Brat Summer Evolves into ‘The Moment’ (Image Credits: Pixabay)
Theatrical screens this weekend brim with unconventional tales that span fame’s glare, intimate kinks, artistic flops, and apocalyptic quests.
Brat Summer Evolves into ‘The Moment’
Charli XCX steps into a faux documentary that mirrors her real-life ascent. Directed by Aidan Zamiri, who helmed videos for her tracks “360” and “Guess,” the film casts the pop star as a version of herself navigating the fallout from her 2024 Brat album.
Alexander Skarsgård appears as Johannes, a concert filmmaker pushing her toward a polished project amid label pressures. NPR critic Aisha Harris observed, “Your mileage may vary, but I’d argue The Moment works on multiple levels: As a self-referential, semiserious commentary on Charli xcx’s fraught relationship to fame; as a damning critique of the polished artist-approved concert documentary industrial complex; and as a messy, yet interesting observation of the pitfalls of capitalism.”
The release expands widely on Friday, blending hyperpop energy with sharp industry jabs.
Alexander Skarsgård’s Dual Charms in ‘Pillion’
Harry Lighton’s debut feature delivers a BDSM rom-com with unexpected tenderness. Shy parking officer Colin, played by Harry Melling, meets dominant biker Ray, portrayed by Skarsgård, sparking a journey into fetish gear, collars, and explicit encounters.
Colin’s supportive parents, Douglas Hodge and Lesley Sharp, add warmth as he grows bolder. The title nods to the passenger spot on a motorcycle – or slang for a submissive partner. Reviewers praised Skarsgård’s reveal of Ray’s hidden vulnerabilities alongside the film’s raunchy positivity.
It arrives in limited theaters Friday, offering a fresh spin on romance.
‘A Poet’ Skewers Literary Ambition
Simón Mesa Soto’s Colombian dramedy tracks Oscar, a washed-up poet in his forties living with his mother. Shot on grainy 16mm, the film follows his high school teaching stint and mentorship of gifted teen Yurlady from a tough background.
Both leads, Ubeimar Rios and Rebeca Andrade, make acting debuts as non-professionals. The story eyes poetry world’s pretensions and exploitation, earning the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes. Oscar’s daughter cringes at his failures, heightening the satire.
Limited release begins Friday for fans of wry character studies.
Allegory Unfolds in ‘Sirāt’
Óliver Laxe sets his nerve-shredding tale amid a massive Moroccan desert rave as war looms. A father and son hunt for a missing daughter, teaming with Jade Oukid’s character and buddies facing disabilities for a perilous trek post-evacuation.
LSD-tinged laughs give way to Mad Max-style allegory, invoking the Islamic Sirat bridge over Hell. Mostly first-time actors propel the shift to tragedy and existential depths. The setup grips with thumping speakers and gyrating crowds.
It hits select theaters Friday.
Kabuki Legacy in ‘Kokuho’
Sang-il Lee’s near-three-hour epic traces Kikuo, orphaned son of a yakuza boss, adopted into a Kabuki dynasty. Ryo Yoshizawa stars as Kikuo, trained in the female onnagata role alongside Ryusei Yokohama’s Shunsuke.
Breathtaking visuals and melodrama dominate, though the pace drags later. Nominated for Oscars in makeup and hairstyling, it became Japan’s top-grossing live-action film. Dynastic rivalries fuel the theatrical intrigue.
Limited rollout starts Friday.
Key Takeaways
- Diverse genres invite personalized picks, from pop satire to cultural sagas.
- Alexander Skarsgård shines in contrasting roles across two films.
- International voices dominate with Cannes wins and allegorical depth.
This lineup proves cinema’s power to surprise and provoke. Which film calls to you first? Share in the comments.
