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61 Chicago International Film Festival, Film reviews

Chicago International Film Festival 2025-If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You

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This film is melancholy, filled with plenty of potions to amplify the sadness. Rose Byrne delivers a spellbinding performance in this anxiety-filled story. If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You is written and directed by Mary Bronstein who has an eye for creating tolerance in the face of a conflicting pattern. There are a bucket of problems only getting worse while an individual struggles to keep standing and thriving. The concept of resilience runs deepin If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You.

Rose Byrne plays Linda, a mother dealing with her daughters’severe illness. Her husband is not very present in her life, andher home has fallen apart. This puts her and her daughter in a situation where they must live in a motel. Linda finds herself trying to tango with all the moving roadblocks. This includes dealing with a relationship with her therapist, played by Conan O’Brien. Overall, her choices and decisions keep falling down a slippery slope resulting in negative impacts. Given all that is on her plate, her head is speeding with anxiety.

The whole film feels like a ride that just won’t stop. It is a lot to handle, especially in moments when Byrne’s character goes to the motel lobby to buy wine late at night. There are also scenes in which she argues with others, including staff at her daughter’s schools or at resource centers. What is unique in these situations is that they capture the daily human annoyances in life. Bronstein’s direction shows humans can only take so much when many different crises come rushing down like a waterfall.

The film is brilliant. While not Oscar-worthy, it is quiteexperimental. Byrne’s performance is audacious and fearless. I love how the title speaks to the anger in the film. If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You made me want to kick seats in the theatre around me. (Not literally of course!) The anxiety stuck with me throughout my screening during moments when the daughter is having issues and again during the therapist scenario. The director created a vivid portrait which piqued my curiosity. It made me wonder, “When does life give us a break?” If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You inspires viewers to have a stronger mindset…even in times when it seems there are too many mental challenges to face.

There is a point in the film in which questionable choices occur, and Linda thinks about doing drugs to cope with her anxiety. However, that also has consequences. The main conflict in this matter is who will be impacted by this behavior. Clearly, it won’t just impact Linda, but also her daughter’s illness and safety. Despite the troubling aspects explored in If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You, the story makes viewers think and leaves them with an important message. Specifically, if you’re going through hell,you’ve got to just keep going. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for If I Had Legs, I’d Kick You.

 

Film reviews

The Smashing Machine Review

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When I look at Dwayne Johnson, I always think back to his days as The Rock in pro wrestling. Seeing him play an athlete going through struggles with addiction on his way to heightened fame represents a whole different level of achievement. Written and directed by Benny Safdie, this is The Smashing Machine, a true story that includes many knockouts and rounds of difficult trials and errors. Johnson delivers a stunning performance playing Mark Kerr. Emily Blunt is also outstanding. Her emotions are hard to dismiss in her role as Dawn Staples. The Smashing Machine is story about athleticism and the pursuit of a goal which involves components of physicality and drug abuse which lead to a hard fall.

The film is about Kerr’s life and his road to success and fame. His physique plays a key role as does the way he incorporates many types of injections to make sure his body stays in tune. Inthe martial arts competitions he competes in, he finds himself frustrated with new rules. He relies so much on drugs to thrive. Dawn recognizes that he is an addict. Despite his athletic success, she calls him out repeatedly. The realism related to shame, addiction, and guilt is no joke in The Smashing Machine. The title even speaks for itself because the film feels like a “smashing machine.”

The film’s vibrant display of hurdles faced along the way is compelling. Kerr feels there is no easy way out. His body takes a toll and the story guides viewers through the harrowing approach to redemption. To clarify, the harsh steps to get sober are presented in a vivid and spellbinding way. Safdie’s directing incorporates stressful displays of lighting and accompanying characterizations that make audiences’ hearts pound. This movie is almost as stressful as Uncut Gems, which he co-wrote and directed with his brother Josh Safdie. However, The Smashing Machine is Benny’s project. The writing leads to rapid heart rates which come from Benny’s ability to create unforgettable vibes in The Smashing Machine. Throwing in athleticism, dishonesty, and disconnection which all combine to bring self-aggravation and personal destruction, makes this film hard to dismiss. The Smashing Machine paints an honest portrait that proves that even in the darkest places there is still light.

The highlight of this film lies within the performances of Johnson and Blunt. They are an unmissable power couple that truly take the cake. This biopic of actual events hits many detrimental bumps along the way to get the message right. The Smashing Machine delivers the important message to never give up. I believe it is one of the best films of 2025. Also, it may be one of the best Johnson has delivered. He has come a long way since his wrestling days.

Getting out of patterns is not easy. Finding trust is what the story explores. The Smashing Machine shows how important it is to have a foundation for success. It is one-of-a-kind movie and atrue story that is meant to be seen. Four out four stars.

 

Film reviews

Highest 2 Lowest Review

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This film directed by Spike Lee with Denzel Washington in the lead is one that makes for a masterclass in filmmaking success. Highest 2 Lowest is what I consider to be one of the best films of 2025. It has a dramatic sense of power and irony that moves in a direction that creating its own force of nature. Lee’s directing is like the setup of a play of power and triumph–one where millionaires and the music industry find themselves in a battle of ransom to the highest peaks. Instead of suspenseful tones of action, it follows more along the lines of politics weaving back and forth with egos fighting to come to an agreement. With Lee, fans know that he is one to paint the portrait with the writing on the wall. It is fresh “writing on the wall” all over in Highest 2 Lowest.

The film centers on a music mogul named David King (Washington). He is all about money and thriving on the power of creativity via words and wisdom. His wife is Pam King (played by Illfenesh Hadera) and his family friend is Paul Christopher (played by Jeffrey Wright). The life of New York is golden and glamorous with King fully living the high life of the music industry. All that changes in a heartbeat when his son Trey (played Aubrey Joseph) is kidnapped. It is a ransom situation that gets political and ethical. A moral dilemma is presented with much authority associated.

The film is mesmerizing because of its set-up. It feels like a Shakespeare production. That is because the many moments of suspense will have Washington pontificating on authority and business while also dealing with finding the means to get around a ransom. Not only that, but also assuring that his life continues to be glamorous and successful with his family. Lee brings in that brotherhood and fatherhood vibe with many lines of wisdom throughout the hard and aching moments of the powerful crime. The New York streets boil down the mood of anxiousness with an artistic form of continuity that is one-of-a-kind in Highest 2 Lowest.

The dynamic between Washington and Wright is also the major component of staying connected in Highest 2 Lowest. There is a background of writing that establishes what a close relationship looks like while dealing with a hard situation. But also, the ransom scenario has its moments where it competes—because money is the key to getting out of the conflict. Ultimately resolution is all in the hands of the business perspective of Highest 2 Lowest and Lee’s directing creates a road that presents this vividly in Highest 2 Lowest.

To retrace my words of why I love this movie, it is because I love how Washington can play a man of success and a man dealing with a complicated situation.  At the same time, he presents a serious side but is also mentally prepared to go down with the irreparable consequences. Music, money, family, hardship—greed and success does not bring good people with it sometimes. The portrait of jealousy lies within, but the voice of fighting to keep going strong via politics is where Highest 2 Lowest shines. Four out of four stars for Highest 2 Lowest.