Bugonia is brimming with Yorgos Lanthimos’ signature strangeness, yet it’s one of the most grounded films of his career. This is a small-scale chamber piece that feels out of this world, thanks to expert direction and two incredible performances that bring a sharp screenplay to life. This film is written by Will Tracy, known for his razor-sharp work on Succession and The Menu . The writing here is clever, gripping, uncomfortably funny, and true to Tracy’s previous work — filled with both subtle and blunt social commentary. It’s a script that truly allows the actors to flex their talents (not that we don’t already know what Stone and Plemons are capable of), and one that kept me locked in, second guessing my own theories until the end. With most of the film set in one location, it rarely loses momentum, and despite a runtime of nearly two hours, it’s very well paced. Of course, a strong script needs talent to bring the words from page to screen. Emma Stone and ...
Blossoms Shanghai is the first original episodic series by legendary filmmaker Wong Kar Wai. An adaptation of Jin Yucheng’s award-winning novel Blossoms, the series chronicles the ascent of self-made millionaire Ah Bao, the Jay Gatsby of Shanghai, during the economic boom that followed the opening of the Shanghai stock exchange. The major Chinese actor Hu Ge stars as Bao, personifying the idealism and adventurism that defined the 1990s. While In the Mood for Love pays tribute to the Shanghainese community in Hong Kong, Blossoms Shanghai is Wong Kar Wai’s first attempt to tell a story about his birthplace, at one of the most intriguing moment in its recent memory. Beginning on November 24, the Criterion Channel will exclusively premiere Blossoms Shanghai, the long-awaited television series from visionary director Wong Kar Wai (In the Mood for Love). The 30-episode series opened in China to phenomenal success, topping TV ratings for its entire run and becoming the most-streamed telev...