Movie Recap (03.31.24)
Bodybuilders, trailblazing politicians, and bank robbers
There's all kinds of girl power in this week's lineup of new releases. Choices include a Coen Brothers-inspired thriller, the chronicle of a historic primary race, and a quirky crime caper.
Love Lies Bleeding
R | Thriller/Romance | 1h 44m | Theaters
Directed by Rose Glass
Starring Kristen Stewart, Katy O’Brian, and Ed Harris
The Gist of It: Gym manager Lou (Stewart) and aspiring bodybuilder Jackie (O’Brian) fall for each other in 1980s New Mexico. However, an act of violence pulls them into the criminal underworld of Lou’s father (Harris), threatening their relationship.
What Works: The film was cast to perfection, but Katy O’Brian, as the pugnacious bodybuilder, and Ed Harris, as the corrupt crime boss, stood out to me. The soundtrack, echoing 1980s synthpop and electronica, coupled with the faded, neon-lit cinematography, gives the film a pulpy flavor, as if it were inspired by a lost Jim Thompson manuscript.
What Doesn’t: The script's metaphorical ideas about empowerment become somewhat heavy-handed toward the end, with the director favoring an on-the-nose approach when subtlety would have had a stronger emotional impact.
My Verdict: Lust, revenge, and steroids clash in this well-crafted neo-noir thriller by promising new director Rose Glass. She skillfully mixes melodrama, visceral violence, allegory, and romance into a film that is poised to, deservedly, earn cult status.
Shirley
PG-13 | Drama | 1h 56m | Netflix
Directed by John Ridley
Starring Regina King, Lance Reddick, and Terrence Howard
The Gist of It: Shirley Chisholm (King), the first Black woman elected to Congress, embarks on an even more uphill battle when she runs for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination.
What Works: This is Regina King’s showcase. She seamlessly disappears into this role, imbuing it with charisma, charm, and an unquestionable sense of urgency and duty. Her magnetic presence keeps us invested in this otherwise by-the-numbers biopic.
What Doesn’t: There are two types of biopics: those that attempt to slowly piece together their subject’s psyche (Malcolm X [1992] is a great example) and those that treat their subject’s life like items to be checked off a grocery list (it’s baseball season, so The Babe [1992] is a fitting example). Unfortunately, Shirley falls into the latter category, but given the trailblazing trajectory of its main character, it deserved a deeper dive into her motivations, internal struggles, and strengths.
My Verdict: Regina King’s sincere performance makes this well-intentioned but forgettable drama worth checking out.
Marmalade
Not Rated | Crime/Comedy | 1h 39m | Rent
Directed by Keir O'Donnell
Starring Joe Keery, Camila Morrone, and Aldis Hodge
The Gist of It: Baron (Keery), a recently incarcerated man, hatches a plan to escape with his new cellmate (Hodge) while recalling how he met the trouble-making woman (Morrone) who got him there in the first place.
What Works: Keery, who portrays Steve on Stranger Things, adds heart to the story with his endearing, if somewhat Forrest Gump-esque performance. The cinematography by Polly Morgan, which feels as though it drew inspiration from the explosion of colors found at a spring county fair, and the lively score by the Blair Brothers enhance the film's eccentric tone.
What Doesn’t: Though relatively short at 99 minutes, the film starts out slowly and maintains a leisurely pace until the final act. While I understand its aim to balance quirkiness with emotional poignancy, it took me almost an hour to become fully invested in what generally felt like a cartoonish sequence of events.
My Verdict: Audiences seeking a lighthearted, slightly comedic crime caper with appealing leads will find themselves satisfied with this occasionally clever but ultimately moderately engaging movie.
