The reimagined Danish suspense film, “Speak No Evil,” earns four out of five stars. This tense narrative, directed by James Watkins, features performances by James McAvoy, Mackenzie Davis, Aisling Franciosi, Alix West Lefler, Dan Hough, and Scoot McNairy. The plot centres around two couples who, somewhat naively, decide to reconnect in England following a shared holiday. Lead characters McAvoy and Franciosi superbly portray the easy-going British hosts, while Davis and McNairy fittingly represent their uneasy American guests. The film concludes with an unnerving bout of violence, overshadowing earlier scenes of social awkwardness which set the initial tone. McAvoy excels as an imposing character, disguising his bullying tactics behind charismatic charm.
“The Critic,” awarded three out of five stars, is directed by Anand Tucker and includes a captivating cast featuring Ian McKellen, Gemma Arterton, Mark Strong, Lesley Manville, Romola Garai, Ben Barnes, and Alfred Enoch. This inconsistent comedic thriller has McKellen play a prominent theatre critic on the brink of joblessness, with Arterton chosen as the hapless actor who bears the brunt of his judgement. The film commences with a compelling insight into the dissatisfaction of London’s West End theatre world during the inter-war period. However, the concluding half takes a dramatic turn into grisly melodrama, which appears contrived even by Jacobean standards. Nonetheless, the performances manage to sustain the viewers’ interest.
Other news highlights include Fine Gael celebrating the return of Big Phil, as Leo Varadkar bids farewell. Gisèle Pélicot’s former husband is being tried for orchestrating her assault by unknown assailants, a case she courageously wanted to be made public. A poignant story profiles the difficult experiences of somebody living in a nursing home since they were 46, describing it as an upscale prison. A profound and compelling political speech delivered during the elections was unfortunately forgotten. Lastly, a show called “My Favourite Cake” receives a rating of four out of five stars.
The Iranian movie guided by the vision of Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha, featuring Lily Farhadpour Esmail Mehrabi, is a heartwarming portrayal of an elderly woman venturing into a surprising romantic journey. She seeks her fortuity at a hotel that was once her haunt for concerts, attired differently back then in deep necklines and high heels, as opposed to sneakers and hijabs. Her quest also takes her to a park and a bakery and concludes at a retirement restaurant where she sparks a dialogue with a single taxi driver. Although the plot takes an unexpected turn, the narrative remains memorable, punctuated by subdued political objections and touching commentary on being a widow.
Lee, directed by Ellen Kuras with Kate Winslet, Marion Cotillard, Andrea Riseborough, Andy Samberg, Noémie Merlant, Josh O’Connor, and Alexander Skarsgård in the lead, is a biographical film of Lee Miller, an American photographer whose career spans photographing fashion to the atrocities of World War II. Yet, despite Winslet’s firm dedication, Lee is a rather mundane movie about a remarkable woman. After several attempts at rewriting by four credited writers, the screenplay fails to bring out the essence of the protagonist. With a lacklustre interrogation scene by a journalist (O’Connor) bookending the film and a seemingly detached portrayal of the Holocaust, the movie fails to meet expectations. Miller’s contributions and the powerful images she captured deserved a better cinematic representation. Nevertheless, the film’s most favourable scenes reproduce some of her most noted photographs.