Author Archives: Keith Garlington

REVIEW: “The Lesson” (2023)

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(CLICK HERE to read my full review in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

Richard E. Grant, Julie Delpy, and Daryl McCormack make for a tantalizing trio in the new thriller “The Lesson”, a film you can file in with the ever-growing number of movies dealing with the troubles and tragedies of the rich and famous. This focused and wily confection uses characters entrenched in their own misery to tell a story about pent-up pain, resentment, and dark family secrets. With its (mostly) single setting and relatively small cast, “The Lesson” plants us in a tightly structured environment with people whose poorly veiled dysfunction eventually reaches its breaking point.

Much of the film (an impressive feature debut for both director Alice Troughton and screenwriter Alex MacKeith) is shown from the perspective of Liam Sommers, a recent literature graduate and an aspiring writer. He’s played by McCormack who grabbed a lot of attention for his performance in last year’s “Good Luck to You, Leo Grande”. When not working as a tutor Liam spends his personal time writing away on his first novel. And then along comes the opportunity of a lifetime.

Image Courtesy of Bleecker Street

Liam is hired to be the live-in tutor for Bertie Sinclair (Stephen McMillan). Bertie happens to be the bratty son of J.M. Sinclair (Grant), a revered author and Liam’s literary idol. Grant is pitch-perfect playing a pompous egomaniac whose condescending smile can’t quite hide his ever-present feelings of intellectual superiority. His slithering smugness and feelings of self-importance seep through every look, gesture, and word Grant delivers. It’s truly a savory performance.

Delpy is also good as J.M.’s enigmatic wife Hélène. She’s the one who actually hired Liam and gets him set up once he arrives at their remote country estate. Hélène is hard to read. We learn she’s an art curator but otherwise she keeps her thoughts, emotions, and any possible secret agenda to herself. She’s aware of Liam’s adoration for her husband yet she still brought him in to help her moody son prepare for his upcoming Oxford entrance exams. “He has to get in,” she stresses in a deathly serious tone.

It doesn’t take long for Liam (and us) to notice the undercurrent of bitterness and contempt running through the Sinclair home. But Liam is a bit of a cipher himself, ingratiating himself with the Sinclairs (especially J.M.) while donning a kindly innocence and a sheepish smile. But he’s also sharp-eyed, closely watching his hosts and cataloging his observations on yellow Post-It notes carefully organized on his bedroom mirror.

So we’re left pretty much questioning everyone’s self-interests and motives. We’re treated to a series of awkward dinners and tense encounters that begin with a subtle dark comedy edge. But as the truths start to surface, especially the revelation that the Sinclairs had a son named Felix who died two years earlier, the proverbial plot thickens and the thriller elements take over.

Image Courtesy of Bleecker Street

As MacKeith’s sleek and savvy script uncoils within its crisp ‘prologue – three act – epilogue’ structure, Troughton shows good instincts in keeping things moving at a smart and steady pace. Meanwhile DP Anna Patarakina captures the beauty and austerity of the Sinclair manor in a way fitting of a place housing so much unpleasantness. And it’s all surrounded by Isobel Waller-Bridge’s mischievous score which ranges from playful to all-out ominous.

Interestingly nothing about “The Lesson” feels particularly new or fresh (in fact it immediately reminded me of a similar film from earlier this year called “The Tutor”). Yet there’s a hard to pinpoint draw to movies like this specifically when they’re done well. Troughton keeps us engaged throughout, using all the pieces she’s given to their fullest. And it’s hard not to love the cast led by a deliciously noxious Richard Grant. He alone is worth the cost of a ticket. “The Lesson” is out now in select theaters.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS

Second Trailer Drops for Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon”

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Among the most anticipated movies the year has to be the latest from iconic American filmmaker Martin Scorsese. “Killers of the Flower Moon” is an epic-sized $200 million feature film backed by Apple Studios that received rave reviews following its premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The film is getting a full theater release courtesy of Paramount Pictures before streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.

A brand new trailer has dropped giving us an ever better look at what’s sure to be a compelling and immersive cinematic experience. The film sees Scorsese reteaming with two of his very favorites, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro to tell the story of the mysterious murders of Osage tribe members in 1920s Oklahoma. Politics, greed, territorialism, and genocide all factor into this historical crime drama that ventures into the truly horrific.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” releases in theaters on October 20th. Check out the trailer below and let me know if you’ll be seeing it or taking a pass.

REVIEW: “Clock” (2023)

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Hardly your run of the mill horror movie crowdpleaser, the Hulu Original “Clock” from writer-director Alexis Jacknow takes the genre to some unexpectedly interesting places. Adapting her own 2020 short film of the same name, Jacknow speaks to a number of compelling issues, exploring them through a horror framework in a way that can be genuinely disturbing.

“Clock” (which is Jacknow’s feature film debut) has a surprising thematic range. It takes on such topics as motherhood, childbirth, religion, peer pressure, and mental health in some cool yet weighty ways. Jacknow takes an interesting approach, starting her film with a satirical (and almost comical) bite. But the movie makes a pretty dramatic shift and the darker aspects of her story take over.

Image Courtesy of Hulu

“The Clock” is anchored by a wonderfully committed lead performance by Dianna Agron who plays Ella Patel. She’s a smart and confident 37-year-old who has a successful career as an interior designer and a hunky husband named Aiden (Jay Ali) who adores her. Ella feels she has a wonderful life but there’s something missing (at least according to her gaggle of suburban mom friends and her hyper-opinionated Jewish father (Saul Rubinek).

You see, unlike her friends Ella hasn’t had a baby. In fact, she has never wanted to have children which blows the minds of her child-rearing peers. All they offer is unhelpful encouragement like “Don’t worry, your clock will kick in.” Meanwhile her father, who lost much of his family during the Holocaust, sees Ella’s position as an affront to their very history and heritage.

Caving to the notion that her biological clock is broken, Ella secretly pulls out of her dream job and enrolls in a clinical trial being conducted by a mysterious biotech firm at their remote facility. It’s led by Dr. Elizabeth Simmons (Melora Harden) who’s overseeing an intense and targeted 10-day study on “the cognitive side of fertility”. Rorschach tests, synthetic hormones, behavioral therapy – all meant to get Ella “realigned with her natural state”. What could possibly go wrong?

Image Courtesy of Hulu

Well as it turns out everything. As mentioned the story takes some dark turns as the “study” takes Ella to some unsettling places within herself. There is some twisted imagery and a handful of gnarly scenes that I guarantee will make you squirm. Through it all Agron gives us a compelling lead character to latch onto. Her performance remains strikingly authentic even as things steadily get more surreal and unnerving.

As it slowly unfolds the film’s deeper thematic interests come more and more into focus. Jacknow uses her strange but engaging premise to pose a number of compelling questions. Storywise it does have a few holes and parts are simply too far-fetched to look past. Yet it never loses its emotional punch in large part thanks Agron’s performance and Jacknow’s ability to keep us engaged till the very end. “Clock” is now streaming on Hulu.

VERDICT – 3 STARS

70 Years Later: “Roman Holiday”

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At the risk of sounding cliche, they just don’t make movies like this anymore, especially romantic comedies. The 1953 classic “Roman Holiday” from director William Wyler remains a blueprint for a genre that notoriously struggles with originality these days. The beloved film turns 70 this year and to celebrate its anniversary, “Roman Holiday” is having special screenings at select theaters all around the country. And on the eve of Valentines Day, what better time to see it.

“Roman Holiday” brought together the unlikely pair of Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. It was a star-making role for a young Hepburn who at that point had mostly appeared in bit parts. But her performance in “Roman Holiday” caught the world’s eye. Her co-star Gregory Peck played a big part. He recognized Hepburn was going to be a star and was instrumental in getting her name out. Interestingly Peck wasn’t Wyler’s first choice. The director wanted Cary Grant, but Grant turned it down believing he was too old for the part (Peck once famously said that anytime he received a comedy script he knew Grant must have turned it down first).

The story for “Roman Holiday” was written by Dalton Trumbo but it was credited to Ian McClellan Hunter. At the time, Trumbo was one of the Hollywood Ten and had been blacklisted for his “communist ties” and failure to cooperate with Congress. To make things even more interesting, “Roman Holiday” won the Academy Award for Best Story (as the category was known at the time). Hunter would accept the award and it wasn’t until 2011 that Trumbo received full credit for his work.

Trumbo’s fairytale follows Ann (Hepburn), a princess of an unmentioned country who is on a European tour-stop in Rome. Ann is young and adventurous and has had enough of the strict itineraries and stuffy hobnobbing. She wants to experience life outside of her tightly controlled confines. One evening, after the royal family doctor gives her a sedative to calm her anxiety, she sneaks out before it kicks in, ready to take in the sites and sounds of Rome on her own.

Enter American reporter Joe Bradley (Peck). He stumbles across Ann who has fallen sound asleep next to a fountain. He doesn’t recognize her at first, but after a comical series of events he learns her identity and sees her as a big story and a potential career boost. One that could land him a coveted job back in New York.

Joe doesn’t reveal to Ann that he recognizes her, and Ann tries to keep her identity secret. He calls on a photographer friend of his, Irving Radovich (Eddie Albert), to secretly snap some photos of Ann for their big story as the three spend a playful day exploring Rome. But true to rom-com form, Joe begins to have feelings for Ann. So he’s faced with a decision: does he give in to his feelings or cash them in for a big payday?

The film was shot entirely in Rome by DPs Henri Alekan and Franz Planer. Shooting on location wasn’t quite as common as it is today, and the expense increased the budget so much that the original plans to shoot the film in color were scrapped. Regardless, it was the right choice. Rome, with all its history and beauty, plays a significant supporting role, and some of the movie’s more magical scenes feature Ann and Joe at some of the city’s famous locations. (A favorite is a playful moment at the famed Mouth of Truth where Peck pretends his arm is stuck in the monument and lets out a scream. It’s said Hepburn knew nothing of the gag and was genuinely startled, letting out a scream of her own. It was completely spontaneous and Wyler captured it in one take).

“Roman Holiday” would go on to earn 10 Academy Award nominations. Aside from Trumbo’s win, it was also awarded for Best Costume Design, and perhaps most notably for Best Actress. The win would catapult Audrey Hepburn, who was relatively unknown at the time, into the spotlight and open the door to what would be a stellar career. Peck was right with his appraisal of the young actress and she was always appreciative. The two remained close friends for the rest of their lives. The roots of their shared admiration is clearly seen in “Roman Holiday”, and is a big reason they’re such a memorable on-screen couple.

I still love “Roman Holiday” – the sparkling chemistry of its leads; its keen sense of humor; how it captures and incorporates the beauty and vibrancy of Rome. To this day it continues to be a movie easy to get lost in, which is what you want, especially from a romantic comedy. I want to be swept away with the characters. I want the story to be inviting, the humor to be smart, and the romance to be genuine. We get all of that and more in “Roman Holiday” which is a big reason why it’s still considered an all-time great, even after 70 years.

REVIEW: “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (2023)

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Let me be perfectly honest and open – I have a soft spot for the Indiana Jones franchise that’s a mile wide and a mile long. It’s one of the biggest reasons that I loved the first three movies and genuinely disliked the fourth one. My childhood is marked by endless memories of the series’ titular archaeologist and college professor. Whether I was seeing the original three movies in the theaters or taking my replica whip and my grandfather’s wide-brimmed fedora and making up my own adventures, Indiana Jones has been indelibly etched into my personal history.

So there was no way I was going to miss seeing “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”, the fifth and final feature film adventure for this adored character. At the same time, I entered it with hopes that we would be seeing a fitting and heartfelt farewell for Indy and one that more closely resembled the first three films than the Crystal Skull debacle. It certainly had the potential. And with a budget nearing $300 million, it was clear Disney and Lucafilm weren’t taking any shortcuts.

This latest Indy adventure instantly had a lot going for it. It starts with Harrison Ford who returns to play what is arguably the 80-year-old screen legend’s most beloved character (although I know some Han Solo fans who might disagree). The film also benefits from having the great Mads Mikkelsen as its chief antagonist. He’s not handed the most well-rounded villain here. But Mikkelsen is always a treat.

Image Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

“Indy 5” is also helped by the addition of James Mangold, a smart and savvy director who clearly has a love for the franchise. He makes a few missteps and miscalculations, but for the most part Mangold is able to capture the spirit of Indiana Jones. His film is fun, action-packed, laced with humor, and with just the right amount of nostalgia to give us die-hard fans the warm and fuzzies.

But “The Dial of Destiny” isn’t without its problems. To its credit, it’s considerably better than Crystal Skull which admittedly isn’t the highest bar. But it doesn’t have the spark of the three earlier (and far superior) movies. There are flickers here and there, but it can’t maintain that playful energy of the better films. One reason is because it’s simply too long. Mangold and his three fellow screenwriters (Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and David Koepp) draw things out way longer than they need to and the occasional lulls are hard to miss.

There are also the issues of comedy and chemistry. The Indy movies have always had a sense of humor, much of it situational and almost always with pitch-perfect timing. The humor is definitely present in this one. But the jokes aren’t nearly as effective or even memorable.

Then there’s the chemistry. Among the many things the three earliest films had in common was a sparkling chemistry. In “Raiders” it was between Indy and Marion. In “Temple of Doom” is was between Indy and Short Round. In “Last Crusade” it was between Indy and his father. Sadly “Dial of Destiny” has nothing comparable. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a nice addition playing Indy’s goddaughter, Helena Shaw. She and Ford share several good scenes and they play off each other fairly well. But there’s nothing that really stands out between them. I know that may sound like a small thing, but it’s noticeable.

Yet “Dial of Destiny” still connects in the places where it counts most. First off, the story is full of Indiana Jones signatures that fans should love. The awkward situations Indy finds himself in; the hilariously loud sound whenever he punches someone; the way his hat always finds its way back to him; how he continues to find ways to be a thorn in the Nazis’ side. And then there are the many references to classic franchise characters and past movie moments. Sure, there’s a bit of fan service involved. But it works.

Image Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures

As for the story, the bulk of it is set in 1969 and follows a tired and melancholy Indy. He’s all alone after separating from his wife Marion and he’s left will little to do since recently retiring from teaching. But his dull and lonely life gets a jolt when his goddaughter Helena shows up inquiring about the Antikythera, also known as Archimedes’s Dial. It’s an ancient orrery split into three pieces and her late father lost his mind trying to unlock its secrets.

Indy has one piece of the dial and Helena wants it. But so does Nazi astrophysicist Jürgen Voller (Mikkelsen). Indy, Helena, and her sidekick Terry (Ethann Isidore) find themselves racing around the globe to find the remaining two pieces before Voller and his henchmen can get them and use the dial for their own nefarious purposes. It all culminates in a truly wacky yet undeniably fun final act spin before beautifully sticking the landing with a truly terrific final scene.

It may not capture every facet of a classic Indiana Jones adventure, but “Dial of Destiny” has so much that fans should enjoy. The action is mostly thrilling (despite some occasionally wonky CGI), John Williams’s final film score is as sweeping and epic as ever, and Harrison Ford simply IS Indiana Jones through and through. So resist the urge to over-analyze and embrace what you love about the previous films. If you do you’ll find a satisfying final chapter that lets the franchise end on a significantly better note. “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS

Warner Bros. Releases Trailer #2 for the Highly Anticipated “Dune: Part Two”

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As if the first trailer didn’t stir up enough excitement for Denis Villeneuve’s eagerly awaited “Dune: Part Two”, now we get a second trailer that reveals even more about the stunning dystopian science-fiction epic. The mind-blowing visuals, massive scale, incredible cast – everything is on display in this spectacular three-minute new look.

Villeneuve is picking up where he left off in telling the story of Paul Atreides who’s played again by Timothée Chalamet. I admit, for me Chalamet is one of the weaker pieces of the trailer and I hope his performance is better than the snippets we get. But everything and everyone else absolutely shines. It’s going to be a long wait, but this new trailer reminds us that we have something pretty special ahead of us.