Fresh Fork

  ATERIALISTS It's not what it was marketed:  Materialists  sure have some funny moments, but it's a poignant meditation about how transactional dating someone has become. Yes, it has some laughs and it's core is truly romantic, but Celine Song's latest is a study about modern-day relationships, expectations and love vs functionality. The first act shows promise, the second act is a step down, but the third one is exquisite as it exposes some topics with honesty and sentimental value. Dakota Johnson proves she's a true leading lady as she commands the screen with her very singular charm, while Chris Evans gets (finally) an opportunity to shine with a beautiful monologue. Not everything worked, but I felt truly connected. It's a movie I am sure will age beautifully in my mind. Beautiful cinematography (Shabier Kirchner sure is a promising name). Another big win for Song with a totally different film from Past Lives. Rating: 8,5/10 BRIDGET JONES: MAD ABOUT THE BOY...

  enre:  Drama; Sci-fi; Adventure; Horror Director:  Garreth Edwards Writer:  David Koepp Starring:  Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, Manuel García-Rulfo, Rupert Friend, Luna Blaise, David Iacono  and  Audrina Miranda Jurassic World: Rebirth  doesn't invent the wheel nor add a new idea to the billion dollar franchise, but it does feel a "back to basics" and that's... quite positive, actually. It's a true popcorn movie: a simple narrative, some thrilling scenes, a charismatic cast and great visual effects - and that's exactly the description of the ideal Summer blockbuster movie. Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it some landmark movie in the franchise? Time will tell. Is it good? Yes! The new  Jurassic World  installment starts by presenting a new idea that will affect future movies (if writers don't find a way to ignore it): dinosaurs can't survive the Earth's atmosphere outside the equatorial zones and they are dying ever...

  enre:  Drama; Horror; Thriller Director:  Zach Cregger Writer:  Zach Cregger Starring:  Julia Garner ,  Josh Brolin ,  Alden Ehrenreich ,  Austin Abrams ,  Cary Christopher ,  Benedict Wong  and  Amy Madigan A movie that reaches cinematic heights during its two first acts to then "loose" itself maybe too much for its conclusion with a tonal shift that didn't work for me, but  Weapons  works mostly because of an amazing ensemble cast and a sense of mystery and intrigue that are instiled early on just as the movie begins. A superior film than Cregger's previous effort  Barbarian , but it just needed a maestro finale for me after what was a great cinematic symphony for me. The movie saves no time presenting the central conflict: the disappearance of 17 children, all from the same teacher's class, and there's a whole community not only looking for them but also looking for someone to blame for it. Still, it is a no...

  A LL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT An extremely sensitive look at the lives of two different women living in Mumbai in a changing society: the daring spirit of Anu faces the challenges of a world made of rules that supress women, while Prabha tries to free herself from the social chains she grew up with. It's beautiful and Payal Kapadia makes exquisite visual choices that somehow remind me what I felt when I first watched  The Virgin Suicides . It's a tale of womanhood carried by Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha's powerful internal performances and it's also a tremendous directing debut! Movies like this one are very rare and I had the sense I saw something truly special. A contemplative cinematic beauty and a look at a changing world. Nothing much to add: subtle, sensitive and visually beautiful.  RATING: 9,5/10 NOSFERATU A riveting gothic tale of obsession and greed, Eggers delivers another cinematic epic film! Anchored by a magnetic (and raw) performance from Lily-Rose Depp ...

  Let's start... 1 - Ryan Gosling He may not have a huge list of movies in his body of work, but the few times he makes something, all the time he almost carries the movie. In fact, Gosling is a proof that talent does exist and that you don't need excentrical characters to receive raves. He rose to fame after the big screen adaptation of  The Notebook  (2004) and then received lots of critical praise for his performances in movies like  Half Nelson  (that gave him an Oscar, a SAG Award and other major awards nominations),  Lars and the Real Girl  (that gave him a Golden Globe, a SAG Award and other major awards nominations) and  Fracture  (in which he shres the screen with Anthony Hopkins). This year he starred Blue Valentine alongside Michelle Williams, a very well-received indie movie that got raves in both Sundance Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival, specially the two lead's performances, starting a early Oscar buzz for Ryan Gosling an...

  enre:  Horror/Mystery Director:  Oz Perkins Writer:  Oz Perkins Starring:  Maika Monroe, Blair Underwood, Alicia Witt  and  Nicolas Cage Longlegs  was a pleasant time at the movies. A solid crime-investigation film that surprises with a somewhat sloppy supernatural element that goes full force during the 3rd act, it might be defined as some kind of  Silence of the Lambs  meets  Hereditary , but  Longlegs  distinguishes itself thanks to Oz Perkins' direction: always tense, with a dark atmosphere of constant danger, even if the writing can't quite match the boldness of the execution. It's a very good cinematic ride, but it disappoints in its conclusion when its orchestration promised a grand finale. The movie's first scene is a great one, maybe one of the most creepy first scenes in recent years, and what unfolds after that makes you wonder about its connection with the narrative. The first act is brilliantly written, with...

  The almost annual TOP 35 Actors and Actresses Under 35 Working Today is out, with me considering the performers' performances of 2016 also. We have a few changes since last year's list, with   Greta Gerwig   toping the list thanks to her last 3 great performances in   Mistress America ,   Maggie's Plan   and the Oscar buzzy acting turn in   20th Century Women .   Scarlett Johansson   comes second with her latest distinguished performance being in 2014 ( Under the Skin ), but she managed to be at the spotligh this year thanks to her fine turns in critically acclaimed movies:   Hail, Caesar! ,   Captain America: Civil War ,   The Jungle Book   (voice) and   Sing  (voice).   Emily Blunt   adds another great performance to her resume in The Girl on the Train and she comes third, while   Elle Fanning 's turning into one of the finest actresses and she's getting to play more adult and complex parts lik...