LAUGHING TO KEEP FROM CRYING

ALFWAY THROUGH , AFTER IT’S ALREADY won you twice over with its Swiss-watch plotting and its masterful juggling of tones, there’s a momentous swerve in the narrative that reminded me of the thrill of being in the hands of a truly mischievous storyteller. The director knows exactly where he’s taking you, and he’s so excited to get you there that he’s practically tripping over his own breathlessly designed setups. So when the punch lines finally arrive, they function simultaneously as euphoric release and disorienting screw-tightening. It’s a delirious ride and, by the end,