PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE — THE CRITERION COLLECTION

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Céline Sciamma's lesbian romantic fantasy almost works on its own terms, but falters during crucial elements.

18th century French portrait painter Marianne (Noémie Merlant) travels by boat to paint a wedding portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) at an idyllic seaside estate surrounded by a community that consists solely of women.

Héloïse is bereft over the recent loss of her sister, and angry about her arranged fate of marrying a man she doesn't know.

Thus the table is set for a doomed lesbian tryst after Héloïse's mother leaves the women alone for a few days.

An abortion subplot, involving the mansion's servant, allows for a scene of artistically inspired exploitation that breaks the film.

"Portrait of a Lady on Fire" is Céline Sciamma's weakest film to date.

Rated R. 122 mins. 

SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER

Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does.

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Comedy from simpler times. No smart phones. No internet. Ah, the peacefulness of it all.

Comforting.

Mike Myers was at the height of his game when he made this comic gem set in San Francisco.

Myers plays two roles, that of Charlie Mackenzie, a San Francisco poet, and Charlie's very Scottish kilt-wearing father. Bay City Rollers bitches.

Hilarious.

Charlie performs beat poetry about his fear of romantic commitment at SF's legendary Vesuvios Cafe in North Beach.  

Awesome.

Things get twisty when Charlie takes a shine to Harriet (Nancy Travis), a neighborhood butcher who speaks multiple languages, and who may be, wait for it, an axe murderer.

Eat it with a spoon to get every drop.

Rated PG-13. 93 mins.

ADRIENNE

Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does.

This ad-free website is dedicated to Agnès Varda and to Luis Buñuel.

Get cool rewards when you click on the button to pledge your support through Patreon. Thanks a lot pal! Your generosity keeps the reviews coming!

Heartbreaker.

Adrienne Shelley was a force of nature. 

She made her mark as an actress in Hal Hartley movies before turning to writing and directing.

The film "Waitress" was her swan song. A successful Broadway version followed.

Tragically, Adrienne Shelley's life was cut short at the age of 40 by a thieving 19-year-old construction worker at her West Village office. 

Adrienne's widowed husband Andy Ostroy crafted this loving documentary to celebrate her life, and to confront her killer in prison.

Devastating.

NYC is dangerous town.

Not Rated. 98 mins.