Repeating: Halina Reijn‘s Babygirl (A24, 12.25) is reportedly a B & D variation on the “Type-A cougar has it off with a hot young dude” genre.

Friendo #1: “Actors will love it. Nicole is raw and great (as always) and it is HER show…she’s stunning, but whether it goes beyond that Oscar-wise remains to be seen. I also loved Antonio Banderas as her husband. Weird story…kinda Last Tango-ish with clothes mostly kept on, or 9 1/2 Weeks in some ways. Not at all romantic.”

Friendo #2: “Pic will gather multiple noms — Best Actress (Kidman), Best Actor (Harris Dickinson), Best Direction and Writing (Reijn).”

Honestly? People have been remarking for quite a while about a look of stretched tightness in Nicole Kidman‘s facial features, and in particular around her eyes. For whatever reason I never shared this reaction. But when I saw this Babygirl trailer, my first thought was “whoa, her face looks tight as a drum.”

Friendo who’d seen Babygirl the night before, quoted on 9.16.24: “A groundbreaking investigation of female sexuality by a female writer-director.”