Drandy

Parts of the film are riveting and hair-raising. The performances are wonderful. Reality is fluid here, and close listening and viewing is rewarded. The final shot (and sound) is haunting.

Make no mistake, this movie has some scary parts, and shocking images. But it also has style, and is not just a jump-scare BOOfest. Toni Collette is at her absolute best, portraying great range and intense, insistent emotions. But the film never seems sure where it was heading, and the ending is just silly.

This Turkish film, as films go, is long. But when it ended I was left with the **** "But what comes next?" concerning numerous characters I had come to care about. Virtually every actor in the great ensemble cast was distinctly limned with depth so that they were clearly the centers of their own dramas, and not merely bit players in the protagonist's. The film is effortlessly atmospheric, in its use of natural light and darkness, in the sounds of the wind, the cars, the birds. No special effects needed here. It reminds me of my favorite scene from Spielberg's "Jaws," where Captain Quint (played by Robert Shaw) recounts the sinking of the battleship Indianapolis and its aftermath. Lit by a single, swinging, bare bulb, with listeners spellbound, mouths agape. Much of this film has that feel. For a movie with virtually no music, the soundtrack was nonetheless powerful and haunting. Based on only this film, director Nuri Bilge Ceylan has vaulted onto my list of great artists, and I cannot wait to see more of his work.

I had no preconception in viewing this film; I was on a Jarmusch jag. Thus I was taken by surprise. A very pleasant surprise. This is as beautiful a film as I have ever seen.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

For me this was the best film of 2020 so far, often riveting, and with an ending which literally brought me to tears. I was especially affected by the acting of Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, Frank Langella, Sir Mark Rylance, Jeremy Strong("ensorcell," he said}, John Carroll Lynch, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen. The writing was not uniformly good, but each of the aforementioned actors had powerful scenes. And listen for a great song over the closing credits. (Daniel Pemberton's Take the Hill (Hear My Screams) - vocals by Celeste)

WONDERFUL acting, in particular by Glenn Close, Amy Adams, Gabriel Basso, Haley Bennett, and Owen Asztalos. Having lived in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia, I recognize these people. Beautiful and touching. I do not understand the critics on this one; see it and decide for yourself.