Personal Shopper

An American personal secretary (Kristen Stewart) to a demanding Parisian debutante attempts to channel the spirit of her recently deceased twin brother while being digitally stalked by what may or may not be an otherworldly presence. Olivier Assayas' Personal Shopper is both an eerie ghost story and sincere character study featuring a commanding performance from Stewart, which is able to succeed in being ambiguous while also carrying meaning.

*** 1/2 out of ****

Clouds of Sils Maria

While travelling in the Swiss Alps en route to accept an award on behalf of her mentor in Zurich, an actress (Juliette Binoche) learns that the recipient and great playwright has died. Soon she finds herself reluctantly accepting an offer to return to the stage in one of his productions she appeared in twenty years prior, now portraying the older role. She is quickly forced to confront certain truths, feeling threatened by her underestimated costar (Chloe Grace Moretz) and as the lines blur between fantasy and reality in her relationship with her personal assistant (Kristen Stewart) during line reading. Olivier Assayas’ Clouds of Sils Maria is beautifully shot, and although pretentious and often haughty, is intelligently written and occasionally magical. Binoche is lovely, typically elegant and emotive, Moretz is quite good too arriving fairly late in the picture, although Stewart, who is getting some awards notice, doesn't quite come off as authentic.

*** out of ****

Carlos

Venezuelan Ilich Ramirez Sanchez was an idealist leftist who joined the Palestinian Liberation Front in 1974 and began an international campaign of terror lasting twenty years. Known as Carlos the Jackal, Sanchez perpetrated an airline bombing, the murder of three French custom officials, and the infamous OPEC takeover amongst other subversive acts before losing his standards and becoming a self-consumed tyrant before his imminent arrest. Olivier Assayas' "Carlos" is an ambitious look at the brazen and pompous terrorists life, told over the course of a three part, five plus hour miniseries. Edgar Ramirez is fierce in the lead role, often transforming himself during the many changes of Carlos' life. It was recommended to me that I watch the full miniseries, rather than the abbreviated movie, but after an exhilarating first part the film slows down to near snail's pace and becomes off putting during the hero's decline. Although it is a well made film about an enigmatic figure and featuring a strong lead performance, "Carlos" is probably best taken in the small dosage.