What a dreary film; what a tedious Emily. You could drop in Kim Cattrall (Samantha, SATC) as Vryling Buffum—who Catherine Bailey seemingly impersonates in cadence and biting one-liners—and it would not prick up this dull project's stymied rhythm. Terence Davies mistakes a frigid passion for "a quiet passion." In the opposite corner, Molly Shannon's _Wild Nights with Emily_ (Dir. Madeleine Olnek, 2018) is an equally strange film for a strange subject. However where _A Quiet Passion_ fails, _Wild Nights_ succeeds in wit, in spirit, and yup—in passion.

Some might find it depressing, but I thought it was powerful, incredibly witty and altogether glorious. Cynthia Nixon was astonishing. I knew very little about Emily Dickinson going in, but now I'm clamouring to find out more. AND there was a surprising amount of thwoorp action. #yaas

A Quiet Passion is a Wikipedia biopic on Emily Dickinson where the script consists of comedy routines in which the punch lines are replaced by trite adages.

The good:  the film had an interesting story to tell and the acting was excellent.  The bad:  the sum of the aforementioned did not result in a great watching experience.  

Understated drama is wryly funny, though occasionally a slog to sit through.