Title: On the Rocks
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Rashida Jones, Marlon Wayans, Bill Murray
Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins

What It Is: Laura (Jones) suspects her husband Dean (Wayans) might have been or is currently being unfaithful to her. When this information is revealed to her loving, if not overbearing father the charismatic Felix (Murray). He has a plan to figure out whether or not her suspicion are true. All the while they’ll figure out exactly how and why they love each other. A journey some fathers and daughters do not get to experience.

What We Think: Sofia got her groove back! It’s been 17ish years since Lost in Translation, her last collaboration with Murray. It’s also the last time she was truly GREAT. The Marie Antoinette take and The Bling Ring were not great swings and Somewhere was…well…something. Even The Beguiled was a film the exist. Here she gets to the center of the issues with her characters. Characters she lovingly crafts. Ones she builds and molds with love and we the audience get to reap that reward. This is a splendid script which is also put together by Coppola. Bill Murray brings his typical charm and Rashida Jones is as good as she’s been in most anything. This is absolutely a career best for her and Marlon Wayans. Who was a surprisingly charming presence. A24 are on a win streak in 2020 and that continues here with this absolutely delightful little piece.

Our Grade: B+, AppleTV+ has done some interesting work this year and this is perhaps the pièce de résistance of their lineup from 2020. With a interesting and well built structure and absolute precision in detail from Coppola behind the lens. I am hopeful this is a sign of things to come from Sofia Coppola and not a start to another series of subpar works. Ones more self-interested and self-indulgent. Works that don’t connect because they’re lifeless. Give me refreshing run at overmade genres. Give me films that have some sort of pulse. A pulse similar to the beauty of the city they live in.