Articulate, affluent and attractive, the central characters in Alex Ross Perry’s ensemble drama are held back by a gnawing dissatisfaction. Drily cynical Gwendolyn (Mary-Louise Parker) hires her archivist brother-in-law Nick (Beastie Boys’ Adam Horovitz) to catalogue the papers of her famous father. Nick then hires attractive assistant Naomi (Emily Browning) to spend the summer with him in a small room. Nick’s wife Alyssa (Chloë Sevigny), an insecure therapist, is less than pleased. And Naomi has her own plans, mainly involving the married Buddy (Jason Schwartzman). Perry’s previous films (including Listen Up Philip and Queen of Earth) have established his talent for finely-tuned, emotionally-wrought writing, with sharp humour and relationship observations that often sear gloriously close-to-the bone. With Golden Exits, we also get gorgeous metallic Super16 cinematography from Sean Price Williams and a series of acidic moments – particularly between two sets of co-dependent sisters – that truly sizzle.

Kate Taylor