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ODD MOVIES: “Eddington.” / “The Lighthouse.” / “Swiss Army Man.”

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“Eddington” (2025, HBO Max) neo-Western thriller film written and directed by Ari Aster . Set in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Mexico , the film examines the political and social turmoil caused by the contested mayoral election. Stars Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal .         This is an Ari Aster shenanigan and an A24 flick so you know what you’ll get. “Eddington” though isn’t along the shock line of his “ Midsommar ” (2019) or the weirdness of “ Beau Is Afraid ,” but still off the grid. Hey, this movie grossed $13.1 million worldwide, not so bad.         This movie tackled a number of inter-related issues but, as expected, the end game is typical Aster. I am not complaining. Joaquin Phoenix is, as expected, the kind of crazy that could enliven a crazy shit such as “Eddington.” 🎥💻📽 “The Lighthouse” (2019, HBO Max). Co-written with his brother Max, the grimly brilliant Robert Eggers directs...
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HORROR. “Bones and All.” / “Hereditary.” / “The Witch.”

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“Bones and All” (2022, Netflix) romantic horror. Set in the late 1980s, a pair of young cannibals develop feelings for each other on a road trip across the United States. Stars Timothée Chalamet , among other stars.         The subject matter is not easy to stomach, irrelevant of the romantic confection between the two leads. But this is director Luca Guadagnino's game. Bother, provoke, dare to swim in a pool of vomit spiked with blood (literally and figuratively).         I am not saying that Luca's work per se is awful, although I didn't like the last that I saw (“After the Hunt”). It is more a matter of the individual viewer's taste, mood, or (in some cases) “culture war” angst. Mr Guadagnino is pretty much aligned with Yorgos Lanthimos or Ari Aster, if you know what I mean.         Anyhow, “Body…” showcases the coolness swagger of a typical fine Timothee Chalame...
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DRAMA THRILLER. “Locked.” / “The Neighbor.” / “Under the Silver Lake.” / “Shot Caller.” / “Drone.”

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“Locked” (2025, Hulu) psychological thriller, follows a petty thief and deadbeat dad who breaks into a state-of-the-art SUV , only to be trapped inside and played with by the sadistic owner. Bill Skarsgård versus Anthony Hopkins in a battle of nerves, daring, and wits. It started and carried on with panache and grit, until it went gung-ho that David Yarovesky didn’t seem to find the plug to end it all. Of course, it ended. Predictably.  It was a fine ride, still. Not so bad. 🎥💻📽 “The Neighbor” (2018, Roku) psychological thriller about a technical writer who sees his life shaken by the arrival of new, younger neighbors.         Aaron Harvey's minimalist but controlled direction, anchored on William Fichtner ’s timid technical writer Mike, kept the narrative interesting although we knew the inevitable ending. But would you suspect a “happy” denouement? Nope, not me. Yet it isn’t tragic anyhow. But the slow-burn “thriller” is plau...
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MOVIES BASED on Real People: “Sovereign.” / “Eden.” / “The Last Manhunt.” / “Suitcase Killer: The Melanie McGuire Story.” / “The Banker.”

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“Sovereign” (2025, Hulu) crime thriller, b ased on the events surrounding the 2010 West Memphis police shootings . A father and son align themselves with the sovereign citizen movement and clash with the Police Chief.         Written and directed by Christian Swegal, this movie doesn't mince words or ramble around the bushes of an oft-ranted thesis. Almost like a documentary feature. Dark but not bloody, piercing but not (too politically) preachy.          The film follows Jerry and Joe Kane, a father and son who align themselves with the sovereign citizen movement and eventually clash with the police.        Heavy stuff, indeed. The Sovereign citizen movement (or SovCits) is a loose group of anti-government activists, conspiracy theorists , vexatious litigants , tax protesters and financial scammers .         They have a pse...
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