By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Claire Denis
Starring: Benny Safdie | Danny Ramirez | Joe Alwyn | Margaret Qualley | Nick Romano
Country: france, panama, united_states
Year: 2022
Running time: 135
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10354106/reference/
Michael says: “Claire, you had me for almost 90 minutes until Joe Alwyn’s Daniel blurts out a painfully earnest, but still sadly wooden ‘I love you,” to Margaret Qualley’s Trish in this erotic political thriller. I guffawed so suddenly that Eddy (my kitty) leaped, startled, from my lap. I’m not sure which line was delivered more hilariously deadpan, that one, or his earlier, delivery of that romantic line, ‘Suck me.’ Oh yes, later in the film, Alwyn reminds us, in another classically romantic line, ‘You really are a whore.’
“Despite the gentle ribbing, there was much to like about Denis’ latest film. I’ve rarely seen the steamy tropics so convincingly portrayed, and the soundtrack by Denis staples The Tindersticks, was mesmerizing.
“Oh, but even with two Denis films released in the U.S. in one year, the sum total can’t rise near the level of a BEAU TRAVAIL, 35 SHOTS OF RUM, or even a FRIDAY NIGHT. 3 cats”
Chris says: “Not top-tier Claire Denis (how did this win the Cannes Grand Prix again?) but thankfully not the dead end her last film was. It’s delightfully odd (the scene with ‘El Condor Pasa’, for instance) and occasionally cryptic like only Denis can be. Qually’s commitment to portraying an abrasive brat grew on me over time, more so than John C. Reilly briefly popping up 30 minutes in looking exactly like a middle-aged Donald Sutherland. 3 cats”