Film & Tv
- Fiennes is great in the role of the cardinal charged with running a papal election after the existing pope suddenly dies. He's sad, but also kind of a detective? There is plenty of intrigue for him to investigate and a lot of weird stuff to be dug up in the course of the Vatican seclusion. What I found most interesting was how the repeated rounds of voting evolved and blocs morphed as alliances and hopes shifted. The ending took quite a swerve that I certainly did not see coming, but I appreciate that it provided a final test of Fiennes' […]
- I liked it, though I was a bit underwhelmed by the lack of investigation into Dylan's inner self. He was a cypher from beginning to end. Though maybe that was part of the point?Edward Norton was really great as Seeger, IMO. Elle Fanning (Sylvie) and Monica Barbaro (Joan Baez) were also appealing and relatable. Chalamet was serviceable overall, though he just seemed like Timothée Chalamet with a mumble and big hair for everything besides the performance scenes. But when he was on stage and singing, I was impressed!My favorite scene was the one where Pete Seeger was having a hard […]
- On second watch, it was still completely gripping, but I noticed the missing connective tissue more. Events happen one after another, and often it is not clear how the characters got from *here* to *there* either physically or emotionally. It is quite a spectacle, though!
- It had some very silly moments that I quite enjoyed.
- Tense and gripping. I burst into tears when George said, "Ife, I *am* black."
- I guessed the big plot twist about ten minutes into the movie, and was gratified that it was fully revealed halfway through so that the implications could be played out. They were nuanced in a nice way, and I loved the way a bunch of the women banded together for a little detective caper. Joanna Scanlan was especially funny.
- Much like Martin's memoir "Born Standing Up", this film left me unsatisfied that I truly understood much about his private self apart from the sadness and drive to escape from his cold, unsympathetic parents. But unlike that book, there is some closure provided here — both with an eventual reconciliation with his dad, but more importantly with his second marriage and fatherhood. Seeing his eyes light up whenever his daughter is mentioned or present is incredibly sweet. He has found the missing piece at last.
- The reviews and Guadagnino's earlier work made me think this would have a lot more sex in it. Don't get me wrong, it is sexY, but that has more to do with the tantalizing uncertainty of what these messed up people are about and where they will go next in their tennis careers than anything that happens in the bedroom. And boy, does it work!
- This was quite entertaining to watch with family while talking back at the screen.
- It kept me engaged, though it was kind of silly how many Poe story references they jammed into the movie. It was a Poe-A-Palooza!