In a supernova, Tochi and Firth are quietly destroyed: NPR

As you can see Supernova Writer / director Harry McQueen’s light-hearted tale of a gay couple who reconcile with the fact that one of them suffers from early dementia – she is constantly surprised at how much confidence in the movie places in its strings.

Which makes sense, considering that the two protagonists in question are Colin Firth, British pianist Sam, and Stanley Tucci, American novelist Tusker. The latter is the one losing himself, and of the two, he appears to be the most optimistic about it.

In an early, wordless scene, Tusker tours away from the RV as the two tour the British Lakes. An anxious Sam leads his way along a narrow country lane until he discovers Tusker; While he goes out to retrieve it, Macqueen’s camera stays in the RV, looking at the two through the windshield. Sam approaches the Tusker, and the concerned driver reassures everything is in order. (Everything is not well). Tusker sees Sam and collapses. Cuddle up.

Less movie will put us with them, in the middle of that embrace, amid tears, comfort and whispering affirmations. But McQueen – the actor himself, the good actor, and seemingly unreasonable truth here – knows we don’t need it. Tucci and Firth can sell that moment, in all their panicked intimacy, just by the range of their shoulders and the way their bodies crumble into each other.

Supernova It is characterized by this type of cognitive restraint, which defines the difference between feelings (real, learned feelings) and emotional (the cheap, manipulative attempt that draws our hearts). In scene after scene, as the two men visit friends and family one last time, we catch a glimpse of the most joyful and hottest movie Supernova It can’t transform into a thing but not transformed into, it only hovers at the edges. Only in its closing moments, which foretells of a dramatic conflict of the kind that stories like this require, will the film become the “Here One for Oscar Reel” actor that is always under threat, but the path has been carefully laid out, and it is hard to envy these two actors a chance To prospect.

As Sam, Firth was compassionate and cautious at the same time, having buried his fears about his impending loss and his fears that he would not be up to the demands of care, so that his partner would not be worried. We’ve seen Firth do something so stiff with a British upper lip countless times, and it’s nice to see him in a role that allows that lip to twitch a little.

Tucci’s role is even more urgent, in that he easily invites large and effective options to register his case. But he’s sly UnderTusker plays as a man gifted with emotional intelligence to mask the true extent of dementia, at least for now. When he’s struggling to get the right word, never get overt – Tucci passes it like a temporary bug, don’t worry.

Which – which Supernova It centers on the lives of two 60-year-old gay men which is notable for several reasons. The first, absolute novelty: stories of gay men of a certain age dealing with non-AIDS deaths are still relatively rare. Second, was the couple at the center of the story a heterosexual, central tension – could one take care of the other? He would have been burdened with lean notions about traditional gender roles. Focusing on same-sex couples means that abstract, preconceived notions of masculinity and femininity can be dispensed with, so we can focus instead on the changing power dynamics between these two specific people.

Firth and Tucci are old friends in real life, and they were originally set in the opposite role of the role they both ended up in the movie. Once you see Supernova, It would be difficult to understand this fact, as the actors seem to fit perfectly with their characters. They’ve likely demonstrated their ability to capture the intimacy that Sam and Tusker share, but it’s hard to imagine that they’ve found the little individual notes of grace that they’re making here – silent moments expressing little joy in what they have with us, and a devastating knowledge that it will soon disappear forever. .