ANNETTE
This week, I saw ANNETTE (trailer here), the new movie from director Leos Carax, featuring music by pop duo Sparks. Full disclosure: This is one of the most bizarre movies I’ve ever seen. It’s a musical about a celebrity couple (Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard) whose relationship strains after the birth of their daughter, Annette. Straightforward enough, sure, but the dialogue is almost entirely sung, and rather than cast a child actor for the role of Annette, Carax boldly opted to use a wooden puppet. On top of that, there’s a ghost, a Super Bowl halftime show parody, and a fourth-wall-breaking opening number on Santa Monica Boulevard (look closely to spot local Persian restaurant Naan Hut in the background—love you, Naan Hut!). If you’re willing to lean in, the weirdness guarantees that you’ll never anticipate where the movie will take you next. ANNETTE is currently in theaters and will stream on Amazon Prime beginning August 20.
—Nolan Russell, Executive Assistant
