On Jenny Agutter's first, rather extraordinary leading role in David Greene's fourth feature, I Start Counting, a film I had been meaning to see for years. Happy to say it lived up to my expectations; less happy that it's now out of print in the States.
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Somersault is playing NYC's Metrograph through Feb 28.
"Actors and directors sometimes meet at just the right time, and that was the case with Shortland, who was making her first feature after several shorts, and Cornish, who was playing her first lead after several supporting roles."
Kristen Stewart gave everything she had to her adaptation of Lidia Yuknavich's memoir, The Chronology of Water--Imogen Poots, too. It returns to Seattle to play SIFF Film Center, starting Jan 30, thanks to the fine folks at Grand Illusion Cinema.
I'm glad to see that Joy Wilkinson's 7 Keys, which premiered at SXSW, comes to VOD Jan 27. It's a directorial debut that's stuck with me for two years. Not without flaws, but well worth a look, and the vibrant Emma McDonald doesn't put a foot wrong.
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Nia DaCosta (Little Woods, Hedda) has surpassed my expectations with her 28 Years Later sequel, The Bone Temple. Ralph Fiennes, especially, is in exceptionally fine form. Now playing SIFF Cinema Downtown and most Regal and AMC theaters.
Thoughts about Jim Jarmusch's new film, which opened in Seattle today. I may change the title at some point, but couldn't come up with anything better in time. I considered a certain Ramones song, which made me laugh, but doesn't really fit.
I started the year by reviewing Grzegorz Królikiewicz's black-as-coal 1973 debut Through and Through. I can't say I've seen anything like it before, and it's frustrating at times before ending in powerful fashion. First time on Blu-ray via Radiance Films.
A ranking of favorite albums, scores, and singles of 2025. This is the second time an Argentinian artist has taken the top spot after Juana Molina with Un DÃa in 2008.
I've ranked and/or classified every film I saw this year, plus a few related--mostly unranked--items. I only saw one play, Waiting for Godot, so I guess it's #1! Still working on my less-robust music list, which is where I call out soundtracks.
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With widespread layoffs in 2025 and a possible recession in 2026, The Ax, Donald Westlake's 1997 novel of downsizing and murder, seems newly relevant. I wrote about two adaptations, one more dynamic and funny and the other more faithful and noirish. The former, No Other Choice, opens at Seattle's SIFF Cinema Uptown Jan 1.