by Mark Demetrius

Year:  2024

Director:  Pedro Almodovar

Rated:  M

Release:  26 December 2024

Distributor: Sony

Running time: 107 minutes

Worth: $18.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth

Cast:
Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, John Turturro

Intro:
… a veritable masterclass in acting – it really doesn’t get any better than this.

This is Pedro Almodovar’s first feature length English-language film, and it’s a gem. The setting – initially – is New York City, and the two central characters are both writers. Ingrid (Julianne Moore) is an author of fiction, while Martha (Tilda Swinton) is a war reporter.

They’re old friends, but haven’t seen much of each other in recent  years. Martha was used to facing death in her professional life, but is now terminally ill, and doesn’t want to go just yet. When she does die, she wants Ingrid to be in the next room – hence, of course, the title.

There’s a little too much forced exposition in the dialogue during the very early stage of the movie, and one scene is hammy and weak. But that’s the extent of the bad news. Once the two women move to an idyllic rural location – and it’s best to be circumspect about any further plot detail – the whole thing improves out of all recognition. Everything about it, not least the clever and believable script, is brilliant.

What really stand out here, however, are the complex and nuanced performances by Moore and Swinton. Together, they present a veritable masterclass in acting – it really doesn’t get any better than this.

9Brilliant
score
9
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