Bugonia

Well this was a surprise. A simple plot really and a fairly slow burn culminates in an exhilarating last twenty minutes or so.

This was effectively a viewing with no expectations and for the first hour or so, I wasn’t sure.

Perhaps the main reason was that the film is about two conspiracy theorists, Teddy and his cousin Don who kidnap a high profile CEO of a pharmaceutical company.

I lost a couple of mates to conspiracy theories during Covid and they won’t be back such is their belief in whatever in their eyes, needs to be proven.

Teddy and Don believe that the CEO is an alien sent to earth to destroy the planet. Of course they do.

Within the first hour you see the kidnapping of the CEO Michelle (Emma Stone) her removal to the boy’s house and subsequent interrogation by Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (Aiden Delbis).

The only other bit part inclusions to the cast are a cop (Stavros Halkias) who shares a secret with Teddy and Teddy’s incapacitated mum (Alicia Silverstone) who I think has been struck down by a product produced by the pharmaceutical company.

It’s worth hanging in there because this film finishes with a bang, particularly the final scene which held the audience in deathly silence.

The verbal and physical clashes between Teddy and Michelle are excellent. Emma Stone is now an established star and Jesse Plemons’ reputation continues to climb at a rapid rate.

Overall this film looks great, is well acted and will hit you late like a bucket of cold water. 7.5/10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After The Hunt

I’m a bit surprised at some of the reviews damning this film because I found it quite engaging especially given it was just over two hours long.

I think the main issue with the negativity is the over-verbalisation amongst the academics portrayed by the characters from Yale University.

I’m not a Julia Roberts fan but she is excellent as the emotionally repressed but highly respected philosophy professor, Alma.  Her long suffering but always accommodating husband and psycho-analyst, Frederick played by Michael Stuhibarg is perfect in his role.

When associate professor Hank (Andrew Garfield) is accused of rape by their student Maggie (Ayo Edebiri) all hell breaks loose. Garfield is terrific in his arrogant, predatory role.

The film throws up a lot of questions without answering many. I guess that’s what philosophy is? I’m clearly no academic but I really enjoyed Roberts’ warts and all performance.

There are a lot of accusations within the story regarding the rape itself and entitled students of this generation holding a gun to the head of those in charge. Quite a few different layers to think about including sexual politics that will have you discussing afterwards.

I enjoyed the directing although I found it strange that some of the narrative in the film is about plagiarism and the director Luca Guadagnino has copied Woody Allen’s standard opening titles exactly. Perhaps it was a nod to Allen’s films.

There are a few scenes between pairs that come straight from Woody Allen’s playbook. One in particular is in an Indian diner when Alma confronts Hank. Worth the price of admission.

Anyway I do understand how the over intellectual dialogue at different stages could be annoying but overall, I didn’t nod off. Don’t expect to like these characters other than Frederick. 7/10