Special-K88

The setting: a New York City courthouse on one of the hottest days of the summer; a jury of twelve disparate men retire to the deliberation room where they have to decide unanimously on the guilt or innocence of a young man who's being tried for the murder of his father. What seems like a simple case becomes increasingly complex when a single juror casts doubt on the defendant's alleged guilt, and tensions boil over as he tries to convince the remaining eleven that the facts aren't as cut-and-dried as they appear on the surface. There's hardly a single utterance of dialogue that's wasted, there's not a character to be found amongst the eclectic group that isn't somehow utilized, nor is there a camera shot or angle that doesn't somehow enrich the viewing experience in Sidney Lumet's brilliant and blistering legal drama, and what's even more impressive is that this was his feature directorial debut, taking a simple premise and pinpointing varying factors like egalitarianism, personality clashes, personal prejudices, poor recollection, irrefutable facts, and uncertainty of guilt. The dynamic between idealistic Fonda and hot-tempered Cobb is especially juicy, but every actor across the board is top-notch; a masterpiece, plain and simple. ****

Dakota Johnson is the ambitious, voluntarily celibate, eternal bachelorette Lucy, an instinctually razor-sharp NYC matchmaker who has the courtship game down to a mathematical certainty, and is fully committed to pleasing her clientele despite the inherent risk-reward of dating. Her worldview is upended when she's approached by Pascal: a charming, über-financier and "unicorn" who checks all the boxes, and at the same time reunited with struggling but empathetic ex-boyfriend Evans. What seems like a formulaic romantic comedy in its early stages actually becomes a lot more wistful and reflective thanks to a few story turns that allow the narrative to unfold in unexpected ways, though inevitability seeps in by the finale. Attempts to insert raunchy humor into the proceedings don't wash, plus the third act lags, but still quite watchable thanks to a pleasant cast of actors, good lines, and a thoughtful look at love and companionship. **½

Jaded assassin Yelena Belova can't decide if she's plain bored or simply trying to fill a void. A part of the "cleanup business," she goes on a routine assignment that gets her mixed up with fellow outcasts John Walker, Ava Starr, Alexei Shostakov, Bucky Barnes...and Bob, and eventually this unusual group of antiheroes must work together in opposition of top-level government schemer Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. Lots of talking early on, meant to function as character-building while putting this eccentric squad of rogues together, but most of it rings hollow, followed by numerous action scenes without any tension needed to generate some real excitement, and the dark, self-serious story turns make for a drastically uneven showing. Pugh and Pullman are putting forth an effort to salvage this, the rest of the cast members are just kind of there, and the film's big reveal doesn't heighten anticipation or raise the stakes all that much. **