Tiny Reviews: "Thelma", "Blink Twice" and "Didì"

THELMA

It might well be one of my favorite films of the year! While the premise might sound a little silly it's a beautiful lullaby to the old ones who refuse to be diminished by a society that sees them as a liability. It's about a quest of an old lady to prove herself and her loved ones she's still useful as she tries to have a "Tom Cruise comeback" in her own life as she goes after the money she lost when she was victim of a burglary. June Squibb's charm iluminates the screen and she's so natural, so funny, so heart-warming and so great in this one that she proves there's no age limit to be a great leading lady! It's a comedic masterclass performance as she perfectly balances funny with inner fragility. Richard Roundtree makes for an outstanding scene-partner to Squibb and Parker Posey pulls some great laughs as Thelma's neurotic daughter Gail. Thelma avoids cheap laughs by always being grounded to the serious and noble subjects it depicts here - it's a movie meant to entertain but also meant to be strong at its noble and moving core. I have yet to wait for a comedy this sensitively handled this year. Just great!

RATING: 9/10

BLINK TWICE

More entertaining than properly effective in sending the message it aims to, Blink Twice is twisted enough to keep you wondering its narrative "revelation" comes at the right time, but there's something off: the satirical effect. Nonetheless, Zoë Kravitz proves she is a director to keep an eye too with a great eye for visual scenic composition and balancing a great ensemble where almost every character has its own scene to shine. She ably tangles a web of details during the first and second acts that come together in the final one, building momentum, meaning and a sense of surprise. Naomi Ackie (from 2017's Lady Macbeth, The End of the F***ing World and Whitney Houston's biopic I Wann Dance With Somebody) makes for an engaging heroine, Channing Tatum has never been this enigmatic and Adria Arjona steals the scene in the third act, proving her breakthough turn in Hitman was no fluke. Blink Twice is a solid directorial debut and an interesting first feature for Kravitz. Not brilliant but sure she will have more opportunities to develop herself as a filmmaker.

RATING: 6,5/10

DIDÌ

An extremely relatable narrative about teenage agonies during the 2000's, Didì is said to be semi-autobiographical to its director, but I feel every Millennial person who watches this one will feel something personal about it. A story that could fell into a too sentimental hole is well balanced with sweet and funny moments, with Izaac Wang commanding the screen with his awkward charm and charisma of a teenage man who still is figuring out what life is, while Joan Chen is exquisite as Chris' mother and hers are the most beautiful scenes in the film. Sean Wang's personal connection to the material allows him to handle it with a sensitivity that elevates Didì above most coming-of-age comedy-dramas. Maybe the best movie about a teenager since Eight Grade!

RATING: 8,5/10