De Niro and Scorsese in the ring is volatile poetry in motion. It's the sweat dripping from De Niro's hair, the gloves that hit the body like a drum, the blood that oozes from the sponge, the flash of the camera, and the smile that De Niro gives after the Janiro fight; but most of all, it's the black and white cinematography that clouds the ring in smoke.
Look, I could talk about the cinematography for days, but Raging Bull…
Hypnotic to a point where you almost do not care what is going on; Only God Forgives cements Refn's stylistic abilities, but the film's neon infused style, while stunning, fails to salvage the lackluster substance on display here.
Whereas other films thrive on style over, or even as substance, Only God Forgives never feels as though the style itself is contributing to any deeper feelings beyond just visual flair. I love looking at Ryan Gosling soaked in moody lighting and…
Manchester by the Sea is Casey Affleck and Casey Affleck will forever be Manchester by the Sea.
I'm really at a loss for words. This film has genuinely defeated me. I want to say more about the dynamic between Affleck and Hedges and the idea that the vast majority of the time our own misery is deserved, but I have no idea where to begin or end.
"I can't beat it"
Even if Cape Fear proves to be a little campy in the end, the powerhouse performances that drive this film cannot be ignored. On one hand you have Nolte blindly fueled by the irrationality of fear and on the other you have De Niro fueled by psychotic vengeance.
It also helps that this film is genuinely creepy. Max Cady sends shivers down my spine, but at the same time a shredded and tatted De Niro makes him look hard as fuck.
Send me back to 1991 when even Scorsese was needle-dropping Guns n' Roses.
The only knock on Scream VI is the lack of Sidney; otherwise this entry ups the blood, kills, and tension to a degree that is further heightened by the awesome New York City setting. Even if Sidney may be noticeably missing though, she couldn't stick around forever and I think this newish batch of characters are perfect for the future of the franchise, much like how they are perfect and more comfortable in this film.
I also want to mention that I walked home alone from the theater at 1am in NYC and didn't get killed because Ghostface ain't got nothing on my ass!
