining, thanks to the comic charms and chemistry of the two lead stars Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti. Their rapid-fire witty banter was just too good.
Director Max Barbakow wisely saved some important game-changing details and quirky background characters, dropping them at strategic times, without negatively affecting the repeating sequences of the story. The supposed quantum physics solution to their quandary was admittedly a stretch, but by then you simply want Nyles and Sarah to get their lives back on track and finally find happiness together. 8/10.
Written by: Emerald Fennell
Directed by: Emerald Fennell
Cassie Thomas (Carrie Mulligan) was a socially-aloof coffee shop employee. Her best friend Nina committed suicide after she was raped by their med school classmate Al Monroe (Chris Lowell) in front of his cheering friends. Since then, Cassie had been on a mission to punish everyone involved in that terrible incident, as well as all sexually abusive men in general. Upon learning about Al's upcoming wedding, Cassie put her plans on revenge into action.
Carrie Mulligan went beyond her usual comfort in this gutsy and challenging role. Her most memorable roles had been in period films, like Daisy in "The Great Gatsby" (2013), Bathsheba in "Far from the Madding Crowd" (2015), and of course her breakthough Oscar-nominated performance in "An Education" (2009). Cassie was a totally different Carrie Mulligan as she simmered with pent-up anger the whole film, just waiting to blow up.
The production design of this film was purposefully all in multi-colored pastel shades in contrast with the dark tone of the film. The direction into which this story of revenge went was not predictable and very well told by writer-director Emerald Fennell, in her auspicious feature film debut in both capacities. It clearly depicted the disadvantage women experienced in real life, but ironically, it also showed how limited their options are to fight back. 8/10.
Written by: John Patrick Shanley
Directed by: John Patrick Shanley
The Muldoons and the Reillys were neighboring farmers and close friends living and working in the Irish countryside. Since she was a little girl, the spirited Rosemary Muldoon (Emily Blunt) had long harbored a love for awkward Anthony Reilly (Jamie Dornan), which remained unrequited. One day, Anthony's rich American cousin Adam Kelly (Jon Hamm) came to buy their farm and win Rosemary too. Only then did Anthony wake up from his inactivity.
It was very refreshing to see Christian Grey himself Jaime Dornan act like a total dork here beside the confident and radiant Emily Blunt. He even had a scene rehearsing proposal lines in front of a donkey, which was very funny in its silly irony. Their relationship reached a tense climax when they were caught indoors together during a sudden storm and an exasperated Rosemary had no choice but to confront Anthony about how he felt about her.
The whole film was just a pleasant little slice of Irish rural life with all the beautiful rolling green landscape to see and variations of brogue accents to hear. Ever magnetic, Christopher Walken (as Anthony's father Tony) can always steal every scene he was in. It may have taken more than an hour and a half before telling us if Anthony and Rosemary will end up together, but it certainly immersed viewers in the charming lifestyle it showcased with pride. 6/10.
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