Displaying items by tag: Juliette Lewis

OPUS

US, 2025, 104 minutes, Colour.

Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Melissa Chambers, Tony Hale, Stephanie Suganami, Amber Midthunder.

Directed by Mark Anthony Green.

Although it was chosen to screen and the Sundance Festival, Opus received fairly negative critical reviews and failed at the box office.

However, if you want something interesting that is not always predictable, with some themes inviting reflection, you could do worse than see Opus. (This review is in favour.)

At first we are taken into the contemporary media world, press and magazines stories, radio and television, the world of music and entertainment. And the central character is Ariel, played by a Ayo Edibiri, a lively and versatile young performer, award-winning for her role in the TV series, Bear, but also very in films, after the Hunt, Ella McCay. She is young, ambitious, wanting to do research, write stories. Her rather jovial insensitively ambitious boss is played by Murray Bartlett.

There is a lot of talk in the film about a singer and media star of the 1990s, Alfred Moretti, who has been absent from the limelight for 30 years. Suddenly, he sends an invitation for the launching of a new album, Ariel specifically included in the invitation.

And, then, transition to the deserts of Utah and a remote, rather lavish, mansion and site, the home of Moretti.

One of the great advantages of this film is the fact that John Malkovich plays Alfred Moretti, not what we might expect of a star of the 90s but he soon convinces us with his smooth talk, storytelling, charm, eccentricities, then his actually singing and his eccentric dance movements and visual and suggestive imagery. And, John Malkovich can do it (and he could even do variations on his persona in the 1999 Being John Malkovich).

But, the welcoming scene is overdone, lavish, and Ariel and ourselves noticing so many people on the property, dressed uniformly in blue, children and adults, education, workplaces – and then the word is mentioned, “cult”. If this sounds an intriguing mixture, it is.

All guests, including Juliette Lewis as a television host, are treated with great hospitality, exotic meals, their host singing with intriguing lyrics, their all being fitted out with new wardrobes. But, then the move towards some dramatic violence.

The sinister aspects of the cult soon emerge, and Ariel trying to escape, trapped, getting loose – and Moretti making a speech with all his followers standing with champagne flutes (and audiences who remember the mass suicide in Jonestown will be thinking of that). And they drink.

But, that is not exactly how the film ends – some more intriguing characterisation, the fate of Moretti, Ariel having success with a bestseller about her experiences, and the suggestion that the atmosphere of cults with charismatic leaders and power over their followers is still among us.

1. The life and work of Alfred Moretti? His career, retirement, his commitment to the Level?
2. The world of the media, print, radio, television, New York, offices? The journey through the Utah desert? The centre, the buildings, the grounds, interiors? Costumes and decor?
3. The range of songs, the lyrics, dramatising the musical style and performance of Alfred Moretti? And the sinister aspects of the cult?
4. The focus on Ariel, age 27, skill in writing, wanting to be a journalist, stories, interactions with Stan, his gentle demeanour, but wanting to do the writing with her notes, taking credit?
5. The reputation of Alfred Moretti, his career in the 1990s, evocative, provocative, lyrics, visual imagery, movement and gestures? After 30 years? The prospect of a return?
6. Invitation, Ariel, the discussions with her friend, anxious for a career? His urging her to create perspective? her being invited, joining the group, Stan, Clara and her past relationship media, Bianca, paparazza, Emily, The influences, Bill and the media, interviews, previous clashes with Moretti? The personalities, eager to be associated with Moretti? The plane, the welcome, the lavish treatment, the travel on the bus, the instructions, through the desert, the arrival? The fans outside, the touch of the fanatic?
7. John Malkovich as Moretti, an idiosyncratic personality, the charm, sinister aspects, his speeches, jokes, his songs and performance, the welcome to the guests, renewing old acquaintances? His speech, the dinner, talking with Ariel, her questions? The emergence of the current atmosphere, the people of all ages, education, work, craft? Concierges and guards? Jorg and his story at the meal, telling her real? The others with their personal stories?
8. The Level, Levellers, the philosophy behind the cult, religion, achievement, talent, democracy, the emergence of those who are talented, brands and intelligence? Moretti and his leadership, the episode with the oysters and the searching for the pearls?
9. Ariel and her experience, the concierge on guard, the bubblegum sounds, listening to the song in the room, the screens and surveillance, everybody listening to the song? Ariel, going jogging, running through the compound, all the encounters? And the discussions with Moretti?
10. Bill, the massage, his talk, his being killed, the body in the way, Ariel and her fear not noticing it?
11. The day proceeding, Emily and her disappearance, the later appearance in the cushion, the diagnosis, her face, contortions, her death? The tour, Stand being shot with the arrow, the boys apology? Ariel and becoming more suspicious?
12. The gathering, the performance of the song, eccentric, mannerisms, the lyrics? Moretti and his reaction, the press conference, asking the question, Ariel and her knowledge of Julius Caesar and her answers? The appearance of Emily? Clara and her wig, being pulled? Stan and his being stabbed? Ariel, disturbing Moretti, her escape?
13. Ariel, trying to escape, wanting to leave, the sinister attacks on her, the little girl and her friendship, the puppet show, the rats and the critique of Billie holiday?
14. Ariel, in the attic, the concierge coming through the window, her being captured, bound with Clara? The sympathetic member, cutting her bonds, information about her escape? The fire?
15. Her running, the pursuit, climbing the fence, the fan outside (the previous scenes of the fans and their posters), Ariel taking his car?
16. Two years later, the flashback to the police arriving, the members of the cult drinking the champagne, assumptions that it was like Jonestown, the revelation that they were going throughout the world, permeating all kinds of jobs for the Level to overcome? Moretti in jail?
17. Ariel, the publication of the book, her success, visiting Moretti in jail, his admitting the murders, his manipulating her to write the book and publicise him?
18. The TV interview, the interviewer wearing the Level pearls… And the future?