Dakota Johnson

Splitsville

  • Title: Splitsville
  • IMDb: link

While a little uneven in spots, Splitsville made me laugh harder in the theater than I have in quite some time. The farcical romantic comedy centers around Carey (Kyle Marvin) who, after the unexpected break-up with his wife Ashley (Adria Arjona), literally runs away to take up refuge with his best friend Paul (Michael Angelo Covino who also co-wrote the screenplay and directs) and Julie (Dakota Johnson). Learning the pair have an open relationship causes Carey to reevaluate his life, and his choice to sleep with Julie creates consequences for all involved.

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Materialists

  • Title: Materialists
  • IMDb: link

I had some trepidation walking into writer/director Celine Song‘s Materialists. On one hand, Song provided my favorite film of 2023. On the other hand, the set up of a beautiful matchmaker, starring my least-favorite mainstream actress, who just can’t seem to find her own Mr. Right, sounded like the kind of bargain-basement romcom that would normally make me want to run quickly in the opposite direction. Thankfully, that’s not what Materialists turns out to be. However, what we do get is only somewhat more successful.

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Madame Web

  • Title: Madame Web
  • IMDb: link

Madame Web

It’s rare to find a movie that is seemingly as self-aware of being awful as Sony’s Madame Web. I can’t confirm that cast and crew deliberately set out to make a bad B-movie but that’s really the only way that this film’s existence makes any sense. Its mind-blowing faults in every aspect of filmmaking presents an unapologetic dumpster fire to keep you guessing what bad decision, in front or behind the camera, will be made next.

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The Disappearance of Shere Hite

  • Title: The Disappearance of Shere Hite
  • IMDb: link

The Disappearance of Shere Hite

The Disappearance of Shere Hite examines the life and work of Shere Hite whose books on masturbation and female sexuality caused an immediate stir and brought conversations about sexuality, gender, love, autonomy, and gender, which are still debated go this day, to the forefront of national discourse. A researcher, feminist, and author, the documentary covers both Hite’s work and the backlash they caused both to her personally and later to the feminist movement which eventually led to her to leave the United States, renounce her citizenship, and spend the remainder of her life in Europe.

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