“The Outrun”, a film directed by Nora Fingscheidt with Saoirse Ronan in the leading role, is a compelling adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s memoir of her time in Orkney, following her stint in an alcohol treatments center. The film’s portrayal of nature eschews sentiment, with Ronan delivering a particularly striking performance that displays a heretofore unseen edginess and hidden aggressiveness. Ronan’s depiction of the fraught times of recovery, teetering on the edge of relapse and emotional outburst, is superb.
Megan Park’s “My Old Ass” is a perceptive and witty take on the trope of addressing notes to one’s younger self. Its protagonist, Elliot (played with aplomb by Maisy Stella of Nashville fame), absents herself from her own birthday bash along with her best mates (played by Ziegler and Brooks). After consuming hallucinogens, she encounters herself as a 39-year-old woman (played by Aubrey Plaza) who imparts wisdom from her life. This low-budget science fiction-comedy draws much humor from the interaction between Elliot and her older self, and skilfully addresses themes of coming of age, first love and reflecting on past summers peppered with witty conversation.
“Megalopolis,” unfortunately, did not receive as favorable reviews.
Other news headlines include the tragic death of two teenagers in a car accident with a tractor in County Mayo, the arrest of a man in Dublin following the seizure of gold worth €1.4m, and the charging of six men and a teenager in relation to an alleged torture incident in a Dublin flat. Instagram influencer Garron Noone also sheds light on his struggles, saying that he has mostly lived with financial difficulties, and has even cleaned vomit for money. He underlines the fleeting nature of success.
Francis Ford Coppola, the maestro behind the lens, presents a much-debated film, featuring stalwarts like Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, and Jon Voight. A runtime of 138 minutes, this film is set for a limited release and comes with a 15A certification. It endeavours, albeit unsuccessfully, to depict Coppola’s own life and work. Instances of Coppola’s characteristic closed off worlds as seen in “One from the Heart” are present and there’s an appreciable hint of the audacity marking “Apocalypse Now”. Driver’s rendition of a gifted architect, embroiled in the ploys of corrupt bureaucrats in a city all too reminiscent of the old Roman empire, makes for an intriguing, yet flawed spectacle. The film is, nonetheless, worth a watch for its grand yet miscalculated attempt.
Coming up next is “Will & Harper ★★★☆☆” by Josh Greenbaum. This Netflix documentary of 114 minutes features Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, friends from their “Saturday Night Live” times three decades prior. Clocking America’s diverse terrains following Steele’s transition from male to female, this is not about winning someone over. Ferrell’s empathetic and supportive persona is felt from the off. As it traverses the known disparities of the American landscape, the documentary emanates positivity and celebrates diversity, despite occasional cyber negativity. In stark contrast to the “Top Gear special” or Jeremy Clarkson’s production on Prime Video, it exudes warmth and advocates militant tolerance.