Ayo Edebiri Archives — Quelle Movies

Opus

When Ariel Ecton (Ayo Edebiri), a young up-and-coming journalist working in print media, is chosen to cover a major entertainment story she seizes the opportunity. Pop superstar Alfred Moretti (John Malkovich) hasn’t made an album since the ’90s but is now blessing his fans with his new highly anticipated album. The journalists (and one influencer) invited to cover the release are hand-selected by Moretti himself. They’re given a PR package and invited to stay on Moretti’s compound. However, when Ariel, her boss (Murray Bartlett) and the rest of the crew arrive, it’s soon clear that Moretti not only runs a mind control cult, he also has nefarious reasons for inviting each of them. Ariel must find a way to escape and let the outside world learn about the real man behind the pop icon.

Written and directed by Mark Anthony Green, Opus has a lot of great ideas but fails to execute any of them well. The plot is very similar to The Menu (2022) just swap out the chef for a pop star, the staff for cult members, and ill-behaved rich people for critics. The revelation as to why Ariel and the other journalists (and one influencer) were hand selected is only revealed at the very end and by then there is little reason to care. An earlier reveal or even some clues along the way would have helped immensely. Moretti’s popularity is assumed not explained. The cult’s purpose and their fascination with pearls is shown but not examined. The critique of influencers standing in for journalists for major news stories falls flat.

There are so many potentially interesting tropes and themes to explore that the movie just bypasses. My favorite minor plotline is Ariel’s communications with cult member Rachel (Tamera Tomakili). They’re both the sole black women in their respective groups and the film could have done a bit more to explore their isolation and how they both try to rise above their situations.

Opus is a mystery without any clues and relies on us enjoying John Malkovich’s kooky character to carry the film.

Posted March 14, 2023 BIPOC

SXSW: Bottoms

PJ (Rachel Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) are bonded by their lifelong friendship and shared experience as lesbian misfits at their high school. They both have their eye on cheerleaders Isabel (Havana Rose Liu) and Brittany (Kaia Gerber). Their awkwardness becomes a roadblock in their quest to get laid. When Josie injures Jeff (Nicholas Galitzine), the star of the football team and an idol on campus, her crush Isabel is impressed. PJ and Josie soon concoct a plan. They start a girls-only fight club on campus, with the guise of building community, in order to impress their crushes. They even trick their teacher Mr. G (Marshawn Lynch), who is otherwise distracted by his divorce, into sponsoring them. What begins as a ruse becomes more earnest as the club members feel more empowered by their new skills and each other. All the events lead up to a football game between two rival high schools.

Directed by Emma Seligman, Bottoms is absolutely bonkers in the best way possible. The film unabashedly leans into its ridiculousness and is bolstered two strong leads. High school cliches are turned up several notches to great comedic effect. The story was co-written by Seligman and Sennott, their sophomore collaboration after the hit indie film Shiva Baby (2020).

My only quibble is that the romantic pairs, both lesbian and straight, have little chemistry. You have to suspend your disbelief in order to buy that these young people are into each other.

The cast is really stupendous. In addition to Sennott and Edebri, who have great on screen camaraderie, Marshawn Lynch, Miles Fowler and Ruby Cruz also shine in their respective roles. Bottoms is great fun and sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Bottoms had its world premiere at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival and is distributed by Orion Pictures.