31 Candles Writer/director Jonah Feingold has made a charming, warm, witty and refreshingly un-Hollywood romcom. Leo, a Jewish film director who makes Christmas movies, comes across as somewhat lonely and insecure, especially after not having much luck in his love life. His luck changes when his former crush resurfaces and he pursues her while hiring her as his Bar Mitzvah tutor. What happens afterward is best left unspoiled, but it's worth mentioning that the screenplay has a few surprises up its sleeve which adds more depth to the film. Feingold wisely avoids schmaltz, tonal unevenness and underdeveloped subplots. It's no easy feat to have a great command of tone from start to finish, so kudos to him for accomplishing that consistently without being afraid to break the fourth wall or to include some tongue-in-cheek humor. There are no villains nor does anyone get cancer. Moreover, Leo and Rachel both seem like complex and flawed characters which makes them more true-to-life and relatable.
Jonah Feingold and Sarah Coffey have great chemistry and bring plenty of charisma to their roles. The supporting cast, which includes Caroline Aaron as Leo's grandmother and Carol Kane as a rabbi, also get a chance to shine. At an ideal running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, 31 Candles is one of the most honest, funny and wise romantic comedies since (500) Days of Summer which makes it a cause for celebration. It opens on November 7th, 2025 at Quad Cinema via Level 33 Entertainment.
Number of times I checked my watch: 1
Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio), a revolutionary, lives with his 16-year-old daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti), who goes missing after his former nemesis, Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn), resurfaces and searches for both him and Willa in One Battle After Another. Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson has made a spellbinding, taut, engrossing and timely crime thriller. The plot begins with some exposition as it introduces the audience to Bob and his fellow revolutionaries including Willa's mother, Perfidia (Teyana Taylor), whom Lockjaw rapes, before she eventually goes into witness protections. So, the audience is already one step ahead of Willa because they know that her mother isn't dead. How will they meet? What will happen when they meet? That won't be spoiled here. Fortunately, Anderson knows how to incorporate the right amount of suspense, drama and comic without forgetting to treat the characters as complex human beings. Case in point: Bob suffers from drug and alcohol addiction, anger issues, paranoia and depression. He's an absolute mess and far from likable, but not nearly as detestable as Lockjaw. Bravo to Anderson for finding the right balance between Truth and Spectacle. Yes, this is a blockbuster with a brain and a beating heart beneath the surface.
DiCaprio and Sean Penn give performances that will hopefully be recognized during Oscar time. Everything from the cinematography to the editing, use of music are superb while providing the film with some style that makes it more cinematic, so you don't feel the weight of the lengthy running time because it's consistently entertaining without a dull moment. Behold a new American classic. At 2 hours and 50 minutes, One Battle After Another is now playing in theaters nationwide via Warner Bros. Pictures. It would be a great double feature with Sovereign.
Number of times I checked my watch: 1
Highly Recommended Movies
