Greetings again from the darkness. “You gotta tell a horse when it’s time to stop running.” That line of dialogue is uttered in this racing film from writer-director Clint Bentley and co-writer Greg Kwedar, but the sentiment holds true for many others, including athletes, coaches, teachers, and politicians. For those who have spent their life pushing and driving, knowing when to stop does not come naturally. We learn this is so for jockeys, as well.
Clifton Collins Jr has long been one of our best and most intriguing character actors, and in a rare lead position, he becomes veteran jockey Jackson Silva. The man knows horses, but unfortunately, Father Time is catching up on the home stretch. Jackson is aging quickly as he fights to overcome a litany of injuries, including multiple broken backs. The timing for the end of one’s passion is never good, and it’s at this point where Jackson’s long-time trainer, Ruth (Molly Parker), introduces him to “the horse” … just in time for “the big race.” Sure, it’s all a bit convenient for a movie script, but it matters little, because filmmaker Bentley and actor Collins expertly capture the culture of racing in a naturalistic and organic way. Jackson carries himself with the quiet pride of a man who understands he’s spent his life doing what he was meant to do.
As if on cue, young aspiring jockey Gabriel Boulliet (Moises Arias) shows up and informs that Jackson is his father – the result of a long ago fling with Gabriel’s mother. Initially taken aback, Jackson and Gabriel form a strained bond through working out, training, and riding. In many movies, this story line would shift into eye-rolling melodrama, but that never occurs. Instead, filmmaker Bentley (whose dad was a jockey) maintains an organic feel by allowing a few real-life jockeys (including Scott Stevens and Logan Cormier) to exchange war stories. We hear firsthand accounts of the risks involved, and how these riders often become expendable.
Mr. Collins has westerns and horses in his acting bloodline – his grandfather shared the screen with John Wayne in RIO BRAVO (1959). It may not hurt that Collins is married to Clint Eastwood’s daughter, yet mostly he comes across as a natural fit around horses and the track. His subtle masculinity is balanced by Ruth’s ambition, and Collins shares a nice rapport with Ms. Parker, as well as with Mr. Arias. This is not the type of film where the horse racing takes center stage. In fact, we see no actual racing, and most of the riding scenes are performed in silence, rather than with the usual thundering hooves pounding the track. This is the epitome of a small movie and cinematographer Adolpho Veloso captures the intimacy of the characters. The story takes a backseat to the main characters, and we find ourselves right there in conversation with them.
Opening January 28, 2022
Posted by David Ferguson 
Greetings again from the darkness. How quickly we make assumptions and judge the actions of others. We all do it, and writer-director Michel Franco (NEW ORDER, 2020) seizes on this common human trait in this unconventional film centered on a man who simply doesn’t act like we expect him to. Because of our tendencies to judge, Franco is able to confound, even frustrate us, by slowly revealing details that we wouldn’t have guessed.
Greetings again from the darkness. I’ll try to avoid the temptation of including overtly cute food references … especially those that might leave a bad taste (!). Writer-director Cristoffer Boe and his talented co-writer Tobias Lindholm (ANOTHER ROUND, THE HUNT) have collaborated on a film that centers on the world of haute cuisine, and how it can impact the mindset and relationships of those immersed in what may be the most bizarre art form on the planet. Despite the strain of the co-working spouses, rather than describing this as a romantic drama, I believe it might be better termed an obsessive drama.
Greetings again from the darkness. “The trash man wasn’t always a trash man.” Writer-director Paul Solet re-teams with his BULLET HEAD (2017) star, Oscar winner Adrien Brody, who not only has the lead, but also co-wrote the script, produced the film, and gets a “Music by” credit. Following in the cinematic footsteps of John Wick or most any recent Liam Neeson character, this trash man is the lone beacon of hope possessing a particular set of skills that he uses to escape peril, save the innocents, and generally rid the world of bad guys. He’s the avenging angel of Utica.
Greetings again from the darkness. It seems reasonable to ask why someone didn’t take it upon themselves to stop Hitler before things went so far. Of course we now have 80 years of hindsight to benefit our thoughts, but surely there were those who recognized the reign of terror brewing. The 2017 international best-selling novel, “Munich”, by Robert Harris, has been adapted for the screen by writer Ben Powers, and is directed by Christian Schwochow. It has the look and feel of a political spy thriller, right down to the clandestine meetings, smoking jackets, and heavy mahogany furniture in the conference rooms.
Greetings again from the darkness. It happens sometimes where the most memorable part of a movie is its setting. Plenty of non-descript westerns (and also some really good ones) took place in Monument Valley. MAMMA MIA! was fine, but that Greek isle of Skopelos was dreamy. Even those who aren’t big fans of Wes Anderson movies would likely agree that his sets and filming locations are something to behold. Somehow, director Sean McNamara surpasses all of these by filming inside and on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, a truly gorgeous and historical setting.
Greetings again from the darkness. As a devoted follower of films by Almodovar for more than 35 years, I still find myself enchanted by his stories, his visuals, his characters, and his consistency in writing complex and engaging parts for women. Oscar winning writer-director Pedro Almodovar’s last film, PAIN AND GLORY (2019) may be considered his semi-autobiographical masterpiece, but this latest proves he still has much to say, and will do so with his customary flair.
Greetings again from the darkness. There is nothing wrong with delivering exactly what’s expected for kids’ movies. It’s a bit bewildering that so many fall short. This is the fourth (and final) film in the hugely successful “Transylvania” animated movie franchise, although it’s the first not directed by Genndy Tartakovsky (credited here as co-writer and Executive Producer). Also missing this time are Adam Sandler and Kevin James, who previously voiced Dracula and Frankenstein, respectively. The character voices have been replaced by Brian Hull and Brad Abrell, and rest assured, the vast majority of young fans will never notice. The film is co-directed by Derek Drymon (one of the creative forces behind the ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ franchise – including video games and movies) and Jennifer Kluska (the main director in the ‘Wild Kratts’ series). What they’ve done is deliver exactly what’s expected … a fun time for kids.
My BEST OF 2021, including my personal TOP 10 … and a whole lot more … is now live! 
Greetings again from the darkness. For those of us who enjoy the burst of adrenaline provided by thrillers, the premise of a blind person in peril is something we’ve seen a few other times, including WAIT UNTIL DARK (1967) with Audrey Hepburn, SEE NO EVIL (1971) with Mia Farrow, BLINK (1993), and the more recent DON’T BREATHE (2016, 2021) series with Stephen Lang. Director Randall Okita, working from a screenplay by Adam Yorke and Tommy Gushue, manages to use modern technology to provide a twist to a familiar set-up.
Movie Reviews from the Dark 