Review: ‘All of Us Strangers’: An Exploration of Love and Loss

Andrew Haigh paints a dreamlike picture in the emotional and beautiful All of Us Strangers. It is Haigh’s most emotional work to date exploring themes of love and loss through the lens of a quiet fantasy. Adam (Andrew Scott) and Harry (Paul Mescal) are the leading men who have a budding love, being the only two people living in a large London skyrise. The building is notably lonely and bare which seems to be something that Adam is used to since the death of his parents during his formative years. Harry provides solace for Adam as he explores what was lost during visits to his childhood home.

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Review: ‘Ferrari’: A Cinematic Symphony of Speed, Sorrow, and Spectacle

2023 has been a return to the big screen for many old masters. The latest of these is Ferrari, the latest feature film from one of the most important directors of the last 40 years, Michael Mann. Ferrari documents a snippet of the life of Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) after the death of his son Dino. The Ferrari company has been struggling due to lackluster racing and needing to sell more sportscars to finance the expensive racecars they need to produce. This, paired with turmoil throughout Enzo’s personal life as he juggles running Ferrari with his wife Laura Ferrari (Penélope Cruz) and being there for his other son Piero (Giuseppe Festinese) whom he had with Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley). Most of the film takes place in 1957 which is a wonderful choice from Mann. In many biopics taking on an entire life and fitting it into 2 or 3 hours is a tall task and rarely does the film or the subject justice. 

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Review: ‘Maestro’: An Ambitious Portrait with Missed Notes on Execution

Maestro is the second feature film directed by Bradley Cooper. He stars as Leonard Bernstein, alongside a wonderful Carey Mulligan who plays Bernstein’s wife Felicia Montealegre. Though Cooper starred, directed, and co-wrote (with Josh Singer) Maestro, Carey Mulligan is the film’s centerpiece. Several biopics in 2023, namely Priscilla and Napoleon, have focused intently on a relationship rather than the achievements of the main characters. This serves Maestro and Carey Mulligan well as she gives an incredible performance, moving throughout the decades from a spry young actress to a brittle aging woman. Cooper matches her brilliance by playing an energetic Bernstein who shows his love for his wife but also explores the sexuality of the composer who had many exploits with other men during and after his marriage.

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Review: ‘Napoleon’: A Grand Yet Uneven Epic from Ridley Scott

At the age of 85, Ridley Scott is still consistently releasing films every couple of years around the holidays. Scott has been a Hollywood titan since he directed the legendary film Alien in 1979. Since then, he has had the budget to make any movie he wants, and Ridley is not afraid to take a big swing. Napoleon is his latest effort, detailing the life of the French general with Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, analyzing his battles as well as his intense relationship with his wife Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). The movie draws heavily from Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, which was adapted from a novel that was written shortly after Napoleon Bonaparte’s death. Kubrick famously attempted to make a movie about Napoleon but could not get the project off the ground. Ridley Scott realizes Kubrick’s idea 50 years later, although Napoleon still feels as though something is missing.

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Review: ‘The Holdovers’: A Nostalgic Winter Tale of Loneliness, Laughter, and Unlikely Bonds

The Holdovers is set in 1970s New England at an all-boys boarding school called Barton Academy. The film encapsulates the 70s vibe with the grainy film stock and soft string-heavy music. Barton during the wintertime is laden with snow and boys who are itching to leave for winter break. Many of them come from wealthy families who have extravagant vacations planned for the holiday. One of these boys is Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) who is looking forward to a December spent on the beach when he receives a call that his mother has canceled the vacation, and he must “holdover” at Barton throughout the holidays. His caretaker during this time is Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a lonely, sarcastic teacher who attended Barton himself some years ago. They are also joined by the school chef Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) who is grieving her son lost in Vietnam. The trio forms an unlikely bond throughout the holidays while each deal with their own issues of loneliness and loss. They find comfort in each other’s company despite Tully’s repeated attempts to escape.

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