COMING SOON

Almost sixty years ago, the movie star, Marilyn Monroe died from a drug overdose at the age of thirty-six. And the life and image of the beautiful yet troubled actress has seemed to be endlessly discussed, scrutinized and debated ever since throughout popular culture. I don't think there is a great need for an additional film based on Monroe yet there is another major production on the horizon from Netflix. 

Based on Joyce Carol Oates' massive novel, "Blonde" takes a fictionalized look at Monroe's real life with Ana de Armas starring, magically transformed into an uncanny likeness of the screen beauty. In the brief sneak preview that has just dropped from Australian filmmaker, Andrew Dominik, this bio-pic reveals the conflict she struggled with between her actual life as the fragile Norma Jeane Mortenson and about being trapped by the sexy screen siren she created. Many of the important figures in Monroe's life that she had a complicated relationship with are included; like husbands, Joe DiMaggio (Bobby Cannavale) and Arthur Miller (Adrien Brody) and her mother, Gladys Baker (Julianne Nicholson). And one more notable detail: "Blonde" will be rated NC-17 due to graphic sexual content which is a first for the streaming channel.

"Blonde" is scheduled to be released in the US on September 23, 2022

DEEP WATER (2022)

Written by Zach Helm and Sam Levinson



Directed by Adrian Lyne



Available to stream now on Hulu



With "Fatal Attraction", a chilling drama that put fear in the hearts of married men with a warning about the dangers of having casual flings with single career women, Adrian Lyne would help usher in the erotic thriller back in 1987. He had already made a significant impact with his previous sensual dramas, "9 1/2 Weeks" and "Flashdance" but "Fatal Attraction" would become a global sensation, igniting heated discussions on relationships and infidelity. And while this film brought the director acclaim and success, it also helped Lyne overcome some criticism of his early feature film work, which many found to have a greater emphasis on beautiful actors and glossy visual imagery than characterization and story, most likely due to the beginning his career as a director of television commercials.

After "Unfaithful" in 2002, another cautionary tale about a marriage threatened by infidelity with deadly consequences, Lyne had not directed another feature film until now. Yet his latest psychological thriller, "Deep Water" does not find the British director back in classic form with the eroticism sluggishly timid and what thrills that are found feel tragically predictable.

Vic and Melinda are a couple largely in appearance only. They are raising their daughter together in their beautiful home in a small community in Louisiana yet there is tension between them. After making a fortune creating chips used for guiding drones in combat, Vic has essentially retired, leaving him bored and unmotivated. And this hasn't helped his relationship with his wife. In order to have Melinda remain in their unhappy marriage, Vic has accepted an agreement that she can discreetly have a lover. Or two. And while Vic (with no interest engaging in his own extramarital activities) appears to be content tending to his snail farm at home, that doesn't mean that he really likes this arrangement between them.

At a dinner party, Vic casually tells Joel (Brendan C. Miller), one of Melinda's current lovers she has invited, that he murdered his wife's last boyfriend, who has disappeared, with a hammer . For some reason, people believe that Vic was joking (except Joel), even after the missing lover's body turns up with a bullet lodged in his head. At another party at a friend's home, Melinda drags a new, young lover, Charlie (Jacob Elordi) to the event and his presence infuriates Vic. Then later that evening, Charlie is found dead in the pool. Everyone assumes that it was a tragic, accidental drowning yet secretly only Vic knows for certain.

I was very surprised to see that the screenplay by Zach Helm and Sam Levinson (who is behind the groundbreaking yet controversial teen drama series, "Euphoria") is based on Patricia Highsmith's book of the same name. Despite setting the novel by the writer of "Strangers on a Train" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" in present day, the writers fail to invigorate or elevate their version of her story, offering only trivial, lackluster suspense and a muddled conclusion that has been altered from the book. The fatal flaw is the lack of a beating, sexual pulse. The few intimate encounters that occur feel unimaginative and depressingly listless. Affleck and de Armas fell in love during the production (and ended their relationship not long after) yet the actors do not ignite any sparks as a couple on screen.

As an actor, Affleck has grown more comfortable on screen, delivering compelling, lived-in performances recently with his roles in "The Way Back", "The Tender Bar" and even "The Last Duel" where he plays a blonde, medieval Count. At times, Vic is silently filled with blind rage at his wife's behavior while occasionally looking aroused at being a cuckold, Affleck is very effective as a man still madly in love with his wife, regardless of what he must endure to keep her.

Ms de Armas has the more challenging role, trying to make us understand why Vic would insist on having this woman stay in their marriage. As a wife, Melinda has moments where she can be charming, fun and caring but usually Vic has to deal with a messy, self-centered party girl who is a vicious drunk. And as a mother, she tends to be indifferent, prioritizing her love affairs over the needs of their child. Ms. de Armas is a fine actor, making an impression with appearances in "Knives Out", the final Daniel Craig lead Bond movie, "No Time To Die" and receiving buzz about her upcoming Marilyn Monroe bio-pic, "Blonde", yet even with her captivating talents is still unable to make such a discordant character appealing.

There are some of Lyne's cinematic trademarks to be found here; beautifully shot, lush settings and stylized scenes filled with tension. But what is missing from the film is convincing drama, lusty passion and genuine terror, elements that tends to be required for a persuasive erotic thriller. "Deep Water" is just too low-energy and impotent to properly stimulate the mind or the body.

2022 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

The 2022 Tribeca Film Festival is set to kick off on June 8th through June 19th. This New York-based fest not only celebrates the latest in cinema but also offers a wide selection of events involving stand-up comedy shows, television programing, music lounge, immersive video games, talks, audio storytelling and master class conversations.

The fest opens with the world premiere of "Halftime", a documentary that examines the life and career of global superstar and New York's own, Jennifer Lopez. Using preparation of her Half-Time show performance for the 2019 Super Bowl as a running thread, the film explores how Lopez has managed to achieve incredible success on music stages and movie screens while being a mother and using her fame to put a spotlight on important causes.



The Centerpiece Film on June 12th is "Vengeance", the feature directorial debut from writer/actor, B.J. Novak. This dark thriller involves a New York journalist (Novak) traveling to West Texas to investigate a mysterious death. Issa Rae and Ashton Kutcher also star.



And the Closing Film will be the world premiere of the documentary on the Rev. Al Sharpton, "Loudmouth" from director, Josh Alexander. The film looks at the controversial Sharpton from his beginnings as an eight year old preacher to his work as an important figure in civil rights and as a racial justice advocate. After the screening, Sharpton will be in conversation with filmmaker, Spike Lee and musician, John Legend.

The films that will be screened are assembled in several sections: Movie Plus which features films combined with live performances and conversations; Spotlight Narrative and Documentary; Viewpoints will feature films with offbeat and innovative points of view; Tribeca Critic's Week are selected films curated by a committee of film critics; Retrospective Screenings (which will include "Eve's Bayou", "Heat", "Velvet Underground" and a 50th anniversary screening of "The Godfather"); Shorts; Midnight is filled with horror, sci-fi and cult cinema; shorts and the films competing for prizes in US Narrative, International Narrative and Documentary categories. And beginning June 9th, there will a selection of films that will be available exclusively online for U.S. audiences through the Tribeca At Home app, available through June 26.













For the complete listing of films, events and to purchase tickets, please click below:

2022 Tribeca Film Festival