paul-allaer

As "Black Bag" (2025 release; 93 min) opens, it is "London, Friday" and a spy named George with his superior who gives him a list of 5 possible names of "traitors in the house" and on that list is George's wife Kathryn. At this point we are less than 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from producer-director Steven Sodenbergh ("Ocean's 11"). Here he brings a delightful espionage caper that in fact reminds in spirit of the Ocean's 11-12-13 films. Sodenbergh can probably make movies like that in his sleep, but one still has to admire the utter precision of this movie, as if we are watching a Swiss watch being made. Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbinder are great as the married spies. But look for the smaller role played by Pierce Brosnan to utter perfection and delight. Marisa Abela ("Industry") is also notable. Confession: I watched the first 10 minutes and realized that I was missing out on a lot of dialogue details without subtitles, so I restarted the movie, this time with English subtitles. I strongly encourage you do likewise. You will thank me later.

"Black Bag" was released in theaters several months ago, and was a box office disappointment. This despite the fact that it is currently rated 96% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie is now streaming on Peacock, where I just caught it. If you are in the mood for an espionage caper or simply like Steven Sodenbergh's prior films in general, I'd readily suggest you check it out, and draw your own conclusion.

As "Becoming Katherine Graham" (2025 release; 92 min) opens, it is "October 1, 1975" and the Washington Post is in turmoil resulting from a union strike. Katherine Graham wonders which side she really wants to support. We then go back in time to her upbringing in circles of privilege. Her dad had purchased the Washington Post in 1933, and the paper eventually up with Phil Graham, Katherine's husband. When Phil dies tragically in 1963, Katherine is suddenly put in the spotlight as the new CEP in an industry not particularly women-friendly. At this point we are 10 minutes int the documentary.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from co-directors Teddy Kunhardt and George Kunhardt ("John McCain: For Whom the Bells Toll"). Here they look back at the life and times of Kay Graham, a true pioneer who who help life the sleepy Washington Post to great heights, culminating of course with the Watergate scandal it exposed from start to finish. The documentary benefits from the fact that mostly we hear from Graham herself (when asked who or what she was before and after becoming CEO at the WaPo, she responds (without any irony) "Doormat wife, working woman". One of the most striking visuals is the now infamous picture of Graham with her Board of Directors, of course all male, all white. The other thing that is remarkable is the extensive use of the Nixon White House secret tapes, where we hear Nixon use language that is eerily similar to the current POTUS musings. In that sense, the documentary is very timely indeed to remind us how a runaway president bent on ruling the country by hook or by crook endangers our democracy. We all know how the Nixon presidency ended. Will history be any different this time? Meanwhile, enjoy this documentary's excellent tribute to a true pioneer that was Kay Graham.

"Becoming Katherine Graham" was released some months ago and is now playing on Amazon Prime, where I caught it the other night. If you are interested in the role of newspapers and journalists in our democracy, or simply curious how an inexperienced woman took over the Washington Post, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

As "Sinners" (2025 release; 138 min) opens, it is "Clarksdale, Mississippi, October 16, 1932" and Sammie, badly injured and holding what is left of a guitar, arrives at a church service presided by his dad. We the go to "One Day Earlier", and we are introduced to twin brothers Smoke and Stack who have just arrived from Chicago in Clarksdale, intending to buy a former sawmill and turning it into a juke joint. At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from producer-writer-director Ryan Coogler, and his 5th collaboration with actor Michael B. Jordan. Here Coogler seems to take the movie into one direction only to then create other directions altogether. Is it a gangsta movie? A civil rights movie? A blues movie? A vampire movie? All of the above? I must admit it left me at times confused, at times overwhelmed, at times puzzled. All of it is executed very well, none more so that the music that is omni-present. The original score is courtesy of Coogler's house composer Ludwig Göransson and is masterful. When all is said and done, I admit that I left the theater with mixed feelings.

"Sinner" is now into its third weekend release in US theaters, and it is doing extremely well, both critically (currently rated 98% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels overly generous to me)) and commercially (outperforming all expectations at the box office). The Saturday matinee where I saw this at today here in Cincinnati was sold out to the last seat). If you are a fan of Ryan Coogler's earlier work or of Michael B. Jordan, I's readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.