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A Friendship that Stands the Test of Time in ‘The Room Next Door’ – Review

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The Room Next Door is a delicate melodrama about a relationship between two close friends as one of them faces the prospect of entering eternal sleep due to a terminal illness. The film is written and directed by Pedro Almodóvar and based on the novel What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez. This marks Almodóvar’s feature length English-language film debut and the first Spanish film to win the Golden Lion at the 2024 edition of the Venice Film Festival.

The film features Tilda Swinton as Martha, and Julianne Moore as Ingrid. The storyline focuses on Martha’s life as a notable journalist that is battling terminal ovarian cancer and makes a controversial decision to end her life with euthanization pills. Her grave situation reaches her distant friend Ingrid, a successful author whom Martha worked with earlier in their careers.

Martha opens up to Ingrid about her choice to depart life and genuinely explains why she would like for someone to be in the next room while it takes place. Ingrid is terrified about this decision and struggles to find her emotional and mental strength to fulfill her dying friend’s wishes. It is a heart-wrenching story with mending elements that tests a friendship, even after a length of time that has come between since their last interaction.

Swinton brings out Martha’s character with a certain stoic humor to an unpleasant subject, which pairs well with Moore’s portrayal of the sweet, caring and articulate Ingrid. We also learn that Martha has an estranged daughter Michelle (also played by Tilda Swinton, which was a delight to see her in a double role). John Tuturro as the supporting role of Damian, brought a bit of the quirky flirtation towards Ingrid that brightens up the mood inside a dire topic.

Director Almodóvar brought to light the dark side of dealing with a terminal illness without a cure, and when a patient doesn’t have any family for support or close friends they can depend on. The distinguished cast, Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, were magnificent in presenting a sensitive and personal decision with honor and dignity. The Room Next Door might not be suitable for all mature audiences, but will touch and relate with those that understand this similar predicament.

Sabrina - Kiddo is the newest member of Countdown City Geeks and is a contributor of movie and television show reviews. Her passion for film derived from her college days where her rhetoric-writing professor focused on the aspects of screenwriting and music lyrics. She also has a knack for saying movie quotes.

Movie Reviews

In theaters May 9th is the fascinating sci-fi film, ‘Watch the Skies’ – Review

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Watch the Skies is a heartfelt sci-fi film with a remarkable ensemble cast, showcases the impressive talent of rising star Inez Dahl Torhaug. The story centers on a young protagonist as she unravels the mystery surrounding her father’s disappearance years before. This all happened while he was conducting investigative work on UFOs. The film balances whimsical and quirky moments with deeply profound emotional scenes that are captivating.

A unique blend of British-European humor and sci-fi adventure, Watch the Skies draws inspiration from a real-life Swedish extraterrestrial research group. Sci-fi enthusiasts will find themselves particularly well-equipped to enjoy this charming and thought-provoking cinematic journey.

Synopsis: A rebellious teenage woman’s father went missing years ago and she believes that he didn’t run away but was abducted by aliens. She joins forces with a funky UFO club made up of a lovable group of weirdos and rejects. Together, they embark on an adventure that takes them far beyond the boundaries of the law and ultimately, our world.

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Movie Reviews

Blake Lively brings extravagant fashion to this murder-mystery comedy movie in ‘Another Simple Favor’ – Review

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When it comes to making a grand entrance in a movie , Blake Lively definitely kills it in Another Simple Favor. She looked sophistically stunning in those posh outfits and lavish shoes! Lively really steals the spotlight portraying the charming and deceptive Emily Nelson / Hope McLanden who disrupts Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) during a book reading to ask for a simple favor. Kendrick is a master in emerging into roles of the sweet, impulsive and vulnerable characters.

This saga takes place in the beautiful Island of Capri, where the extravagant wedding of Emily (Lively) to the handsome Italian mobster Dante Versano (Michele Morrone). When Aunt Linda (Allison Janney) makes a surprise appearance with Emily’s deranged mother Margaret (Elizabeth Perkins), well you know sparks will be bursting. Stephanie (Kendrick) is determined to seek answers to the mysterious occurrences and disappearance of Emily. The plot thickens with mind-bending, jaw-dropping twists, which leads the possibility of a trilogy.

The entire cast was amusing. This movie has a lot of dark raunchy humor, which at times could be a bit “tmi”. From feuding scenes with Henry Golding as Sean Townsend (Emily’s ex-husband) to Blake’s bedroom scene where she playing a dual role – uncomfortable, awkwardness. However, it received plenty of laughter from the audience.

Another Simple Favor will be available on Amazon Prime Video starting May 1, 2025. It will sure be a great suggestion for a girl’s night movie party.

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Movie Reviews

Yadang – The Snitch: A Surprisingly Riveting Crime Action Movie (Review)

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When a swift street smart Lee Kang-soo (Kang Ha-neul) finds himself in jail for being unjustly accused as a meth dealer, he encounters an eager prosecutor, Goo Gwan-hee (Yoo Hai-jin), who offers to reduce Lee’s sentence by having him work as a snitch, “Ya-Dang”. However, when it comes to sting operations and using Ya-Dangs, narcotics officer Oh Sang-jae (Park Hae-joon ) becomes suspicious of Goo’s techniques, and it appears he might be involved in a convoluted criminal network.

This South Korean film, Yadang – The Snitch, has a well written storyline with many exiting and unsuspected plot twists, from betrayal, corruption, to settling the score revenge. Director Hwang Byeng-Gug exercised good judgement not implementing exaggerated CGI’s and kept the action scenes interesting and grounded.

The trio of main characters had great development, with outstanding cast members giving flawless performances.

Promising actor Kang Ha-neul, best known for Squid Game 2, knows how to deliver a combination of dynamic action with humor. Kang was well-suited to portray the sharp dressed, charismatic Lee Kang-soo.

Yoo Hai-jin was impressive transforming his role and building the underlying forces, while Park Hae-joon maintained a well balanced role that rises to the occasion.

Besides the entertaining action, the traditional South Korean food culture was incorporated throughout many of the scenes giving it a delicious element – It left me craving those noodles! Also, the post credits were a nice dessert of laughter.

With absolute certainty this movie is fantastic, and I am hopeful for a sequel.

Yadang – The Snitch will be in theaters April 25, 2025, in the US and Canada.

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