Takeaways on Cutaways
Ditch the lube and get to the point in the raw, honest, cheeky dramedy written and directed by Mark Schwab.

While working in Siad Coury’s coffeehouse in a Syrian neighborhood of New York City, Syrian immigrant Anna Ayyob falls in love with reporter, Howard Fisk, who is investigating a jewel smuggling ring. When she discovers that her co-worker, “The Baron,” is involved with international thieves Count and Countess Rostoff, Anna telephones Howard with the information, but the Baron attacks her. During the encounter, she believes she accidentally kills him, and disappears. Three years later, after anonymously writing a widely popular novel called Anna Ascends, based on her own life, Anna again meets Howard Fisk. To save Howard’s sister, Bessie Fisk, from marrying Count Rostoff, Anna exposes the jewel thief and confesses to the Baron’s murder. Fortunately, Howard’s investigation discloses that the Baron is very much alive. Her named cleared, Anna marries Howard.
Ditch the lube and get to the point in the raw, honest, cheeky dramedy written and directed by Mark Schwab.
What can I say about this Will Ferrell/Julia Louis-Dreyfus-led “dramedy?” Well, the comedy part of Downhill is completely non-existent. And I should have known that the film was a flop when I walked into an empty theater at a prime time on a Friday night.
2025 has just about wrapped, so we’re taking this time to celebrate the most inclusive films that came out this year. Graded on Gender, Race, LGBTQ, Disability, and more
At its heart, it’s a fond tribute to an influential artist and thus one that can speak to everyone’s inner artist, even if it lacks the sincere commentary you may wish to see.
One of the reasons that people with albinism have a difficult time being seen and represented in media is probably because there is a small percentage of them.