I had not seen Following in so many years that I honestly forgot what it is about. But as soon as I started watching, I was reminded of who Christopher Nolan is as a filmmaker.
It almost does not matter that this is his first full feature, shot on 16mm, for barely any money. Or that it is black and white. It is Nolan through and through. From how he casts leads as if he is slicing parts of himself…
I have wanted to watch The Fall for so many years solely off of the strength of still photographs that I have seen that reveal some of the most compelling cinematography and direction to exist. I feel like every single film on earth has to white knuckle fight this film on asphalt for the title of best cinematography ever.
This film is easily one of the most narratively bizarre films that I have ever seen and it really pushed me…
While watching His Three Daughters, the first thing that crossed my mind was Succession S4E3 - "Connor's Wedding." Not because the class, style, tone, or circumstances are exactly the same, but because that is the last time that I have seen death and the reaction to it depicted in way that feels grounded in the very intimate reality of losing a parent. Of death itself. Who remains; the roles expected; the roles assumed.
This film is like it takes the…
Dark Waters delivers exactly what I thought it would, and a bit more. A compelling drama about the sheer disgust that the cruelty of greed and power evokes (DuPont et. al. in this story); yes. A butterfly effect of never-ending caustic ripples. And another (wildly imperfect, but useful) example of "the good" not "doing nothing." But also, I appreciate that the film conveys the personal cost of pursuing justice. Because it is...expensive. It can cost money obviously, but also careers,…
Killers of the Flower Moon is an incredibly well-directed (another Martin Scorsese banger; no surprise) and well-acted film with stunning aesthetics and an effective score that all work together to affirm a dually painful truth: white supremacy is not only an obvious poison that kills through greed, weapons and laws, but a subtle one that kills slowly through the lie that it can nurture and sustain friendship, kinship and love. Almost every single moment of this film is psychologically horrifying,…
Bruised goes the route of a somewhat common type of story, but a few things are quite memorable. One is the performances by Sheila Atim and child actor Danny Boyd; so so good. Another is the way the parent/child relationship between Halle Berry's character Jackie Justice and Danny Boyd's character Manny builds. While quite a few characters in the film feel one-dimensional and little more than their own trauma, this aforementioned relationship is difficult terrain to navigate but the film…
I went into The Harder They Fall thinking it would be more serious (I got caught up in the marketing aesthetics and the intensity of the trailers) instead of closer to Blaxploitation/spaghetti western. Thus, once I adjusted my expectations, the anachronistic (though good in of itself) music, the modernized jokes and the set became part of the charm.
I do think it is unfortunate that colourism had an impact on how the role of Mary Fields was cast; Zazie Beetz…
“I feel as if I’m losing all my leaves. The branches, and the wind, and the rain. I don’t know what’s happening anymore. Do you know what’s happening?" This series of lines is one I will probably never forget after watching Anthony Hopkins' truly compelling performance in The Father. Though I felt like I wanted a bit more from the film in total, his performance is truly unforgettable and is a unique portrait of the reality of aging, of illness and the inescapability of mortality.
King Richard has classic sports film goodness with the three primary elements I expect in such films: discipline, controversy and triumph. It definitely offers what is to be expected on this front and is a good film just from this, if one is looking for this general vibe. It is both funny and serious, both grand and intimate. I enjoyed Will Smith's and Jon Bernthal's performances, and especially enjoyed Aunjanue Ellis' performance. Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton are wonderful young…
Miss Juneteenth is an incredible film. Nicole Beharie, Alexis Chikaeze and the rest of the cast are so good. The setting, the aesthetics, the pacing...all are just perfect. I really enjoy that it conveys a complicated yet still warm relationship with a young Black mother and her teen daughter. I honestly tire of the "terrible mom/incorrigible teen" characterizations in film and was glad to see something else more nuanced depicted.
The way the film grapples with class, the politics of…
I enjoyed the core premise of Tenet and I did not find it overly complex on its face. I really enjoyed the aesthetics and the sense of scale for larger scenes. Incredible action. However, I did not enjoy a lot of the actual writing and the interpersonal relationships on screen.
The problem with Tenet for me is not the complexity of the core premise. The problem is the execution. A lot of telling and not enough showing. A lot of…