The Testament of Ann Lee

I have been looking forward to The Testament of Ann Lee ever since it premiered at the Venice Film Festival last fall so I was really excited to see it at the Broadway with my nephew last night.  A musical about a historical figure seems like something I would love but I did not love this.  It documents the life of Ann Lee (Amanda Seyfried), the founder of the Shaker movement, beginning with her childhood in Manchester yearning for God with her brother William (Lewis Pullman), her affiliation with a sect of Quakers who use boisterous song and dance to worship, her marriage to a believer named Abraham (Christopher Abbott), the loss of four children who die in infancy, her imprisonment for disturbing the peace during which she has a vision about the Garden of Eden and original sin, her subsequent edict that believers should practice celibacy, her proclamation as the female Messiah, the persecution that leads her to take her followers to New England, the establishment of a utopian settlement, conflicts with the Continental Army for her group's pacifism and skirmishes with angry mobs who suspect her of witchcraft, and her death amidst a thriving community.  The story is told through rapturous music and dynamic choreography inspired by the spastic movements made during worship and, at first I found this to be very compelling, but it soon grows monotonous as the same words and steps are repeated over and over.  My favorite musical scene was "All Is Summer" because, even though the lyrics and choreography are repetitive, they take place on the ship coming to America and show the followers dancing in all kinds of weather (the editing in this scene is amazing).  The narrative often feels like a mere recitation of facts about Lee, complete with endless narration by Sister Mary (Thomasin McKenzie), and it moves quickly from event to event without a lot of in depth exploration.  I did not learn anything of substance about Lee or her movement.  Despite a tremendous performance from Seyfried, Lee is portrayed as a charismatic leader of a cult rather than a religious figure of importance and so much of what is perceived as miraculous about her ministry is debunked (especially her vision which is shown as a hallucination after days without food or water and her divine message about celibacy which is in response to years of sexual trauma). I did love the cinematography (particularly the overhead shots), the production design (the scenes of woodworking and furniture making, which also go on for too long, are very authentic), and the beautiful visuals that look like period paintings but I definitely didn't enjoy this as much as I was expecting.

See How They Run at CPT

I played Miss Skillon in See How They Run when I was in high school so I always love seeing a performance of this hilarious play. I went to a production at CPT last night with my sisters and it was so much fun and incredibly nostalgic. The action takes place in the vicarage of a village called Merton-cum-Middlewick during World War II. Clive (Dylan Padilla), an American soldier stationed in England, visits his old friend Penelope (Jordan Clark) who is now married to the Rev. Lionel Toop (Scott Butler). Ida (Jenni Cooper), her cockney maid who loves American movies, is flustered by his arrival but Miss Skillon (Holly Reid), a meddling spinster who is in love with Rev. Toop, is convinced that Penelope is having an affair with him.  Penelope suggests that Clive wear the Rev. Toop's second best suit and clerical collar so that they can dodge army regulations and see a play together.  Mayhem ensues when Miss Skillon sees something that she shouldn't and imbibes too much cooking sherry, when Penelope's sedate uncle the Bishop of Lax (Randon Jensen) arrives unexpectedly, when the mild-mannered Rev. Arthur Humphries  (David Johnson) arrives early for the service on Sunday, and when an escaped German POW (Blake London) attacks Rev. Toop in order to steal his clothes. The action is incredibly fast-paced and you almost can't catch your breath in between fits of laughter at the absurd goings-on! At one point, there are five men in clerical garb chasing each other through the garden and into the house and it is so funny when they jump over a prostrate Miss Skillon but it is even funnier when they continue to jump over her even when she is no longer there (I was always afraid that they wouldn't jump in time when I was the one laying on the floor). There are also some amusing scenes involving several characters who hide in a cupboard, including an inebriated Miss Skillon (these were my favorite scenes to play because I always tried to come up with funny poses to get the other actors to break character), multiple cases of mistaken identity, a misplaced uniform, and a bumbling inspector (Zar Hayes) who accidentally apprehends the German POW. The entire cast is outstanding and they do a great job with all of the madcap physical comedy.  Butler, Jensen, and Reid are especially fun to watch as their characters become more and more exasperated, outraged, and outrageous, respectively. I loved the elaborate set, especially the doors leading out to the garden with views of the church and the aforementioned cupboard, as well as the period costumes.  Seeing this show brought back so many wonderful memories (I am surprised by how many of Miss Skillon's lines I remembered) and I loved every minute! I highly recommend getting a ticket (go here) to a performance on the Mountain America Main Stage through February 26.

Send Help

Last night my nephew and I were able to see an early access screening of Send Help and I thought it was a lot of fun.  After Bradley Preston (Dylan O'Brien) takes over as CEO from his father, he gives the promotion meant for the socially awkward Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) to his less qualified fraternity brother Donovan (Xavier Samuel).  He treats her in a very demeaning and sexist way but takes her on an important trip to Thailand because he knows that she will do all of the work.  When their plane crashes in the middle of the ocean, they are the only survivors and are stranded on a seemingly deserted island.  Linda uses her superior survival skills to care for an injured Bradley and find food, water, and shelter but, when he becomes angry about the reversal in their roles and criticizes her for not finding a way off the island, she leaves him to fend for himself.  He suffers from exposure, hunger, and dehydration before he eventually apologizes for his behavior, both on the island and in the office, but this makes him even more determined to take control.  Who will survive?  This definitely features some gory horror elements, especially a scene involving a wild boar, but I loved all of the dark humor as two completely unhinged characters keep shifting the power dynamic between them.  I found it very riveting and I eagerly anticipated every increasingly sadistic thing that Bradley and Linda do to each other.  I couldn't wait to see who would ultimately survive (and I kept going back and forth about who I wanted to survive because of all the surprising twists and turns).  Both McAdams and O'Brien are fantastic because they fully commit to the madness but also have moments of vulnerability that give their characters added dimension and they have great chemistry.  I thoroughly enjoyed this wildly entertaining mix of the horror, comedy, and psychological thriller genres and recommend it to fans of Sam Raimi.

Mercy

Last night my nephew and I went to see Mercy and, while it is not a great movie, it is definitely not as bad as I thought it would be based on the reviews.  In a dystopian future where Los Angeles is overridden with violent crime, LAPD Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) is instrumental in creating the Mercy Capital Court where AI is used as judge, jury, and executioner for the worst offenders.  However, he is soon *ahem* at the mercy of his own creation when he is accused of killing his wife Nicole (Annabelle Wallis) and put on trial by AI Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson).  He is restrained and given 90 minutes to prove his innocence below a 92% guilt probability threshold or he will be executed on the spot.  He has access to the Ministry Cloud, which includes surveillance footage from all over the city and the social media accounts of every citizen, in order to prove his innocence.  He also has the opportunity to communicate with anyone able to provide evidence, including his daughter Britt (Kylie Rogers), his AA sponsor Rob Nelson (Chris Sullivan), and his partner Jacqueline "Jaq" Diallo (Kali Reis).  Will he be able to solve the mystery of his wife's death before time runs out?  I initially wanted to see this because it seemed like a cautionary tale about the dangers of giving AI too much power, which it is to a certain extent, but then this message becomes muddled in the third act and it really weakens the narrative.  Both Pratt and Ferguson give incredibly bland performances because they are both stuck in a static location and all we see are close-ups of their faces for most of the runtime (Pratt can be good but, in my opinion, his best performances involve physical comedy so this is beyond his abilities).  Having said that, I did enjoy the use of the screenlife genre in the storytelling (I am a fan of Missing, Profile, and Searching) because this footage adds immediacy and tension, especially the clock counting down in real time.  I found the mystery to be compelling, even though the investigation is extremely convenient in order to happen during the time limit imposed by the narrative, and I was fully engaged until the action becomes a bit unwieldy in the final moments.  I didn't hate this but it probably should have gone straight to streaming.

A Beautiful Noise at the Eccles

Last night I went to the Broadway touring production of A Beautiful Noise at the Eccles Theatre and, even though I am only a casual fan of Neil Diamond, I really loved it! This is a jukebox musical based on the life and music of Neil Diamond and it uses the framing device of having the present day Neil (Robert Westenberg), who has retired from performing, attend a therapy session at the behest of his wife. He struggles to talk about himself so his doctor (Lisa Renee Pitts) brings out her second-hand copy of The Complete Lyrics of Neil Diamond and has him react to some of his lyrics in order to get him to open up ("A Beautiful Noise"). His songs prompt him to relive key moments from his life as the younger Neil (Nick Fradiani) performs them, including his work as a songwriter for other artists ("I'm a Believer"), his early days as a performer ("Solitary Man" and "Cracklin' Rosie"), his battle with depression ("Song Sung Blue"), his guilt over an affair ("Cherry, Cherry" and "September Morn'"), the end of his first marriage ("Love on the Rocks"), the pressure for him to continue writing hits ("Hello" and "Sweet Caroline"), his life on the road ("Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show"), the price of fame on his relationships ("Play Me" and "Forever in Blue Jeans"), and the end of his second marriage ("You Don't Bring Me Flowers"). He is forced to reconcile the trauma of a lonely childhood as the son of immigrants ("Brooklyn Roads," "America," and "Shilo") and accept that his diagnosis with Parkinson's disease has ended his career ("I am...I  Said") before he is able to express gratitude for his extraordinary life ("Holly Holy"). I really enjoyed the structure because, just like with The Four Seasons in Jersey Boys, Diamond's music was informed by what was happening in his life at the time (both musicals were produced by Bob Gaudio) so it is very effective in driving the narrative forward. The music is amazing and elicited a lot of audience participation, particularly during "Sweet Caroline."  I love the songs "Love on the Rocks" and "Holly Holy" but I was surprised by how many other songs I remembered and I had to try really hard not to sing along. The staging is very clever because the ensemble performs as a group called The Noise who appear as background singers and dancers for the young Neil and as the noise inside the present day Neil's head. The way that both of the Neils interact with each other is very powerful, especially during a highly emotional performance of "I Am... I Said," and so is the interaction between Jaye (Tiffany Tatreau) and Marcia (Mary Page Nance) during "Forever in Blue Jeans" because it is as if the first wife is warning the second one about what will eventually happen. Fradiani is amazing in the lead role because, even though he sounds so much like Neil Diamond that it is almost uncanny, he is still able to differentiate his performance enough that it is not merely a rote impersonation. He has tremendous charisma as a performer and you cannot take your eyes off him during the big production numbers in Act II (the sequins may also have something to do with it) but I think his simple acoustic version of "Solitary Man" with just him on the guitar is even more compelling. This is a thoroughly entertaining show and a must-see for fans of Neil Diamond! There are five more performances at the Eccles Theatre (go here for tickets) and I highly recommend it.

Forever Plaid at The Ruth

Last night I went to see Forever Plaid at The Ruth and it is both heartwarming and incredibly entertaining.  On February 9, 1961, Smudge (Chase Petersen), Jinx (Andrew Walker), Sparky (Isaac Moss), and Frankie (Carter McEwan), the members of a four-part harmony group called Forever Plaid, are killed on their way to their very first paying gig at the Airport Hilton cocktail lounge.  However, they are given the opportunity to come back and perform the show they never got to do in life.  Their setlist is incredibly nostalgic (the older gentleman sitting next to me knew the words to every single song) and includes "Three Coins in the Fountain," "Gotta Be This or That," "Moments to Remember," "Crazy 'Bout Ya Baby," "No, Not Much," "Perfidia," "Cry," "Catch a Falling Star," "Heart and Soul," "Scotland the Brave," "Shangri-La," "Rags to Riches," and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing."  My favorite numbers were "Sixteen Tons" which is hilarious and "Lady of Spain" because they recreate all of the famous acts from the Ed Sullivan Show in three minutes (I laughed out loud when one of them pretends to be a seal balancing a ball on his nose).  I also really loved a medley of songs highlighting what they are able to perform at your private function (they even handed out business cards to members of the audience).  The four of them harmonize beautifully and their vocal performance is definitely the highlight of the show but, in between the musical numbers, there is a lot of funny banter about meeting in their high school's audio-visual club, practicing in the back room of a plumbing supply store, and dealing with their individual idiosyncrasies (the show is interrupted by a nose bleed at one point). The elaborate, and often amusing, choreography is a lot of fun to watch and I especially loved the use of plungers in "Crazy 'Bout Ya Baby" and Sparky's flamboyant kicks in "Perfidia."  The minimal set is dominated by light panels, in a checkerboard pattern on the floor and in circles of different sizes on the backdrop, which change color throughout the show (I loved the plaid pattern on the floor during "Scotland the Brave").  There is also a large platform for the piano (played by Anne Puzey) and bass (played by Mathieu Foley) as well as smaller ones used for solo performances.  The costumes include white dinner jackets during Act I and then they are ceremonially awarded the plaid tuxedos that they were to have worn during their original concert in Act II.  This is a feel-good show that is sure to put a smile on your face and I recommend getting a ticket (go here) to one of the performances in the Lindsay Legacy Theatre through March 28.

Note:  Forever Plaid was the first show I saw at the brand new Hale Theatre.

Peter Pan Goes Wrong at HCT

Last night I had my first theatre trip of 2026 to see Peter Pan Goes Wrong at HCT and I definitely picked a good show to start the year with because it is absolutely hilarious! The Cornley Drama Society is back and, this time, Chris (Roger Dunbar) is directing the family classic Peter Pan with a significantly larger budget due to a generous donation. He is also playing Mr. Darling and Captain Hook with Robert (Taylor Seth Hall) as Nana, the Shadow, and a Pirate, Max (Doug Wadley) as Michael Darling and the Crocodile, Sandra (Corinne Adair) as Wendy Darling, Dennis (Ethan Freestone) as John Darling, Annie (Jillian Joy) as Mrs. Darling, Liza the Maid, and Tinkerbell, Jonathan (Davey Morrison) as Peter Pan, Lucy (Ali Bennett) as the Lost Boy Tootles, and Francis (Alex B. King) as the Narrator. Trevor (Langi Tuifua) is back as a Stagehand and he is assisted by Gill (Chad Brown). Mayhem ensues because Chris gets flustered whenever Captain Hook is booed by the audience, Sandra and Jonathan are dating but Max (who was only cast because his uncle made the large donation) has a crush on her and wants to play Peter Pan so he can kiss her, Annie must play two characters in the same scene and doesn't have enough time to change costumes, Dennis can't remember his lines so he has them read to him through large headphones that beep when used, Lucy suffers from stage fright and must be forced on stage, and Trevor must go on as Peter Pan (with script in hand) when Jonathan is injured in a flying mishap. However, after everyone else is incapacitated, it is up to Lucy to finish the show! The entire cast is fantastic and they are brilliant with the physical comedy, especially when Peter Pan spins upside down while flying, when Wendy, John, and Michael have to pretend to fly, when the Shadow's costume catches fire and Gill has to extinguish it, when Nana gets stuck in the doggy door, when Tinkerbell is electrocuted by her light-up costume (which requires an extension cord), when Lucy is injured by a falling tree, and when the Narrator's chair malfunctions. My favorite performances were from Wadley because his facial expressions are so fun to watch, especially when Max's crush on Sandra is accidentally revealed by a hot mic backstage, and from Freestone because his monotone delivery is a hoot when he repeats all of the stage directions (and other miscellaneous comments said by his prompter backstage) along with his lines. The set is so good because it falls apart so spectacularly, most notably the bunk beds that collapse while the children are in them, the pirate ship that rocks back and forth, and the turntable that spins out of control while the cast holds on for dear life! I don't think I stopped laughing all night and I can't think of a better show to see to get rid of the winter blues (go here for tickets). It runs on the Sorenson Legacy Jewel Box Stage through May 9.

Note:  I would also highly recommend Frozen which continues on the Young Living Centre Stage through February 14 (go here for tickets).

Utah Opera's Fidelio

Last night I went to Utah Opera's production of Fidelio by Ludwig van Beethoven at Capitol Theatre.  I always get a bit apprehensive when I see that a classic opera has been "reimagined" but the changes are absolutely brilliant and I really loved it.  Florestan (Thomas Kinch) is an innocent man unjustly held in a dungeon by the tyrannical prison commandant Don Pizarro (Zachary Nelson) as revenge for speaking out against him.  Florestan's wife Leonore (Wendy Bryn Harmer) is determined to save him and disguises herself as a man named Fidelio in order to gain the trust of the warden Rocco (Raymond Aceto) and thereby gain access to the prison.  Pizarro orders Rocco to kill Florestan but he refuses and, when he is forced to do it himself, Fidelio intervenes and denounces him to Don Fernando (Rodney Sharp II), a government minister who arrives to investigate allegations of abuse.  Fidelio reveals her true identity and Fernando has her remove Florestan's chains to show that love and courage overcome tyranny and oppression.  This powerful theme, which is incredibly relevant today, is further enhanced by the addition of a new character, the Oracle (Sharlene Wells), who periodically appears on stage in white billowing robes to recite quotes by 20th century authors and activists, such as Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Lao Tzu, John Steinbeck, Martin Niemoller, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, J.R.R. Tolkien, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Viktor Frankl, in order to inspire the characters.  I loved all of these quotes (and so did the audience because most of them elicited applause) but I had goosebumps when the Oracle recites "Dirge Without Music" by Edna St. Vincent Millay (my new rallying cry is, "But I do not approve.  And I am not resigned.").  Beethoven's music is beautiful and the performances are incredibly moving.  I especially loved Harmer's rich and emotive soprano voice and her performances of the famous arias "Komm, Hoffnung, lass den letzten Stern" (Come, Hope, let the last star) and "Abscheulicher! Wo ist nur der Gatte?" (Abhorred! Where is my husband?) are full of resolve and determination as Leonore searches for Florestan.  My favorite moment came at the beginning of Act II when Kinch, who has beautiful tenor voice full of pathos, sings the aria "Gott! Welch Dunkel hier!" (God! What darkness here!) contrasting the darkness of the dungeon where he is imprisoned with a vision of Leonore which gives him hope.  The opening note begins hesitantly then grows in strength and it put a tear in my eye!  I also loved "O welche Lust!" (O what delight!) sung by a chorus of prisoners after Leonore (Fidelio) convinces Rocco to let them outside to see the sun and they dream of freedom.  The set is minimalistic and the costumes are drab but I loved the dramatic projections, especially a sinister symbol that is projected on the prison walls (and repeated on the guard uniforms) and the recurring motif of roses as a representation of love.  I honestly cannot say enough about this production (it is now one of my favorites) and I highly encourage you to get a ticket (go here).  There are three more performances (January 21, 23 and 25) at Capitol Theatre.

Dead Man's Wire

I thought the trailer for Dead Man's Wire, which is based on a true story, looked really intriguing so I went to see it last night and enjoyed it even more than I was expecting.  Tony Kiritsis (Bill Skarsgard) is a would-be Indianapolis real estate developer in 1977 who blames all of his financial woes on the Meridian Mortgage company.  He arrives at their office to confront the president M.L. Hall (Al Pacino) but, because he is on vacation in Florida, Tony abducts his son Richard (Dacre Montgomery), instead.  Tony uses a "dead man's wire" to bind Richard and himself to the trigger of a shotgun so that Richard will be killed instantly if anything happens to him.  He alleges that Meridian sabotaged his plan for turning his property into a shopping center by discouraging potential tenants from leasing from him so he demands $5 million for lost revenue, immunity from prosecution, and a public apology from M.L. Hall for his actions (which he callously refuses to do despite the threat to his son).  Detective Michael Grable (Cary Elwes), one of Tony's drinking buddies, attempts to negotiate but tensions escalate and Richard is kept hostage in Tony's apartment for three days.  However, Linda Page (Myha'la), a local TV reporter who happens to be in the right place at the right time, and Fred Temple (Colman Domingo), a popular morning DJ, both broadcast sympathetic portrayals of Tony which turn him into a folk hero and this leads to an outcome that I found quite surprising (and strangely satisfying).  This is very thought-provoking, incredibly entertaining, and surprisingly funny (a scene involving a flow chart on a chalkboard by an FBI profiler made me laugh out loud).  All of the performances are outstanding, particularly Skarsgard, who is absolutely brilliant as an ordinary man who has been pushed too far by a greedy company, and Domingo, who has such a velvety smooth voice that he could actually be a DJ.  I loved the cinematography in the style of a gritty 1970s crime thriller, especially Linda's TV footage and the black and white crime scene photographs, as well as the immersive production design and costumes.  Finally, all of the 1970s needle drops are a lot of fun (my favorite is "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron).  I really dug this and highly recommend it.

The Hunger Games Marathon

Yesterday I spent the entire day at the Megaplex for another movie marathon.  This time it was for The Hunger Games and it was so much fun!  I really love the books and movies in this series because I think Katniss Everdeen's hero's journey and Coriolanus Snow's radicalization are very compelling.  In The Hunger Games, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) is thrust into the spotlight when she volunteers as tribute from the impoverished District 12 to save her sister Primrose (Willow Shields) when she is selected at the reaping.  Her survival skills in the game help her become the victor but an act of defiance with Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson), the other tribute from District 12, sparks unrest and angers President Coriolanus Snow (Donald Sutherland).  In Catching Fire, Katniss is used as a pawn by the Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the District 12 Mentor Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), and the Victors Beetee Latier (Jeffrey Wright), Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), and Johanna Mason (Jena Malone) in their plot against Snow during the Quarter Quell. In Mockingjay Part 1, Katniss is uneasy about her role as the symbol of the rebellion and reluctantly participates in the propaganda used to unite the districts but, in Mockingjay Part 2, she finally accepts her role and fights to end the tyranny of both President Snow and President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore).  In The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, a young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) is traumatized by the fact that his once powerful family has sunk into poverty and obscurity.  He sees a chance for advancement by becoming a mentor to Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the tribute from District 12, but he is forced to resort to deception, manipulation, fear, and ruthlessness in order to secure her victory and ultimately betrays her and his friend Sejanus Plinth (Josh Rivera) to restore his family to prosperity.  I watch these movies all of the time but I am so glad that I got to see them on the big screen again because the visuals are so vivid.  I love the worldbuilding, production design, and costumes, especially those worn by Katniss during the tribute parades and interviews with Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) as well as all of those worn by Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks).  I love all of the action sequences in the arena, particularly the cornucopia bloodbath in Catching Fire because the changing aspect ratio is so dynamic, and during the Battle for the Capitol in Mockingjay Part 2 because it is so tense.  Finally, I love the performances because I think every actor perfectly embodies their character (I was not happy when Woody Harrelson and Lenny Kravitz were cast but now I can't imagine anyone else as Haymitch and Cinna, respectively).  The large crowd was a lot of fun and, even though I didn't see anyone dressed up, they were very enthusiastic and I enjoyed interacting with everyone seated around me (which is very unusual for me).  Megaplex has several more movie marathons scheduled this year, including ones for Pirates of the Caribbean in February, Jurassic Park in April, and Harry Potter in August, and I highly recommend the experience.

Now:  I am now even more excited for the movie adaptation of Sunrise on the Reaping.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

I was incredibly hyped to see 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple with my nephew yesterday and, unbelievably, it lived up to my expectations!  After leaving the relative security of the island, Spike (Alfie Williams) is coerced into joining a Satanic gang led by the charismatic, but psychotic, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell) as they terrorize the survivors they encounter.  Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) continues memorializing victims of those infected by the rage virus in his ossuary known as the Bone Temple.  When Kelson encounters the Alpha leader of the infected, who he has nicknamed Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) for his strength, he sedates him with a morphine dart from a blowgun which makes him docile enough to interact with.  Samson becomes addicted to the morphine and their growing connection allows Kelson to study him and realize that the rage virus might be cured.  He administers anti-psychotics to him but this experiment is interrupted when Kelly (Erin Kellyman), a member of Jimmy's gang, observes Kelson and mistakenly believes that he is Satan.  In order to keep control, Jimmy threatens Kelson into portraying Satan for his gang which results in an epic confrontation between the two of them.  This installment in the franchise is wild, chaotic, and incredibly gory (which is what I was expecting from the more meditative 28 Years Later) but it is also surprisingly emotional.  I loved the unusual friendship that develops between Kelson and Samson and I was particularly struck by the juxtaposition between Jimmy's psychosis and Samson's because this brilliantly expands on the theme that humanity is capable of savagery even without the virus.  Fiennes gives an absolutely fearless performance and one scene in particular (accompanied by Iron Maiden's "The Number of the Beast") must be seen on the big screen (trust me on this).  O'Connell is also an incredibly compelling villain and his scenes with Fiennes crackle with energy.  I loved this and I am now even more excited for the next movie in the trilogy!

Note:  The needle drops are fantastic!  In addition to his use of the aforementioned song by Iron Maiden, Kelson seems to be a big fan of Duran Duran!

The Choral

Last night my nephew and I went to see The Choral and it should come as no surprise to anyone that I thoroughly enjoyed a British period drama (my favorite genre of movie) set during World War I (a historical period that fascinates me) about the power of art to heal (one of my favorite themes) starring Ralph Fiennes (one of my favorite actors).  Bernard Duxbury (Roger Allam), an alderman in the Yorkshire town of Ramsden, hopes to revive the Choral Society but many of their members, including their choirmaster, are now at the front.  The committee reluctantly appoints Dr. Henry Guthrie (Fiennes), despite his unpatriotic love of German composers, as the new choirmaster, opens membership to anyone willing to sing no matter their social class, and decides to perform The Dream of Gerontius by Edward Elgar (Simon Russell Beale).  Complications ensue but, when Elgar objects to the changes made to his composition in order to include a wounded soldier who has recently returned home, they lose hope.  However, it is the power of the music that ultimately overcomes all obstacles.  This is a slow and gentle movie (my nephew likened to something that would be shown on PBS) but it is ultimately very heartwarming with an incredibly poignant final scene that mirrors the theme of Elgar's oratorio.  I loved how the impact of the war on everyone in the town is portrayed and I was especially struck by two different scenes at the train station in which soldiers go off to war with much fanfare and cheering followed by the more somber arrival of soldiers coming home with devastating injuries.  I also loved a montage showing the various members of the choral society practicing in different locations around town because it shows the unifying influence of the music.  Fiennes gives an incredible performance because he is able to show so many conflicting emotions on his face at the same time, particularly a scene where he simultaneously receives permission from Elgar and news of the probable death of his lover, and I also really enjoyed Amara Okerete as a Salvation Army volunteer who performs a solo because her voice is so angelic (all of the scenes featuring music are outstanding).  Finally, the production design is absolutely beautiful and the costumes are very authentic.  I loved this and recommend it to fans of period dramas.

Is This Thing On?

Last night I went to the Broadway to see Is This Thing On? and, even though it is very predictable, there was enough humor and pathos to keep me invested.  Alex Novak (Will Arnett) is a middle-aged man who has recently separated from his wife Tess (Laura Dern) after years of growing apart and is now struggling with how to co-parent his sons Felix (Blake Kane) and Jude (Calvin Knegten) and maintain relationships with the couple's shared friends Balls (Bradley Cooper), Christine (Andra Day), Stephen (Sean Hayes), and Geoffrey (Scott Icenogle).  After an especially tense evening with Tess and their friends, he decides to get a drink but, when he doesn't have the money to pay the cover charge at a comedy club, he puts his name down for open mic night in order to get in free.  He uses his divorce as inspiration for his routine and, because he gets a few laughs, he soon has the confidence to perform regularly and finds catharsis and a new lease on life.  Meanwhile, Tess begins coaching volleyball after retiring from playing on the national team years ago to have a family.  Complications ensue when Alex and Tess start to see each other in a different light after years of taking each other for granted.  I enjoyed the dynamic handheld camerawork, particularly during the comedy routines, and the naturalistic sound design, especially in a scene at a birthday party between Alex and Balls, because they really add to the authenticity of the narrative.  The performances from both Arnett and Dern are incredibly poignant and I loved their interactions as a couple who have lost themselves but somehow find their way back to each other (they have tremendous chemistry) because they feel so honest.  I also loved Cooper as the goofy best friend because he is a perfect foil to Arnett.  Finally, I found this to be very heartwarming but it is also quite funny, especially when Alex and Tess try to hide that they are breaking up from their friends in an early scene and then conceal that they are back together in a later one.  I enjoyed this charming take on navigating a divorce and would definitely recommend it.

Note:  When I first saw the trailer, the plot reminded me of how the comedian John Bishop got his start (which I heard him talk about on The Graham Norton Show).  It turns out that the character of Alex is loosely based on his experiences and that he is also an executive producer.

Father Mother Sister Brother

I am a huge fan of Jim Jarmusch as a director and Adam Driver as an actor (their first collaboration, Paterson, is one of my very favorite comfort watches) so I was excited to see Father Mother Sister Brother at the Broadway with my nephew last night.  I thoroughly enjoyed this gentle exploration of complicated family relationships.  Siblings Jeff (Driver) and Emily (Mayim Bialik) travel to visit their eccentric and reclusive father (Tom Waits) because they believe he is lonely and are worried about how he is supporting himself after the death of their mother.  It is revealed that Jeff has been secretly helping his father financially, perhaps to the detriment of his own marriage which is now over, but his father's situation may not be what it seems.  Sisters Timothea (Cate Blanchett) and Lileth (Vicky Krieps) arrive for their annual visit to have afternoon tea with their mother (Charlotte Rampling).  Their interactions, which appear overly polite and genteel on the surface, are fraught with tension because they are all hiding the true circumstances of their lives.  Twins Skye (Indya Moore) and Billy (Luka Sabbat) reunite after the mysterious death of their parents to go though their apartment and are surprised by some of their belongings.  All three narratives in this anthology have a similar theme about loving a family member without really knowing them but there are also quite a few recurring motifs that connect them (I was especially struck by all of the long awkward silences because I think that this is something most people have experienced with family members).  Jarmusch is known for his observational storytelling and this might be his most subtle (and most affecting) film yet.  I particularly loved the changing landscape outside of father's window, the overhead views of mother's flawless tea table, and the use of mirrors in the twins's apartment because these perfectly composed shots show the audience, rather than tell them, that things are not necessarily how they appear.  I also loved all of the performances because every actor uses minute changes in body language and facial expressions to convey what their character is feeling instead of dialogue and I found this to be riveting (Blanchett is absolutely heartbreaking when Timothea tries to compose herself in a bathroom mirror).  This might not be for everyone but I loved it and recommend it to fans of the director.

Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 1 & Mozart with Awadagin Pratt

My favorite composers are Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Mozart so I was thrilled to attend a Utah Symphony concert featuring all three of them last night.  The orchestra, under the baton of newly appointed Principal Guest Conductor Delyana Lazarova, began with Fantasy for Orchestra "The Rock" by Sergei Rachmaninoff.  This is a tone poem based on the short story "Along the Way" by Anton Chekhov which tells of a chance meeting between a young girl and a troubled older man who have both stopped at an inn seeking refuge from a winter storm.  The man spends the evening recounting stories from his life which reveal all of his regrets and the young girl pities him but, when the morning comes, she continues on her journey leaving him standing in the snow staring after her.  I loved the ominous motif played by the lower strings to introduce the old man, the light and airy melody played by the flute to represent the young girl, and the melancholy march played by the brass to depict the old man's sobs of desperation as she leaves him.  Next, the orchestra was joined by Awadagin Pratt for Piano Concerto No. 23 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  Pratt was very charismatic and entertaining the last time he appeared with the Utah Symphony so I was looking forward to seeing him again.  He is very creative and agile so I enjoyed watching his fingers fly up and down the keyboard, especially during the third movement.  This piece, like most of Mozart's work, is incredibly beautiful and lyrical but I particularly love the second movement because it is much more poignant with almost mournful themes played by the piano along with the clarinet, flute, and bassoon.  After the intermission, the concert concluded with Symphony No. 1 "Winter Daydreams" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.  I had never heard this piece before but, to me, it was quintessentially Russian and I loved the inclusion of folk songs.  The first movement evokes a sleigh ride through the snow and I really enjoyed the melody played by the flute and bassoon which is then further developed by the clarinet (in my mind I could see the horses galloping as I listened).  The second movement calls to mind the vast loneliness of the countryside and I loved the stately theme played by the horns.  The third movement is playful and unpredictable (the timpani near the end was my favorite) while the final movement is almost triumphant after a somber melody played by the bassoons is followed by boisterous themes played by the entire orchestra and a dazzling conclusion featuring timpani, cymbals, and brass!  I feel like this concert was programmed just for me with all of my favorite composers (it was just missing Sibelius!) and I loved every minute!  I highly recommend getting a ticket to tonight's performance (go here).

No Other Choice

Last night my nephew and I saw No Other Choice at the Broadway and we both loved this hilarious dark comedy!  Yoo Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) is living an affluent lifestyle with his wife Lee Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), teenage son Yoo Si-won (Kim Woo-seung), and neurodivergent daughter Yoo Ri-won (Choi So-yul) until he is fired from his job at Solar Paper after an American company buys it out.  He assures his wife that he will find another job within three months but after more than a year of unemployment she gets a job as a dental hygienist and the family is forced to cut back on all of their activities, including cello lessons for their daughter who is considered a prodigy, put their house on the market, and re-home their two beloved dogs.  Man-su finally gets an interview with Moon Paper but he is devastated when the job is given to Choi Seon-chul (Park Hee-soon) so he attempts to kill him.  However, when he realizes that the job might not go to him even if Seon-chul is removed, Man-su forms an ingenious plan to find all of the other more qualified candidates and plots to kill them, as well.  Absolute mayhem ensues but Man-su believes that he has no other choice.  I laughed out loud at all of Man-su's bumbling attempts to get rid of the competition, especially a long drawn-out sequence with his rival Goo Beom-mo (Lee Sung-min), but it is even more compelling to watch him get better and better at it.  I absolutely loved Lee Byung-hun's brilliant performance because he nails the physical comedy but he also imbues the character with a desperation that is palpable.  I also enjoyed Kim Woo-seung's multilayered performance, especially the moving scene in which she comes to the conclusion that her husband had no other choice but to do what he did.  As funny as this is, it is also a biting satire condemning corporations for discarding loyal workers, particularly in favor of automation, in the pursuit of a better bottom line and I found the commentary on late stage capitalism to be very thought-provoking.  Finally, the color palette, the dynamic camerawork, and intriguing transitions between scenes make this a visually striking movie.  I highly recommend it!

We Bury the Dead

I am a big fan of Daisy Ridley so I was excited to see her new movie We Bury the Dead last night.  While it does have some unsettling sequences involving zombies, I really liked the exploration of grief and things left unresolved when a loved one dies even more.  After a catastrophic military experiment conducted by the U.S. leaves the entire population of Tasmania dead in an instant, volunteers are needed to help retrieve and bury all of the bodies.  There are rumors that some of the dead are waking up so Ava (Ridley) volunteers hoping to find her husband Mitch (Matt Whelan), who was on a work retreat at a resort on the southern tip of the island, because they parted on bad terms.  She enlists the help of Clay (Brenton Thwaites), another member of the body retrieval team, and has a sinister encounter with Riley (Mark Coles Smith), an officer in the Australian Army, as she makes the dangerous journey to the resort while flashbacks detail her deteriorating relationship with Mitch.  She eventually finds Mitch's body but realizes that she must make peace with herself rather than with him.  This is a new and interesting take on the zombie genre because the ones who wake up are those who have unfinished business and I especially loved a scene in which a father wakes up in order to bury his family.  It is a meditative character study rather than an action thriller but the design of the zombies is incredibly unnerving, especially the disconcerting sounds they make as they become reanimated, and there are some tense moments when Ava encounters several of the zombies (as well as some moving moments with a few of them).  Ridley gives a haunting performance (she is often the only one on screen) because she is able to effectively convey so many different emotions with just a nuanced change in expression.  There are a few odd tonal shifts throughout but I enjoyed this and definitely recommend seeking it out (it seems to be flying under the radar because I could only find one theater screening it near me).

Note:  It seems like all of the best post-apocalyptic movies are set in Australia (especially the Mad Max franchise).

Marty Supreme

There has been so much hype for Marty Supreme but I did not share everyone's enthusiasm for it.  I reluctantly agreed to see it last night at the Broadway with my nephew (who did share everyone's enthusiasm) and I was very surprised by how much I liked it.  Marty Mauser (Timothee Chalamet) is a fast-talking hustler who wants to be the world's best table tennis player even though the U.S. does not support the sport and he must resort to performing half-time shows for the Harlem Globetrotters with the reigning champion Bela Kletzki (Geza Rohrig).  He finds a way to get to a competition in London where he easily defeats Bela but is humiliated by Koto Endo (Koto Kawaguchi), a player from Japan, in the finals and incurs a fine from the International Table Tennis Association for running up a bill at the Ritz Hotel.  Back home, he is desperate to get the money to pay his fine and get to Tokyo for the World Championships and a chance at a rematch with Endo.  However, he has a series of misadventures with his uncle Murray (Larry "Ratso" Sloman), his childhood friend Rachel (Odessa A'zion), Rachel's husband Ira (Emory Cohen), his friend Wally (Tyler, the Creator), a mobster (Abel Ferrara) and his dog, a homicidal farmer (Penn Gillette), a would-be business partner (Luke Manley), a retired actress hoping to make a comeback (Gwyneth Paltrow), and her businessman husband (Kevin O'Leary).  Marty eventually makes it to Tokyo but he finally learns what is most important.  I was hesitant to see this because I found the character to be very abrasive in the trailers but I actually really enjoyed Marty's arc.  I also didn't think table tennis would be a very compelling subject but, even though it does feature in the narrative, most of the movie involves all of the increasingly absurd situations Marty finds himself in as he tries to get the money he needs and the action moves at a frenetic pace (I was never bored during the long runtime).  Chalamet has been getting a lot of attention for his performance and, while he does do a great job disappearing into the role, I don't think it is the best one this year (Michael B. Jordan is much more impressive in Sinners) nor do I think it is even his best (he blew me away in Dune: Part Two).  I liked this a lot more than I thought I would but I definitely prefer both Good Time and Uncut Gems (they are similar to this but the stakes are much higher for the characters) from the Safdie brothers.

Note:  This is set in the 1950s and features meticulous period verisimilitude in the production design and costumes so I found all of the 1980s music to be a strange choice.

2025 Year in Review

This year I had some really amazing experiences, most of which happened spontaneously!  I was able to take several really fun road trips including ones with both of my sisters and to see some epic concerts in Las Vegas, to spend time camping with my family and by myself, and to attend lots of theatre and sporting events with friends.  I am so grateful to have had so many opportunities to do the things I love this year and it was so much fun to look back on them!  Here are some of my favorite moments of 2025.

Sundance Film Festival

2025 Star Awards

Jazz vs. Pelicans

Les Miserables at the Eccles

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in Los Angeles

Jazz vs. Celtics

Utah Hockey Club vs. Calgary Flames

Life of Pi at the Eccles

Wicked at the Eccles

Memorial Day Weekend at Lava Hot Springs

& Juliet at the Eccles

Utah Shakespeare Festival

Fourth of July Weekend at the Property

Lady Gaga in Las Vegas

Devils Tower

Mount Rushmore

Wall Drug

Custer State Park

Solo Camping Trip

Some Like It Hot at the Eccles

Paul McCartney (sigh) in Las Vegas

Jazz vs. Clippers

Suffs at the Eccles

Wicked Double Feature

Jazz vs. Thunder

I hope to continue doing the things I love with my family and friends in 2026 and my goal is to be even more open to spontaneous opportunities.  Happy New Year!

Favorite Movies of 2025

I was able to see 160 new releases in the theater in 2025 (which is definitely a record for me) and a lot of them were with my nephew who has become a great movie buddy!  Despite the fact that it has been a lackluster year for movies, in my opinion, I still found it very difficult to rank the top five on my annual list of favorites (the top three are pretty much interchangeable at this point) and I had to choose the next five from a list of twenty that could have been included.  As always, my list is very eclectic because I base it on how much I enjoyed watching each movie rather than on the critical response or box office performance.  So, without further ado, here are the movies I loved in 2025 (click the title to read my original commentary).

10.  Nuremberg

One of the most powerful movies I saw this year was Nuremberg.  It takes place during the trial of the former Nazi high command with a focus on the relationship that develops between military psychologist Douglas Kelley, played by Rami Malek, and Hermann Goring, played by Russell Crowe, when the former is tasked with determining if the latter is fit to stand trial.  It is absolutely riveting with brilliant performances from Malek and Crowe, particularly when their characters interact with each other because they each think that they are manipulating the other.  The rest of the cast is also outstanding, especially Michael Shannon when his character interrogates Goring on the stand, Leo Woodall when his character tries to convince Kelley to use confidential information to convict Goring, and John Slattery whenever his character berates Kelley for his lapses in military protocol (he is the source of much comic relief).  I loved the verisimilitude in the production design, especially in the recreation of the courtroom, and in the costumes because Goring is known for wearing light blue military uniforms of his own design.  This is thrilling and entertaining but it is also an important movie for everyone to see right now.

9.  Bugonia

I am a huge fan of Yorgos Lanthimos and I really loved his latest black comedy Bugonia.  It is a wild ride in which a conspiracy theorist, played by Jesse Plemons, kidnaps the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, played by Emma Stone, because he thinks that she is an alien intent on destroying the environment.  Plemons and Stone give phenomenal performances because he imbues his character with a sadness that makes him sympathetic despite the fact that what he is doing is wrong and she portrays her character as cold, arrogant, and unethical yet you also sympathize with her because of her mistreatment.  This movie is at its best when the two of them interact, especially a conversation they have about bees, because they are both absolutely convinced that that their version of the truth is correct in an age when it has become increasingly difficult to ascertain the truth.  There are many other thought-provoking themes to unpack, such as environmentalism, capitalism, and trauma, but I think the message about misinformation is the most powerful.  It is totally bonkers by the time it gets to the third act but it is definitely a movie that I am still thinking about!

8.  Sentimental Value

The movie Sentimental Value is a brilliant exploration of the power of art to heal, one of my favorite themes.  It features compelling performances from Stellan Skarsgard and Renate Reinsve (one of her best) as a father and daughter who reconcile after many years of estrangement when Gustav, a celebrated director, writes a screenplay that is ostensibly about his mother but is actually based on Nora, a TV and stage actress, as a way to show her that he has always been a part of her life even when he was absent.  I particularly loved the scene in which Gustav first offers Nora the role because there is so much raw emotion simmering under the surface during their seemingly polite conversation (is so riveting) as well as the juxtaposition between the way Nora and a Hollywood actress (Elle Fanning) read from the script because it is shows that it was obviously written for Nora.  I also loved the use of the house in which both Gustav and Nora grew up as a metaphor for all of the memories that keep them trapped in a dysfunctional relationship, especially when it is remodeled to represent the possibility of a fresh start.  I found this to be incredibly moving and I really loved it.

7.  It Was Just An Accident

It Was Just An Accident is one of the most thought-provoking movies I saw this year!  Vahid (Vahid Mobasseri) hears the distinct sound of a prosthetic leg and recognizes the man as the sadistic guard who tormented him while he was blindfolded in an Iranian prison.  He kidnaps him but, because he needs to be sure that he has the right man before he can bring himself to kill him, he enlists several other prisoners for confirmation.  The man is eventually identified as the guard but they argue over what to do with him leading to a bit of comic relief before an intense confrontation that gave me chills.  Writer/Director Jafar Panahi was himself once a political prisoner who was mistreated by his captors and you can definitely feel the weight of his own moral dilemma about justice and revenge through the disparate reactions of his characters.  I laughed out loud multiple times at the absurdity of the situation but I was blown away by the aforementioned powerful ending.  All of the performances are incredibly compelling but I was particularly struck by Mariam Afshari's rage-filled monologue as a woman who wants nothing more than to move on with her life after a traumatic experience but slowly realizes that she can't.  I think this movie is brilliant and definitely worthy of the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year!

6.  Wicked: For Good

Seeing Wicked: For Good was so much fun!  I really love the stage musical and, after seeing Elphaba become the Wicked Witch of the West in order to fulfill her destiny in the first movie, I really enjoyed seeing Glinda's journey to become Glinda the Good in this one.  Ariana Grande gives a stellar performance with both her acting and her singing, especially in the songs "I Couldn't Be Happier," "I'm Not That Girl (Reprise)," and "For Good" (the scene that follows this song brought me to tears), and I think she will be in strong contention for all of the Best Supporting Actress awards this season.  Cynthia Erivo's rendition of "No Good Deed" is absolutely amazing, Jonathan Bailey's portrayal of Fiyero's inner conflict is very affecting (his duet of "As Long As You're Mine" with Erivo is one of my favorite scenes in the movie), and, even though her singing is not great, Michelle Yeoh is fun to watch as the villain Madame Morrible.  It is not quite the spectacle the first movie is (there are not as many big choreographed numbers) but I loved the theme of friendship, the expanded world-building (especially Elphaba's tree house hideaway), the production design, and the costumes (particularly Glinda's bubble dress).  I was nervous about dividing the narrative into two movies but this exceeded all of my expectations!

5.  Sorry, Baby

I really liked quite a few of the movies I saw at Sundance this year but if I had to pick a favorite it would definitely be Sorry, Baby.  It is a meditative, but often very funny, character study about how Agnes survives a traumatic experience and I found the non-linear timeline to be incredibly compelling because the audience sees the effect before the cause.  It is a stunning debut for Eva Victor (who wrote, directed, and starred) and I was particularly impressed by a powerful scene which features a long tracking shot following Agnes walking to her professor's house, then a static shot of the house showing the passage of time, followed by another tracking shot of Agnes leaving the house and walking back to her car.  Both the direction and the performance are brilliant because you can see that something devastating has happened by just the change in body language alone.  I also loved a powerful monologue about living in a world where bad things happen (it is such a turning point) and the juxtaposition between Agnes and her best friend Lydie (Naomi Ackie).  I loved this movie and have not been able to stop thinking about it!

4.  One Battle After Another

There was a lot of hype surrounding the release of One Battle After Another and, fortunately, it was all real!  It is an incredible spectacle with lots of twists and turns that kept me completely engaged and fantastic action set pieces that kept me on the edge of my seat, especially a suspenseful chase sequence involving three cars on an undulating road in the desert because you never know where the cars are in relation to each other.  It also kept me laughing out loud, particularly the hilarious interactions between Leonardo DiCaprio, as a former revolutionary on the run, and Benicio del Toro, as his daughter's karate sensei.  As funny as this is, the relationship between DiCaprio's character and his teenage daughter, played by Chase Infiniti, is really touching and the message about fighting for social justice is very powerful.  DiCaprio is always great and Sean Penn really leans into his character's villainy in one of his best performances but I was especially impressed with Infiniti because she delivers on both the emotion and physicality of the role.  This is one of Paul Thomas Anderson's most entertaining (and accessible) movies and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

3.  Hamnet

My favorite play by William Shakespeare is Hamlet (I loved teaching it to my British literature students) so I was incredibly eager to see Hamnet, a fictionalized version of how he came to write his most famous play.  To say that I loved it would be an understatement!  As previously mentioned, the power of art to heal is a favorite theme of mine and I had so many tears in my eyes by the end of this movie!  Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley give amazing performances, especially in the scenes where Will processes his grief over his son Hamnet's death by writing and rehearsing the play and the scene where Agnes finds understanding during the performance of it (I love how the communal experience of seeing a play is portrayed).  The decision to have two brothers play Hamnet and Hamlet on stage (Jacobi and Noah Jupe, respectively) is absolutely brilliant and I think Jacobi gives one of the best performances I have ever seen from a child.  The visuals, featuring bucolic locations, are gorgeous and the score by Max Richter is incredibly moving.  I loved everything about this movie and, now that I have read the book by Maggie O'Farrell, I think it is a lovely adaptation.

2.  Sinners

I was absolutely blown away by the movie Sinners and seeing it was an incredible experience that I still think about.  I particularly loved the slow build-up in the narrative because you really get to know all of the characters and what they have experienced as marginalized people in America, particularly the oppression of Black people in the south during the Jim Crow era.  I loved the use of vampires as a metaphor for assimilation and the juxtaposition between the threat from them and from the KKK is incredibly thought-provoking.  I also really loved the way that music is portrayed as a way to connect the stories from generations in the past to those in the future, particularly a blues performance of "I Lied to You" by Miles Caton that was shot in one take and an Irish jig called "Rocky Road to Dublin" performed by Jack O'Connell (both gave me goosebumps).  In addition to those two performances, I was incredibly impressed by Michael B. Jordan in a dual role as Elijah "Smoke" and Elias "Stack" Moore because each brother is very distinct.  The cinematography, costume design, production design, sound design (especially the memory of a lynching), and score are incredibly immersive and it is one of the most thematically rich movies I have ever seen.

1.  Frankenstein

I love the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelly (I also loved teaching this to my British literature students) so Guellermo del Toro's adaptation was one of my most anticipated movies of 2025.  It definitely did not disappoint!  It is a bold retelling and, even though I am usually a purist when it comes to adaptations of literature, I think the changes from the novel add to the narrative rather than detract from it and I especially loved the more sympathetic depiction of the Creature.  I was impressed by the performances from Oscar Isaac as Frankenstein because his portrayal of a man consumed by obsession is extremely compelling and by Mia Goth as Elizabeth because she is very effective as the moral compass of the story but I was absolutely blown away by Jacob Elordi as the Creature.  I loved his physicality as a being with an imposing stature but the development of a newborn as well as his haunting portrayal of both innocence and rage.  I also really enjoyed all of the Gothic elements used in the production design and the Baroque-inspired score by Alexandre Desplat.  I have always loved this story but I found the movie to be especially moving and I absolutely loved it!

Honorable Mentions: The Phoenician Scheme, F1, Black Bag, Eddington, and The Ballad of Wallis Island.