Hail, Caesar!

Coens salute themselves with completely unedited brainstorm session.  Deliberately over-long sequences beautifully mirror 50s films but get lost amidst endless other scenes of ludicrous length.  Neither outstanding cast and characteristic Coen comedy, nor tacky narration and contrived confessionals can hold together a tossed salad of unempathetic characters and poor plotting.

Ain't Them Bodies Saints

Title relevant only in bad grammar’s parallel to film’s awkward structure. Gone with the Dragon Tattoo’s little siblings manage to give depth to characters that never break out of their un-empathetic bonds. There will be boredom despite excellent photography in Tedious Country for Middle-Aged Men.  Ain’t non-chronological editing working here.

The Gift

Edgerton steers both film and its family on a path to insanity.  His gift is really just a compelling role to himself, as Bateman plays an intolerable two-dimensional tool white Hall collapses and is carried around by manipulative men.  Quasi-clever final present undermines itself by confirming hate-able hero’s obnoxious opinions.

Nightcrawler

Gyllenhaal slithers through the slimy streets of Los Angeles and despite the twisting turns of this strange story, there’s absolutely no arc for his sociopathic protagonist. Yet somehow he still manages to steal audience attention with insane precision.  Simultaneously an indictment and celebration of the amoral providers for society’s desires.

It Follows

Genius STDemon premise will follow film’s viewers forever.  Brilliantly non-following steadicam shots, surreal temporally ambiguous art design and spooky soundtrack make slow pacing even scarier.  Unfortunately, weak plotting catches up to filmmakers in alarmingly weak 3^rd act.  Still, spectacularly suspenseful story, far too deep to swim in the shallow end.

Sicario

Denis goes to un Estado Nuevo with morally ambiguous tale in which Benicio takes no bull but stealthily tunnels his way into leading role.  Characters seem childishly expressive, marking interesting contrast with secretive and adult world of the film.  Brilliantly understated cinematography bonds these prisoners to their colder northern cousin.