PotassiumMan

Director Walter Salles made his mark in filmmaking about the history of South America, having given us the glorious "Motorcycle Diaries" back in the day. Here, he puts together a raw and anguished account of a Brazilian woman's struggle that starts when her idyllic family life is broken up when her husband is taken away by the authorities. It's another compelling slice of history.

Fernanda Torres is wondrously subtle and riveting as a brave woman who stares oppression in the face and develops the will to fight back. She shows dogged persistence and determination and very rarely raises her voice or loses her composure. There are no fireworks or instances of grand-standing. It's just humble, old school toughness that this woman summons in a battle for justice that becomes her new path. The final scene might seem superfluous at first, but the more you think about it, the more amplifying and powerful a conclusion it is.

The film is an inspiration, but also a cautionary tale for societies that court a dictatorship. It's a sobering depiction of survival in a bleak and scary period, one that no country would ever wish for itself. Grandly recommended.

Some sci-fi thrillers fall into the trap of becoming too conventional and escapist to make their mark. Not this one. It makes some bold choices early on in the narrative and manages to keep us guessing until the very end. Creative storytelling and a dynamic cast combine to elevate this a cut above the norm.

Sophie Thatcher further displays star-making potential as an "emotional support" robot, a futuristic commodity. Jack Quaid (channeling his father's charisma) is her quietly narcissistic and shallow boyfriend who takes her for a weekend trip to a secluded mega-mansion where a wealthy friend of his is throwing a party. The film's villains are a rare combination of diabolically evil and achingly stupid. The robot heroine of this film is a strange but very likeable protagonist who's hard to root against. The supporting cast is also strong.

It's best to go in knowing as little as possible. This film ends up being a cautionary tale about toxic masculinity and incel culture as well as a symphony on the seemingly boundless possibilities for AI becoming one with humanity. The film sees progress in one regard and decadence in another. Crackling and cynical, the film delivers a thrilling conclusion. Enthusiastically recommended.

A sedate, but stately house that is not on the market gets snatched up by an enterprising but fractious family of four. The younger child, a teenage daughter begins to feel that she is not alone and starts to believe in the supernatural. As it turns out, the film's perspective is predominantly from the vantage point of a spirit which occupies the house but finds unexpected purpose with this family. It's best to go in totally cold. If you haven't seen the trailer, even better.

Performances are stellar all around. Callina Liang gives an excellent performance as the deeply troubled daughter who is at the center of the film's mysteries. Lucy Liu is ideal as her swamped, but caring mother. West Mulholland is equally good as her sketchy boyfriend. Without going into detail or spoilers, it's a film that will confound one's expectations and conventional notions of a haunted house thriller. This is one of most creative spins on that genre, executed with formidable skill by Soderbergh. The daughter in this film seems to have the closest connection with this spirit and her backstory reveals why. Enthusiastically recommended to those who are open-minded and not too daunted from a distance.