Film Review: “The Bride!”

This monster mash is no cinematic smash

Frank (Christian Bale) and his bride Ida (Jessie Buckley) consider their next move.

The fact that Oscar voting closed on March 5th should work out well for actress Jessie Buckley, who is considered a Best Actress lock for her stellar turn in Hamnet. Her newest film, The Bride!, opened the next day. Had voters watched it before casting their ballots her way, they may have thought twice. Buckley is a terrific actress, but watching The Bride! you get the sense she needed to decompress from Hamnet’s emotionally taxing, heavy material. The Buckley we see in The Bride! is looser, ferocious, and over the top in a style more annoying than fun. 

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Film Review: “Showing Up”

Reichardt delivers a sharp, funny look at creativity

Sculptor Lizzy (Michelle Williams) prepares pieces for her upcoming gallery show.

 I saw Showing Up one week ago today, and sat down to write this review at 5:00am this morning. Yes, I procrastinated, even though I love to write about movies. But I think writer/director Kelly Reichardt would forgive me and understand my dilemma, as it’s exactly what her newest picture so charmingly explores.

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