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

[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%.