DRAMA. “The Return.” / “Daddio.” / “Days of the Bagnold Summer.” / “Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter.” / “Animals.” / “Prozac Nation.”

“The Return” (2024, Amazon Prime) drama or a retelling of the second half of Homer's “Odyssey.” Twenty years after fighting in the Trojan War and journeying back home, Odysseus washes up naked on the shores of his home island Ithaca. He is tended to by Eumaeus and Yias. 

       It would help to revisit the source epic to make sense of “The Return,” otherwise the entire proceedings in this movie wouldn't make sense. It isn't really a standalone storyline. 

       But Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche's piercingly involved performance, the former intense and the latter restrained, keep the drama worth watching. 🎥💻📽

“Daddio” (2023, Hulu) drama film, which stars Dakota Johnson as a young woman returning home to Midtown Manhattan from JFK International Airport by cab after a trip, who unexpectedly ends up conversing with her taxi driver (Sean Penn).

       Rotten Tomatoes; 75 percent of 100 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus: "A ruminative chamber piece on wheels, “Daddio” feels expansive thanks to Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn's compelling rapport.” Variety: "Every aspect of ‘Daddio’ is designed to spark conversation. But it’s sweeter and more satisfying than you might expect.” I beg to disagree. 

       First, I find the plot implausible. A young lady who isn't really dumb but unbelievably nice shares TMIs with a street-talkin’ NYC cabbie who persists, insists, sermonizes like they're niece and uncle in a park or parishioner and priest in a confessional. 

       Second, all 1 hour and 41 minutes of the movie happened in a cab, from JFK Airport to Manhattan, with a traffic distraction somewhere. Too long. 

       Third, the dialogues are a snackered cliche. Christy Hall's unexciting (well, performers are seated) yet her script is eerily self-contained and annoyingly preachy. And so on and so forth. 🎥💻📽

“Days of the Bagnold Summer” (2019, Tubi) Drama. A withdrawn, heavy metal–loving 15-year-old boy named Daniel and his well-meaning, socially awkward librarian mother, Sue, are forced to spend a six-week school holiday together. Stars Monica Dolan. 

       The coming-of-age bit, angled on introverted son in not-so-intense conflict with awkward mom, is a familiar premise. But Earl Cave's Daniel and the always-adorable Monica Dolan's Sue keep things interesting and entertaining. So in the end, we get sweet tenderness and gentle humor. 🎥💻📽

“Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter” (2014, Tubi) drama based on the urban legend surrounding Takako Konishi, and her widely-speculated (but untrue) search of the fictional ransom money seen buried in the snow from the 1996 film “Fargo.” 

       The story is based on the urban legend surrounding Takako Konishi, and her search for the fictional ransom money seen buried in the snow from the 1996 film “Fargo.”

       Takako Konishi (1973 – November 2001) was a Japanese office worker from Tokyo whose body was found by a bow hunter in a field outside Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on November 15, 2001. Konishi had originally arrived in Minneapolis earlier that month, traveled to Bismarck, North Dakota, then to Fargo, North Dakota and finally to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota where she died.

       Her death was ruled a suicide, but some erroneous media stories at the time reported that she, under the mistaken impression that “Fargo” was based on a true story, had died trying to locate the money hidden by Steve Buscemi's character, Carl Showalter.

       Because of the source story, this movie is a sure click bait. And Rinko Kikuchi as Kumiko amply supplied the necessary drama albeit restrained and understated. But of course the movie took liberties in “reconfiguring” the story. 🎥💻📽

“Animals” (2014, Fawesome) romantic drama. A couple who lives in a broken car scam strangers to support their heroin addiction. When their misadventures turn from bad to worse, the young lovers must decide if true love can prevail in the face of all else. 

       Jude and Bobbie are not typical dead-end, wildly-violent junkies because David Dastmalchian and Kim Shaw managed to inject poignancy, warmth and compassion in their vulnerability. 

       Collin Schiffli's low-key, minimalist direction delivered Mr Dastmalchian's script right into the gut and consciousness beyond cliches of the subject matter or premise. 🎥💻📽

“Prozac Nation” (2001, Filmrise) psychological drama. Based on Elizabeth Wurtzel's 1994 memoir of the same name, which describes Ms Wurtzel's experiences with atypical depression. The title is a reference to Prozac, the brand name of an antidepressant she was prescribed. Stars Christina Ricci etcetera. 

       This movie's theme has a lot of promise and potential as a cinematic showcase but director Erik Skjoldbjærg's handling lacked depth, earnest or dramatic energy. Devoid of substance, irrelevant of the seriousness of the premise. The nuances of depression aren't really navigated or explored. 

       Yet the star pedigree of this movie is unfailing: Anne Heche, Michelle Williams, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jessica Lange. (Don’t mind the guy named Jason Biggs, he's nonsensical.) Anyhow, Christina Ricci as the lead isn't so bad at all. Ms Ricci always gives a stellar performance. 🎥💻📽