Time: 106 Minutes
Age Rating: M – Offensive language, suicide references & drug references
Cast:
Tilda Swinton as Martha
Julianne Moore as Ingrid
John Turturro as Damian
Alessandro Nivola as policeman
Director: Pedro Almodóvar

While I haven’t seen a lot of Pedro Almodóvar’s movies, I liked the few movies I have seen from him, so I was interested in checking out his latest, The Room Next Door. It is his first English language movie and would star Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton. I didn’t know anything else about the movie going in, but I thought it was pretty good overall.

The Room Next Door is a touching movie about friendship, existential dread and facing death, and approaches its subject matters with tenderness. Sometimes the movie could feel a little awkward at points, especially with the dialogue, but it feels intentional, and it is genuinely funny in some moments. It really is an emotional melodrama, and I liked the conversations between Moore and Swinton. While I was emotionally engaged with the story, I feel that it potentially could’ve been even more resonant, especially if it was a little longer.

Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore deliver phenomenal lead performances and share great dynamic and chemistry. John Turturro and Alessandro Nivola are also solid in supporting roles.

Pedro Almodóvar’s direction as expected is great and stylistic. It’s beautifully shot and vibrant, the production design is really good, and Alberto Iglesias’ score is excellent.

The Room Next Door is a bittersweet and touching film, greatly directed, and excellently performed by Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore. Not one of Pedro Almodóvar’s best, but still solid.