Between The Temples

“The cast is overall excellent. Carol Kane plays a retired teacher (oh, this year’s list!) whose honesty, joie de vivre, clear eyes, and big heart win you over. Jason Schwartzman is the cantor who will prepare her for her bat mitzvah. Schwartzman (who I can’t stand in Wes Anderson films) gets two terrific roles this year, in TEMPLES and QUEER.

“Nom for screenplay, as it covers so much territory–family dynamics, religious life, grief, mental illness–without feeling overstuffed, and giving us just enough of a look at some minor themes to have compassion for minor characters. The cinematography is creative in its reflection of people’s emotional states–so creative that at times I thought there was a problem with my streaming service!

Chris says: “Having had time to process this (I watched it just before Diane did), I’ll further recommend it to all. Although firmly set in the present, this feels more like a throwback to shaggy ’70s New Hollywood style than even THE HOLDOVERS. It’s all over the place tonally which might be off-putting for some (at times approaching John Cassavetes if he was Jewish and had a more gentle sense of humour), but the humanity with which director Nathan Silver depicts his two main characters is lived-in and not hackneyed (which also goes for their odd but convincing chemistry.) Carol Kane is a national treasure who, though still a singular presence, has rarely been used for less “wacky” effect; between this and QUEER, Jason Schwartzman is approaching middle-age doing his most deeply felt work since RUSHMORE. 4 cats“