THE DANMAN CAN

1.    Killers Of The Flower Moon   **** ( review ) 2.    Beau Is Afraid   **** ( review ) 3.    The Holdovers  **** ( review ) 4.    Poor Things   ***1/2 ( review ) 5.    Evil Dead Rise   ***1/2 ( review ) 6.    Asteroid City   ***1/2 7.    Infinity Pool   ***1/2 ( review ) 8.    Oppenheimer   ***1/2 ( review ) 9.    Smoking Causes Coughing  (2022) ***1/2 10.  Dream Scenario   ***1/2 ( review ) 11. The Iron Claw  ***1/2 12. May December ***1/2 13. Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny   *** 14.  The Killer   *** ( review ) 15.  Thanksgiving   *** ( review ) 16. Saltburn  *** 17. Napoleon *** 18. Master Gardener (2022) *** 19. Talk To Me (2022) *** 20. Suitable Flesh   *** Biggest Disappointments Kids Vs. Aliens (2022) **1/2 The Exorcist: Believer **1/2 ( review ) When Evil Lurks   **1/2 Barbie ...

Safe (1995)— Todd Haynes ' sophomore film—elicits Kubrick ian calm to present the story of Carol, a bored rich housewife with a detached and somewhat insensitive husband living in L.A. who develops an inexplicable environmental illness that crumbles her fragile stability and eventually leads to her moving into a cult-like desert community called Wrenwood for treatment. There are other films that deal in similar themes, but Safe  does well to avoid feeling too familiar, thanks in large part to  Moore 's perfectly understated and brilliant performance, Hayne's appropriately flat direction and  Ed Tomney 's moody ambient score—all of these elements really sell the level of disconnect. The production design, costumes, cinematography and songs do an excellent job of capturing the late 80s as well. *SPOILERS* Toward the end of the film, as she struggles to comment on her condition, Carol's sad attempt at giving a birthday speech to her fellow Wrenwood resident...

I was in the perfect mindset to finally get around to viewing this film tonight, having been sick for about 4 weeks now with a dry cough and at a point in my life where I feel dispassionate and find it hard to truly connect with people.  Moore 's perfectly understated performance,  Hayne 's appropriately flat direction and  Tomney 's moody ambient score make for a powerful film.