Letterboxd — Your life in film

Pierre Brasseur gives a wonderfully melancholy performance and Édith Scob is haunting and heartbreaking in equal measure.

Despite that, I was left somewhat underwhelmed by this. It has a handful of brilliantly brutal and/or atmospheric scenes but I found it to plod along in places. Perhaps I was frustrated that it never really escalated into thriller mode, it’s certainly more interested in understated horror/drama than providing thrills despite some clear opportunities to do so.

I was also slightly distracted by…

I can think of few films I found as exhilarating, hilarious and moving as this. Such an amazing achievement. The whole thing is a complete rush from start to finish, I didn’t want it to end. It’s a rich, decadent existential epic. 

Michelle Yeoh completely owns every scene, she has so much on her shoulders and the film is a testament to her gargantuan talent. Just one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in a single film.

She is…

Must have cigarettes and espresso. Must have cigarettes and espresso. Must have…

Absolute camp fest and I love it for it. Everyone is giving wild performances (with the exception of Adam Driver who seems to be the resident straight man) and chewing scenery left and right but tonally it comes together and really works as a complete package. 

Gaga is fantastic and the film excels when she’s on screen. I also really enjoyed Pacino and Irons. I have no idea…

While I love the real-time element of this and it’s an impressive build of suspense towards the inevitable climax, I came away a bit underwhelmed.

Perhaps in large part because I *hushed voice* don’t find Gary Cooper all that compelling *end hushed voice*. I like his performance being subtle and muted but at the same time I guess I just find him a bit wooden generally?

To say the whole thing was building towards a confrontation at the end, I…

I never think of Gene Hackman as a particularly comedic actor but damn he’s hilarious in this. Almost every line, every reaction, every cough sent me.

Heartbreakers has me genuinely chuckling out loud more than most American comedies. It’s directed by someone who was a Simpsons show runner so maybe that’s why?

It’s a fun set up, great dialogue, farcical set ups and a great pair of leads with Weaver and Love-Hewitt. Has a great supporting cast too.

It’s definitely…

I love 90s serial killer thrillers and this one is certainly elevated by a pair of cracking lead performances from Weaver and Hunter. Both play compelling characters and their scenes together are full of chemistry and sparks.

I really like how Weaver’s characters agoraphobia is accentuated through the camera work in a few scenes. Some of the most tense moments in the thing are when she’s just trying to grab a newspaper that’s a little distance from her front door…

I wasn’t expecting to find this as compelling as I did. Starts out seemingly setting up a bit of a love triangle scenario but takes a turn at the end of the first act and I was really interested in seeing where the story went.

Ivor Novello is so brilliant here. He nails the comedy bits he has to do while also progressing his performance gradually as his character slips further and further into despair.

Some great Hitchcock touches throughout,…