The Northman: Vikings were fighting, bleeding, fucking, and hunting, all while avenging their loved ones in this epic freaking movie. ****
Sharp Stick: Whatever it was trying to say, I don’t think it did, which did a disservice to some pretty good acting. This may have just been softcore pornography actually? **
Spin Me Round: Alison Brie goes on vacation as training for an Olive Garden-inspired chain restaurant where she meets the CEO and things take off from there: good comedic cast, good ominous tone, disappointing payoffs. ***
Emily the Criminal: Aubrey Plaza plays Emily, who becomes a criminal. It gets better from there, though only if you prefer exploration of a person’s actions in a new environment over a nice and tidy movie plot where… stuff actually happens. ***1/2
Catherine Called Birdy: Lena Dunham directed two movies this year; Sharp Stick was messy and this could’ve been too, with a 13th century 14-year-old being courted by suitors. It was held together by Bella Ramsey, an actual plot (based on a book), and everybody wearing silly medieval outfits. Dunham can kind of direct film too. ***1/4
