Who's in It: Parker Posey, James Urbaniak, Jeff Goldblum
The Basics: You indie film people remember Hal Hartley, right? He made some very cool movies in the '90s, and then he made some pretty bad ones after that. One of his better ones, Henry Fool, was about a guy named Henry Fool who wrote a weird book called The Confessions. Ten years later, we learn that the book was a secret code full of international security secrets, and it's up to his estranged wife (Posey) to put on a fancy outfit and run around like Doris Day in Caprice. For me, this is a good thing. (Caprice is a goofy '60s movie where Day is a middle-aged lady Bond in wacky clothes. You should see it. It's pretty cracked.)
What's the Deal? Like most movies about international intrigue and high-tech spies these days, this sometimes makes no sense. There are terrorists and country-hopping and artfully stylized scenes about who knows what. And it feels dated, like if Hartley decided that as long as the '90s had been so good to him, he might as well go back and pretend it was still that moment. But whatever. I had a great time anyway because, if you think about it, the '90s were way better than what we've been through in the past seven years.
Why, in Spite of It Not Being Such an Incredible Piece of Filmmaking, I Enjoyed Myself Anyway: Because of all the women working onscreen today, there's flat-out nobody as cool as Posey. I know she's an acquired taste, and some people find her obnoxious or too arch for her own good. But those people are wrong. And seriously, give me 10 of her over one Jessica Biel or Amanda Peet any day of any month of any year. You'll never confuse her with anyone else, and she works perfectly with Hartley's weird dialogue and distant-ditzy worldview.
Where's You've Heard James Urbaniak: If you watch the hilarious animated series The Venture Bros. (and if you're not, why not?), then you'll know his voice as Dr. Venture.
P.S. Great coat, too. Like, really great coat.