Capsule reviews for Feb. 21
Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me
There’s an impressive candor and depth to this documentary about the life and career of Stritch, the irascible actress of stage and screen who is still touring well into her 80s. The film traces the highlights of her career through archival footage and interviews with famous friends, but it doesn’t dwell on nostalgia, instead offering an insightful glimpse into the daily routine of Stritch as she prepares for her latest show. Rookie director Chiemi Karasawa balances the humor and poignancy in her tribute to an icon whose moments of brash brilliance on stage sometimes contrast with a personal life filled with off-putting neuroses and surprising vulnerability. (Not rated, 82 minutes).
In Secret
Romance trumps passion in this tame adaptation of the Emile Zola novel Therese Raquin, a working-class tale of forbidden love in 19th century Paris about a young woman (Elizabeth Olsen) trapped in an arranged marriage to her sickly cousin by the man’s manipulative mother (Jessica Lange), before a torrid affair with a painter (Oscar Isaac) has tragic consequences for everyone. Despite some solid performances, the period piece isn’t as scandalous or provocative as its source material. It’s visually striking but never subtle about its melodramatic intentions, offering a formulaic story of betrayal and revenge with shallow characters that generally lack emotional and moral complexity. (Rated R, 102 minutes).
The Wind Rises
Both epic and intimate, the alleged final film of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki also is one of his best., telling the story of an aspiring pilot and airplane designer in 1920s Japan who becomes an aviation innovator amid a harsh true-life world of military conflicts and natural disasters. Miyazaki’s classic hand-drawn style is an ideal fit for the material, with its lush and detailed depictions of various times and places. Yet the film also is charming and emotionally satisfying. Even if the components of the story don’t always cohere, it’s somewhat audacious thematic territory for a filmmaker who feels as fresh and vibrant as ever. (Rated PG-13, 126 minutes).