PotassiumMan

Seventeen children in the same classroom of a quiet suburban school run away from their homes one night, except one quiet student. The classroom's teacher, a young woman with a checkered past, instantly becomes a scapegoat and enraged parents are demanding answers. The teacher herself struggles to keep her sanity while at the same time trying to get to the bottom of things herself. The storyline is slowly unpacked through many unique angles, from the teacher, a sleuthing father, a local cop, the embattled principal, a petty thief/drug addict and the one child who somehow didn't run away. All perspectives ultimately converge into a blistering and inventive final act.

Julia Garner never captured my imagination as a protagonist but that was only because I knew so little of her. In this role, she is very compelling and shows off star-making potential. She cannot tear herself away from the inexplicable mystery that threatens her career and her sanity. Even though we don't always relate to all her choices, we still share her determination to find answers. Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich and Benedict Wong give strong supporting performances here. I went in with low expectations and found a film that made its mark, especially in its gripping conclusion. Enthusiastically recommended to viewers of all tastes.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman play very well off each other as a married couple whose intense chemistry was apparent from the moment they first met. He's a brilliant architect whose eccentric designs derail his career. She is a gifted cook whose meager success ultimately transforms into a restaurant empire. Their careers criss-cross each other years into their marriage. His fall from grace leads to him raising their two children like a drill sergeant. Her stunning success in the restaurant business makes her the golden goose of the family. Through all of this, their marriage becomes strained as trivial differences that were swept under the rug for so long turn into grave resentments and a powder keg of conflict.

You sometimes wonder how they get through everything. Other times, you can't imagine them ever without each other. Overall, it was a film that was sufficiently engaging and witty that I could suspend my own predilections about marriage and mid-life crisis and enjoy Cumberbatch and Colman power through the material in seemingly effortless fashion. I can't recall Cumberbatch ever being looser and funnier before. Colman is at her best as a wife who is high-achieving but also long-suffering. An enjoyable film but the ending? What's up with that? This is a modern reflection on the trials of marriage-resonant with anyone who has weathered the tides of a long-term love. Recommended to laid-back and open-minded viewers.

Spike Lee and Denzel Washington re-unite to put together one of Lee's best joints in years. A storied, but fading New York record label mogul (Washington, in a vigorous, committed performance) whose own company is in flux with his business partners on edge, finds himself in an even bigger financial crunch when his son is suddenly kidnapped and held for ransom. The film starts out as a crime thriller and then takes an unexpected turn when it also becomes a scathing portrayal of the music industry in general and its narcissistic tendencies. Spike Lee offers his own take on the power of social media and the currency it can yield, but also on its steep pitfalls.

To be sure, this film is mostly for patient viewers. It starts out oddly tentative and muted for a Spike Lee joint. A heavy-handed soundtrack often dulls the dramatic effect for the early part of the film, even threatening to make it schmaltzy. Only Jeffrey Wright (superb as Washington's confidant) provides an early spark. Nevertheless, the narrative finds its way and really starts to take off, especially in a mesmerizing chase sequence near Yankee Stadium during New York's Puerto Rican Day festivities. And this certainly wouldn't be complete without a good old-fashioned freestyling scene. A$AP Rocky is credible as a punkish rapper who idolized Washington's protagonist in his youth. If you're looking for a film that knows how to finish strong with streetwise gravitas and edgy humor, look no further. A refreshing return to form for Spike. Enthusiastically recommended.