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Movie review: OPUS (2025)
A24? You sure it's not Blumhouse?
OPUS (2025) Written and Directed by Mark Anthony Green / Cinematographer: Tommy Maddox-Upshaw (2.35:1) / Design: Robert Pyzocha / Editor: Ernie Gilbert / Score: Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans / Cast: Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Tatanka Means, Young Mazino, Stephanie Suganami, Tamera Tomakili and Tony Hale / Distributor: A24 / Rated R / Length: 104 mins.
John Malkovich gnashes the scenery as Alfred Moretti, a pop legend out of sight for 30 years and poised to gift the listening public with a new album that, in his estimation, is not only his crowning achievement, but the greatest recording ever set to wax! (It had better be, considering the back-to-back hitless albums that preceded it.) To celebrate, and start the ballyhoo bandwagon in motion, Moretti invites six media types to an exclusive listening party at his remote Utah compound. They range from fatuous talk show host Clara (Juliette Lewis), influencer Emily (Stephanie Suganami), crusty paparazza Bianca (Melissa Chambers), radio shock jock Bill (Mark Sivertsen), and two journalists: magazine editor Stan (Murray Bartlett) and his ace cub reporter Ariel Ecton (Ayo Edebiri). Do the movie math: Theater of Blood + Phantom of the Paradise x Knives Out ÷ A heaping helping of Blumhouse ≥ Jordan Peele = intellectually undemanding bloodiness.
Video:
Trailer: OPUS
It's the event of the century, a musical legend offering six hand-picked correspondents unfettered access. But rather than sharing the wealth, Stan marks his territory by making it clear who will be getting the byline. Ariel’s contributions will be limited to taking notes on anything she observes. So observe she does. Up front, Moretti’s digs look to be a cross between an art commune and a Renaissance Fair — to everyone, a uniform. Moretti’s subjects, collectively known as “Levellists,” devote their days to painting, archery, feeding horses, etc. Adding to the creepy factor, there’s even a schoolhouse for the youngsters.
If the goal was to spread the word, why would Moretti invite two reporters from the same outlet? And why greenhorn Ariel? Even if she were to spill gallons of ink worth of publicity, her reach is nothing compared to the other invitees. Is it just a Svengali complex at work? Surely, with all the celebrity sycophants out there, eager and willing to sign “cultist” on the dotted line, Moretti could have found an easier, more susceptible mark.
Armed with just paper and pencil (all electronics are checked at the door), the six invitees are each assigned a round-the-clock “concierge.” When Ariel takes her morning jog, concierge Belle (Amber Midthunder) keeps pace. Freshening up after their journey, the group are escorted into an auditorium to meet their host. Like much of what follows, Moretti’s opener — an anecdote involving Chuck Norris and Muhammed Ali chopping a mosquito in half — is a set-up in search of a big payoff. Talk of “pubic gardening” and a gag involving the ceremonial passing of an oversize dinner roll from which everyone at the table must take a bite add salaciousness and silliness, respectively.
In a flagrant display of death by billing, two minor characters are killed off, leaving the remaining four to be locked in a room where Malkovich proceeds to talk them to death. And when words lose their potency, let the scalping begin! If that sounds like your kind of night out at the movies, you’re welcome to it. *
Now streaming: https://tickets.opus.movie/
Here's something you might be interested in.
Movie review: OPUS (2025)
A24? You sure it's not Blumhouse?
Movie review: OPUS (2025)
A24? You sure it's not Blumhouse?
OPUS (2025) Written and Directed by Mark Anthony Green / Cinematographer: Tommy Maddox-Upshaw (2.35:1) / Design: Robert Pyzocha / Editor: Ernie Gilbert / Score: Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans / Cast: Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Tatanka Means, Young Mazino, Stephanie Suganami, Tamera Tomakili and Tony Hale / Distributor: A24 / Rated R / Length: 104 mins.
John Malkovich gnashes the scenery as Alfred Moretti, a pop legend out of sight for 30 years and poised to gift the listening public with a new album that, in his estimation, is not only his crowning achievement, but the greatest recording ever set to wax! (It had better be, considering the back-to-back hitless albums that preceded it.) To celebrate, and start the ballyhoo bandwagon in motion, Moretti invites six media types to an exclusive listening party at his remote Utah compound. They range from fatuous talk show host Clara (Juliette Lewis), influencer Emily (Stephanie Suganami), crusty paparazza Bianca (Melissa Chambers), radio shock jock Bill (Mark Sivertsen), and two journalists: magazine editor Stan (Murray Bartlett) and his ace cub reporter Ariel Ecton (Ayo Edebiri). Do the movie math: Theater of Blood + Phantom of the Paradise x Knives Out ÷ A heaping helping of Blumhouse ≥ Jordan Peele = intellectually undemanding bloodiness.
Video:
Trailer: OPUS
It's the event of the century, a musical legend offering six hand-picked correspondents unfettered access. But rather than sharing the wealth, Stan marks his territory by making it clear who will be getting the byline. Ariel’s contributions will be limited to taking notes on anything she observes. So observe she does. Up front, Moretti’s digs look to be a cross between an art commune and a Renaissance Fair — to everyone, a uniform. Moretti’s subjects, collectively known as “Levellists,” devote their days to painting, archery, feeding horses, etc. Adding to the creepy factor, there’s even a schoolhouse for the youngsters.
If the goal was to spread the word, why would Moretti invite two reporters from the same outlet? And why greenhorn Ariel? Even if she were to spill gallons of ink worth of publicity, her reach is nothing compared to the other invitees. Is it just a Svengali complex at work? Surely, with all the celebrity sycophants out there, eager and willing to sign “cultist” on the dotted line, Moretti could have found an easier, more susceptible mark.
Armed with just paper and pencil (all electronics are checked at the door), the six invitees are each assigned a round-the-clock “concierge.” When Ariel takes her morning jog, concierge Belle (Amber Midthunder) keeps pace. Freshening up after their journey, the group are escorted into an auditorium to meet their host. Like much of what follows, Moretti’s opener — an anecdote involving Chuck Norris and Muhammed Ali chopping a mosquito in half — is a set-up in search of a big payoff. Talk of “pubic gardening” and a gag involving the ceremonial passing of an oversize dinner roll from which everyone at the table must take a bite add salaciousness and silliness, respectively.
In a flagrant display of death by billing, two minor characters are killed off, leaving the remaining four to be locked in a room where Malkovich proceeds to talk them to death. And when words lose their potency, let the scalping begin! If that sounds like your kind of night out at the movies, you’re welcome to it. *
Now streaming: https://tickets.opus.movie/
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