‘Anniversary’ Movie Review: Diane Lane Headlines Well Made But “Gutless” Political Thriller

Although CinemAddicts host Bruce Purkey recommended the new political thriller Anniversary, he was stlll disappointed with the film’s execution. Eric Holmes and I are going to praise the heck out of this film on this week’s episode, but for the purposes of this post, let’s focus on Bruce’s review!

Directed by Jan Komasa (Corpus Christi) and written by Lori Rosene-Gambino, Anniversary centers on a family who are caught in the middle of a sea change in the United States’ socio-political climate. Ellen (Diane Lane) is a Georgetown University professor who has a loving marriage to Paul (Kyle Chandler), a restaurant owner. Their children include Anna (Madeline Brewer) is a successful and outspoken stand-up comic, environmental attorney Cynthia (Zooey Deutch), science enthusiast Birdie (Mckenna Grace) and struggling writer Josh (Dylan O’Brien).

When Josh brings home his new girlfriend Elizabeth (Phoebe Dynevor) for his parents’ 25th anniversary, sparks fly due to a past history between Ellen and Elizabeth. When Elizabeth’s book The Change becomes a cultural phenomenon, drastic changes in their existence takes place.

By showing the political and social divide that occurs from The Change through the eyes of the family, Anniversary delivers an intimated and pointed tale of division. This was a topnotch cinematic experience for me, as the movie hits on all levels (my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½).

Bruce Purkey, however, had a different take. “ This should easily be a five star movie for me,” said Purkey. “The reason it’s not is it does something that really, for me, makes the message not work as well. (Like) the movie Civil War, (Anniversary) is gutless and general with their ideology, which to me makes (these movies) easy to dismiss.”

Check out Purkey’s full review: