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Film reviews

The Outrun review

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This is by far one of the most influential and authentic portraits of overcoming past conflicts. Saoirse Ronan is the narrator, main character, and one of the producers. Her performance in The Outrun is audacious and artistic. Written and directed by Nora Fingscheidt, the film features the reality of hitting plateaus and then finding a light of redemption. The path of recovery is compared to nature. The outdoor scenes in The Outrun amplify the film’s emotional beauty through the vast lands of its oceanographic scenery. As the battle with alcoholism and mental health continues to plateau, nature is the backdrop which fuels empathy and hope.

Ronan plays Ron who is out of rehab but struggling with many behavioral issues. She is twenty-nine years old, has a master’s degree in biology, and is unemployed. With a previous life in London that has fallen apart, Rona is back at her home in Scotland’s Orkney Islands. Rona is stuck staying with her mom and helping her father with his land to earn some income. Andrew (played by Stephen Dillane) Rona’s father. Annie (played by Saskia Reeves) is Rona’s mother. They do what they can to help her. However, Rona feels that so much of her life has been thrown away, including a previous romantic relationship with Daynin (played by Paapa Essiedu). Rona is stuck in a pattern of repeatedly relapsing, while trying to find a path to save her own life, and regain what she has lost. 

The focus of frustration feels real in The Outrun due to the island setting where the narration comes from Rona’s clear and dramatic voice. The essence of mental darkness is detailed in a world of truth. As Rona looks out over the islands, the humanistic approach is connective in its enthralling side of healing. Alcoholism is explored in-depth, and the writing explores thoughts of faith. It all boils down to Rona’s choices. Even though there are moments where she is likely to relapse, deep down there is still a chance of recovery.

The Outrun is unique in how it finds potential possibilities of restoration for Rona. The Orkney Islands is the place where she feels a sense of security and safety. As much as there are lots of negative thoughts in Rona’s head, her resilience is an unstoppable force. The elements of plateauing loops make for a slippery slope and the moving parts of various life events are where the conflicts are questioned.  Deep down Rona’s personality shines with kindness and an openness to change how she navigates her life after many prior errors.

The concept of a clean slate is complex in The Outrun, but it is well-written. The subject of addiction is addressed in a brutally honest way. There are good days, bad days, and love every day in The Outrun. Nature serves as the core driving Ronan’s faithful performance as Rona. The relapse scenes may be hard to handle, but they serve a purpose. The Outrun is a ride with bipolar force as Rona manages to find a path to rise above major challenges. Her fascination with science is part of her restorative process. Ronan’s performance burns the screen with emotions that lead to a transformative positive change. Four out of four stars for The Outrun. 

Film reviews

Daddio Review

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Daddio is one of the best films of the year.  The approach is different, and the taxi plot is magnificent. Written and directed by Christy Hall, it is a look at reality through an unknown connection where personalities find common ground. Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn are top-notch. Conversations lead to thought-provoking insights. I have never felt so moved by such a simple plot in ages. Daddio made it happen.

The film takes place in New York. Johnson plays Girlie, and she is returning home to New York after a trip to Oklahoma. She gets in a taxi at JFK airport. Once the cab driver begins to speak, the film finds a surreal wave of inner connection. Penn plays Clark (the cab driver). Clark starts to talk about how technology has changed the ways of tipping and how life is unfair. He rambles at first, but then Girlie begins to enjoy his attitude. They then begin to talk about relationships and life itself. They discuss their families, connections, and opinions. This taxi ride takes venting to a new level that is pure and real.

Girlie looks down at her phone periodically. While she is deep in conversation with Clark, she is also receiving lewd and provocative texts. Clark realizes that she has a sensitive side as she turns some of her attention away from him. Girlie jumps right back to giving attention to Clark. However, Clark can tell that there is part of Girlie that is in a bind.

At one point in the film, there is a traffic jam. At this point, it seems like the film might start dragging. Instead, it gets more enticing. The traffic jam offers the opportunity for Girlie and Clark to talk more about life and experiences. They go deeptalking about relationships, sex, and adult humor. Why is Girlie alright being so open with Clark? Why is Clark so open with Girlie? Are they both lonely?

The writing creates the characterizations of two introverted individuals. Their openness comes from both feeling disconnected. They become “connected to reality” once they meet each other. Girlie is coming back from a trip in a blur, and Clark is just making conversation. Girlie is quiet, and Clark is knowledgeable. Somehow, they click. When their conversation has a punchline, the smile on Johnson’s face shines like fireworks.

Daddio made me think about what it means to be open with others. Is it worth opening up to strangers? Is there a chance of a connection? Daddio offers mesmerizing revelations during a cab ride.

Johnson has an innocent personality that is bright and shining. Penn has a character which is social and accepting. They both speak to each other from experience. And they find the light in the heavy topics that come their way. How much will they take with them once the ride is over? Penn’s performance as the cab driver makes the film worth the fare (i.e. price of admission). It is truly worth the time to experience the emotion in the film’s deep conversations. Four out of four stars.

Film reviews

They Shot the Piano Player Review

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The focus of music flows with a jazz melody in the introduction of They Shot the Piano Player. The film lays out its investigative foundation in the form of an animation docu-drama. Directed by Javier Mariscal and Fernando Trueba, the latter is the main writer of They Shot the Piano Player. The film has a direction of narration where one’s attention about jazz music is captured by abackground of interest and diversity. It is set during the Latino musical movement around the Bossa Nova style. A true period piece where the pieces flow smoothly for an articulate purpose.

This animation is one-of-a-kind as it introduces its audience to Jeff Harris (voiced by Jeff Goldblum). Jeff is a music journalist. He dives deep into the evolution of music and cultures and others that inspired how diversity in the genre began grew over the years. His writing and research shifts when he come across the story of Francisco Tenorio Junior, a Brazilian samba-jazz pianist. An artist with a lot going for him who vanished in Buenos Aires in the spring of 1976. The story is one that Jeff gets hooked on.

The film evolves into the creation of fascination when Jeff does interviews for the story. Many of the characters are the real people doing their own voices. The reality of the individuals taking part in the film adds value to the film—it heightens the lavish feel and surrealness of the many moving parts that Jeff comes across. Jeff interviews Malena Barretto (who was close with Francisco), Gilberto Gill (a musician who Franciso knew well) and many others who use their real name. The facts, the research, and the deep digging direction of the film are inspiring. Is there a form of lightness or darkness in the story of why Franciso disappeared though?

They Shot the Piano Player is animation with high quality artwork. Francisco is dead, and Jeff dives deep trying to figureout how he came to his demise. I found that the enticing factor was much of the glamour of the jazz world blended with aspiring animation. Jeff narrates each introduction to many of the moments of his research in this very moving picture. The amazing voice of Goldblum and his delivery of the facts is in tune with the investigative narrative of They Shot the Piano Player.

The focus of what the outcome might be tends to be misconstrued though as the film goes into musical history, cultural backgrounds, and continues to trace back to Francisco. This makes the film feel two-sided. Is the musical research the bigger picture or is it the death of Francisco? There is a track of too much information digging deep where the mind of its audience may feel altered or confused on some levels. Still, it maintains its breathtaking flow of the artistic and the divine. The many political vibes in the era of the Jazz movement and the international background go back and forth and the cleverness of the story is on point. Three out of four stars for They Shot the Piano Player.