Ballerina (2023)

Ballerina gets off to a bad start with a fight in a grocery store that features exceedingly erratic camera work and incoherent editing, and I was prepared for a film to be endured rather than enjoyed, but by the end it had won me over to a surprising degree.

First and foremost it is beautifully filmed, with gorgeous cinematography and lighting. Next the story is quite good - not original or profound, but handled very elegantly. It firmly believes in showing not telling.

Finally, the film redeems itself on the action front with a finale that is far more coherent and legible than the opener, and far more brutal and intense. It's much more important to end on a high than to start with one, as that's the experience you take home with you, and I'd rather be pleasantly surprised than let down when the end credits roll.

In a less crowded genre the film might merit a higher score, but it's competing with some heavy hitters.

On the other hand it's also a film I could comfortably recommend even to people who aren't action junkies as it is quite well-rounded, and clocks in at just 90 minutes (sans credits) so it's easy to digest.