Films: July 28 - August 3

Short Term 12 (2013)

Girl In The Picture (2022)

Arthur Newman (2013)

The American Side (2016)

Beoning (Burning) (2018)

Tonight And Every Night (1945)

Milyang (Secret Sunshine) (2007) ///

Short Term 12 (2013) Seared with tragic honesty, damaged counsellors cope with equally hurt kids in teen care facility, as open Brie Larson reflects personal issues with troubled Kaitlyn Dever. Jolts of humor amid pain, narrative threads too neatly wrapped, yet cast remains vital.

Girl In The Picture (2022) Compulsively dark and twisted, death of a desperate woman and a kidnapping lead down rabbit hole of years long abuse and cruelty. Unflashy presentation, final identity to a lost soul redeems individual crusades, despite overwhelming sense of despair. 

Arthur Newman (2013) Morose Colin Firth fakes his death to start a new life, burned out Emily Blunt is on the run from her own pain. Story posits interesting setup about identity and frustrated ambition, yet mood and characters are crushingly serious and narrative too schematic.

The American Side (2016) Death of a stripper engulfs grubby PI Greg Stuhr within labyrinthine mystery featuring ambiguous women and powerful businessmen all linked to a dangerous Nikola Tesla invention. Low budget Buffalo streets evocative, story is noir pastiche, thrills lacking.

Beoning (Burning) (2018) Mesmerizing and masterfully paced, both intense emotional drama and cutting social commentary, as drifting Yoo Ah-in re-connects with playful Jeon Jong-seo until wealthy, suspicious Steven Yeun intervenes. Grounded in character, surprising and effecting.

Tonight And Every Night (1945) Attractively designed and cast, with some effective songs and energetic dance, Rita Hayworth is part of wartime London theatre that keeps performing no matter German bombings or personal tragedy. Less involving with romantic conflicts, backstage life and conditions maintain interest.

Milyang (Secret Sunshine) (2007) Quietly entrancing Jeon Do-yeon becomes agonizingly dependent as tragedy of her son's kidnapping follows death of her husband. Mechanic Song Kang-ho is equally desperate, as faith, community and humanity are questioned. Darkly lyrical and compelling.