Rare Objects

Benita Parla (Julia Mayorga) is struggling after trauma. She finds possible safe harbor in an antique store owned by Peter Kessler (Alan Cumming) and Diana Van der Laar (Katie Holmes) who is dealing with mental illness.

Katie Holmes is the director and co-writer. This is the first of her as either that I've seen. I'm not a big fan of her acting since her Dawson's Creek days. I like the lead and some others although Katie's acting remains an issue. As a director/writer, at least she's trying to do something different. The slow pacing really gets to me. I have difficulties with this film. This movie either speaks to you or not. I'm not hearing it.

I am giving this movie a higher rating simply because the movie resonates with where I am in life, coming to terms with a lot of grief and hard emotions. This movie forced me to slow down and think and feel my own experiences. The movie was slow, there was a lot of room for improvement but I thought it was really beautiful. There was this uncomfortable tension amongst all the characters that was felt and added a certain electricity. It was completely different than expected but much appreciated from my own perspective. This movie won't be for everyone as the ratings reflect. I would have loved a little more development and dialogue.

I should have turned it off after the first 15 minutes but I really wanted to give it a chance. I stopped it multiple times to do more exciting stuff like laundry.

This movie made me realize what a horrible actress Katie Holmes is. It was cringy to watch her play the role of a mentally unstable woman. I don't think she prepared at all for this role. She used her typical smirky smile and a ton of giggling throughout the movie to pass off as acting. The director should have given better directions but then she was the director.

Not one character was likable and the storyline and relationships felt extremely forced, it all looked like poor acting.

Greetings again from the darkness. The emotional turmoil in the aftermath of being the victim of sexual assault is incomprehensible to anyone who hasn't experienced such trauma. Writer-director Katie Holmes and Phaedon A Papadopoulos have adapted Kathleen Tessaro's 2016 novel, transitioning it from depression-era to modern day New York City. At the center of the story are two women, one working diligently to regain some control of her life, and another with a form of mental illness that seems to prevent a return to normalcy.

We first see Benita (Julia Mayorga, "American Rust") as she is ending her stay for therapy. She has been the victim of a sexual assault that led to an abortion. Her reunion with her mother (Saundra Santiago, "Miami Vice") is quite awkward since Benita hasn't told her mom any of what she's been through ... only that she's taking some time off from college classes. As Benita looks for a job in the old neighborhood, we see her visions and flashbacks - what led to the attack, as well as her bonding with Diana (director Katie Holmes) during therapy.

The owner (Alan Cumming) of a local antique shop takes a shine to Benita and not only offers her a job, but also tutors her on how best to deal with their customer base. One of those customers happens to be the same Diana from therapy. It turns out Diana and her brother come from big money, and he does what he can for his sister. Things get interesting when the shop's co-owner, Winshaw (Derek Luke, Holmes' co-star in PIECES OF APRIL, 2003) shows up. Life lessons and philosophical mutterings are sprinkled throughout conversations in the shop, and Benita really values her budding friendship on the outside with Diana.

The lessons here are plenty, and most of them are quite obvious and re-treads from other stories. One can't ever really go home again and have it be the same. Old friends may run into each other, but the connection is different in adulthood (partners, kids, jobs, etc all change people's priorities). We can all make new friends, but if the history isn't there, the bond is only so strong. Alan Cumming offers up the best lesson when he discusses how broken vases can be reassembled, with their repaired cracks creating more beauty and value. Everyone in this movie is broken in their own way, and it's true that for those who persevere, the cracks add strength and beauty. Julie Mayorga is a rising star, and Saundra Santiago, Derek Luke, and Alan Cumming all deliver their usual strong performances. Looking at bad memories as bad dreams can often help folks recover, but true mental illness is a significant battle for all involved. As a side note, this is yet another movie where the background music is played entirely too loud and often interferes with the dialogue and flow.

Opening April 14, 2023.

It's not what I anticipated but also not dreadful or ambiguous as some reviews imply. The writing feels unfocused and messy but perhaps it's intentional to reflect that life is messy (there's a line spoken that says as much).

Not hard to follow, it's a fairly basic plot but feels hollow in delivery and drags in parts that are unnecessary to move the story forward or hang too long on moments after the point is made. The subject matter is emotionally heavy (has grit and opportunity to explore deeper) yet the vibe is too light, lacking substance.

We get glimpses of why Belita is broken and about Diana's mental health issues but too much is left unsaid, unexplored. There is a conclusion for both women yet I feel unsatisfied with the story. Slow movie but fast wrap up is how it feels.

I would've been fine if I skipped it. Not worth watching. It's not good, not bad, just blah.