EUyeshima Reviews

She Came to Me (2023)

Quirky Roundelay Doesn't Quite Find Its Footing

[7/10 · 15 April 2024]

Director/screenwriter Rebecca Miller has fashioned quite a quirky relationship roundelay in this 2023 dramedy as she focuses on a dumbfounding love triangle saved from complete absurdity by the dexterity of the three leads. The plot is convoluted. Stephen Lauddem is a famous composer with writer's block who sleeps with Katrina, a shopworn tugboat captain with a sex addiction, and then writes a celebrated opera about their fast affair. Stephen is married to Patricia, a beautiful Manhattan therapist with OCD and a strange obsession with nuns. There's a parallel story of Patricia's son who is in love with the underaged daughter of the family maid whose husband is hellbent on breaking up the relationship. All the story strands come together but don't emotionally resonate nearly as much as they should. Miller seems more preoccupied with the characters' eccentricities. The star performances compensate. Peter Dinklage plays Stephen with jaundiced charm, while Anne Hathaway shows off a welcome edginess to Patricia. Marisa Tomei conveys a convincing lived-in approach to Katrina that helps ground the movie's somewhat flighty tone.

All of Us Strangers (2023)

Love and the Paranormal Meld Beautifully in a Unique Queer Context

[9/10 · 24 March 2024]

This was a surprisingly enthralling and completely unexpected film from director Andrew Haigh who previously made the remarkable "45 Years" starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. This 2023 release is a relationship drama of sorts but also a paranormal mystery, an intriguing hybrid within LGBTQ cinema. Based on a Japanese novel called "Strangers", the story centers on Adam, a gay, fortyish screenwriter living in a strangely empty London high-rise and dealing with writer's block on his latest script set in the '80's. He's taking inspiration from his working class parents who died in an auto accident when he was twelve. He ventures back to the South London neighborhood of his childhood where he magically reunites with his seemingly ageless parents. Meanwhile, back in London, he starts to connect rather haltingly with Harry, a younger neighbor in his building, and as love starts to blossom, more unexpected complications occur. A quartet of fine actors fill the roles splendidly starting with Andrew Scott who manages to capture all the internal complexities in his portrayal of Adam. Jamie Bell and especially Claire Foy play the parents beautifully as they deal with their adult son in human, relatable terms, especially in the one-on-one scenes. Well paired with Scott, Paul Mezcal has perhaps the most challenging role as Harry who initially comes off as the aggressor but has mysteries of his own to unravel. This is a heartfelt and heartbreaking work creatively executed.

American Fiction (2023)

Racial Politics and Absolution Drive This Sharply Perceptive Look at "Black" Literature

[9/10 · 20 March 2024]

This 2023 release is a beautifully literate and emotionally dexterous film from screenwriter and first-time director Cord Jefferson. He explores the hypocrisy of the liberal elite in publishing stereotypical "black" street books and marketing them as serious literature as a means of absolution. He recruited a superb cast headed by Jeffrey Wright in his strongest role as English professor and flailing writer Thelonious "Monk" Ellison, a classic misanthrope who out of resentment of the racial politics, pens a "black" book under a pseudonym and finally achieves the commercial success he was craving. Needless to say, he doesn't find redemption much less happiness from this feat, but Jefferson infuses a sharp blend of comedy and well earned pathos in Monk's self-discovery journey. The supporting players play their rich roles with vigor and heart - Sterling K. Brown as Monk's openly gay brother, Tracee Ellis Ross as their resentful sister, Erika Alexander as Monk's no-nonsense romantic interest, Leslie Uggams as Monk's mother slowly giving into dementia, Issa Rae as a competitive author who has succumbed to the racial politics Monk abhors.

Perfect Days (2023)

Now Is Now, Next Time Is Next Time

[9/10 · 17 March 2024]

Longtime German filmmaker Wim Wenders has made his admiration for classic Japanese filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu quite clear ever since he made his 1985 documentary, "Tokyo-Ga". This 2023 release felt very much influenced by Ozu's unmistakable style - the soulful clarity of the deceptively simple storyline, long dialogue-free scenes, the lives of characters who live in the depths of emotional containment. Wenders' focus here is on Hirayama, a Tokyo public toilet cleaner dedicated to his work and admirably disciplined in how he lives an almost monastic life. There is a spiritual richness that emanates from him even though he's virtually invisible to most people. There are a few people who fall into his orbit - a lazy coworker and the hip girl he wants to date, a terminally ill stranger, Hirayama's niece who has run away from her domineering mother estranged from her brother. There's a rich soundtrack of 1960's-70's American rock classics which play throughout via Hirayama's cassette tapes. Koji Yakusho's performance is a master class in subtlety and generates a palpable sense of emotionalism that would've pleased Ozu.

The Holdovers (2023)

Giamatti, Sessa, and Especially Randolph Deliver the Goods in an Idiosyncratic Holiday Dramedy

[8/10 · 12 March 2024]

It's been twenty years since "Sideways", but director Alexander Payne hasn't lost his idiosyncratic touch. In this 2023 dramedy, he has reunited with Paul Giamatti for another custom-fit role, this time as Paul Hunham, a curmudgeonly classics professor hated by both his students and Dr. Woodrup, the headmaster. For flunking a son of a major donor, Woodrup punishes Hunham by forcing him to supervise a few students who have to stay on campus over the holidays. Ultimately just one ends up staying for the duration, Angus Tully, of course, the most obstreperous of the bunch. The rest of the movie follows Hunham, Angus, and cafeteria manager Mary Lamb as they haltingly bond over their respective states of emotional isolation. Payne elicits superb, multi-dimensional work from not only Giamatti but also Dominic Sessa as Angus. Unsurprisingly the standout is Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Mary, as she moves fluidly from stoic to vulnerable as her character deals with her son's recent death. She well deserved her Oscar. It's a shame there's been a plagiarism lawsuit filed in relation to the screenplay because the movie manages to transcend plot conventions to generate something quite impactful.

Poor Things (2023)

A Fantastical Frankenstein Feminist Tract Well Played

[8/10 · 10 March 2024]

It took me a while to empathize with Emma Stone's Frankenstein-like woman-child character, but her fearlessness and commitment gradually won me over in Yorgos Lanthimos' 2023 fantastical black comedy and proto-feminist tract. There is a darkly extravagant "Alice in Wonderland" spirit about the journey of a woman named Bella, who dies and gets transplanted with the brain of her own child by the kindly, physically deformed Dr. Godwin Baxter. From there, she discovers sex (quite graphically), adventure, poverty, marginalization at the hands of men, and ultimately self-empowerment. The period-set steampunk-style designs and costumes are startling and memorable. Jerskin Fendrix's off-kilter score is bizarre but oddly enveloping. Aside from Stone's impressive work, Willem Dafoe brings much needed humanity to the proceedings as Godwin. Ramy Youssef also brings heart to the put-upon role of Max, a medical student who becomes smitten with Bella. Also smitten is Godwin's lawyer Duncan who takes her on a rendezvous to a glorious-looking Lisbon, and as played by Mark Ruffalo, he's a comically rakish figure. Despite the near-unanimous praise for the film, I find it hard to believe everyone will warm to it.

Priscilla (2023)

Heavily Muted Look Back at Priscilla's Years with the King

[6/10 · 25 February 2024]

Director/writer Sofia Coppola's atmospheric adaptation of Priscilla Presley's 1985 memoir is so muted the 2023 film often feels emotionally inert. The approach makes sense when it focuses on the compartmentalized world Priscilla lived in from age 14 when she was summoned to meet Elvis in Germany. The first part of the film focuses effectively on her sense of isolation, but it also builds anticipation for a great romance that we don't actually witness much in a relationship marred by jealousy, manipulation and often violent swings in behavior. Coppola manages to draw out solid lead performances from Jacob Elordi who captures Elvis' conflicted offstage personality well, and especially Cailee Spaeny who conveys the title role with aching vulnerability and an evolving sense of self.

Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin (2024)

Finding Franklin

[9/10 · 18 February 2024]

I loved this 2024 short. First off, the animation is beautiful while remaining faithful to the original drawings. Putting the spotlight on Franklin, the first and still only black Peanuts character, really made Charlie Brown's status as an outsider resonate even more. As an army brat, Franklin finds himself constantly searching for new friends every time his dad gets reassigned. When he encounters the Peanuts gang, he doesn't mesh with any of them until he partners with Charlie Brown in the local Soap Box Derby. I particularly appreciated how the creators didn't shy away from confrontations or feelings of loneliness. Franklin is my new favorite kid on the block. I found myself weeping at the end.

Suncoast (2024)

Predictable Coming-of-Age Story Meshes Uneasily with the Tragic Circumstances

[6/10 · 12 February 2024]

I wish first-time director and writer Laura Chinn could have taken greater risks with this 2024 coming-of-age drama because it felt heartfelt yet fairly predictable. It's a highly personal story set in 2005 based on Chinn's own adolescent experience of losing her teenage brother to cancer. Her fictional stand-in is Doris, a withdrawn and resentful teen constantly reprimanded by her emotionally exhausting mother Christine, who decides to move her comatose son to hospice care as he slowly succumbs to brain cancer. It turns out to be the same hospice facility where Terry Schiavo is under care, and right-to-life protestors surround the building under the scrutiny of the media. Laura Linney plays Christine as almost an older version of her controlling character in the memorable "You Can Count on Me", but she's more fearless here in her monomaniacal devotion to her son. Still, it's Nico Parker who carries the film as Doris nicely conveying both preternatural maturity and gawky angst as a social outcast looking to fit in with her new friends. Woody Harrelson plays a protestor who bonds with Doris, but the Schiavo parallels are largely unexamined and consequently Harrelson is used more as an incidental father figure.

Nyad (2023)

A Trio of Stellar Actors Keeps This Conventional, Against-All-Odds Biopic Afloat

[7/10 · 26 January 2024]

Unless you're the Guinness Book of World Records, there is no disputing the monumental achievement of marathon swimmer Diana Nyad in swimming from Cuba to Key West in 2013 at the age of 64. Written by Julia Cox based on Nyad's memoir, this 2023 biopic was co-directed by married documentarians Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, an intriguing choice as they accurately capture the struggle within the open water swimming scenes but flail somewhat with the rather conventional narrative and how to clarify what exactly caused the failures in Nyad's previous attempts. That leaves the three leads the daunting task of filling in the gaps and humanizing Nyad's relentless persistence. Redoubtable as ever, Annette Bening portrays Nyad with vanity-free ferocity, both physically and temperamentally, and somehow manages to elicit sympathy for a character that might've otherwise come across as purely self-serving. Jodie Foster may have taken a secondary role here as Nyad's coach and best friend Bonnie Stoll, but she is truly the heart and conscience of the film in a loose and winning characterization. Rhys Ifans quietly exudes authority and passion as navigator John Bartlett. It is this trio of stellar actors that makes the film eminently watchable.

Good Grief (IV) (2023)

Loss and Entitlement Among Rarefied Characters

[3/10 · 8 January 2024]

The title of this 2023 melodrama is appropriate but not for the reason director/writer/star Daniel Levy intended. It's what I was uttering in frustration throughout its interminable running time. The story revolves around Marc, a creatively blocked artist mourning the sudden loss of his husband Oliver, a successful fantasy adventure novelist, in a cab accident. He seeks solace in his two best friends by spending time with them in a plush Paris apartment that Marc is shocked to discover that Oliver bought for an extramarital relationship just before his death. Levy gradually reveals aspects of their marriage as well as other characters, which just felt like convenient plot contrivances. As Marc, Levy removes any trace of his trademark comedy style and acts in a constantly bereft state. As a director, he does no favors to Himesh Patel ("Yesterday") and especially Ruth Negga ("Passing"), both of whom have done far better work elsewhere. They play entitlement to the hilt as Marc's hopelessly self-involved best friends. The whole venture felt like an extended Pottery Barn commercial populated by people leading rarefied lives unworthy of empathy.

Saltburn (2023)

A Wicked Sense of Humor Doesn't Quite Offset a Superficial Thriller

[6/10 · 27 December 2023]

Director/screenwriter Emerald Fennell appears to relish pushing all our buttons when she targets class envy and relentless obsession in this dark 2023 hybrid of black comedy and psychological thriller. Same as her directorial debut, "Promising Young Woman", the story centers on a fractured personality, this time a shy but resourceful Oxford scholarship student named Oliver, who latches on to Felix, a handsome party boy who comes from a filthy rich aristocratic family, the members of which lead vacuous, insulated lives. Plotwise, it's pretty obvious where the story is going, especially if you've seen "The Talented Mr. Ripley", but Fennell displays a wicked and often cavalier sense of humor in sorting out the fates of her ethically challenged characters. The film's more pressing problem though is how superficial the plot remains with only a minimum of emotional investment allocated. Regardless, the cast is game with Barry Keoghan properly elliptical as Oliver and Jacob Elordi effortlessly charismatic as Felix. However, as Felix's clueless parents, Richard E. Grant and especially Rosamund Pike steal the film with their shrewdly observed turns. Carey Mulligan shows up briefly as a forlorn Bohemian party guest. There are nice satirical jabs and genuinely uncomfortable moments, but the film just refuses to go deep.

Maestro (2023)

Cooper's Bravura Turn Overshadows Bernstein's Artistry

[7/10 · 21 December 2023]

As both director and actor, Bradley Cooper isn't afraid to go showy and flamboyant, and for the most part, his approach works within the contours of legendary conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein's larger-than-life personality and unfettered hedonism. With a prosthetic nose that is surprisingly unobtrusive, he captures Bernstein's theatrics as conductor without being excessive, though the lion's share of this 2023 movie is focused on the unconventional, time-spanning love story between Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre played with clipped authority and enveloping vulnerability by Carey Mulligan. Cooper gallantly gives her top billing, but this is far more his star vehicle even as their story takes an uninvited turn. Of course, Bernstein's closeted proclivities provide unavoidable complications throughout. Cooper the filmmaker effectively uses overhead crane shots and mise-en-scene transitions like the welcome "Fancy Free" dance sequence. In fact, I wish more of Bernstein's masterworks and his creative process were prominently showcased like, for example, "West Side Story" and "On the Waterfront" beyond their use as incidental background music. Regardless, the film is worth seeing for Cooper's bravura turn and Mulligan's quietly complementary work.

Leave the World Behind (2023)

The Apocalypse Through the Current World Lens

[7/10 · 12 December 2023]

Facing the apocalypse in a unique way is not an easy thing to do in movies, but director/screenwriter Sam Esmail takes Rumaan Alam's 2020 novel and turns it into an unrelenting 2023 psychological thriller that captures the current extremist political landscape and isolationist world view with sharp acuity. No one real is explicitly mentioned, but so much of the threat presented in the spiraling plot felt not only relevant but palpable. It starts with a last-minute family vacation in a Long Island mansion and the two strangers who enter their lives. Julia Roberts plays an unapologetically mistrustful woman with familiar conviction, while Ethan Hawke does what he can as her laid-back husband. As the mysterious stranger, Mahershala Ali has to play it close to the vest, while Kevin Bacon has an effective turn late in the story. I could've done without some of the contrived camera angles and predictable music cues, but overall the film got me thinking what I would do under similar circumstances.

May December (2023)

The Making of the Making of a Tabloid Story, Expertly Played

[8/10 · 6 December 2023]

Director Todd Haynes has a preternatural gift of turning tawdry dishiness into something close to high art. Veering dexterously between social drama and black comedy, the 2023 film felt almost like Ingmar Bergman's "Persona" in presenting Elizabeth Berry, a successful actress who spends time with a deceptively sunny woman named Gracie who notoriously seduced Joe, a 13-year-old boy 23 years before. Joe and Gracie have been married all these years and are now preparing for their twins' high school graduation. Portraying Gracie in an upcoming indie film, Elizabeth insinuates herself into their lives and you can figure out the rest from the awkward situations and conversations that ensue. Both leads deliver the goods with emotional precision. Julianne Moore, Haynes' muse, plays Gracie with unsettling calm, and Natalie Portman nicely captures Elizabeth's cynical ambition and veiled sincerity. However, Charles Melton turns out to be the film's standout accurately conveying the tentative man-child that defines the perpetually uncertain Joe. Eminently watchable.

Rustin (2023)

Domingo's Galvanizing Work Elevates an Episodic Historical Film

[7/10 · 22 November 2023]

I had no idea who Bayard Rustin was before this 2023 historical film, but now I know he was the primary orchestrator of the 1963 March on Washington, a peaceful protest attended by over 250,000 people and made mythic by Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Aml Ameen does a fine job capturing King's quiet assurance and fiery rhetoric, but the film is elevated by Colman Domingo's galvanizing performance in the title role. His fearless turn brings heart and soul to an essential figure in the civil rights movement hidden away because of not only his previous Communist ties but his openness as a gay man years before Stonewall. Directed by George C. Wolfe, the film itself is not quite as strong as Domingo's work because the multitude of key players flattens the storyline somewhat and makes even the march Itself feel a bit episodic. At the same time, Wolfe doesn't overreach by making this a full blown biography and smartly focuses on two incidents prior to the planning of the unprecedented protest. For that key reason as well as Domingo, the movie is essential viewing.

Albert Brooks: Defending My Life (2023)

Overdue Look at a Brilliant Comic Mind and a Most Audacious Spirit

[8/10 · 19 November 2023]

Albert Brooks has always been criminally underrated, first as a stand-up comic, then as a filmmaker and casting himself as the leading man, and finally as a character actor in other people's movies ("Broadcast News", "Drive"). His off-the-ledge audacity and unique sense of the absurd didn't go over with everybody, but he is revered by fellow comics and those of us dazzled by his laser-sharp wit. It was smart to have his best friend Rob Reiner direct and interview him in this fleet but invaluable 2023 documentary. Their casual rapport not only helps offset some of the more zealous comments from his celebrity fans but provides insightful context to the most memorable moments of his career including two of my favorite films, "Lost in America" and "Defending Your Life". They also delve into his fascinating star-studded childhood when his successful comedian father died at a Friars Roast for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It made me wonder if it was Brooks' idea for his character to die in the opening moments of "Private Benjamin" when his zealous bridegroom has a fatal wedding night coronary while having sex with Goldie Hawn. After all, he finds humor in the least likely situations.

No Hard Feelings (2023)

J-Law Delivers the Laughs with Abandon in a No-Holds-Barred Farce

[7/10 · 5 November 2023]

When I saw the trailer for this 2023 comedy earlier this year, I was thinking what a letdown for Jennifer Lawrence to go from the subtle heartbreak of "Causeway" to what looked like a raunchy, flat-out fratboy-humor farce. However, I watched it and actually liked the raunchy, flat-out fratboy-humor because director and co-writer Greg Stupnitsky showcases Lawrence's considerable comedy chops with dexterity. She's hilariously inappropriate as Maddie, a down-on-her-luck woman who answers a Craigslist ad to increase the sexual confidence of Percy, the socially awkward 19-year-old son of wealthy helicopter parents. Lawrence throws herself into the role with pure abandon, and her no-holds-barred talk-show persona comes to the fore. The beach scene where she takes back her clothes was a genuine riot. Surprisingly where the film fell short was the third act when the story softens and loses some of its edge. Andrew Barth Feldman is quite good as Percy who reacts appropriately to Maddie's shenanigans. Better than I expected.

What Happens Later (2023)

Ryan and Duchovny Create Sparks in an Unexpected Dramedy

[8/10 · 5 November 2023]

First of all, it's refreshing to watch a love story that stars people who are MY age (she's 61, he's 63) and not in a rest home. Second, welcome back, Meg Ryan, who didn't look nearly as post-surgical as she has for the past two decades. She directed and co-wrote this 2023 romantic dramedy which initially felt like a throwback to her beloved '90's vehicles with snappy banter between her and David Duchovny, who provides his requisite dry wit and leading man charisma. As ex-lovers who haven't spoken since their break-up 25 years ago, they run into each other at an unnamed airport during a snowstorm where their respective connecting flights keep getting delayed. It plays like a chamber piece for two because the only other speaking part is the airport flight announcer. Before it gets too contrived with a heavy dose of magical realism, the storyline deepens unexpectedly, and both stars elevate their game to meet the challenge. Ryan dedicated the film to her frequent collaborator, the late director/writer Nora Ephron, and she did a fine job capturing Ephron's comedic spirit.

Quiz Lady (2023)

Oh Steals the Show in a Hilarious Sister Act

[7/10 · 3 November 2023]

Perennial scene stealer Awkwafina lets a hilariously freewheeling Sandra Oh walk away with this rambunctious 2023 comedy as they play estranged sisters who are forced to pay off their runaway mother's $80K gambling debt by competing on a Jeopardy-like game show, Can't Stop the Quiz. Awkwafina tamps down her cutting screen persona playing the put-upon little sister Anne who has become an avid expert CSQ player at home. Older sister Jenny is an irresponsible free spirit who pushes Anne to become a contestant. You can figure out the rest, yet director Jessica Yu and screenwriter Jen D'Angelo inject surprising humanism into the battery-operated plot as well as hilarious scenes like Anne's phantasmagoric drug-induced episode. A strong supporting cast helps considerably with Will Ferrell, Holland Taylor, and Jason Schwartzman playing key roles. There's also a sweet, unexpected cameo at the end.

Somewhere in Queens (2022)

Romano and Metcalf Are Expert Though the Drama Felt Slight

[6/10 · 30 October 2023]

I'm not surprised this low-key 2023 family drama slipped under the radar because as expert as Ray Romano and Laurie Metcalf are as a long-married blue-collar couple in Queens, their TV sitcom personas take over their performances no matter how unintentional. This is also Romano's directorial debut, and the casual pacing and pointed one-liners underline the sitcom-derived situations presented. He plays Leo, a schlub overshadowed by his driven younger brother both of them working at their father's construction company. Leo's devotion to his basketball-playing son Sticks could derail a possible scholarship as a burgeoning relationship with a free-spirited waitress complicates Sticks' college path. The storyline seemed thin, but Romano and Metcalf lent welcome heft to scenes you expect might get formulaic. Similar to Jennifer Lawrence in spirit, Sadie Stanley was a nice find as the object of Sticks' affection.

Jerry and Marge Go Large (2022)

Bening and Cranston Propel an Unexpected Lottery Tale

[7/10 · 27 October 2023]

This 2022 character-driven caper comedy was more entertaining than I had expected it to be primarily because director David Frankel and screenwriter Brad Copeland respect and admire the smalltown Michigan couple at its heart. As played sharply by Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening, the title characters are a newly retired couple who take advantage of a loophole in the Massachusetts state lottery. Instead of being spurred by personal greed, they're motivated to improve their town and share the winnings with their neighbors. Bening, in particular, springs to life at the prospect of finding new purpose in their lives and unconditionally accepts every mathematically-driven challenge Cranston throws at them. The rest of the cast led by Rainn Wilson and Larry Wilmore perform well even though they veer a lot Into "Fargo" territory. My one disappointment was with the predictable fate of the snot-nosed Harvard whiz-kid villain played by Uly Schlesinger, but then it's not supposed to be a revenge comedy.

What's Love Got to Do with It? (2022)

"Love Contractually" Would Have Been a Better Title

[5/10 · 22 October 2023]

I don't know what studio marketing "genius" came up with the generic title of this 2022 cross-cultural romcom, but I really thought it was going to evoke Tina Turner's song somehow. But no, it was meant to present the veracity of arranged marriages within the context of a burgeoning love story that's obvious to everyone except the two leads. Lily James plays Zoe, a documentary filmmaker who convinces her neighbor Kaz (Shazad Latif) to film his wedding process once he decides to go through with a traditional Pakistani arranged courtship. Of course, neither admits any feelings either may have for each other. As contrived as the concept sounds, director Shekhar Kapur manages to provide some intriguing insights into cultural customs that don't come across as condescending. As Zoe's pixilated mother, Emma Thompson seems wrongfully wasted even though she appears game for the inevitable shenanigans. However, if you're looking for something frothy with an exotic South Asian flavor, this might work for you. Actually Zoe came up with the best title for this movie: "Love Contractually".

Love Again (I) (2023)

Abysmal Dreck Felt Manufactured All the Way Through

[2/10 · 21 October 2023]

I don't see enough movies to have the credibility to deem any particular film the worst one of the year. But scene for scene, this 2023 release sucked. I think it was a romcom, but the premise was based on a convenient tragedy followed by unfunny scenes and manufactured moments of supposed romance. It reminded me of a 2007 Hilary Swank romcom, "P. S. I Love You", which had a similar premise and was almost as abysmal except for a solid supporting cast that included Lisa Kudrow and Kathy Bates. This one has no such expert casting, just Celine Dion snippily playing herself (prior to her disclosure of ongoing medical problems), and she appears to be playing fairy godmother to the emotionally inert Sam Heughan character. In what appears to be a deliberate career move to broaden her audience, the usually appealing Priyanka Chopra-Jones is more talented than this contrived role requires. She should fire her agent.

Sam & Kate (2022)

A Nepo Baby Romance Complicated by the Infirmities of Aging Parents

[6/10 · 17 September 2023]

According to social influencers, 2022 was deemed the Year of the Nepo Baby referring to the children of celebrities finding success in careers similar to their parents. This romantic dramedy was released that year, and coincidentally, it starred screen veterans Dustin Hoffman and Sissy Spacek and their adult children, Jake Hoffman and Schuyler Fisk. In this case, the younger generation turned out to be personable actors who carry the central love story with aplomb. Through relatable circumstances, their characters have taken on the caretaker role for their respective aging parents both of them going through their own infirmities. First-time director Darren Le Gallo handles the multi-generational relationships with sensitivity, but the pacing often felt glacial and the film overlong at 110 minutes. Some scenes were repetitive in their intent, especially in spotlighting the impact of the deterioration of the elders. The older Hoffman and Spacek play their measured roles with their customary skill, but the film finds more of its rhythm in the younger Hoffman's quirky pursuit of Fisk playing a self-protective character. I guess this would be considered a nepo baby romance.