samishoward

It's breaking my heart that The Last Duel is doing poorly at the box office because in my mind it is without a doubt the best film of the year. Just truly excellent filmmaking with vision and originality in spades. It employs the Rashomon effect with fascinating results. The cinematography, editing, and costume design are stunning. The score is superb.

The performances are excellent all around. I see a lot of people saying Ben Affleck's performance steals the show and a lot of excitement around Adam Driver because of his huge fanbase. I love those actors as much as the next person, but I feel Jodie Comer and Matt Damon's nuanced work is the heart of the film and they deserve more love. Both deliver awards worthy performances and they show the most range across the three parts. I think it's the best work of Damon's career and he is singularly suited to the role, tapping into numerous shades of characterization that are something to behold. And if together Damon and Comer are the heart, then Jodie Comer alone is The Last Duel's soul. She is truly phenomenal, grounding this sprawling story with her inspired choices and emotional resonance.

The medieval setting feels so authentic, gritty, and fully realized. And the message of this film is both timeless and timely, universal and harrowingly intimate. It takes a long sharp look at gender politics, rape culture, and toxic masculinity, dissecting these topics with scalpel level precision even as the storytelling momentum never lets up. Despite its length, there is never a dull moment. The battle scenes are unbelievably realistic, transporting you to war-torn France and Scotland. The climax of the film is one of the most visceral and suspenseful I've ever seen.

The Last Duel demands to be seen on the big screen to get the full sense of this historical epic's artistry and scale. One of the best period piece films in a long time, this one will appeal to fans of Barry Lyndon and Gladiator. I could even see it being a good discussion companion to Promising Young Woman (my favorite film of 2020), in its handling of topics relevant to #MeToo. If you long to be swept up in a classic cinematic experience and you don't want to see movie theaters become a thing of the past, don't let this one flop. Trigger warning for the film as it contains two prolonged scenes of sexual assault.

Baby is like an Italian version of the show Skins, with some Gossip Girl thrown in. It's very entertaining and has a big cast of characters to get invested in. Baby possesses a gritty realism that's rare in teen shows. It goes deeper.

The main trio of Chiara, Damiano, and Ludo are fantastic. They're sympathetic and appealing leads. I loved the friendships. They really care for each other and support one another even when they're making bad choices. It was nice to see supportive teens. This show makes you witness the spiral young people can descend in when pushed to it by the cruelty of their unfeeling families and bullying peers. You'll long for them to be safe and happy but you'll understand why they're acting out.

Baby is quite artistic. The cinematography is gorgeous; there are many beautiful shots of Rome. The wonderful setting can't be overstated. The occasional use of narration is perfectly employed. Baby's music is great, be it the electronic score or the smartly chosen song selections.

With intriguing storylines and all the angst and emotion of being a teen, this show really delivers. The depiction of social media and the characters' concerns make this truly relevant. There's plenty of drama, yet the production value and impressive performances elevate it. I'm so glad this entertaining, stylish show is getting a season 2!

I loved Maniac so much I binged it all on the first day it went up on Netflix. It's the kind of show where you have to see what will happen next. Jonah Hill and Emma Stone give amazing performances. (And I mean performances! They both bring nuance to several characters apiece.)

Maniac is set in a world that seems both futuristic and analog. This is a fully realized world with stunning visuals. Creator/director Car Joji Fukunaga clearly has a vision, and it comes across spectacularly. The high-tech equipment combined with old cars and an unclear time period are fascinating. It reminded me a bit of It Follows, with a timelessness to the setting that only serves to enmesh you further in the storyworld. Maniac also reminded me of Inception and the sci-fi novels Version Control and Gnomon, while still being very original. If you like any of the aforementioned things, you'll probably be a big fan of Maniac.

I thought this was the strongest performance of Justin Theroux's career. Sally Field is excellent and Sonoya Mizuno infuses her character with wonderful eccentricity. There are many familiar faces in this show, but I won't spoil all the great cameos. I found all the various storylines and characters to be equally fascinating. Maniac is the perfect blend of humor and drama. And in the end, it's incredibly moving. I feel like going back to the beginning and watching it all over again.