tabuno

Alex Sharp more well known as the Will Downing character in the hit sci fi series 3 Body Problem (2024) stars in this quietly unknown but also science fiction genre movie. More of a psychological thriller in the same way as Another Earth (2011), this relatively straightforward and directed with such an authentic script and performances goes behind the scenes of a purported Unidentified Flying Saucer (UFO) reported at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in 2017 and the efforts of a math whiz (sort of a serious dramatic real life depiction of a Sheldon Cooper of The Big Bang Theory (2007), to uncover the truth about the reports while the government undertakes its own parallel investigation and spin control. This finely nuanced non-action, low-budget movie shows its unique strength as a mystery thriller and the practical complex scientific process and the inclusion of Gillian Anderson of X-File fame in a supporting role as a normal aging former brilliant math professor herself and David Strathairn from The Bourne Legacy (2012) as a key government official which adds a nice tonal complexity to this movie. The intense irreconcilable choice between one's dreams and personal relationships is a universal dilemma for almost everyone here on earth. Thus, the powerful immersive emotional center of this UFO film derives its potency from the intense and well directed and plotted emotional interplays between the characters coping with each other, the outlier character of driven human intelligence, and the government secrecy without the bells and whispers of traditional, big budget movies. It is the journey, not getting to the end movie, a journey that all of us are in some ways living. The addition of a good soundtrack capturing an ethereal and emotional nature fits well for the pacing the film. This small sci fi movie is more about humans and their place in a dramatically out-worldly circumstance as depicted in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) rather than dramatic displays of ostentatious ego and over the top action melodrama while the climax is more of a contented affirmation and reward of the human spirit.

This is one of those movies that move on several levels. The creeping eeriness seeping through the seams of the performances, the effusive dialogue that drips with fragile yet strong resilience and pose from the two young female missionaries, and the quiet but sinister presentation of a deluded evil. Riveting and compelling until the end, Heretic captures both the richness and depth of religion, analogues, and various substantive questions about belief and disbelief of human nature and religion. What strikes a redolent and clarion punch to cinematic history is the distinctively refreshing performances of all the characters, especially how the they avoid the typical overly dull horror dialogue that has dried out over the years. Instead this film offers its audience an intelligent psychological thriller with dark shades of horror. The only weakness is its rather reveal at the movie's climax with its ambiguous attempt to offer alternative beliefs at the end. Almost perfect in its conception and delivery, Heretic is worth anyone's time who lavishes on great film delivery.

Jamie Fox and Cameron Diaz have Fox in his White House Down (2013) and Diaz in her Charlie's Angels (2000) back in their spy motifs in this light spy genre Back In Action. While starting strong with an Arnold Schwarzenegger's True Lies (1994) as family plot addition, Back In Action seems to lose this rather intriguing twist becoming more a derivative and almost boring version of itself and the many other comedy spy movies while trying little tweaks that really don't add to the pacing nor appeal of the movie. The original Spy Kids (2001) has a much better balance of intrigue with all the family members getting into the act for a much more engrossing time. Even so the current popular appeal of this movie might be the need to distract people from the more serious political divide and drama occurring this year with a new change of government.