The Holdovers (2023)
A Business Proposal (2025)
The Babadook (2014)
The Visit (2015)
Together (2025)
Ballerina (2025)
September 5 (2024) ///
The Holdovers (2023) Stylistically celebrating seventies aesthetic, bruised souls alone at New England prep school over Christmas provoke more hopeful futures in each other. Schematic structure won over by Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Dominic Sessa's true performances and imbued with movingly humane touch.
A Business Proposal (2025) Flimsy concept not aided by unsteady staging as food analyst Ariel Tatum finds date she's paid to go out with is her company boss Abidzar Al Ghifari. Broad comedy fails to mix with chaste romantic complications and family dysfunction, though spoilt best friend Caitlin Halderman provides appealing energy.
The Babadook (2014) Gnawing paranoia grips horror setup of mythical monster in suburban house of fractured widow Essie Davis and unstable young son Noah Wiseman while compelling character study unravels suffocating struggle with grief. Strong visuals and assured pacing pierces grounded and fantastical threats.
The Visit (2015) Found footage thriller sends aspiring teen documentarian Olivia DeJonge and precocious brother to grandparents desolate rural home where signs that all is not well soon become apparent. Potent last act twist and effectively unstable atmosphere though dramatic progression falters.
Together (2025) Benefitting from increasingly twisted effects and leads' easy chemistry, relationship strain between practical teacher Alison Brie and frustrated musician Dave Franco mutates to rabid, body horror attraction. Uneven logic embraces wicked humor and desperate emotion to fitting end.
Ballerina (2025) Gleaming visuals and Ana de Armas' fearlessly vulnerable assassin energize revenge narrative as she tracks down group that killed her father. Origin story mythologizing sets up increasing number of opponents for succession of elaborately violent set pieces, providing visceral thrills if minimal tension.
September 5 (2024) True life account of terrorist tragedy at 1972 Munich Olympics seen through eyes of ABC TV sports unit, with dilemma of pursuit for exclusive and ethics of live hostage crisis. Tension established with edgy craft, yet themes never quite coalesce with character tension.
