george.schmidt

HONEY DON'T (2025) *** Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Evans, Charlie Day, Lera Abova, Gabby Beans, Talia Ryder, Kristen Connolly. Ethan Coen's crazy quilt sunset noir is a mixed bag in hit and miss with Qualley giving it her best deadpan, fierce turn as private eye Honey O' Donahue whose investigation of a traffic accident as murder finds herself hip deep in local skulduggery involving a charlatan minister (Evans at his smarmy best), a lesbian cop (Plaza in a surprising turn) and extended family with some twists and turns along the battern path. Co-scripted with wife Tricia Cooke, Coen delivers the fun, funny and out-of-nowhere sex & violence that keeps things cooking for the most part in spite of its left of center delivery. A kissing cousin to the '70s classic THE LONG GOODBYE (hell you could even call Honey, Marlowe's Daughter without the off-screen narration) which is a huge influence.

NOBODY 2 (2025) *** Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, RZA, John Ortiz, Colin Hanks, Sharon Stone, Gage Monroe, Paisley Cadorath. Odenkirk returns in his 2nd iconic role as Hutch Mansell, the least likeliest ass-kicker in cinematic history, this time his special skills as an agent of violence is put to the test when he attempts a much needed family vacation only to disturb the local populace's shady environs unearthing a crime cabal in plain sight. Director Timo Tjahjanto keeps things lively and deadly with well-crafted fight set pieces and the screenplay by Derek Kolstad and Aaron Rabin come thru in balancing the swift action and family values comedy on sure footing. An e-ticket of extreme high concepts well executed.

TOGETHER (2025) ***1/2 Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Damon Herriman. Sci-fi, body horror done right. When complacent couple Franco & Brie (marrieds IRL) decide to move to the country to attempt a new chapter in their shaky relationship, an encounter with an unknown origin while hiking begins to affect their chemistry - literally making them inseparable from one another, leading to terrifying complications. Filmmaker Michael Shanks builds tension and complexity skillfully with technical brio while his leads have a field day going through every emotions including grief, anxiety, and ultimately foreboding dread. Excellent practical visual make-up f/x by Brydie Stone & Larry Van Duynhoven and sound design by Cornel Wilczek combine with amazing results underscoring the psychological breakdowns of its characters. One of the year's best horror films.