Greetings again from the darkness. For most of us, the worst thing that happens at a dinner party is the pork loin is a bit dry or the wine selection is a bit lacking. Among the worst occurrences are the friction and hurt feelings caused by a joke-gone-wrong, or God forbid, someone brings up politics. It’s just such a dinner party that kicks off this film from writer-director Matt Winn and his co-writer and frequent collaborator, James Handel.
Husband and wife Richard (Rufus Sewell) and Beth (Olivia Williams) arrive at the lovely London home of Sarah (the always fabulous Shirley Henderson) and Tom (Alan Tudyk). Hitching a ride is uninvited mutual ‘friend’ Jessica (Indira Varma), whose recent book has just hit the bestseller list. Jessica is one who sometimes over-imbibes and is a notorious flirt, rarely taking much precaution in either activity.
Two things happen that drastically impact the evening’s proceedings … and neither has to do with the Clafoutis dish Tom prepared (and takes enormous pride in). The friends are stunned when they learn Sarah and Tom must sell the house quickly or face financial ruin – something unthinkable to those who have lived this life. Secondly, and infinitely more shocking, is the realization that Jessica has committed suicide in the garden. On top of those biggies, secrets are later revealed that feel like a gut punch after the crisis.
With the home sale pending, Tom and Sarah believe a dead body will turn off the buyer, resulting in the bankruptcy they so fear. Their plan is to convince long-time friends Richard and Beth to go along with a scheme that will prevent further disaster. Arguing, debating, and ‘what about’ discussions, some quite animated, take center stage with the group. The drama is elevated by a nosy neighbor (Anne Reid) and an unexpected visit from the potential buyer (a terrific Sylvester Groth who played Goebbels in INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, 2009).
Winn cleverly uses chapter subtitles, each beginning with “The Trouble with …”, to reinforce the live theater feel of the story. Some of the chapters work better than others, but it’s the veteran and talented cast that diligently pull off the dark humor at a time no one should be laughing. Shirley Henderson especially shines as she spews her lines with that unique and distinctive voice of hers.
The soft jazz score, credited to director Matt Winn and Matt Cooper, provides a nice touch, and mostly we just look at these folks and wonder how far they will go to keep themselves out of trouble. If not for the comedic touches, it would be quite disturbing … well, even with the comedy, it’s quite disturbing. However, a new twist on the dinner table setting is welcome, and despite everything, the film maintains a level of entertainment.
Opens in theaters on April 25, 2025
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. No one familiar with Pink Floyd would expect a conventional concert film from the band. So how about a live concert from the ancient Roman amphitheater in Pompeii, the city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.? And just for fun, we’ll have the band playing to an empty arena … no fans allowed. Now THAT is a Pink Floyd concert film.
There may be no such thing as a Free Lunch, but thanks to the USA Film Festival, there is something even better … FREE MOVIES! Of course, not all screenings are held at no charge, yet this remains an affordable and entertaining festival experience for all film lovers.
This year’s opening night event on April 23 is “The World of Nancy Kwan – A Salute to Nancy Kwan”. The breakout star of THE WORLD OF SUZIE WONG (1960) will participate in a book signing and an on-stage conversation, following a career retrospective including clips of her performances in film and television. Also on opening day, there is a Salute to renowned director Jon Avnet with a screening of his new film, THE LAST RODEO. Mr. Avnet will attend along with the film’s co-stars, Neal McDonough and Mykelti Williamson. All three were involved with the fantastic TV series, “Justified” and “Boomtown”, and Mr. Avnet is known for having directed FRIED GREEN TOMATOES (1991), as well as Broadway plays.
Greetings again from the darkness. It’s feasible for a filmmaker to have the best intentions with a project, and for whatever reason, the end result just not be satisfying. This appears to be the case with this latest from Heather Graham, who wrote, directs, and stars in a film meant to inspire us to take control of our own life and stop blaming others for the obstacles or our own poor decisions.
Sometimes a getaway to a Greek isle is meant only to be a good time. Such is the ongoing popularity of the stage production “based on the songs of ABBA”. The Swedish band’s global success was first derived through these songs in the 1970’s. In 1997, British playwright Catherine Johnson wrote the story that led to the smash stage musical (1998), followed up by the blockbuster film in 2008 (starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried). Both the stage production and the film were directed by Phyllida Lloyd. The most recent of many incarnations of the stage musical continues this year with a United States tour, a six-month stint on Broadway (beginning in August 2025), and finally, an international tour.
Greetings again from the darkness. Over his 60-year career, Neil Young has proven to be one of a kind. As an incredibly talented songwriter with an instantly recognizable singing voice, he’s also acclaimed for his guitar playing. Few musicians have cut a wider swath of diverse music than the Canadian-born Young. His success began in the 1960’s with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. A solo career with two amazing albums (“After the Gold Rush”, “Harvest”) took him to new heights in the 1970’s, followed by some hard-rocking tunes with Crazy Horse. Since then, he’s kept fans guessing as to what style each successive record would feature.
Greetings again from the darkness. We don’t typically look to South Korea for animated children’s stories recounting the history of Christianity, yet this first film from Angel Studio delivers just that … well specifically, the story of Jesus for Easter. Seong-ho Jang has made a name as a Visual Effects expert, and with this directorial debut, he tells the Jesus story in a way that should keep most kids engaged. The screenplay was written by director Jang, Rob Edwards, Jamie Thomason, and Hoseok Sung.
Greetings again from the darkness. So why did John Lennon and Yoko Ono leave England to live in New York? This film provides the answer. Where did they choose to live? The film provides the answer. Why did John perform his only full post-Beatles concert in 1972? This film provides the answer. Why did they become so politically and socially active during those first 18 months in the States? This film provides the answer. And if you ever wondered how John felt about American television, well you guessed it … this film provides the answer.
Greetings again from the darkness. Some folks just kind of float through life feeling ‘not seen’ … even though their inner voice speaks to them incessantly. This describes Clementine/Clem, a Pharmacy Technician who specializes in holding her tongue in most social and family situations. When her beloved dad dies, Clem is forced to cohabitate with her less than warm-hearted stepmom. This is the set-up for the first feature film from writer-director Miv Evans.
Greetings again from the darkness. While I’m unsure whether this qualifies as a tetraology, this oddball and zany film consists of four separate yet interrelated stories with crossover characters. Previous collaborations from the film’s co-writers and co-directors, Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, include CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019), the underrated IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY (2010), and SUGAR (2008).
Movie Reviews from the Dark 