NEW YORK MOVIE JOURNAL (Mar. 1-Apr. 2, 2018)

[Chris Knipp]

LOVE AFTER LOVE (Russell Harbaugh 2017). Cassavetes, Pialat, and Hou Hsiau-hsien have been cited as influences for this intense improvisational drama with an accomplished package (camera, edit, score), vivid and fine lead performances by Andie MacDowell, Chris O'Dowd and James Adomian. They are a mother and two sons who cope with the death of the father, evidently to lung cancer. She soon finds a suitable single father but Nick (O'Dowd), busy dumping a longtime gf and hitching with a new young one, is almost incestuously competitive and memorably obnoxious; meanwhile Chris (Adomian), a failed but nonetheless (in one routine we see) revealing stand-up comic, takes pathetic and embarrassing refuge in drunkenness. The dad dies with noisy wheezing, and then the naked sex scenes with noisy screwing take over the busy soundtrack that accompanies the vivid film-shot images. And there are two party sequences of high embarrassment. I hated a lot of this. But those who hail Harbaugh as a distinctive new indie voice (this debuted at Tribeca last year) and its organization as clear and elegant, may not be far wrong. In some ways it's too schematic. But it strives successfully at shocking and surprising with scenes and transitions. And blessedly, it's not overlong (91 mins.). Considered MacDowell's best work in years, or ever since sex, lies and videotape; but O'Dowd leaves the stronger impression. Watched at the film's theatrical debut location IFC Center 30 Mar. 2018. Metacritic: 85%.

[Chris Knipp]

GEMINI (Aaron Katz 2017). A beautiful dream of L.A., a starlet called Heather (Zoë Kravitz), and a mystery, by the former mumblecore director from Portland, whose 2010 Cold Weather, was already a low-keyed mystery that I noted was "no ordinary mumblecore ego-fest but something tilting toward excellence." Gemini meanders dreamily. Heather and aide-buddy Jill (Lola Kirke) indulge a super-fan, fend off a paperazzi, dodge a filmmaker whose movie Heather pulls out of. There is a somnolent flow of beautiful colors, beautiful women, beautiful cars, classic L.A. sunlight and pads. A gun appears and goes off. There is a body. A policeman appears, Detective Edward Ahn (John Cho of Harold and Kumar). The mystery isn't very urgent. The solution isn't quite satisfying. But Gemini weaves a quiet spell that makes one hope for more from Aaron Katz. His tilt toward excellence continues, still not there, still heading there. Watched on a screener 30 Mar. 2018. Showing from 30 Mar. at two venues in NYC, Angelika and Loews Lincoln Square. Metascore: 74%.

[Chris Knipp]

OUTSIDE IN (Lynn Shelton 2017). Chris (Jay Duplass), a 38-year-old released on parole to his little town in Washington State after 20 years in prison is intensely drawn to his former high school English teacher (Edie Falco) who worked hard to get him out and was his main support all these years. But she is married and has a teenage daughter (Kaitlyn Dever), who also becomes interested in him. A significant "issue" suitable for indie films (as D'Angelo says) gets an intensified treatment through the bare-bones post-mumblecore style of Shelton and the Duplass brothers. The brothers produced, and Jay and Lynn collaborated on the screenpay. Whether or not the story sticks in the memory isn't decided yet but the acting clearly weil. Watched at Quad Cinema 31 Mar. 2018. It opened here in NYC yesterday. Metascore 76%.

[Chris Knipp]

ISLE OF DOGS (Wes Anderson 2018). Wes's second stop-motion animated film, about dogs exiled from a fictional Japanese city of Megasaki to an island of trash alleged by corrupt Mayor Kobayashi to be infected with "dog flu." A 12-year old boy, his ward, Atari, comes searching for his lost dog, leading to rescue and righting of wrongs. A most elaborate and wonderful concoction. The use of Japanese language and culture is controversial, but maybe just Wes's unique quirk. He is a genius, after all. Watched at Regal Union Square 1 Apr. 2018. Metascore 81%.