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Sunday, March 10, 2024

Perfect Days


This weekend, I watched the IMAX spectacle of the second Dune and the quiet beauty of the Oscar-nominated Japanese drama Perfect Days. Two strong films, but it's the latter one that I expect to stay with me longer.

Set entirely in Tokyo and in Japanese, director Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas) takes us through the daily grind of a restroom cleaner named Hirayama, played by Kōji Yakusho (Babel). Originally, it was supposed to be a doc about Tokyo's unique new public toilets, but luckily for us, Wenders saw a deeper story in Hirayama's solitary life.

Hirayama doesn't say much, but his surroundings speak volumes. The way the camera captures the play of light and shadows amidst the trees made me feel like I was right there with him. It's a timely reminder that even the most mundane things can hold beauty.

No worry, I'm not going to spoil the plot of this film, especially as it's questionable whether there is one. I'll just note that it's the slowest quietest film of the year — and quite amazing.


Perfect Days is not perfect. Not every supporting character hits the mark, and you've gotta be in the mood for this slow burn, but I found it utterly beautiful, especially how it nails the final arc. 

In a nutshell: Perfect Days is a quiet, quite simple, heartfelt tribute to the rhythm of everyday life and the connections we make along the way.

Where to find it:
In theaters— and on VOD (rent or buy) starting this weekend

Would it be better with Olivia Colman? Of course.

Award potential:
It's Japan's entry for Best International Film Oscar, but the competition is tough: the haunting Zone of Interest (UK), thrilling Teacher's Lounge (Germany) and the dynamic heart-stopping Society of the Snow (Spain) which has basically a youknow-what's chance of being a spoiler.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

This year's Oscar gem: the Documentary Shorts


This year, a lot of cheering and very little tearing

Put the tissues away. In contrast to previous years in this category and the feature documentaries this year, this collection of nominated documentary shorts is a collection of vibrant, uplifting, and truly inspirational films. They offer a delightful viewing experience, making them perfect for streaming at home. 

Below, you'll find a brief overview of each, along with where to watch them and their prospects for the upcoming Oscars on Sunday. Enjoy!



The Last Repair Shop
(39 minutes)


Since 1959, Los Angeles has been one of the few American cities to offer provision and repair of musical instruments for public school students —at no charge — to ensure no student is deprived of the joy of music. This documentary delves into the lives of four craftsmen, each expertly skilled in a specific section of the orchestra, alongside the students whose experiences have been transformed by the shop's services.

"A lot of people see a broken thing, and they just think it's broken." That line from the film could apply to both the students in this film and the work the artisans do. This beautifully shot film celebrates the enduring impact of music education on the community. While it's not the frontrunner to win, it's my prediction for a surprise win. It's wonderful.

Where to find it: Disney+



The ABCs of Book Banning
(27 minutes)


Adults in Florida have said a lot about books with LGBTQ topics and racial issues, but this film proposes that children have a lot to say about the legislation behind book banning in public schools. Documentary titan and co-producer and co-director Sheila Nevins of MTV Documentary Film recently announced her retirement and a win here would make a memorable send-off. This is the frontrunner to win the support of the documentary community. However, everyone in all categories votes for the final Oscar win.

The children showcased in this short film express confusion and anger, mirroring the sentiments of Grace Linn, a 100-year-old protester against the ban. Linn delivers a deeply impassioned speech, echoing the emotional intensity of this often heartbreaking film.

Where to find it: Paramount+



Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó 
(17 minutes)

Backed by Walt Disney Pictures, this endearing and uplifting short showcases the filmmakers' paternal and maternal grandmothers, who share a home, dance, and fart together. It has garnered significant attention as a beloved underdog story. However, I find it too lightweight and insignificant to take the top prize.

Where to find it: Hulu, Disney+



The Barber of Little Rock 
(35 minutes)

This doc illuminates the story of an African American barber in Arkansas who founded a nonprofit community bank aimed at addressing the racial wealth gap. Its emphasis on community empowerment and impact has garnered widespread support and acclaim, making it a compelling contender for an upset.

Where to find it: The New Yorker online



Island in Between 
(20 minutes)

Amidst the pandemic, filmmaker S. Leo Chiang offers a poignant reflection on China-Taiwan relations as he revisits his childhood home in Taiwan. This doc comes from the The New York Times and is the least likely to win on Sunday.

Where to find it: The New York Times online



The Ten Buck Review: All worth ten bucks.

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Win your Oscar pool the stat-tastic way


Win your Oscar pool the stat-tastic way.

There's a lot to be excited about Oscar Night this year from the potential first Native American to win an acting Oscar to the long-awaited coronation of director Christopher Nolan to my predictions of an opening number "I'm Just Kimmel" featuring the show's host. And of course, it's always more exciting when you win the Oscar pool.

It's another unique year for Oscars so we’re gonna need some math to help your Oscar office pool. We'll start with the easiest one.

Win the Best Director category

Go with whoever won the Director’s Guild of America award. Those winners have matched in 64 of 75 years, including the last three straight. In the easiest pick of the night, Christopher Nolan wins his first for Oppenheimer.

Win the Best Foreign Feature Film category

In four of the past five years, one of the nominees was also nominated for Best Picture. In all cases, that film won here. Go with the only film that is nominated for Best Picture this year as well as a total of five nominations across the board and is rumored to be surging towards a Best Picture win too — Zone of Interest.

Win the Best Animated Feature Film category

While I think the highbrow choice, The Boy and the Heron, has a chance to win, 12 out of 16 PGA-winning animated films also won the Animated Feature Academy Award, which puts the math in favor of Across the Spider-Verse.

Win the Best Music (Original Score) category

Swedish composer and conductor Ludwig Goransson should win a companion Oscar with his first (Black Panther) for the clear standout in originality and impact — Oppenheimer wins here.


Win the Best Visual Effects category

Since the VES Awards launched in 2002, the winner of its top film category has gone on to score the Best Visual Effects Oscar in 12 of the past 21 years. That might indicate a miniature edge to the film that dominated there, The Creator. That's not a lot of math magic to make me change my vote from Godzilla Minus One, which would be a great Oscar night moment.

Win the Best Actor/Actress/Supporting Actor/Supporting Actress categories

The SAG voters are all actors and are the largest block of voters for the Academy Awards. They are a more diverse group, yet their picks align with Oscar more than any other. In the past two years, all the SAG winners repeated at the Oscars. This means Cilllian Murphy, Lily Gladstone, Robert Downey Jr. and Da'Vine Joy should polish their speeches now. 


Win the Best Adapted Screenplay category

The USC Scripter Awards has accurately predicted this category for 10 of the last 14 years, and they awarded American Fiction. But tricky to this year, the only awards this season to have Barbie as adapted is the Oscars. American Fiction makes sense here until you factor in the wish to see Greta on stage. American Fiction is the smart math vote,  but I predict Barbie. 

Win the Best Original Screenplay category

The respected Writers Guild (WGA) is the closest guide on any given year — but not this one. The WGA will take place in April which marks the first time it was awarded after the Oscars. Anatomy of a Fall has won all similar events and The Academy would love to find a place to reward this film. It should prevail here too.

Win the Best Sound category

War films usually win here so Oppenheimer and The Creator check all the boxes. Go with Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Sound Mixing Award-winner Oppenheimer.

Win the Best Music (Original Song) category

There’s not a lot of math for this category, just remember that all members (not just musicians) vote in this category. Go with the Grammy and Golden Globe winner “What Was I Made For” from Barbie, sure to be a show highlight when performed. 

Win the Best Editing category

Throughout history, this award always has had a Best Sound nomination too. This year, they all do. The film with 13 nominations should win here — Oppenheimer.

Win the Best Cinematography category

The Cinematographer's Award (ASC) is a good one to watch and they chose Oppenheimer. You should too.

Win the Best Production Design category

The winner of this category often aligns with the winner of Art Director's Guild Award and the AGA went to Poor Things (fantasy), Oppenheimer (period) and Saltburn (contemporary) which is bad news for Barbie. 

This award, the 2012-renamed “Best Art Direction" award, doesn’t usually match Best Picture (Just four times since 2000), so math takes us to Oppenheimer not winning here.

Math from the AGA tells us Poor Things takes this one but I won't be upset if you check Barbie instead. Sarah Greenwood (Barbie) is the most nominated production designer in this category without a win.

Win the Best Costume Design category

Barbie won at the Costume Designer Guild Awards for Fantasy and Poor Things won for Period film so the match narrows it to two. BAFTA, which resembles the Academy more than the Costume Guild, went with Poor Things, but they were never going to pick Americana Barbie

It's neck and neck. I think the Academy will go with red-carpet-friendly Barbie. Jacqueline Durran's win would be her third, on the shelf with Oscars for Anna Karenina and Little Women.

Win the Best Makeup and Hairstyling category

The MUAHS award rewarded Maestro, the obvious winner here by a nose.

Win the Best Documentary Feature category (Feature)

This year, even more than normal, it's a somber field of serious and seriously sad films. Bobi Wine: The People's President is the easiest watch, but 20 Days in Mariupol has the most praise.

Win the Best Animated Short Film category

None of the nominations this year are from Pixar or Disney so that math goes out the window. It's best to remember that everyone votes in this category, not animators. Letter to a Pig is a frontrunner that checks all the boxes, but easy to lean into films often win with a crowd. Go with War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John and Yoko, which won the Annie.

Win the Best Documentary Short category

This year, the films are more delightful than devastating in a category where there is no year-over-year nor precursor math to play with. The Last Repair Shop has the power of its subject,  Nai Nai & Wai Po has a great (Disney) campaign but it's more whimsical than the usual winners in this category. The ABCs of Book Banning comes from Sheila Nevins who just ended her stellar 5-year run at MTV Documentary Films. I'd give that one the edge.

Win the Best Live Action Short Film category

The category is traditionally a venue for new visionaries to get seen, but unless there is a backlash to the pros playing here, there is a likely winner. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is Wes Anderson's eighth nomination and likely his first win. Mathwise, getting seen helps in this category. This one is super accessible, on Netflix.

Win the show’s running-time tiebreaker.

In 2002, the show ran for four hours and 23 minutes. It's been trending down ever since, and this year it starts an hour early with hopes to finish closer to Super Bowl closure time. This year 

Here are the timings for the past ten years:
2009: 3 hours, 30 minutes
2010: 3 hours, 37 minutes
2011: 3 hours, 15 minutes
2012: 3 hours, 14 minutes
2013: 3 hours, 35 minutes
2014: 3 hours, 30 minutes
2015: 3 hours, 43 minutes
2016: 3 hours, 37 minutes
2017: 3 hours, 49 minutes
2018: 3 hours, 53 minutes
2019: 3 hours, 23 minutes
2020: 3 hours, 36 minutes
2021: 3 hours, 19 minutes
2022: 3 hours, 40 minutes
2023: 3 hours, 37 minutes


Win the Best Picture category

Since the preferential voting system was added, all the old stats don't matter. 

Oppenheimer won BAFTA. Oppenheimer and Poor Things won the Golden Globe and Oppenheimer won the Critics Choicewhatever to all that.

However, the PGA has a preferential voting ballot. While they are a conservative group, they chose Oppenheimer and you should too.

In the 28 years in which SAG, the PGA and DGA have all presented their top honors, only one film (Apollo 13 in 1995) has won all three but then lost the Best Picture Oscar.
The math says it all. The Oscar goes to Oppenheimer.

Good luck with your Oscars pool everyone!

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Oscar's 10 Best Picture Nominees (and where to watch them)



Get the popcorn ready! On Tuesday, the Academy announced its ten nominees for Best Pictures, which aligns with the Producer's Guild list for the first time since the 1990s (when there were just five nominees). It's one of the collective best lists in years.

Before the curtain rises on the awards ceremony on March 10th, here's your guide to catching these gems, kicking off with the monster that's leading the pack in nominations and poised to sweep categories from best picture, director and cinematography to supporting actor and sound.



OPPENHEIMER, 13 NOMINATIONS

From its seamlessly dizzy flow of flashbacks to its weighted introspection, every second of Oppenheimer is definitely a Nolan film. And one of his best. Telling a historical story, with accuracy respected, gives Nolan some restraint in storytelling that reduces his head-scratching tendencies (Tenet, Interstellar, Inception). Oppenheimer sits on the shelf with Nolan's Dunkirk, Memento and The Dark Knight. And this is the one that will finally win him the Oscar for directing and picture.

Nominated for: Best picture, director, actor, supporting actor, supporting actress, adapted screenplay, production design, costume design, cinematography, editing, makeup and hairstyling, sound, original score.

Where to watch: Rent now on VOD (Amazon, Apple, YouTube). Coming to Peacock TV on February 16.




POOR THINGS
11 NOMINATIONS

It's alive! If you had a woman's coming-of-age journey that borrows from Frankenstein and takes place in a saturated steampunk world on your bingo card for the second-most nominated film of the year, you should probably be a character in this film.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, The Lobster) has created an award-season monster that will probably get Emma Stone her second (deserved) Oscar for a performance that leaves all other nominated actresses and not-nominated Margot Robbie, in the dust.

Nominated for: Best picture, actress, supporting actor, director,  original score,  cinematography, adapted screenplay, production design, costume design, makeup and hairstyling, film editing.

Where to watch: In theaters now



KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON10 NOMINATIONS

Martin Scorsese took David Grann’s excellent, 2017 nonfiction page-turner and shifted its focus to create an unforgettable, historic epic. The film's strongest chance for a win is with Lily Gladstone (Reservation Dogs) as Mollie Burkhart. She shoulders the emotional narrative in a quiet performance that is unnerving.

Nominated for: Best picture, director, actress, supporting actor, production design, costume design, cinematography, editing, original score, original song.

Where to watch: Stream now on Apple+.




BARBIE8 NOMINATIONS

Greta Gerwig (Little Bird, Little Women) didn't deliver a toy movie, but a fun, funny summer film with a universal message — and it became the cultural phenomenon of 2023. Despite the fuss about nominations, this Mattel toy blockbuster comedy is up for 8 Oscars. Margot Robbie, as producer of the film, and Greta Gerwig, for the screenplay, are still nominees despite what you may have heard on social.

Nominated for: Best picture, supporting actor, supporting actress, adapted screenplay, production design, costume design, original song (the max two nominees).

Where to watch:Stream it on MAX. Or rent it on VOD.



MAESTRO7 NOMINATIONS


Bradley Cooper orchestrates his passion project with high style and a bravado performance as both actor and director. The film explores the personal life of American composer and conductor, Leonard Bernstein. I wanted more about his craft, but that's not the film they made. On the plus, it's gorgeous and Carey Mulligan does some of her finest work.

Nominated for: Best picture, actor, actress, original screenplay, cinematography, makeup and hairstyling, sound.

Where to watch: Stream on Netflix now.



ANATOMY OF A FALL
5 NOMINATIONS


The winner of the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. It's not eligible for Foreign Language film, as France submitted another film, yet it still gathered five nominations. It's a murder mystery/courtroom drama that is so expertly crafted and engagingly unique that you wonder why all the others in its genre seem the same. 

Nominated for: Best picture, director, actress, original screenplay, editing.

Where to watch: Rent it now on VOD.



AMERICAN FICTION5 NOMINATIONS

One of the most easily enjoyable films of the year is this comedy from writer-director Cord Jefferson that rewrites the book on stereotypes to laugh-out-loud effect. The set-up follows a frustrated novelist who writes a stereotypical "black book" as satire, only for it to be published and popular. However it reveals itself in time as a family drama and character study led by American film treasure Jefferey Wright (The Batman, Asteroid City, The French Dispatch).

Nominated for: Best film, adapted screenplay, original score, supporting actor.

Where to watch: In theaters now




THE HOLDOVERS5 NOMINATIONS

From its film grain and vintage lenses to its wintery New England setting, this cozy must-see from director Alexander Payne (Sideways, Nebraska, The Descendants) features Paul Giamatti and Da'Vine Joy, who are both frontrunners to win actor and supporting actress. The film follows a curmudgeonly instructor (and cafeteria manager) at a 1970s prep school as they remain on campus during winter break to babysit a handful of students including Dominic Sessa, in an excellent film debut.

This is the film I've already seen twice, and will someday in the future.

Nominated for: Best picture, actor, supporting actress, original screenplay, editing.

Where to watch: Stream it now on Peacock. Or buy it on VOD.



THE ZONE OF INTEREST5 NOMINATIONS

This film from Jonathan Glazer (Sexy Beast) imagines what life next door to horror looks like as the commandant of Auschwitz and his wife strive to build a dream life for their family in a house and garden next to the death camp. Obviously, there is nothing ordinary about this life or this film.

Nominated for: Best picture, director, adapted screenplay, international feature film, sound.

Where to watch: In theaters now.



PAST LIVES2 NOMINATIONS

Past Lives explores a story of untapped possibilities and in-yun, the universe’s way of reuniting souls who shared a connection in previous lives. Luckily, it is quite the antidote to years of repetitive movies about multiverses.

In its own quiet and distinctive manner, this film starring Greta Lee emerges as an emotionally resonant love story that stands out as one of the most impactful of this decade. It was my favorite film of 2023. 

Nominated for: Best picture and original screenplay.

Nominated for:  Trust me on this one. Rent it now on VOD.



The Ten Buck Review:
All ten are worth ten bucks. Enjoy!















Sunday, January 21, 2024

Who Gets An Oscar Nomination Tomorrow?


With a record of 78.7% accuracy at predicting nominees, here are my predictions for an Oscar race that will reward Oppenheimer with a towering 13 nominations and 10 for its summer companion, Barbie, a Mattel toy movie that is going to scoop up a two-digit tally of Academy Awards.

PICTURE

American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest


Spoiler: The Color Purple
Shocker: Saltburn


DIRECTOR

Greta Gerwig, Barbie
Jonathan Glazer, The Zone of Interest
Alexander Payne, The Holdovers
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Martin Scorsese, Killers of the Flower Moon

Spoiler: Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things
Shocker: Justine Triet, Anatomy of a Fall

ACTRESS

Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan, Maestro
Margot Robbie, Barbie
Emma Stone, Poor Things

Spoiler: Annette Bening, Nyad
Shocker: Fantasia, The Color Purple

ACTOR

Bradley Cooper, Maestro
Colman Domingo, Rustin
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

Spoiler: Leo DiCaprio, Killers of the Flower Moon
Shocker: Barry Keoghan, Saltburn 



SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Emily Blunt, Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple
Jodie Foster, Nyad
Jullianne Moore, May December
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

Spoiler: 
Sandra Huller, The Zone of Interest
Shocker: Rosamund Pike, Saltburn or Penélope Cruz, Ferrari



SUPPORTING ACTOR

Willem Dafoe, Poor Things
Robert De Niro, Killers of the Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling, Barbie
Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers

Spoiler: 
Mark Ruffalo, Poor Things 
Shocker: Charles Melton, May December

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

American Fiction, Cord Jefferson
Barbie, Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach
Killers of the Flower Moon, Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese
Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan
Poor Things, Tony McNamara

Spoiler: Zone of Interest
Shocker: All of Us Strangers


ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Anatomy of a Fall, Justine Triet, Arthur Harari
The Holdovers, David Hemingson
Maestro, Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer
May December, Samy Burch, Alex Mechanik
Past Lives, Celine Song

Spoiler: Saltburn, Emerald Fennel
Shocker: The Boy and the Heron


INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

Fallen Leaves, Finland
Society of the Snow, Spain
The Taste of Things, France
The Teachers’ Lounge, Germany
The Zone of Interest, UK


ANIMATED FEATURE

The Boy and the Heron
Elemental
Nimona
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Suzume

Spoiler: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
20 Days in Mariupol

American Symphony
Beyond Utopia
The Eternal Memory
Four Daughters

Spoiler: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Killers of the Flower Moon, Rodrigo Prieto
Maestro, Matthew Libatique
Oppenheimer, Hoyte van Hoytema
Poor Things, Robbie Ryan
The Zone of Interest, Lukasz Zal

COSTUME DESIGN
Barbie, Jacqueline Durran
Killers of the Flower Moon, Jacqueline West
Napoleon, David Crossman and Janty Yates
Oppenheimer, Ellen Mirojnick
Poor Things, Holly Waddington

FILM EDITING
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest

Potential snub: Killers of the Flower Moon

MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Society of the Snow

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest


SCORE
Barbie, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt
Killers of the Flower Moon, Robbie Robertson
Oppenheimer, Ludwig Göransson
Poor Things, Jerskin Fendrix
The Zone of Interest, Mica Levi

Spoiler: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Daniel Pemberton

SONG
“The Fire Inside” by Diane Warren, Flamin’ Hot
"I'm Just Ken" by Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt, Barbie
“It Never Went Away” by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson, American Symphony
"What Was I Made For?" by Billie Eilish and Finneas, Barbie
“Road to Freedom” by Lenny Kravitz, Rustin

SOUND
Ferrari
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
The Zone of Interest

Spoiler: Barbie, The Killer

VISUAL EFFECTS
The Creator
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Poor Things
Society of the Snow
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Spoiler: Godzilla Minus One

LIVE-ACTION SHORT
The After
The Anne Frank Gift Shop
Red, White and Blue or Yellow
Strange Way of Life
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar

ANIMATED SHORT
Boom
Letter to a Pig
Ninety-Five Senses
Once Upon a Studio
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
The ABCs of Book Banning, MTV
Camp Courage, Netflix
Deciding Vote, The New Yorker
The Last Repair Shop, LA Times/Searchlight
Oasis, The New York Times
























Saturday, December 23, 2023

May December


In December, people’s entertainment vibes tend to be either festive (romantic comedies, holiday movies, musicals, action films) or big and bright (tentpole films like Wonka or epic Oscar bait). Ironically, May December is just the type of movie one craves in the quiet of January. I think Netflix missed on releasing this film at the wrong time and it runs the risk of not getting noticed. In the middle of the holiday excitement, I  struggled to fully enjoy this sly, slow-burning, uneasy film that explores the “grays” in people.

In this film by director Todd Haynes (Far From Heaven, Carol), television actress Elizabeth (Natalie Portman), visits tabloid couple Gracie (Julianne Moore) and Joe (Charles Melton) for her next role.


May December is
mostly the story of two women and the lies they tell themselves — until the final arc where the focus shifts to Joe, a shift that elevates the emotion and depth.

The Ten Buck Review: Unnerving and undeniably well crafted.

Where to see it: On Netflix. See it in the chill of winter, not the joy of the holiday season.

Would it be better with Olivia Colman:
Undoubtedly.

Award potential: Moore and Portman’s synced performances are undeniable and may cancel each other out in Oscar season, but Charles Melton is the film’s standout and most deserving of recognition. Golden Globes nominated all three actors. Its unnerving story and curious score choices should keep it out of Best Picture conversation.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.