A daring political thriller that does all it can to fly below the radar. From director Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident has intriguing components involving Middle East politics. This film contains family dynamics which makes its audience wonder about the consequences moving forward. The storyline pushes the envelope but also places family values up front.
In this film, a man named Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) seeks revenge on a man named Eghbal (Ebrahim Azizi) because he believes Eghbal tormented him in prison ages ago. During his time as a prisoner, Vahid was always blindfolded, but he claims he can tell by the voice and the noises made by Eghbal’s artificial leg. Therefore, Vahid kidnaps Eghbal. However, Vahid’s family doubts his morals considering the political war and many accusations that could be either true or false.
I found this feature set in Iran to be one of the most realistic films in the Chicago International Film Festival. Given Panahi’s skillful approach to creating complicated moral dynamics, he lays a foundation for an effective political and ethical cinematic experience. Three out of four stars for It Was Just an Accident.
Monogamous and polyamorous relationships often spark conversations related to boundaries and other considerations. Watching the subject matter play out in a movie is a whole different experience. Splitsville is a comedy where love and arguments are intertwined in both fabulous and convoluted ways. The situations are fun yet sometimes repetitive, but no one wants to admit they are wrong.
There are intriguing dynamics with the different types of relationships explored in Splitsville. The film is written by and directed by Michael Angelo Covino. Kyle Marvin is a co-writer and is also one of the stars. Corvino plays Paul and Marvin plays Carey. The story begins with Carey and Ashley (played by Adria Arjona). Ashley wants a divorce from Carey. This promptsCarey to seek advice from Paul and Julie (played by Dakota Johnson). Once one relationship falls flat, many others begin to struggle as well. Issues related to love, sex, and commitments take their toll and result in a wild ride that is funny and clever.
What I love about the setup and the direction of this film is the way the tone of the actors has them trying to remain cool and act normal. At the same time, however, anger and frustration is simmering. As the film lingers on, the dynamics and the affairs are not going as planned. New events occur. Scenarios involving characters sleeping with each other and making each other jealous add up to nothing pleasing anyone in Splitsville. It is a boiling pot of jealousy where openness is presented as fun at one point but then tolerance eventually is tested until it no longer exists. The writing in this experimental comedy has brilliance that I found intriguing and vivid.
Polyamorous and monogamous love may collapse in this film, but it is not a negative comedy. The story has a unique heartfelt side despite the multiple disasters. This is a gem of a film about friendships crossing boundaries but not wanting to step completely outside of them. The human elements of people being unwilling to change their morals, but experiencing the consequences are shown in a creative light in Splitsville. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.
When it comes to terror and having fragments that create elements making a scene feel even more creepy, Together captures that aspect and weaves it thoroughly. This film is written and directed by Michael Shanks and stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie. Franco and Brie are also the producers, the leads, and are married in real life. This is by far one of the most daring films that they have made as a couple. When connection and bonding are already in a blur, there is a force that makes disconnect impossible. This is especially true in a forest setting where a change is intended to happen.
The couple is Tim and Millie (Franco and Brie). They move out to a wooded area outside of a city setting for a change of pace.Tim is a struggling musician, and Millie is a teacher. They have underlying conflicts where resolution feels or seems complicated. Millie feels that the move is a way of restoring them. Once they get there, weird events begin to happen. Tim begins to lose his mind with anxiety and sees imagery of dark souls and moving parts. Above all that, Tim and Millie find themselves stuck with each other. The force to keep them together is harrowing and within their new home lies a key to breaking through that barrier.
The essence of an illusion and a strange upbringing with an immersive tone is where Together has that terror and classiness in its film making. The problem around the couple is one bound to be unbreakable, especially with the home bringing in so many moments of creepy attachments. At the same time, viewers will ask themselves why this is all happening. Chemistry and writing and mixed messages spiraling through the characterizations is where immersive components find a new tone of disturbing material.
Together has aspects where the weird moving parts of Tim and Millie spiral into grotesque matters. No spoilers, but I will say this is not a film to watch on a full stomach. Mostly because its glamourization is in the depths of the attachments finding themselves in rather graphic depictions. Together grapples with a relationship becoming more challenging with physical moments added on top of it. Almost like a special on the menu, but the downside is there is no sending anything back.
An above average terror ride where mentality is focused on in great depth. Stunning scenery and unexpected surprises with mixed characterizations from the performances of Franco and Brie. Freaky and at moments disgusting, but one that is bound to create memories for constructing an aspect that is different from any other horror film. Two-and-a-half out of four stars for Together.
Movies with Tarek 