Materialists (2025)

A young woman (Dakota Johnson) is a successful matchmaker working in a Manhattan upscale dating service. But an incident has her questioning her choice of work. Written and directed by Celine Song (PAST LIVES). Song's PAST LIVES was one of the most acclaimed films of 2023 receiving Oscar nominations for best picture and best original screenplay. It's a hard act to follow and while its critical reception was mostly favorable, it wasn't as lauded as PAST LIVES. It's a pity because I think it's a marvelous movie. I found its rumination on love and romance in the new millennium sharp, honest and clear eyed. It eschews the sentimentality and cliches of contemporary romcoms while still maintaining hopefulness in an often muddy romantic landscape. The acting is quite good. I think this just might be Dakota Johnson's best performance yet and there's a strong performance by Zoe Winters as one of Johnson's clients whose date goes horribly wrong! With Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal (the film's weakest link), Marin Ireland and Louisa Jacobson.