Reviews for May 15th, 2026
Agatha's Almanac is an enlightening, heartfelt and fascinating documentary about Agatha Bock, the 90-year-old aunt of the film's director, Amalie Atkins. Agatha lives alone in rural Manitoba and has managed to survive without the internet, running water or a cellphone. She spends her time tending to her garden where she has planted watermelons, beets, potatoes and many more vegetables which she eats, sells and stores. You'll learn a lot about her gardening skills because there's plenty of footage of her picking and cleaning her vegetables. Beyond a reasonable doubt, the film lives up to its title.
Agatha is also good at fixing things, especially with the help of masking tape and duck tape. She owns many pairs of shoes and doesn't mind walking around mismatched shoes. Atkins captures not only Agatha's wisdom and abundant knowledge of gardening, but also her eccentricity, sense of humor, religiousness and even a little mischievousness, e.g. when she stole a roll of carpet tape from a professional who was installing her carpet. There's much more to her than meets the eyes, so she's similar to Maude from Harold & Maude. Interestingly, she doesn't talk in detail about her love life or her friends, but you'll learn the basics about the men in her life. The exposition about her past is peppered throughout the film in a way that doesn't feel dry. There's no archival footage, but she does go through her old photos to reminisce about her past. She initially states that she doesn't want to discuss her health problems, but later on she does talk about some of them. Despite her adversities, including a flood, she still manages to continue gardening which she clearly has a passion for. Do you want to know the best way to store strawberries to keep them fresh? You'll have to watch this documentary to find out.
On a purely aesthetic level, Agatha's Almanac is has exquisite cinematography using a 16mm camera that makes it look intimate, warm, cinematic and poetic. The well-chosen music also adds substance and style to the film without becoming intrusive. Atkins shows restraint by just focusing on Agatha from start to finish and by keeping the running time under 90 minutes which demonstrates that she grasps the concept that "less is more."
At a running time of 1 hour and 26 minutes, Agatha's Almanac opens at Film Forum via Icarus Films. It would be a great double feature with Grey Gardens.
Number of times I checked my watch: 1
Been Here, Stay Here is a mesmerizing, illuminating and eye-opening documentary about Tangier Island, located off the coast of Chesapeake Bay. Director David Usui opts for a fly-on-the-wall approach without talking heads or bombarding the audience with statistics or voice-over narration. The overarching theme is how climate change has continued to threaten the island which could completely disappear sometime in the future. Roughly 2/3 of its land mass has already been lost in the past 175 years. Usui primarily follows three Tangier residents who have decided to remain on the island: James Eskridge who has been serving as Tangier's mayor for the past decade, 7-year-old Jacob, and Cameron Evans, a college student in his early 20s. The film moves along at a leisurely pace which allows the audience to absorb the sights and sounds of Tangier Island which include the clear-cut evidence of erosion that has been plaguing the island. Images often speak louder than words and, in this case, they're among the most powerful moments of the film.
Prepare for a cinematic tour in and around the island while concurrently learning a lot about its past and present by observing its residents in their daily lives. Kudos to Usui for capturing their humanity and as well as the majestic beauty and serenity of the island. At a running time of 1 hour and 30 minutes, Been Here, Stay Here opens at Quad Cinema via Grasshopper Film.
Number of times I checked my watch: 1
Arnold (voice of Asier Hormaza), believes that the world that he lives in with his wife, Maria (voice of Aintzane Gamiz) is just a set, but she doesn't believe him in Decorado. Director Alberto Vázquez and co-writer F. Xavier Manuel Ruiz have made a witty, funny and provocative animated film for adults that blends satire, psychological thrills, comedy and drama. Comparisons to The Truman Show are inevitable, but this story isn't afraid to get quite dark and even sad at times much like Watership Down. It even veers toward the kind of darkly comedic satire found in the cult classic They Live. What happens when Arnold begins to question his surroundings? The answer won't be spoiled here because there are some surprises through his journey to discover the truth with the help of his friends, Romiro (voice of Ander Vildósola), Mushroom (voice of Ramón Zalakain), and Crazy Chicken (of Raúl Dans).
Fortunately, Vázquez and Ruiz know not only where to take their ideas from, but where to take their ideas to. They do a great job of incorporating just the right amount of exposition and world-building without revealing too much information so that the audience knows just as much as Arnold and can connect with him emotionally. If they were a step or two behind or ahead of him, that emotional connection wouldn't be as effective. The ending feels bold, haunting and refreshingly un-Hollywood. On top of that, the wonderful 2D hand-drawn animation provides the film with some warmth that can't be as easily found in CGI animated films. At a running time of 1 hour and 25 minutes, Decorado opens at IFC Center via GKIDS. It's one of the best animated films of the year along with Hoppers. Kudos to GKIDS for releasing it in its original language, Spanish, with subtitles instead of dubbing it into English like NEON did with Arco.
Number of times I checked my watch: 1
In Diamonds, Alberta (Luisa Ranieri) and Gabriella (Jasmine Trinca) run a costume shop for a film directed by Lorenzo (Stefano Accorsi) set in the 18th century. Bianca Vega (Vanessa Scalera) gets hired as the costume designer. Writer/director Ferzan Özpetek and his co-writers, Elisa Casseri and Carlotta Corradi, have made a mildly engaging, but overlong, undercooked and often meandering drama with great cinematography and a fine ensemble cast. It begins in the present day as Özpetek gathers the actresses to read some lines from the film before cutting to the film itself which takes place at the costume shop in 1974. That makes the film needlessly meta and pretension, especially when Özpetek refers to all of his actresses as diamonds. The film itself of the designers and seamstresses making the costumes are dull and tedious without much narrative momentum. Only fashion aficionados will be engaged by those scenes. Then there's some conflict that takes place in the lives of the women, e.g. one with a physically and emotionally abusive husband whom her coworkers want to her murder. Those subplots are underdeveloped and make the film feel more like a melodramatic soap opera at times.
The tender and nuanced performances by the charismatic cast are the only invigorating elements that don't make Diamonds a total bore. The pace moves slowly, and you can feel the weight of the lengthy running time which is never a good sign. If you want a more audacious, unpredictable and emotionally resonating movie that also involves fashion designing, see Mother Mary or for something more lighter and conventional, see The Devil Wears Prada 2. At 2 hours and 16 30 minutes, Diamonds opens at Angelika Film Center via Outsider Pictures.
Number of times I checked my watch: 3
Jeremy (Sam Nivola), a high school senior, steals the car of his driver's ed instructor, Mr. Rivers (Kumall Nanjiani) and embarks on a road trip with his friends, Evie (Sophie Telegadis), Aparna (Mohana Krishnan), and Yoshi (Aidan Laprete), to win back his girlfriend, Samantha (Lilah Pate), a college freshman in Driver's Ed. Molly Shannon plays Principal Fisher. Director Bobby Farrelly and screenwriter Thomas Moffett have made an uninspired, intermittently funny and slightly sweet, but ultimately forgettable comedy with shades of John Hughes. To compare it to Ferris Bueller's Day Off or The Sure Thing wouldn't be fair because those classic 80s comedies have more laughs and wit. They follow a predictable formula, though, much like Driver's Ed, so a predictable plot isn't an issue; it's more important how a movie goes about its plot. One thing leads to another and Jeremy successfully steals the driver's ed car while his friends get scared that he's taking them hostage. Of course, they quickly change their minds and agree to be there with him to surprise his girlfriend at college. Of course, this is the kind of movie where every authority figure including the principal, the police and the driver's ed instructor are incompetent and not very bright. Of course, no one will face the consequences of their actions. What does Jeremy see in Samantha other than his physical attraction toward her? She clearly lacks the emotional maturity to bluntly tell him that they're breaking up and he clearly can't handle that possibility anyway which makes him just as emotionally immature. She's just not that into him. Evie seems more into him, though. So, the romantic elements of the film feel contrived and, at times, even cheesy.
In terms of comedy, Driver's Ed is hit or miss with mostly misses. There are a few funny zingers like when Mr. Rivers refers to Jeremy breaking off a parked car's rear view mirror as a "Carolina kiss." Farrelly and Moffett don't push the envelope with humor, though, or take any risks. If you're expecting a raunchy comedy, you'll be disappointed that the film plays it very safe as though it were too afraid to be risqué and irreverent. There's not a single scene that offers a big laugh, unfortunately. If you're looking for a more bold, irreverent and risqué comedy, see Influenced. At a running time of 1 hour and 42 minutes, Driver's Ed opens in select theaters nationwide and on VOD via Vertical.
Number of times I checked my watch: 2
A team of secret agents, Bronco (Jake Gyllenhaal), Sid (Henry Cavill), and Rachel (Eiza González) embark on an operation to get back $1 billion that was loaned to a billionaire, Manny (Carlos Bardem), who has yet to pay it back in In the Grey. Rosamund Pike plays Bobby who's helping with the operation, and Fisher Stevens plays Mr. Horowitz, Manny's lawyer. Writer/director Guy Ritchie has made a dull, by-the-numbers and increasingly preposterous crime thriller that's low on thrills, suspense and intrigue. The screenplay's systemic problem isn't the stilted dialogue, but rather the clunky exposition with over-explaining that makes the film feel less cinematic and treats the audience as though they were dumb. Everything gets telegraphed through explanations of what the agents are about to do, so when it happens exactly as explained, any surprises have been ruined. All of the characters are merely one-dimensional plot devices with little to no backstory. The performances are mediocre at best, the editing feels choppy and the lackluster action sequences don't manage to invigorate the film, either. Moreover, there are a few bad laughs with cringe-inducingly bad dialogue that's trying too hard to be hip and quotable. At a running time of 1 hour and 37 minutes, In the Grey is a disappointing misfire despite the terrific ensemble cast. It opens nationwide via Black Bear Pictures.
Number of times I checked my watch: 5
In Is God Is, Racine (Kara Young) and her twin sister, Anaia (Mallori Johnson), obey the instruction of their dying mother, Ruby (Vivica A. Fox), to kill their abusive father (Sterling K. Brown), who's responsible nearly burned them all to death and left them with scars. Janelle Monáe plays their father's new wife. Writer/director Aleshea Harris has made a gritty, wickedly funny and wildly entertaining revenge thriller. The plot is pretty simple and straightforward without anything that gets too complicated. Is God Is doesn't spend time exploring those themes with much in terms of insight nor does it have any emotionally unflinching scenes, but it replaces that physical grit instead. The violence is unflinching, shocking and not for audiences with a weak stomach.
No one turns into a vampire or a zombie, so if you're look looking for a film that goes completely bonkers or one that has likable characters, this film won't be for you. For everyone else though, it has plenty of tongue-in-che humor and even gets a little campy at times with over-the-top performances which provide a lot of levity for the very heavy theme of domestic abuse and the thirst for revenge. Imagine John Wick with twin sisters instead, grittier violence and more humor and you'll get something along the lines of Is God Is. It's a guilty pleasure that's ultimately an above-average B-movie with stylish cinematography, well-chosen music, lively performances and a mindlessly entertaining revenge story. At a running time of 1 hour and 40 minutes, Is God Is opens nationwide via Amazon MGM Studios.
Number of times I checked my watch: 1
Kyle (Georgie Farmer) and his friends, Alex (Yasmin Finney), Sid (Roman Hayeck-Green) and Petey (James Scholz), plan a scheme to steal the cryptocurrency of a tech billionaire, Don Heard (Charlie Creed-Miles) by hacking him through his daughter, Lindsey (Jessica Reynolds) in LifeHack. Writer/director Ronan Corrigan and co-writer Hope Elliott Kemp have made a mildly engaging, but exhausting techno thriller that suffers from style over substance and loses steam early on. Its concept makes it sounds like it could be smart and gripping, but its main flaw is that there are no surprises because the plot unfolds from the villains' perspectives. Imagine if Catfish or Missing took place from the antagonist's perspective instead. They wouldn't be as effective as edge-of-your-seat thrillers.
LifeHack could've avoid that major pitfall if it were to develop any of the hackers to allow the audience to care about them, especially when they get caught. All that the audience knows is that they've been friends for a while and have succeeded in hacking online scammers for shits and giggles. They don't seem particularly emotionally mature, but they're very skilled at hacking and conning people. Similarly, Lindsey and her father, Don, also remain underdeveloped characters. Everyone on screen merely seems like plot devices instead of fully fleshed human beings. Moreover, Corrigan doesn't trust the audience's patience because he moves the film at a breakneck pace expecting the audience to keep up with everything that's happening. Good luck with that if you're not tech savvy. At a running time of 1 hour and 36 minutes, LifeHack opens in select theaters nationwide via Iconic Events Releasing.
Number of times I checked my watch: 2
Erin (Katie Aselton) and her boyfriend, Charlie (Daveed Diggs), spend time at house in the middle of the desert to work on their rocky relationship iafter she discovers that he cheated on her in Magic Hour. The screenplay by writer/director Katie Aselton and co-writer Mark Duplass has more on its mind than merely exploring the themes of love, forgiveness and infidelity. It also tackles the issue of grief by blending surrealism and psychological thrills with drama. Just when you think the plot will go in one direction, it goes in another one all of a sudden. Once it arrives at that point early on, it doesn't have any more surprises, though, and becomes repetitive. Aselton and Duplass could've taken the concept and turned into a comedy like Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands or a horror film like The Night House but they don't; they take it seriously and focus on Erin's emotional journey toward her epiphany.
&nbs Unfortunately, Magic Hour doesn't have anything profound or new to say about grief, a topic that's been explored in many films throughout history with more depth. There's not enough exposition about Erin and Charlie's life before their trip to the desert. All that the audience knows is that he cheated on her and that their relationship has been troubled, yet she still loves him. The performances by Katie Aselton and Daveed Diggs are tender and moving, but they're undermined by the weak screenplay and scenes, especially during, in the mawkish third act. Moreover, Erin's character arc doesn't feel organic, so the ending feels unearned. At a running time of 1 hour and 29 minutes, Magic Hour is heartfelt, but undercooked, tedious and often maudlin. It opens at IFC Center via Greenwich Entertainment.
Number of times I checked my watch: 2
Hathaway Noa (voice of Kensho Ono), leads the Mafta terrorist organization into a battle against the Earth Federation while befriending a mysterious woman, Gigi (voice of Reina Ueda) in Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe. Director Shûkô Murase and screenwriter Yasuyuki Muto have made a by-the-numbers, often dull and monotonous anime film with decent animation, but it'll only entertain hardcore fans of the Mobile Suit Gundam film series and of Japanese anime in general. The plot assumes that the audience is already familiar with the backstory of Hathaway and focuses entirely on his preparations to enter the battle with the Earth Federation. The only highlights are the action scenes that offer sporadic thrills and excitement. Beyond that, unfortunately, there's not much to hook the audience. There's not much mystery about Gigi because the perspective changes so that the audience knows what she's up to behind Hathaway's back which means that it's hard to be on the same page as Hathaway because the audience knows more than he does. Everyone unfamiliar with the film series will feel a little lost because of the poor exposition, so, like That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime The Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea, this isn't a standalone movie nor will it compel any non-fans to become a fan. At a running time of 1 hour and 48 minutes, Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe opens nationwide via Bandai Namco Filmworks.
Number of times I checked my watch: 4
Bear (Michael Johnston) gets more than he bargained for when he uses a "One Wish Willow" to wish that his childhood friend and crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), will love him more than anyone else in Obsession. Hence the title, she gets obsessed over him. Writer/director Curry Barker has made a spellbinding, chilling, suspenseful and wickedly funny horror thriller. It can be seen as a cautionary tale about the importance of avoiding people who exhibit possessive and controlling behavior in a relationship, and also to be careful what you wish for. Like Elisabeth Sparkle in The Substance, Bear just wants to find an easy way to get more attention and to be loved. He's too cowardly to get out of the "friend zone" with Nikki, so he uses "One Wish Willow" to achieve that instead. It's a Faustian bargain, though, and one that can't be reversed, at least according to the person that he calls at the company's listed phone number at the back of the "One Wish Willow." The employee at the shop who sold it to him even warns him that others have wanted to return it and regret buying it, but he doesn't listen to him and pays the price. Gradually, Nikki becomes so obsessed with him that it disturbs their friends, Sarah (Megan Lawless) and Ian (Cooper Tomlinson), who don't want him to bring her to any social events anymore. Of course, Nikki can't take "no" for an answer when Bear tells her that he's not bringing her to a party. Complicating matters even further, she's also his coworker at a music store.
To be fair, everything that happens in Obsession can be easily predicted and is telegraphed early on, so there are not big surprises or shocking twists. There's nothing inherently wrong with predibility, though. That said, Barker goes full throttle with the film's horror elements in a way that will please horror fans thanks to a few palpably scary scenes. One of those scenes takes place in Bear's bedroom in the middle of the night and might give you nightmares. Obsession also doesn't hold back on the gore with one particular scene in a car that's very memorable because of how far it goes with the gore. Inde Navarrette gives an effectively creepy performance that will send shivers down your spine. Hopefully, this movie will put her on the map and we'll see her in many more movies. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride of emotions where you'll be laughing one minute and scared the next. Bravo to Barker for choosing an un-Hollywood ending that's not sugar-coated. Ultimately, Obsession is one of the most bold, provocative and unnerving films since The Substance. At a running time of 1 hour and 49 minutes, Obsession opens nationwide via Focus Features.
Number of times I checked my watch: 1
Paul Dano plays Vadim as the Kremlin advisor who helped Vladimir Putin (Jude Law) rise to power in The Wizard of the Kremlin. Alicia Vikander plays Ksenia, Vadim's lover, and Jeffrey Wright plays Rowland, a journalist who had written a book about Vadim. Writer/director Olivier Assayas and co-writer Emmanuel Carrère have made a mildly engaging, tonally uneven, overstuffed and undercooked political dramedy that occasionally veers into satire. Based on the novel by Giuliano da Empoli, the screenplay isn't interested in getting to know any of its characters in any profound way. There are too many characters, all of whom remain underdeveloped. Assayas and Carrère bite off more than they could chew while spanning a few decades as Putin gradually rises to power. It also tackles many themes with very little depth or insight, i.e. when one of Putin's colleagues says to him that if he doesn't grap power, power will grab him.
Some of the editing feels choppy as the film jumps forward a lot while rushing through some events and omitting others. The few moments that The Wizard of the Kremlin does veer into dark territory, it does so in a way that feels clunky. The fine ensemble cast is what holds the film together, but they're undermined by the shallow screenplay. At an overlong running time of 2 hours and 26 minutes, The Wizard of the Kremlin opens nationwide via Vertical. It would be a good double feature with The Apprentice which is just as shallow, breezy and sugar-coated.
Number of times I checked my watch: 4
