June Again (J.J. Winlove, 2020) wr. J.J. Winlove; Noni Hazlehurst, Claudia Karvan, Stephen Curry, Uli Latukefu; social problem; dementia; dramedy
Paul Byrnes:
... High drama and high comedy can co-exist, if the creator is bold. By restraining the latter, Winlove hampers the former. The film feels at times becalmed, partly because Winlove wants a gentle pace. I kept wishing he would go for it, to try to squeeze the juice out of every scene. He has the tools, but not the inclination.
You only get one first feature: it ought to feel like the maker has rolled the dice, taken every risk, tried to paint the screen with his own blood. Winlove had the story and cast with which to do it, but not the nerve. The film has its rewards, mostly to do with Hazlehurst’s luminous performance, but it could have been a contender. Sydney Morning Herald, 5 May 2021, via Apple News.
[spoiler]
Implausible. ... And undramatic. The key moment when June's dementia (mysteriously) returns is not signalled in a sufficiently significant way, and the children simply accept what has apparently happened because it's in the script, not because of anything that is acted out on the set. As everyone agrees, nice job by Noni - but not by the writer/director.
Garry Gillard | New: 8 May, 2021 | Now: 12 November, 2021