DRAMA. “The Winter House.” / “Black Bear.” / “Jellyfish.” / “Tyrannosaur.” / “Expired.” / “The Book of Eve.”

“The Winter House” (2021, Tubi) independent romantic drama. Stars Lili Taylor as a grieving novelist and François Arnaud as a troubled drifter who meet at a remote New Hampshire lake house, focusing on their intense, confined relationship and secrets. 

       I don't have any problem with the performance of Lili Taylor as Eileen, the novelist, and François as Jesse, the drifter, but the entire proceedings seem incredibly implausible to me.    

       Sappy isn't the apt adjective but the romantic premise is too contrived and the resolution, expectedly soapy. 🎥💻📽

“Black Bear” (2020, Tubi) psychological drama. A young woman sits on a dock at the edge of a foggy lake. She then retreats to a cabin and sits in a room where she looks at a notepad. And so on and so forth.

       Some critics call this hysterical yarn (?) “provocative, mind-bending experience” but I wasn’t provoked to ponder about anything at all. I was actually confused with the oblique psychology of the dramatics, and although Aubrey Plaza clearly gave her all, I like her better as a deadpan comic or a minimalist deliverer of allure and intrigue. Meaning, I enjoyed her other movies. 🎥💻📽

“Jellyfish” (2018, Tubi) British drama. A cynical teenager and sole caregiver for her family discovers a talent for stand-up comedy.

        This little movie is all Liv Hill's focused performance and she's remarkable. But the overlying reminder or the underlying message is now a genre cliche. As they say, “poverty porn.” And the film's resolution is more a one-shot release than a motivational kick. 🎥💻📽

“Tyrannosaur” (2011, Tubi) British drama, written and directed by Paddy Considine. Two damaged, lonely people form an unlikely friendship, offering each other a path to redemption. Stars Peter Mullan and Olivia Colman. 

       This painfully intimate movie, written and directed by full-time actor Paddy Considine, is brutally unflinching, with an honesty that is so wicked and unforgiving, yet eventually heart-warming. But I am not talking about graphic violence, knotted intestines, or sexual frankness. 

       The story is unapologetically truthful, the kind that many would rather erase in their memory. Paddy preferred to tell the story, without remorse or rationalization, but offered redemption in the end. 

       And can we refuse this trio of A-1 performers: Olivia Colman, Peter Mullan, and Eddie Marsan. Along with Mr Considine, they all won several awards and nominations for this excellent project. 🎥💻📽

“Expired” (2007, Tubi) comedy-drama. A mild-mannered parking enforcement officer lives in a small flat with her mother who is recovering from a recent stroke. 

       Awkwardly cute and obliquely enchanting as it is, this movie wins due to Samantha Morton's adorable portrayal of the naive but kind-hearted parking enforcement officer Claire. Jason Patric as Claire's crass work colleague and insensitive “love interest” Jay is the apt antithesis, which keeps interest in the film high. 

       Although I don’t really believe the cursing of those ticketed individuals, not realistic. Anyhow, the (then) directorial debut of Cecilia Miniucchi (who also wrote the screenplay) is respectable enough. 🎥💻📽

“The Book of Eve” (2002, Fawesome) romantic drama. Based on the 1978 novel by Constance Beresford-Howe, this old-school romance stars Claire Bloom as Eva, a 65-year-old woman who abandons her stifling life to find independence. She met Johnny, a younger, bohemian romantic who changes her life. 

       This is a well-acted Lifetime-styled movie. Ms Bloom isn't a newbie in stellar performance, of course. Daniel Lavoie as Johnny and Susannah York as Eva's friend, Jane, fit the daytime-soap template. It's all good. 🎥💻📽