This film spotlights three sisters working to come together during a time of pain and grief– spiraling many emotions of regret, shame, jealousy, confusion as well as agreements, disagreements, and connections. His Three Daughters takes all those concepts and forms them into one life-changing and complex scenario. It does so with a flow of writing that is faithful to human feelings. His Three Daughters is a narrative that knows how to keep its focus—keeping the three sistersworking together despite their differences with the patterns shifting and spiraling authentically. Carrie Coon delivers many of the long speeches in the dramatic scenes. I have seen Coon in Steppenwolf Theatre productions in Chicago. Coon’s performance in His Three Daughters brings out her determined and theatrical presence to the finest level. Natasha Lyonne plays a role common to her quirkiness in The American Pie franchise. Lyonne though, shifts this one to have silly sides within her, while dealing with a serious situation. Then there is Elizabeth Olsen.  We are used to seeing her in Marvel films, but her breadth of roles has gotten more serious and fulfilling. After her performance in the HBO Miniseries, Love & Death, her monotone personality has shifted thought patterns in an exhilarating matter.

In His Three Daughters, Coon is Katie, Lyonne is Rachel, and Olsen is Christina. They are three sisters who are trying to be with their father at his home in New York to aid him until he passes. This is not an easy task, and one where tolerance and many moving parts are mentally taxing. Katie is the sister that is eager and setting all the blocks up to honor her father after his death. Rachel has always been in their father’s home and provided a lot for him before his health got worse. With Christina, she is just there to make each moment for their father comfortable. Their father is Vincent (played by Jay O’Sanders). The dynamics of the sisters take all kinds of paths. Rachel smokes weed and gambles continuously, Katie keeps being provoked by Rachel’s poor etiquette, and Christina is just trying to see things through properly. His Three Daughters is a revelation of how families can feel in the times where they are about to lose someone. Mindfulness flows through this film, with constant reminders of how the complexity of death lingers.

The sisters living in this limbo create the depth and perception of presence through the writing in His Three Daughters. The film rumbles like a dramatic stage production as the characters sit in unstable circumstances. The shaky feelings are a lot to take in mentally in the film and it’s seen in every conversation. This is where the writing blows its audience out of the water.  The truth is hard to hear—especially when it is around the subject of who has been more responsible or who is winning in the race of loyalty.

Audacious is the adjective that came to mind in the representation of His Three Daughters. It is  vivid in the way of being an open book. Writer and director Azazel Jacobs knows how to make dynamics of conflict have an intense sense of hurt and hatred. He also knows how to move it around and bring in acceptance.  Acceptance is not easy in His Three Daughters, but it does come around with connection in coming together. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

This is one of the most fascinating animated films on Netflix. Ultraman: Rising is an animation where the writing and the direction go together to the max with high-end contrast that sparks new light. A powerhouse ride of colors that brings fun to every corner. It is a superhero flick that is fun for many ages. This is Ultraman: Rising.

This is the directorial debut for Shannon Tindle and John Aoshima.  Ultraman: Rising works amazingly with the development in its technology to create an atmosphere of adventurous joy. Ultraman: Rising is an in-depth story with creativity about what comes with being a hero.

The film focuses on Ken Sato/Ultraman (voiced by Christopher Sean). Ken is both a professional baseball player and his secret alter ego is that of Ultraman. His life of wealth and fame finds itself landing on plateaus.  As he aspires to be the hero Ultraman, a new baby dragon comes into his life that he must care for. This creature is a kaiju monster. Ken must juggle between being a pro baseball player, a hero, and a guardian of the kaiju monster. He discovers that there is more to life than fame, and as Ken’s priorities change, conflict develops in having to juggle these many responsibilities. His father was an Ultraman, and Ken is continuing in his footsteps.  Can he step into his shoes?

With Ken having a kaiju monster as a pet, the force is out to get his pet. The deadly orders of corruption are run by Dr. Onda (voiced by Keone Young). He is a mastermind of many electronics and robots attempting to stop the tracks of Ultraman and whatever he sees as peril.  These moments create the continued thrills in Ultraman: Rising.

The connecting points are in the value of multi-tasking between livelihoods. What is more fulfilling for Ken? Is it being a pro ball player? Is it being Ultraman? Is it raising this monster? The answer to these questions is that all can thrive.  Ultraman: Rising is a film with a host of  opportunities. It’s depth correlates to connecting with many audiences, from those who love super heroes, dragons, baseball, and more.

The direction of a compelling narrative has class and creates an animation sensation. The technology rides a wave of endurance. Ultraman: Rising takes the cake as one of the best-animated films of the summer on Netflix, because it is unique in its setting, its writing, its premise, and its plot. An animation where the superhero factor must find common ground for the greater good.

 I will say I felt overwhelmed by many of the moving parts, yet in a positive light. The technical aspects of the heightened action soar strongly in Ultraman: Rising. There are just times when the film feels like its dynamics of importance struggle to stay in place. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Ultraman: Rising.