Film reviews

The Social Reckoning Review

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Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, I went into this movie with high expectations. I am an avid user of  social media, posting regulalry on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin. The Social Network sold me on the fascinating origin story of Facebook which also showcased the complex personal dynamics and egos behind the scenes. Even though The Social Reckoning is not directed by David Fincher, the compelling theme of legality is still mind-boggling. Jeremy Strong plays the role of Mark Zuckerberg and his performance reminded me of  Kendall Roy, his character from Succession transitioned. Except, this time around he is playing the king of Facebook. 

This film is based on real events which took place from 2019 to 2022. The timing coincides with the period in which Facebook’s leadership took over Instagram and other social media platforms. It is also set in the era when the COVID pandemic and the Insurrection of the Capital sparked lots of activity on social media. There is focus on current trends and real-world events during that time period in The Social Reckoning. 

Mikey Madison plays Frances Haugen. She works for Facebook and tries to get the word out that the organization has abusive tactics. Jeremy Allen-White plays Jeff Horowitz, an investigative reporter digging for a story on the subject of social media. The film has lots of scenes which jump back-and-forth featuring actual events in different years. Sorkin’s direction is one-of-a-kind because of the way he connects the elements that matter the most and that correlate with each other. Whether it is a story related to Frances, Jeff, or Mark—everything important comes together in a meaningful way in The Social Reckoning.

I found the way the subject of algorithms was featured in this film extremely interesting. This intriguing subject plays a major role in The Social Reckoning and audiences learn how events spark likes and/or comments which influence the algorithms.  Frances, Jeff, and Mark all experiment with algorithms. Mark also finds himself on a global broadcast dealing with Facebook’s safety policies. Strong’s performance is bold and impressive. He delivers a more intense version of Mark Zuckerberg than Jesse Eisenberg did in The Social Network based on his unique method of acting. 

There are repeated conflicts and the dynamics are potent.. Frances and Jeff want to keep flying below the radar, yet Mark wants his decisions to be final and never questioned. Much of the negativity is fueled by Charlie,  played by Bill Burr. He plays one of the legal counsels for Zuckerberg. They push each other to the brink. Bill Burr delivers some of his classic comedy punchlines in real-life situations in this film.  I have always loved Bill Burr’s live shows, so it’s great to see him in this film. Jeremy Strong and Bill Burr play men who subscribe to the hierarchy and are determined to never let their guards down. The fate of Facebook is the tipping point which leads to the cinematic climax in this movie. 

This is by far one of the best films of 2026. Taking audiences back to this era is a reminder of the challenges we have faced and the resilience we needed to survive. Although some moments in the film are less than perfect, the realistic storyline, believable performances, and well-planned pacing are inspiring. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for The Social Reckoning.

Film reviews

Fjord Review

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Legalities are spotlighted in Fjord. Written and directed by Cristian Mungiu, the film has received tons of positive press at many festivals. It won the Palm d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, It screened in competition at the Sydney Film Festival, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Hurtigruten Nordic Film Festival, the Sarajevo Film Festival, the San Sebastian International Film Festival, and the Atlantic International Film Festival. The film also had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and was selected for the Spotlight Gala section of the New York Film Festival. The film is set to screen at the Morelia International Film Festival and the Tokyo International Film Festival as well. All of this exposure at international film festivals will cause Fjord to be remembered for ages.The serious subject matter and realistic writing will matter to cinema-goers around the world.

The film focuses on a child abuse scenario. There is an investigation, and multiple moving parts involving a religious family. The father is Mihai Gheorghiu, played by Sebastian Stan. He is a Romanian father laying out the code of conduct with religious practices. His wife is Lisbet Gheorghiu, played by Renate Reinsve. Lisbet is Norwegian. Their daughter is Elia Gheorghiu, played by Vanessa Ceban. Their son is Emmaneul, played by Jonathan Ciprian Breazu. It is a big family that moves to a progressive yet remote Norwegian village. The strict rules and punishments impact the family when Elia shows up to school with bruises. From that point on there is a child custody battle. The story is a vivid ride that is emotional, breathtaking, and causes viewers to think. The religious practices and family-related activities are  part of a  pattern of devotion but also controversial. The audience realizes that not everyone can handle the strictness of the Gheorghiu family.

Clashes regarding norms of behavior are pushed to the limit in Fjord as religious practices take a turn for the worse. Breathtaking undertones are played out as the path to finding what is right for Elia is pursued. The writing and characterizations boil with family emotions particularly when it comes to traditional rituals and what is considered abusive. The complex parts of the legal system are polarizing and then things really go awry when the children are taken away by child protective services. They hired their friend, Mia, to be their attorney. She is played by Lisa Carlehed.  Mihai and Lisbet must deal with the consequences. Their religious norms may not be tolerated by the country they now are living in. 

What I found spellbinding was how family values get handled in this story. Mihai upholds time for prayers and limits technology usage. He is also physically violent, but not to the extreme. The children tell their story to the authorities through their own eyes,  and they believe they’ve been badly harmed. This is where reality clashes as their parents must now think about how their behaviors impacted them. They also must think about how the situation impacts their own lives. It is not a simple situation or an easy trial, but faith and resilience shine in sensitive and exhilarating ways.

There is a moment when Mihai says, “Beating is coming from heaven!” He says this to demonstrate his disciplinary beliefs to the authorities. He later says, “It’s a cultural thing!” His words may be controversial, but deep down he means them. The family dynamic is strong, yet issues are blown out of proportion. The reality of dealing with the case in Fjord causes sadness to linger due to the unsettling situation. I found the film breathtaking. Legal issues, emotional challenges, and the will to never give up by a family working together as a team creates cinematic power in Fjord. Four out of four stars.

 

Film reviews

Verity Review

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Based on the best-selling novel written by Colleen Hoover, Verity is an adaptation directed by Michael Showalter. I found the film compelling, especially given the performance of Anne Hathaway. She plays Verity Crawford, and starred in Showalter’s previous film The Idea of You. In that film, Hathaway’s performance was vibrant and positive, but this time her character has dark secrets. It is a vivid film about an author piecing together a story. What she figures out about actual events blindsides her. Verity is not an easy viewing experience, however, the realism is thought-provoking.

The film’s main character is Lowen Ashleigh, played by Dakota Johnson. She is a writer who is hired to do ghostwriting for Verity since she appears to be in a catatonic state following a tragic accident.  Verity’s husband is Jeremy Crawford  played by Josh Hartnett. Lowen is invited to stay at their huge home in the mountains of Vermont. She has access to the  manuscripts, autobiographical evidence, and the writings of Verity herself. Jeremy cares for his son Crew, played by Brady Wagner. As Lowen spends time pulling information together to begin writing, she discovers devastating evidence in her research. 

One of the fascinating story lines involves Lowen becoming envious of the type of life Verity had. Since Lowen has some personal history of  making mistakes, experiencing  career success, and having regrets, she reminisces about those moments as she reads the manuscripts she uncovers. Verity feels like the audience is diving into the mind of an author living through another author. Verity is now on the sidelines—but is she truly incapacitated? Is she faking it? What made Verity have so much hatred? The questions linger as revelations spiral in Verity.

The angle of misbelief makes Verity attention-grabbing. Verity appears to have hated many components of her seemingly charmed life. As she narrates her story during moments in the film, she talks about her  unhappiness and what elements of her life she finds exhausting. Lowen finds Verity’s story hard to believe. At the same time, she sees how Jeremy and Crew are suffering as slaves in their home. In spite of their luxurious life, no one is thriving since Verity’s condition keeps them trapped..

Lowen and Jeremy start falling for each other. This complicates matters and makes getting to the truth even more important. The dynamics are daring, and Johnson’s and Hartnett’s performances  are spellbinding due to their intense chemistry. While Hathaway’s character is bedridden, there is plenty of action in Verity’s home and revealed via flashbacks. 

As the story evolves, Verity follows the tracks of more lies unearthed through Lowen’s digging. She realizes that some incidents may have not been accidental and others may have been staged. The horrific findings create the psychological vibes. Verity is disturbing yet decent. For those who love to see how a book plays out on film, this film offers an adequate dose of  suspense. Three out of four stars for Verity.

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