Stéphanie (Léa Drucker), an internal affairs investigator for the police, must present evidence to determine whether or not policemen are responsible for seriously injuring a young man during a protest in Case 137. She hopes to get a big break in the case from a housekeeper at a hotel who recorded the incident. Writer/director Dominik Moll and co-writer Gilles Marchand have made a smart, gripping and genuinely heartfelt psychological crime thriller that's grounded by Léa Drucker's warm and radiant performance. The plot remains compelling with twists and turns as Stéphanie desperately tries to uncover the truth even if her superiors aren't happy with the results because it might put the blame on the policemen. Stéphanie comes across as a decent human being who just wants to do her job and present the evidence without any interference. Finding that evidence, especially when it comes to trying to convince the hotel's housekeeper to show her the recording, becomes a daunting task. The audience, though, remains with Stéphanie every step of the way.

      Kudos to the filmmakers for showing empathy toward her and for humanizing her while showing how the case affects her emotionally. At a running time of 1 hour and 55 minutes, Case 137 opens TBA 2026 via Film Movement. It would be a great double feature with writer/director Dominik Moll's previous film, The Night of the 12th, which deserves to be as much of a crime classic as Zodiac. 

 

         Johan Otto von Spreckelsen (Claes Bang), an architect, wins a competition to design the The Great Arch of the Defense in The Great Arch. Michel Fau plays France's President Mitterand, and Sidse Babett Knudsen plays Johan's wife. Blink and you'll miss Xavier Dolan in a brief scene. Writer/director Stéphane Demoustier has made a often captivating biopic, but emotionally hollow biopic that's elevated by Claes Bang's nuanced performance and charisma. The obstacles, which include political red tape, that Johan goes through to design The Great Arch adds some tension and complexity that makes the film less dry and procedural. However, the subplot involving his deteriorating relationship with his wife feels less engrossing and underwritten, so there are not enough scenes with them together or unflinching moments regarding Johan's life beyond his work as an architect and as an architecture professor.  Ultimately, it's an entertaining and well-acted biopic, but nothing exceptional, profound or powerful that makes it rise above mediocrity. At a running time of 1 hour and 55 minutes, The Great Arch, based on the novel by Laurence Cossé opens TBA 2026 via Cohen Media Group.  

Number of times I checked my watch: 2




 

       Meursault (Benjamin Voisin)  goes on trial for murdering an Arab man in The Stranger. He has a romance with Marie (Rebecca Marder) and deals with his violent neighbor, Raymond (Pierre Lottin). The man who Meursalt shot on the beach in Algeria happens to be the brother of Raymond's lover, Djemila (Hajar Bouzaouit). Writer/director François Ozon has made a spellbinding, engrossing and provocative adaptation of the novel by Albert Camus. The screenplay covers a lot of ground within the life of Meursault, but it never feels overstuffed or undercooked. Meursault had recently attended the funeral of his estranged mother, but showed no emotion there---a fact that's used against him by the prosecutor during the trial. The Stranger isn't a whodunit because the audience already knows that Meursault had shot the Arab man. Did he do it in self defense? Can he prove it? Those are intriguing questions, but what's far more interesting is the character study of Meursault during the days leading up to the murder that he's on trial for. He's complex and mysterious which makes him all the more compelling as a character.

      Fortunately, Ozon provides enough of a glimpse into the heart, mind and soul of Meursault for the audience to care about him and feel empathy toward him. Benjamin Voisin gives a charismatic and heartfelt performance which, every now and then, opens that window into Meursault's heart, mind and soul. The supporting cast including Rebecca Marder and Pierre Lottin aloso get a chance to shine. Moreover, the black-and-white cinematography adds some visual style with many breathtaking shots that make the film feel even more cinematic. At a running time of 2 hours and 2 minutes, The Stranger opens on April 3rd, 2026 at Angelika Film Center via Music Box Films.  

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 on TBA 2026 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




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