MFF Quick Reviews – Hard Truths, MadS, Gladiator II, Memoir of a Snail and Evil Does Not Exist

With Awards Season in full-effect I’ve been watching a lot of the contenders to make sure that my ballot for the Georgia Film Critics Association is as thorough as possible. In a perfect world it would be great to write 1,000 words about these films, but since I don’t have the time I wanted to write some quick reviews to share my thoughts about some cool movies. 

Hard Truths – Grade – A 

In a year of excellent performances, Marianne Jean-Bapiste’s performance as a tormented and depressed woman named Pansy – may be one of the finest. She’s already been nominated for a plethora of awards and I hope the momentum continues all the way to the Academy Awards (Her first Oscar nomination came in 1997 for the Mike Leigh directed film Secrets & Lies). Hard Truths works because of the humanity it finds in Pansy as she’s stuck in a world of grief and distress that’s articulated with outbursts towards family, friends, clerks, strangers and pretty much everyone else. Between Jean-Bapiste’s performance, Mike Leigh’s (Secrets & Lies, Happy Go-Lucky, Vera Drake, Mr. Turner) direction and writing, and Dick Pope’s cinematography (Mr. Turner, The Illusionist), Hard Truths feels alive and vibrant. Jean-Bapiste’s is at her best when she’s verbally berating her husband Curtley (David Webber), harping on her son Moses (Tuwaine Barrett) and becoming somewhat human while interacting with her kind-hearted sister Chantelle (Michele Austin). You need to watch Hard Truths before putting together your 2024 “best of “ list. 

Evil Does Not Exist – Grade – B+

Directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, this beautiful film features one of the best scenes of 2024 and builds towards an ending you won’t forget. Like Hamaguchi’s Oscar nominated Drive My Car, Evil Does Not Exist excels during its quiet moments that showcase the gorgeous Japanese mountain village of Mizubiki, and inhabitants who call it home. The movie focuses on the hubbub around a glamping (glamorous camping) site that will potentially be built on the mountain. The highlight of the movie is a town meeting between the local residents and two developer representatives who constantly say “We’ll take that into consideration.” Evil Does Not Exist focuses on what happens when companies don’t respect what they send downstream and the effects it has on people who rely on the steam’s clean water. If you’re looking for a patient and beautiful film, I totally recommend that you watch this movie. 

MadS (2024) – Grade – B+

If you’re looking for a thrilling French film about a zombie apocalypse that is filmed in one take you will love MadS. Directed and written by David Moreau (Them), this madcap thriller focuses on what happens when a college kid named Roman (Milton Riche) comes across a heavily bandaged woman who hops into his car and promptly kills herself. This kicks off a wild night of infection spreading as Roman drives to his house to hide the body, and then goes to a party with his girlfriend Anais (Lucille Guillaume). In a fun turn of events, the narrative shifts its focus to Anais as she succumbs to the zombie infection and starts rampaging all over her town. Guillaume deserves some sort of award because she delivers a free-wheeling performance that is loaded with wonderful tics, screams, and twitches as she rides around on a bicycle looking for prey. The great thing about MadS is that it’s all about chaos and simply wants to revel in the insanity of a zombie apocalypse. It’s an audacious and wonderfully acted experience and I really hope more people watch it and enjoy the insanity. 

Memoir of Snail – Grade – A 

Directed and written by Oscar winner Adam Elliot (Mary and Max), Memoir of a Snail is a tragicomic exploration of loneliness that is equal parts bleak and hopeful. The story focuses on twin Australian siblings Grace Pudel (Sarah Snook) and Gilbert Pudel (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who are separated after the death of their paraplegic alcoholic father (who loved his kids dearly). The book-loving and melancholic Grace is sent to the city of Canberra where she’s adopted by a kind married couple (who are also swingers), and the pyromaniac Gilbert is sent to live with hyper-christian apple farmers in Perth. Things are bleak for both of them, but Grace finds solace in her hoarded collection of snails  and her friendship with Pinky (Jackie Weaver), an eccentric woman who takes Grace under her wing and provides needed companionship. It all leads to a heartwarming finale that’s most welcome after 90-minutes of abuse heaped on the central characters. For a film that’s loaded with abuse, death, melancholia, theft, fetishes, electric shock punishment, arson, and Alzheimer’s, Memoir of a Snail manages to leave the audience uplifted – which is quite a beautiful feat. 

Gladiator II – Grade – B

Gladiator II is a lot – and I love it. While talking to fellow film critic Aaron Neuwirth he told me that it’s a “perfect Mark movie,” and I agree. The following list breaks down why it’s a perfect Mark movie. 

1. The opening battle scene features dozens of catapults and trebuchets that are catapulting rocks and explosives at two opposing armies. An added bonus is that some of the catapults are attached to Roman boats that are about to smash into the large city walls of the North African kingdom of Numidia. This makes me very happy. 
2. SHARKS! There is a naval battle in the coliseum between gladiators led by Lucius Verus Aurelius (Paul Mescal), and a boat of unlucky Romans who are swiftly defeated. The best thing about this fight is that the Romans were able to transport hungry sharks to the coliseum. These hungry sharks eat the unlucky combatants who fall in the water during the fight. It’s insane – and I love it. 
3. Denzel Washington delivers a front kick to Paul Mescal. I don’t want to say much more, just know that it’s awesome. 
4. I’m a big fan of Aftersun, so seeing inde-darling Paul Mescal battling Pedro Pascal in a $200+ million budgeted film is incredible. 

Overall, Gladiator II is an ambitious and chaotic mess that works because of the solid performances (Denzel Washington is the best) and bombastic battle scenes.