This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
I added this movie to my list after it had a moment on Twitter during which many people dunked on a commenter who claimed that the film was an ineffective satire of fascism. I could certainly imagine a mainstream audience who might view the film as a bog standard military sci-fi alien adventure coming-of-age story, but watching in 2024 the critiques of fascism in the film seem quite overt.
The first fact established in the film is that this society…
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
I *loved* this movie. I left the theater feeling electrified. Afterwards, I kept thinking of the idea of "truth" in art--not "authenticity", as in a depiction you could compare against an original and find a match. But truth--the idea that what is happening in this moment with these characters is vital, deep, and meaningful. It's alive in Challengers, and it's a miracle that we get to witness it.
The final moments of the film are full of anxiety--the pretenses and…
A delightful little film. Bing Crosby plays a man apparently without flaws, but we let it slide because he seems to be motivated only by kindness and generosity, and he is just so damn charming. Barry Fitzerald is quite endearing in his role as a crotchety old clergyman--anyone who has ever loved a grandparent or an elder will find joy in his performance, especially when Crosby's character nudges him just enough out of his comfort zone. There's a scene where…
