It’s insane how this film was flat out rejected for being too much style at the time when it’d be celebrated for being just right today. Sharon Stone put this whole project together and when it didn’t do well (despite clearly having a great vision and willing to pay DiCaprio out of her own salary because the studio didn’t think he was a star) she paid the consequences. Meanwhile, the cast, the directing, the art direction, even the special fx…
-
-
Godzilla Minus One 2023
We really need blockbusters that know how to build the stakes like this. This film takes from so many classic ones (Jaws, Jurassic Park, Independence Day, etc) and wraps it with a throwback Godzilla film, while still seriously dealing with the fallout of WWII. It’s quite a feat, by the end I was smiling ear to ear, glad I saw it in IMAX.
-
Maestro 2023
In a few early episodes of Inside The Actor’s Studio during the audience questions section, Bradley Cooper at his most wide-eyed dorkiest eagerly asks questions in hopes of getting the secret to greatness. While he was a working actor for all of the 00s, most would agree he didn’t become a star until 2009’s The Hangover and arguably wasn’t taken seriously until 2012’s 1-2 punch of The Place Beyond The Pines and Silver Linings Playbook. After that first Oscar nomination,…
-
-
May December 2023
Only Todd Haynes could make a film that’s able to find a balance between high camp and still respect the dark subject matter. He has a keen interest in femininity as a performance but also exploring the duality that presents. The meta commentary on how film (Both as an industry & a medium) covers real life stories presents some interesting moments but feels slight compared the examination of the titular May December relationship. There’s no shortage of films that tackle this…
-
Kicking and Screaming 1995
I can’t tell if this is b-team Walt Stillman or Hal Hartley (Possibly both) but eitherway the directing is not good. Not only is the colour palette nonexistent, but also weak camera movements and confusing framing. The cast except for (Posey & Gould) are the almost all background actors given roles way beyond their range. The script is probably the best part but I guess it was more impressive when I first saw it at 18 y/o. Also these people are supposed to be early 20s????
-
Farewell My Concubine 1992
Film Goals 2023 (So close to finished!)
An epic tragedy in the greatest sense. The brutality, the betrayal & the beauty (The costumes & makeup are unbelievable) is all here. I’m certain many cultural elements specific to China went over my head but yet the story and the characters’s journeys were so powerful. By the end I was heartbroken by both the emotional violence and horrible oppression of the PRC equally. Not surprised China tried to ban this or that Harvey Weinstein chopped it for an American release.
-
Thanksgiving 2023
Maybe it’s because this has been a weak year for horror. Maybe it’s because Eli Roth has had such a lackluster career after his initial promise. Maybe it’s because a 90’s throwback slasher film without beating you on the head with it. But this is a great film that lives up to almost everything it set out to do. The kills were generally good (Though the trampoline scene was disappointing, we all saw the trailer and I get not wanting…
-
All Over Me 1997
Emotionally it captures teendom well and love the 90’s aesthetics (Clothes, hair, music). I especially appreciate that its willing to show the messiness of trying understand your sexuality as a teen. While I like that the film isn’t trying to be as sensational as Kids or Thirteen, I do wish the film had more grit to it. The sanitized vibe to this makes it not seem like a true New York City, instead it feels like a ghost…
-
Nathan for You: Finding Frances 2017
Not the masterpiece some made it out to be but definitely felt like the middle between Nathan For You & The Rehearsal. Though I did generally feel something at the end of this and appreciate what this was trying to say about taking chances in life. Could’ve used more Nathan dancing.
-
The Holdovers 2023
A 00s film pretending to be a 70s film, Hal Ashby paint by numbers. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen a film presenting 2 levels of nostalgia at once (Licorice Pizza? OUATH? That’s My Boy?). Ironically the things it probably sold it’s self on to appeal to a current audience, are the worst moments of the film (Mental health, race, classism). These cringe moments made liking this film so hard, but when it worked it worked. This is how the Frasier reboot should’ve been more like lol
-
Saw X 2023
This was the most republican shit ever, between the yellow filter for all of the Mexico scenes, Jigsaw fully supporting privatized healthcare, denying systemic issues, that drug addicts should just pull themselves up by the bootstraps & overall being a mass murderer but pretending to be humanitarian (The scenes of him drawing torture ideas while sitting in a beautiful park were hilarious). I’m confused at anyone cheering for him, there’s no way he’s not a Republican. It’s like thinking Tyler Durden or Thanos were low key right. Also am I wrong in thinking that Amanda Young reminds me of Neil Brenn?