‘Opus’ Doesn’t Quite Match the Loftiness of Its Title, But It’s Still Something-Something

March 27, 2025

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Two of the cast members from the movie Opus are in this photographic image (CREDIT: Anna Kooris/A24)

Starring: Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Murray Bartlett, Juliette Lewis, Amber Midthunder, Stephanie Suganami, Young Manzino, Tatanka Means, Tony Hale

Director: Mark Anthony Green

Running Time: 104 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: March 14, 2025 (Theaters)

I don’t want to be a member of the cult at the heart of Opus, but I sure wish I could have been in the studio during those recording sessions! (John Malkovich has never sounded more impeccable.) The problem is twofold: I am opposed to cults in general, and also this particular cult’s goals are a little half-baked. It seems like they’re trying to achieve world domination by way of reawakening humanity’s artistic inspiration… good luck with all that.

Anyway, it was pretty fun while it lasted, minus all the killing. Make sure you listen to The Moretti EP!

Grade: NILE RODGERS AND THE-DREAM WROTE THE MUSIC!

‘Horizon,’ Where Art Thou?

July 8, 2024

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CREDIT: Warner Bros. Pictures/Screenshot

Starring: Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Michael Rooker, Danny Huston, Jena Malone, Michael Angarano, Abbey Lee, Jamie Campbell Bower, Jon Beavers, Owen Crow Shoe, Tatanka Means, Luke Wilson, Ella Hunt, Tom Payne, Georgia MacPhail, Will Patton, Isabelle Fuhrman, Jeff Fahey, Gregory Cruz, Scott Haze, Angus Macfadyen, Etienne Kellici, Charles Halford, Dale Dickey, Wasé Chief, Elizabeth Dennehy, Hayes Costner, Alejandro Edda, Tim Guinee, Colin Cunningham, James Russo, Douglas Smith, Larry Bagby, Dalton Baker, Chase Ramsey, Naomi Winders, Austin Archer, Giovanni Ribisi

Director: Kevin Costner

Running Time: 181 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: June 28, 2024 (Theaters)

Many of my movie reviews operate by a simple question. And it goes a little something like this: do I want to have the sort of life portrayed in the movie that I’m reviewing? And so, now that I’ve seen Chapter 1, it must be asked: would I like to live in Horizon? Eh, I can pretty confidently say, “No, thanks.” I’ll see if I can summon back up some interest for Chapters 2-4. Maybe if it turns out the whole story was based in-universe on the drawings of the dopey English couple, then I’ll be satisfied.

Grade: Too Many Horizonites in the Horizon Spoil the Western Broth