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Cat Person Review

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A film with Nicholas Braun (who played Cousin Greg in HBO’s Succession) is one in which I expected his shy side and quirky elements to be featured in spontaneous adventures. In Cat Person, his character, Robert, is like Cousin Greg with a few twists. Cat Person is a film where there is desperation for a relationship, and it has the right characters to do so. However, the film does not begin with Braun. Instead, it starts off with Emilia Jones (who plays Margot), an introvert who believes in love at first sight.

The film introduces its audience to Margo, a sophomore in college who works at a cinema as a part-time floor attendant and spends a lot of time working in her science lab. She has the normal life of a college student, but that all changes when Robert (Braun) comes into her cinema. He asks for an odd combo of popcorn and red vines every time he visits the concession stand. He is fascinated by movies and loves to watch the classics on the big screen. He feels a true connection to Margot, and Margot feels the same about him. They begin to date and click over their mutual love for movies. Margot is often infuriated by her mother Kelly (played by Hope Davis) and her stepfather Ernie (played by Christopher Shyer), but she feels that Robert is the one person in her life that brings her happiness. After continuous loving text messages and a few dates, the love vibe feels right for Margot. That is until she realizes much of what Robert says about himself is not true. Once she begins to question him, Robert’s behavior becomes stalker-like and highly bizarre.

The film explores the life of Margot as she tries to avoid her problems as well as those who try to convince her that Robert may not be who he says he is. Margot’s roommate, Taylor (played by Geraldine Viswanathan), tries to warn Margot that Robert could have dangerous qualities. However, Robert’s shyness causes her to ignore the warnings which lead to matters getting more stressful. An added stressor is Margot’s science professor, Dr. Enid Zabala (played by Isabella Rossellini). Enid oversees the lab that Margot spends her time in, and an incident with Robert in the lab puts Margot in an odd place.

With Margot desperate for companionship, she begins to make herself seem more sexualized for Robert. This is obviously a big red flag as it opens her up to more vulnerability. Of course, it causes an even closer connection with Robert and further denial of his dishonesty up until he violates her boundaries. Cat Person will cause viewers to ask themselves if Margot is doing what is right for herself.

The movie involves a bizarre trail of deceit and the exploration of an individual’s truth upon close examination. Cat Person is more of a dark comedy in parts than a true psychological thriller because even the dangerous moments are presented in a matter that seems jokingly strange.

The film features the chemistry of young love with a desire to not give up. It involves an experience that is twisted and a relationship that is questionable. The title has meaning, but it is not as sweet as it appears. Cat Person is about building a trail around those who open themselves up to others, and the negative outcomes that can result. Its presentation lacks seriousness, but it is still fun to watch. Two out of four stars for Cat Person.

59th Chicago International Film Festival, Capsule Reviews, Film reviews

Silver Dollar Road Review

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This documentary is realistic because it is based on a true story and remains faithful to real-life events. The film’s subject involves cultural and racial issues regarding property and land ownership. Silver Doller Road is a documentary filled with meaning. It is a film that makes you think about property rights and the implications of ownership as well as inheritance. I found the film to be especially moving due to the narrative track and story. The message concerns truth and the role of morals. The story also focuses on the importance of family and tradition, and how those critical factors are often interfered with.

The film is the true story of the Reels’ family. They have fought for years for their land in North Carolina which has been taken away from them due to land developers. The interviews with members of the family are interesting and revealing. The film follows the journey of how the different laws and various real estate developers have had a significant impact on the family. Over the years, the Reels family has had their rituals and traditions messed up which has led to a feeling of disconnect. Silver Doller Road is a film about how lies can lead to frustration, but also about a family who will not stop fighting for their land.

I like how the film ties in historic moments and the issue of racism into the mix. It explores the concept of equality and the struggles which involve both race and class. The story also proves that the Reels’ family has a voice that they’re willing to use to fight for their land. There is a vivid landscape of emotions for a documentary. It is visually brilliant and wonderful. There is light in the tunnels of the darkness in Silver Doller Road. The film is one where its audience can expect to shed tears. This movie can bring out some strong emotions that were sometimes hard to handle. This is a film which is ultimately about a family that wants their lives to have meaning, and they are challenged to achieve that due to the struggles they face with their land.

There is not a happy motive in Silver Doller Road, but there is a strong inspirational message of courage which shines through when the family refuses to give up. Their historical tie to the land goes way back for them. The director Raoul Peck is crystal clear in his effort to bring in the emotional factors involved in the process. There is no easy way to define Silver Doller Road.

Can the Reels’ family save their land? Can the purpose of family and connection survive these tough circumstances? Why is there such hatred around race? It is a poetic ride of difficult questions, and the answers are an amazing revelation. It is a realistic depiction of life waiting to be fulfilled in a faithful context. Overall, a unique documentary with real class. Three out of four stars for Silver Doller Road.

59th Chicago International Film Festival, Capsule Reviews, Film reviews

Departing Seniors Review

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This is one those slasher films where the intention feels like it is to make viewers giggle, scream, and snicker. My experience with Departing Seniors involved watching the audience find the fun in terror and laugh their heads off. I did the same thing. Departing Seniors is a slasher film with imaginative irony. Itspremise is based on the life of high school seniors. Who expects a high school horror film to be funny? There are many notable moments in Departing Seniors. Claire Cooney knows how to be innovative and include many twists as a director and editor. Her directing in Departing Seniors is one-of-a-kind. Audiences should expect to be surprised, but also expect to shed some tears due to laughter.

Departing Seniors focuses on Javier (played by Ignacio-Diaz-Silverio). He is a high school senior who is dealing with an underlying issue, i.e., psychic abilities. Based on these abilities,he can figure out the many dangers that are going on in his school. For example, there is a serial killer going back and forth sporadically. Javier is not a popular student. However, his teacher, Mr. Arda (played by Yani Gellman), seems to be very interested in him, which sets off a red flag. Javier and his friends, Ginny (played by Maisie Merlock) and Bianca (played by Ireon Roach), are concerned about the tragic aftermath of the events occurring at their school. For everyone, the biggest concern is these things are happening right before they graduate high school. The title speaks for itself here. Ironically, the students find themselves more concerned about missing out on fun and having their graduation ruined than they are about the deaths caused by the serial killer.

The joyful part of Departing Seniors is the fact that it exposesthe obliviousness of students worrying about their final school days being impacted. While all the crazy and dangerous events are taking place throughout the school, Javier realizes when and where the killings might happen. Nevertheless, he is not brave enough to admit what he knows because of his concern that it might cause him to feel disconnected again. The humorous part of putting concerns about being disconnected over safety is where Departing Seniors is cleverly directed. When the kills do happen, it is out of the blue and the surprises are unexpected. I found myself laughing when the slashing would just happen on the spur of the moment. Sometimes in the film there are already situations filled with some humor or frustration, but then bang, a murder happens. Departing Seniors is well paced and giveshorror fans a wild ride with plenty of slashes and laughs.

Overall, it is an experience of dramatic irony and terror. The punchlines are a bit abstract and unexpected, but the outcomes are a revelation. Departing Seniors is a film where the chills build, the psychic abilities become detrimental, and it is a wonderous adventure for the Halloween season. The experience is memorable due to the scares and endless laughs. Three out of four stars for Departing Seniors.