Critical Week: Hyper-masculinity

For some reason, I only had one press screening this past week. Film criticism has been contracting for about a decade now, and I am getting increasingly exhausted chasing screenings of big Hollywood studio movies, which are about the only ones that get wide releases. It's easier to keep up with smaller films, both with press screenings and viewing links. I've never needed to watch everything (that would be impossible anyway), and I will no longer relentlessly pursue screenings. I'd rather spend my evenings watching stage performances anyway, and hope to do more writing about these.

BEST OUT THIS WEEK:
Charli XCX: Alone Together
The Northman • The Lost City
ALL REVIEWS >

As for that one screening, it was a good one. Robert Eggers' astonishing Viking action epic The Northman is a wildly thrilling film with full-bodied performances from Alexander Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang and Anya Taylor-Joy. I also watched The French Boys 4, another collection of terrific French short dramas about complex masculinity from the folks at NQV. And that left me with a bit of time to catch up with three very different movies I'd missed along the way...

The Adam Project
dir Shawn Levy; with Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo 22/US ***
This time-travel romp isn't nearly as smart as it tries to be, but it's definitely entertaining. The reliably witty Reynolds plays a fast-talking jerk who travels back from 2050 to the present, where he needs help from his annoying 12-year-old self (the sharp Walker Scobell) to save the timeline. As Adam's dad, Ruffalo brings some terrific attitude, as do Jennifer Garner, Catherine Keener and Zoe Saldana. And the effects are first-rate. While the usual time-twisting chaos adds plenty of interest, it's a shame the story and characters are never much deeper than a warm hug.

Studio 666
dir BJ McDonnell; with Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel 22/US **.
Goofy humour and terrific old-school effects infuse this horror romp in which the Foo Fighters play themselves, recording their 10th album in a properly creepy rock-n-roll Encino mansion that was the site of a grisly murder. In the grip of writer's block, Dave Grohl is convinced he's already composed all of his original songs, then he's possessed by a demonic spirit. Slasher movie antics follow. The film tries to be funny and scary, but ends up merely silly and grisly. Although there are hilarious moments (and cameos) along the way, plus lots of fun for the band's fans.

Loev
dir Sudhanshu Saria; with Dhruv Ganesh, Shiv Pandit 15/Ind **** 
I missed this Indian drama six years ago at BFI Flare, then re-met the filmmakers at this year's festival and caught it on Netflix just before it disappears. It's an unusually nuanced drama about a complex romantic triangle, as Sahil (Ganesh) takes old friend Jai (Pandit) on a weekend trip. But Sahil is also preoccupied about his relationship with his boyfriend Alex (Siddarth Menon). The characters have big personalities that aren't always likeable, so the way they interact is both sharp and sometimes provocative. It's also made in an earthy style that finds unexpected wit and emotion while never overstating the themes.

This coming week, I have a number of films to watch, including Gaspar Noe's Vortex and the shorts collection Upon Her Lips: Butterflies. And I have two theatre press nights as well.