Greetings again from the darkness. Marlon Brando was a true Hollywood legend. Renowned for his performances in such movies as A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951), ON THE WATERFRONT (1954), and of course, THE GODFATHER (1972). He was nominated for eight Oscars, winning three. Despite his on-screen fame, Brando was an enigma in life. Sexual escapades, a commitment to causes, a neighbor and friend to Jack Nicholson, and his own French Polynesian island contributed to the mystique. It’s that private island which writer-director Bill Fishman (nearly a 40-year career of music videos) focuses on here.
The film is adapted from the 2011 book, “Waltzing with Brando: Planning a Paradise in Tahiti”, written by Bernard Judge, who is not just a big part of the story, it is in fact, his story being told. We first meet Bernard Judge (played by Jon Heder, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, 2004) as a California-based architect with an interest in ecologically friendly and sustainable construction. It’s this interest that draws the attention of Marlon Brando (Billy Zane, TITANIC 1997; TOMBSTONE 1993, the underrated DEAD CALM 1989), who wants to develop something special on his remote island, Tetioroa. The two men hit it off and Bernard, with input from Brando, develops a comprehensive master plan and design.
Now if all that sounds a bit serious, you should know that director Fishman takes a light-handed, comedic approach to most of it. Zane’s Brando is both charming and manipulative, while Heder’s acting as Bernard is more suited to the man who finally takes to the relaxed Tahiti lifestyle, rather than the starched-shirt architect we first meet. Zane is made to look very much like Brando, yet he doesn’t limit his performance to posing and side-eyes. He even gets to deliver his Brando in “cuts” from THE GODFATHER, LAST TANGO IN PARIS, APOCALYPSE NOW, and SUPERMAN.
We learn developing a private island is not easy, even for Hollywood royalty. It’s also not cheap, and Brando, despite feeling tired of acting, continued taking jobs to pay for his dream … his restructuring of his “Gangster Movie” (THE GODFATHER) ended up costing him millions of dollars. The supporting cast includes Rob Corddry as Brando’s Business Partner, Richard Dreyfuss as the Money Manager, Alaina Huffman as Bernard’s wife, Camille Razat as a special friend. There are also appearances from Tia Carrere, David Guerira (as Francis Ford Coppola), and Heiae Touniou. Thanks to CGI, we see clips of Brando with Dick Cavett and Johnny Carson, and in keeping with the light-handed approach, there is a significant amount of speaking to the camera (breaking the 4th wall).
Billy Zane makes an excellent Brando (with a unique doorstop), while Jon Heder seems a bit miscast (or trying too hard). The story emphasizes Brando’s relaxed island style, purposefully avoiding the dark side. For Bernard Judge, these four or five years were life-altering, and we even see him looking back in 2010 during an interview for the book. Bernard passed away in 2021, so he didn’t get to see the film. It’s not a movie you can’t refuse, but for movie fans, it’s certainly fun to see Billy Zane as the icon.
Only in theaters on September 19, 2025
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. I recently watched NAKED AMBITION, a documentary on Bunny Yeager – a woman who excelled as a pinup in front of the camera as well as a photographer behind it. This film from writer-director Thomas Mignone (best known for his music videos) made for the perfect follow-up. While Bunny Yeager refused to join in to the shift towards more extreme content in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Mignone’s subject, Vanessa del Rio, not only carved out a career, she also became quite famous for her erotic and explicit films of the era.
Greetings again from the darkness. There is no obvious explanation for my connection to and appreciation of Tim Blake Nelson on the big screen … well … other than his talent. He certainly doesn’t possess the traditional attributes of a movie star, yet that’s exactly what he is. Not only is he one of the most dependable character actors around (see O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU and MINORITY REPORT), but he’s also terrific in lead roles (see OLD HENRY and ASLEEP IN MY PALM). With this latest film, director Vincent Grashaw and screenwriter Will Janowitz (who also has a role in the film) benefit from the actor’s audacious and fearless performance.
Greetings again from the darkness. For fourteen-year-olds, there’s often very little difference in passion for something and obsession with that same thing. Writer-director Nicholas Colia (reimagining his 2017 short film, ALEX AND THE HANDYMAN) brings us the coming-of-age story of Griffin (a fantastic newcomer in Everett Blunck), whose passion for art is undeniable and plays a role in his newfound obsession (this time we can tell the difference).
Greetings again from the darkness. The reality of today’s world is that some folks aspire to ‘go viral’ on social media, while others struggle to imagine anything worse. There are those who dream of being famous – even if it’s for only a moment in time. Others value anonymity to the point where they can’t imagine giving that up. This first feature film from writer-director Gustavo Martin and co-writers Matt Anthony and Vishy Ayyar touches on this very topic. By drawing from Ayyar’s real life (he also stars), we see how one of the reluctant types can use unsolicited fame as an advantage … a means to an end.
Greetings again from the darkness. This is the type of movie that almost begs to be criticized, while at the same time, deserves to be enjoyed for being exactly what it tries to be. Author Richard Osman now has five books in this series, and the first has been adapted by co-writers Katy Brand (GOOD LUCK TO YOU, LEO GRANDE, 2022) and Suzanne Heathcote (“Fear the Walking Dead”). It’s directed by Chris Columbus, known for HOME ALONE (1990), MRS DOUBTFIRE (1993) and a couple of the Harry Potter movies. These are professionals who know how to entertain … and just as importantly, they know how to cast.
Greetings again from the darkness. Put me down as one of those saps who struggles mightily watching kids in peril … even if ‘it’s only a movie.’ Writer-director Dan Kay taps right into my weakness in the opening scene. Two sisters find their mother on the floor of the rural house – dead from an overdose. It’s a situation where initially we have hope. Perhaps the girls will be better off without a druggie mom. But life is rarely that simple.
Greetings again from the darkness. Kate Beecroft’s first feature film as writer-director can be accurately described as a biographical-drama, yet we can’t help but wonder if a straight documentary could have been equally interesting. In no way is that meant as a criticism of the film, it’s just that most of the cast (with only a couple of exceptions) is made up of non-actors playing versions of their real-life selves … and each one of them holds our attention, leaving us wanting to know even more.
Greetings again from the darkness. What a downer this one is! That may seem a harsh thing to say about a movie, but it’s actually a compliment to writer-director Sasha Nathwani on his first feature film, co-written by Helen Simmons. Few films take on the reality of life that can sometimes be cruel or even savage. This film, and the young(ish) performers never shy away from the tough stuff, and the result is a film that’s not a pleasure to watch in the traditional sense, but quite so from a human perspective.
Greetings again from the darkness. One of the benefits of watching so many movies each year is the exposure to various generations negotiating their way through a variety of genres. That ‘benefit’ can sometimes be painful, as in this latest from writer-director Sophie Brooks (THE BOY DOWNSTAIRS, 2017). Despite cringing at the trailer, I agreed to watch this because I’m a fan of the two lead actors.
