“I love you. You give me fish”
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Mulholland Drive 2001
“(Sixteen reasons) Why I Love You”
A dream world, until it’s a nightmare about the saddest thing ever imagined. Punches you into a deep dark abyss, just to watch you fall.
But are you saving her from Hollywood poison or throwing out a hand without pulling her up, just to maintain her as your very own damsel?
The dissolves David… the dissolves.
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Mystery Train 1989
Poor boys and pilgrims - one night in Memphis.
“Sometimes even the greatest love can last just only one week”
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Raging Bull 1980
Some men can’t lose. Perhaps because of luck, maybe because of skill but rarely, as in the case of Jake LaMotta, due to defiance. Just because he didn’t win, doesn’t mean he lost.
Just because he was beaten black and blue; doesn’t mean he was knocked down.
“He ain’t pretty no more”
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Day for Night 1973
When isn’t Truffaut an array of visual delight?
And no, he was right.
“I'm sure Ferrand is wrong. Life is more important than films”
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Singin' in the Rain 1952
Makes movies look easy; and for a hundred minutes, you’re convinced they are.
“You have to show a movie at a party. It’s Hollywood law!”
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Spring Breakers 2012
I don’t know. The divisive nature of Korine’s cult hit here is perhaps what makes it so invigorating even now. Do you think it’s the perfect reflection of our shallow, hustler hive mind existence and how the bored middle class is pulled into urban danger seeking excitement, or is it a vacuous ninety five minute music video that has happened to stumble across relevance and somehow aged like fine wine? With Korine, there’s clearly no shortage of style, and it…
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Everything Everywhere All at Once 2022
Second watch - “overwhelming” and “intimidating” are different words, but they’re not mutually exclusive. Everything Everywhere All At Once presents the former by intent and avoids the latter with precision. There’s no wonder the Daniels’ latest film has swept the cinematic canvas (and the Oscars) so convincingly, as you’d be hard pressed to find a film as bafflingly inventive and brilliantly authentic. The influences of online culture and our constant diverted attention are far from subtle, nor are the endless intertextual…
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TÁR 2022
Screened in an actual philharmonic hall - a film of great, necessary precision that Field masters. The expert pacing - which I underrated the first time - building to a crescendo of time and ego. Every conductor is nothing without their orchestra, and every director is nothing without their crew; hence, Field’s expert direction ensures he is not tangled in the same web that Tár finds herself in.
To be omnipotent, is to control time. In the opening scene, Tár…
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The General 1926
Proof that the simplicity of Keaton’s narratives and direction weren’t that of technological handicaps, but instead subtle innovation. The Vaudevillian physicality and technical wizardry here are a sight to behold - just how did they do that, you may ask. The answer? Buster Keaton. Revisionist propaganda, but at least they lost.
“If you lose this war, don’t blame me!”
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Of Time and the City 2008
Operatic. For time and city are forever changing, though here we do not forget.
“If Liverpool did not exist, it would have to be invented”