Welcome to another Double Reviews edition. While I usually find a common thread when I combine reviews, this time I deliberately chose movies that are completely different from each other. Variety is the spice of life, after all. So here goes!

Rebuilding

Josh O’Connor has become one of my favorite actors since his breakout role as Prince Charles in The Crown. I love that he’s been able to seamlessly juggle big-budget features with smaller Indies like this one. He’s quite versatile that he could pretty much play any role convincingly, and this time O’Connor portrays a Colorado cowboy single dad named Dusty who’s struggling to get back on his feet again after wildfires destroyed his ranch.

While a lot of movies tend to highlight natural disasters, writer/director Max Walker-Silverman shifts the focus to the people impacted by them. The characters we meet here are trying to move forward and rebuild their lives, showcasing their feelings of displacement as they reside in a FEMA camp. O’Connor beautifully captures Dusty’s grief over losing his ranch and his uncertainty about what to do next. The English actor is so charismatic that I could watch him not doing much on screen. There’s a sincerity in him that makes him ideal for the role of a soft-spoken, gentle rancher.

Lily LaTorre steals the show as Dusty’s precocious 9-year-old daughter Callie-Rose, whom he co-parents with his ex Ruby (Meghann Fahy). The sweet moments of them sitting on his truck outside the town library to use the wifi are both adorable and heartwarming. Amy Madigan is also memorable as Ruby’s mom and doting grandmother.

The pacing is deliberately measured, allowing viewers to slowly connect with the characters. Dusty builds friendships with others in the camp, particularly Mila (Kali Reis), a young mom who lost her husband in the fire. The connection they have feels genuine and profoundly moving, emphasizing the significance of restoring our sense of community over material possessions.

Rebuilding is a little film that leaves a huge impression. The power lies in its authentic narrative, where the character connections feel natural and not contrived. Alfonso Herrera Salcedo beautifully captures the rural landscape and the rural scenery of the San Luis Valley, along with the land scorched by the Spring Creek Fire. As someone from Telluride, Colorado, Walker-Silverman creates a heartfelt and moving homage to his cherished state and the resilience of its people.

Kiss of The Spider Woman

Kiss of the Spider Woman is a musical that I’m not very acquainted with. I haven’t watched the stage production or the 1985 film featuring William Hurt, Raul Julia, and Sonia Braga. Adapted from a novel by Manuel Puig and directed by Bill Condon, the story centers on two men who are imprisoned during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s. Diego Luna portrays Valentin Arrequi, a leftist who is suspected of attempting to overthrow the military junta, while newcomer Tonatiuh plays Luis Molina, a gay window dresser who has been convicted of public indecency. Initial buzz praised Jennifer Lopez for taking on ‘a role she’s born to play,’ portraying the star in a classic 1950s B-movie musical that Luis passionately recounts to lift the spirits of the grouchy Valentin.

The three primary actors take on dual roles: the two men also embody the fictional characters in the ‘film within a film,’ while Lopez plays the lovelorn heroine Ingrid Luna and the seductive supernatural antagonist. Although Lopez is known for her singing and dancing prowess, this marks her debut in a musical. She effortlessly handles the complex choreography with grace, as the vibrant musical sequences sharply contrast with the bleak prison cell. Interestingly, Luis is allowed to personalize his cell block and even has a kitchenette. Eventually, we discover the reason behind such privileges while incarcerated.

While Lopez garners the most spotlight in the film promotions, it is Luna and Tonatiuh who carry the narrative weight. At first, I felt that Luna might’ve been miscast, especially in the musical numbers, but I’ve grown to enjoy his performance. Tonatiuh cuts a mesmerizing figure on screen and remarkably brings a depth of emotion to what might otherwise be a frivolously flamboyant character. The emotional impact arises from the developing bond between the two men, who are polar opposites. Luis weaves an enchanting story that manages to thaw Valentin’s cold exterior, stirring up surprising emotions of warmth and even love. Lopez, on the other hand, is merely required to strut, pose, and look glamorous doing it. To be fair, Ingrid is simply a figment of Luis’ imagination, a fantastical escape to endure prison life.

Kiss of The Spider Woman – Tonatiuh & JLo

Kiss of The Spider Woman – Diego Luna & Jennifer Lopez

This isn’t the first musical that tackles a dark and grim historical period, as Cabaret and Les Misérables explore political threats and injustices in Germany and France, respectively. Somehow, despite the significant historical context, the story lacks the gravitas I expected. The pacing is inconsistent, causing the 128-minute runtime to feel even longer. As a musical, I expected to be wowed by the music, but I found the songs largely unmemorable. No offense to John Kander and Fred Ebb, but I struggled to remember even one tune. In contrast, take The Phantom of the Opera, which features numerous unforgettable songs that linger in my mind for days, even weeks.

Overall, it’s an ambitious effort, and it’s mildly entertaining, but it fails to leave a lasting impression. If anything, it makes me curious to check out the 1985 version where Hurt won an Oscar.

Have you seen these two films? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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