Frank and Penelope (2022)

Heat reaches a fever point when a washed up realist spots a sultry dancer in a grime strewn strip club, and the two become co conspirators in a swift descent toward retribution. Frank and Penelope leans into stark lighting that shouts tension without a single cue, presenting a noir crime thriller that feels as if every frame holds a secret. You feel the echo of the city’s underbelly beneath a soundtrack that roars and whispers in equal measure, making each beat a visceral promise. Joaquin Phoenix turns on a scene that feels less dialogue than a silent scream, each glance charged with unmistakable purpose. If the film’s flash cut middle feels a touch jarring, it never lets that tension cut loose.