The Listener (2024)

Steve Buscemi directs his intimate, minimalist film that takes place over a night as Beth (Tessa Thompson) is working her shift as a volunteer counselor for a telephone helpline. We see her get up out of bed in a silky camisole and undies, pop a squat on the commode, and then prep to receive calls from all manner of troubled soul. Voiced by a few familiar names, there’s an Iraqi and Afghanistan war vet, a recently dumped, mentally ill woman off her meds because she lost her health insurance, a young homeless runaway, and a creepy misogynist, amongst others, and the toll these conversations every night are taking on Beth becomes more and more evident. Truthfully, we could listen to Tessa’s tongue in action forever, but we’d much rather watch it get some action…if you know what we mean!