Blackbird

This is very much the Hollywood version, with Oscar-winning actresses, sad violins on the score signaling serious drama, and a gorgeous setting, the English shore standing in for Connecticut.

Susan Sarandon at the top of her game as a woman taking charge of her death.

The actors do their best to elevate the material...

Sarandon is a welcome, prickly presence, unyielding in her intention to go out with at least some faculties intact...

You don’t assemble a cast like this one without giving every actor something tasty to chew on.

...a touching examination of life, love, death, and loss.