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Itâs the little things you do together, as Stephen Sondheim reminded us, in âCompany,â that make perfect relationships. He listed some of the things: âconcerts you enjoy together, neighbors you annoy together, children you destroy together,â and so on. Thereâs a whole potential movie, right there, and I was hoping that the new John Lee Hancock film, âThe Little Things,â might be a riff on Sondheimâs acerbic song. No joy. Instead, itâs a cop drama about a serial killer, decked out with the customary frills: murders you commit together, clues you try to fit together, ways to get your shit together. And so on.
“Supernova” is a moving story of two men who are deeply in love but will soon not know each other. One of them is aware that he s at the precipice of the final stage of dementia, losing many of his abilities to comprehend the world around him. He won’t recognize his husband’s face or name. The other man won’t have the same problem but the man he knew and loved will be, at least in a sense, gone. They will never stop loving each other. And it’s a testament to the performances given by the excellent actors Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci that we believe this final statement to our core. They convey a truly loving relationship, and they do so largely through silence. It’s a look or a touch. Sadly, when they’re forced to talk, the dialogue sometimes sounds like it s coming from a writer instead of a character, but there’s so much truth and compassion embedded in this entire production that the places in which it stumbles can be forgiven.
The Hunger Games) have been loving partners for 20 years. They’re traveling across England in their old camper van, visiting friends, family and places from their past. Following Tusker’s diagnosis of early-onset dementia, their time together has become more important than ever, and they want to spend as much time together as possible before the end comes.
Supernova is definitely an actor’s movie, and it doesn’t disappoint on that level. Tucci is marvelous as the smug and sardonic Tusker, who is torn between vague amusement at the way that his partner dotes on him and frustration at the crushing fear that he feels that he’s not allowed to express and he’s far better here than in his Oscar-nominated turn in
Washington City Paper
Supernova, Love Stares Down an Ending Over warm meals, a visit with friends, and long stretches of driving, Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci s characters inch closer to a reckoning. Success! You re on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn t process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again. Processing…
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This story is part of our State of the Arts collection: six stories that each check in on a specific segment of D.C.’s art scene, one year after the first lockdown.
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Fort Worth Weekly
One scene and two actors distinguish this late-life gay romance.
Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci make a stop on their English road trip in Supernova.
In my travels, I’ve come across numerous movies that were dull, bad, or ordinary yet had a single moment or scene that achieved greatness. When this happens, it’s frustrating why couldn’t the filmmakers have brought that same level of thought or inspiration to the rest of the film? On the other hand, I’ve always treasured these scenes, because these moments of wonder are even more wondrous in the context of mediocrity. Whether it’s a marvelous action set piece, a genuinely funny bit, a great piece of acting by some supporting player, or just something that grabs hold of me for reasons I can’t immediately put my finger on, these things sustain a film critic through the dark times.