16/33
A couple finds their lives turned upside down when their daughter is cast opposite a controversial major star. Referenced in The DA’S Office: Ep. 26 – THE ACOLYTE DISASTER! Could this be the end of DISNEY STAR WARS? (2024). The first half of the film is more of a character study, about a deeply unhappy and lonely housewife, Anette, who soon discovers that her husband, Ben, may be having an affair with a famous actress, Alicia. The second half of the film is more of a thriller as we see the pace begin to pick up and the wheels start to turn in Anette’s head. The film is a real blast – cold and icy at first, then warm and bubbly, then explosive in its final act. It is gripping, absorbing and tense from start to finish. It is anchored by a fantastic performance from Daisy Ridley. She is a true revelation. Her quiet moments of festering anger are heartbreaking. There is a symbolic scene where we see her smash a mirror after pushing it for a few moments that symbolises her shattered marriage. Shazad Latif is also fine here. The film has some mediocre aspects. The trailer is quite misleading. It can drag on and become a bit tedious at times. The ending can be cathartic and rewarding for some viewers, while mediocre for others. Hiba Ahmed as Matilda, the daughter, is fine, though child performances in cinema are often not very good. She seemed more like a prop than a character. And Matilda Lutz, though genuinely beautiful, charming and convincing as a movie star in the context of the film, was just okay. Maybe it’s because Lutz is Italian that many of her lines sounded awkward or forced. If you like thrillers with strong performances, especially ones involving female rage, eroticism and infidelity, this will be right up your alley.