Jul 25, 2015

• 
  The Artist 2011
  ★★★ Watched 24 Jul, 2015
  A unremarkable faux-silent era film. A safe, conventional narrative in a novel, not so novel, package. Lacks the charm of the silent era, and only moderately offers silent film techniques. Way too little visual dialogue for a silent: much performance, little cinematography. A silent film for people who have never seen a silent film before. Stripped of all off-putting elements (characteristic film grain, shadows, fast motion, excessive theatricality) and designed for the modern popcorn viewer.
  
  60/100 - Decent.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Ant-Man 2015
  ★★★ Watched 24 Jul, 2015
  
  A safe, tendentious superhero flick to put on the shelf with others. Subpar narrative, but stellar action and a focused script.
  
  65/100 - Decent.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Inside Out 2015
  ★★★★½ Watched 24 Jul, 2015
  
  A captivating, high concept animated film from PIXAR which works on so many levels. Perhaps their best.
  
  85/100 - Excellent.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  The Boys From Fengkuei 1983
  ★★★★ Watched 23 Jul, 2015
  
  Hsiao Hsien's understated depiction of youth: its pains, its desires, and its transformation.Finding his rhythm.
  
  83/100 - Great
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Like Someone in Love 2012
  ★★★★★ Watched 21 Jul, 2015
  
  An exceptionally subtle and fluidly conveyed narrative using real time and tense silence with masterful precision.
  
  93/100 - Amazing.
  
  1 like
  
  
• 
  The Drop 2014
  ★★★ Watched 20 Jul, 2015
  
  Tom Hardy is amazing in this scattered, somewhat heavy-handed, yet intriguing action flick.
  
  72/100 - Good.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Certified Copy 2010
  ★★★★ Watched 17 Jul, 2015
  
  A highly literary take on magical realism, at times convincing, others not so much, always captivating.
  
  82/100 - Great.
  
  1 like

 

Jul 20, 2015

Ex Machina is one of the best sci-fi films in recent years and is truer to the genre than most of its competition. I read mainly pulpy sci-fi like Philip K d-ck but I think this film incorporates some harder elements into it pretty seemlessly. For such an accesible mystery type plot, there are still a lot of ideas to savor and turn over afterwords. What qualifies as human? Which characters are the inhuman ones? How does the ending redefine the movie as a whole? Is Oscar Isaac on steroids? Would I f--- a robot? Overall, I'd rec this to just about anyone. Out of the little of 2015 that I've seen, this one might be my favorite so far.

 

Jul 7, 2015

• 
  All That Heaven Allows 1955
  ★★★★★ Watched 03 Jul, 2015
  
  Published at Next Projection:
  
  nextprojection.com/2015/07/07/dreaming-technicolor-heaven-allows/
  
  Directed by the inimitable classical Hollywood filmmaker, Douglas Sirk, and shot by famed cinematographer Russell Metty, All That Heaven Allows displays much of what there is to love about the so called Golden era: affable characters, striking painterly colours provided by Technicolor, and an inspiring tale of love and tragedy.
  
  *Read full review at link above*
  
  92/100
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  I Killed My Mother 2009
  ★★★★½ Watched 06 Jul, 2015
  
  Published at Aesthetics of the Mind:
  
  aestheticsofthemind.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/i-killed-my-mother-dolan-2009/
  
  
  An astounding debut by French-Canadian wunderkind Xavier Dolan conveying the stark reality of a mother/son relationship. The inspiring use of music, refrain, slow motion, and home video shows a creative talent as expressive as the Pollock-esque painting seen in the film. Dynamic in character and eruptive in action, the film reveals the anxious energy at the core of this always love/hate relationship between boys and their mothers. Dolan proves himself, at a young age, to not only be exceptionally conscious and self-aware but capable of channeling his insights through film.
  
  86/100 - Excellent.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Jurassic World 2015
  ★★★ Watched 06 Jul, 2015
  
  Though lacking in the thematic unity and humanism conveyed in the original, this sequel brings much of the same thrills.
  
  66/100 - Decent
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Spun 2002
  ★★★ Watched 01 Jul, 2015
  
  Rapid editing and fast motion complement the portrayed psychological frenzy to varying effect, from genius to tendentious.
  
  68/100 - Decent.
  
  No likes
  

 

Jun 30, 2015

• 
  Rope 1948
  ★★★★★ Rewatched 29 Jun, 2015
  
  Perhaps Hitchcock's finest moment, a surreal blending of theater and cinema. Sound and image become one. Articulate dialogue keeps the viewer utterly entertained. With scenes such as Brandon playing with the rope once used to k---, a metronomic rhythm increasing to correspond with Phillip's anxiety, and invisible spaces coming to life by voice-over storytelling, this is truly exemplar of a master at work.
  
  99/100 - Masterful.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Russian Ark 2002
  ★★★★★ Rewatched 29 Jun, 2015
  
  Written a few years ago; posted at Aesthetics of the Mind:
  aestheticsofthemind.wordpress.com/2013/06/25/russian-ark-sokurov-2002/
  
  Sokurov’s Russian Ark (2002) is not merely an exercise in technique; with the single take that comprises it, Russian Ark, perhaps more than any other film, illustrates film’s capacity to convey the presence of time and space within reality through image. It is Bazin’s dream come alive: the film is a molding of space, an imprint of duration, an expression of regeneration without relying on origination (something like… more
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  If I Stay 2014
  ★★½ Watched 27 Jun, 2015
  
  Cliche hollywood sensationalism revolving around a love affair in spite of its obvious existential theme. at times emotive.
  
  53 - Mediocre.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Tropical Malady 2004
  ★★★★★ Watched 25 Jun, 2015
  
  Weerasethakul at his most open and contemplative. A life captured which slips from time and place to time and place.
  
  90/100 - Amazing.
  
  No likes
  

 

Jun 23, 2015

watched It Follows tonight. Very very creepy and atmospheric. Probably the best thing I've seen this year (although its competition is pretty weak)

This was a lot of fun

 

Jun 11, 2015

• 
  Cinema Paradiso 1988
  ★★★★★ Watched 09 Jun, 2015
  
  A heartfelt, comedic, and well depicted portrayal of friendship, growing up, and the marvel of cinema.
  
  92/100 - Amazing
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Bicycle Thieves 1948
  ★★★★★ Rewatched 09 Jun, 2015
  
  Through artifice emerges truth. Reality expressed in the tragic eyes of man and son, the loss of moral commitment.
  
  97/100 - Masterful
  
  No likes
  

 

Jun 5, 2015

• 
  Love & Mercy 2014
  ★★★★ Watched 27 May, 2015
  
  Love & Mercy is Brian Wilson’s swan song, a deeply compassionate requiem of the beauty and tragedy existing in his life.
  
  83/100
  
  Review:
  http://www.intjournal.com/filmreviews

 

May 27, 2015

Going Clear - HBO documentary about Scientology that's engrossing from start to finish. Can't recommend this enough.

The Silence of the Lambs - I've seen this probably a dozen times, but my fiancé never had. It's anchored by two brilliant lead performances, and it works both as a human drama and as a tense psychological thriller. Probably won't ever get old.

Before Sunset - Beautiful film. As good as the original, at least. Can't wait to watch the third one.

So yh basically I only watch perfect movies

 

May 13, 2015

It Follows - I saw this a few weeks ago and it was incredible. I have nothing bad at all to say about it. 9.5 / 10

Boyhood - another incredible film, can't believe it took me this long to watch it. I have nothing negative to say about this one, either. I was sad it ended though, I would have loved more. 10 / 10

 

May 12, 2015

• 
  Post Tenebras Lux 2012
  ★★★★ Watched 10 May, 2015
  
  A compelling, sensorial visual design tracks dream, life, nostalgia, pain, fear, and death without conceptualization.
  
  83/100 - Great.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Far from the Madding Crowd 2015
  ★★★½ Watched 08 May, 2015
  
  Review for Next Projection:
  
  nextprojection.com/2015/05/10/far-madding-crowd-review/
  
  76/100 - With its picturesque beauty and its affable characters, Far From the Madding Crowd uses convention and predictability in a positive manner to make a film that is not only very well crafted, but very easy to like.
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Never Back Down 2008
  ★★ Watched 08 May, 2015
  
  Can't quite hate it for getting everything right about everything that's wrong in the 2000s.. except smartphones.
  
  49/100 - Bad
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Summer with Monika 1953
  ★★★½ Watched 07 May, 2015
  
  A thoughtful, though somewhat clumsy, telling of young love, passion, and its transient nature.
  
  76/100 - Very Good
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  The Road to Bresson 1984
  ★★★★ Watched 07 May, 2015
  
  A solid documentary profiling the enigmatic auteur, Robert Bresson. Some wonderful interview footage with Bresson, Tarkovsky, Malle etc., and an amazing moment where two of my favourite directors, Tarkovsky and Bresson, share a round of applause after humbling accepting their Best Director awards at Cannes 1993.
  
  80/100 - Great
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  Best of the Best 1989
  ★★★½ Rewatched 06 May, 2015
  
  One of the best speeches in sports cinema:
  
  "To save a life, in defeat, is to earn victory and honour within. Your brother, too, was a great fighter. I deeply regret your loss and offer myself as your brother"
  
  Classic from my childhood, despite its theatrical flaws.
  
  73/100 - Very Good
  
  No likes
  

 

Apr 18, 2015

Ex Machina

Aside from a few hiccups (its end is more conventional than the build up), I was really impressed by Alex Garland's directorial debut, a very confident and compelling genre piece. It's basically a sci-fi chamber drama, one that derives its tension not only from its sleek, yet isolating production design and its hum of a synth score, but also through its series of conversations on identity and consciousness that mask both motives and a certain tension bubbling underneath. Alicia Vikander is quite good as Ava, delicately walking the line between human and AI, but the movie is also yet another reminder that Oscar Isaac is simply the f---ing man.

 

Apr 3, 2015

Saw 'it follows' about a week ago and forgot to post about it but I really liked it. It's kinda a unique idea though so might wanna look into it before checking it out since I have a feeling some people won't like it just based off the story. Also if you only like horror movies with lots of kills/violence then this won't be for you.

Soundtrack was awesome, good acting, liked the unique idea of it too, some creepy scenes.

It's got a 95% on rotten tomatoes too, d---.

 

Mar 17, 2015

Whiplash : 10/10 film.

 

Feb 21, 2015

The Dark Knight still a 10/10 film for me.

 

Feb 2, 2015

• 
  Nashville 1975
  ★★★★★ Watched 01 Feb, 2015
  
  A playfully sardonic portrait of American culture circa 1970.
  
  90/100 - Amazing
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  A Room in Town 1982
  ★★★★ Watched 28 Jan, 2015
  
  A visually spectacular spiritual sequel to Demy's most acclaimed film, UMBRELLAS. Darker in content but not tone.
  
  78/100 - Very Good
  (Criterion Bluray)
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  The Interview 2014
  ★★★ Watched 25 Jan, 2015
  
  Not their best material, but yet another entertaining if not amusing spectacle from Hollywood's most bromantic duo.
  
  62/100 - Decent
  
  No likes
  
  
• 
  12 Angry Men 1957
  ★★★★½ Watched 24 Jan, 2015
  
  Exceptionally composed Studio film by the legendary Sidney Lumet. The patriotic pat on the back vibe a bit telling.
  
  85/100 - Excellent
  
  1 like
  

 

Jan 3, 2015

Exodus: Gods and Kings 2014
★★½ Watched 03 Jan, 2015

Like a cheeseburger with special sauce, bright lights and action cover up a lack of substance. Still tasty though.

58/100 - Mediocre


The Imitation Game 2014
★★★½ Watched 31 Dec, 2014

A well presented but overly cliched and conventional narrative design and rhythm make for a forgettable experience.

73/100


The Rover 2014
★★★★ Watched 30 Dec, 2014

A minimalist redemption piece with striking long takes, sound bridge dissolves, and a well befitted soundtrack.

79/100 - Very Good

The Lunchbox 2013
★★★½ Watched 29 Dec, 2014

Heart-warming tale of compassion using absence and simplicity as a form of life-giving.

76/100 - Very Good

• 
  Wild 2014
  ★★★★ Rewatched 23 Dec, 2014
  
  nextprojection.com/2014/09/29/viff-golden-era-buzzard-wild-reviews/
  
  To embrace the chaos and uncontrollable nature of life can be revolutionary. This is no better expressed than in Wild’s intimate portrayal of a woman’s journey towards healing. Cheryl Strayed, depicted admirably by Reese Witherspoon in one of the rawest performances of her career, hikes through the Pacific Crest as a manner of challenging her integrity. A metaphor for overcoming her baggage, completing the hike provides a much needed respite for her to learn to accept and respect herself. The film thereby illustrates self-discovery as a form of revelation.
  
  As the story develops, flashbacks inform the viewer of Cheryl’s past: from a complex relationship with her mother to a difficult period of grieving, Cheryl’s highs and lows are captured in intimate montages of life, music, and dream. As the film progresses, these flashbacks begin to blend with images, associations and referents throughout her past. Thoughts and dreams become indistinguishable as Cheryl’s memories are fluidly weaved in and out of her mind, presumably as she contemplates her life during the hike. Having eventually understood what her mother meant, Cheryl discovers how to let go of her past and live a life without regrets, without a fixation on the past, and without pain.
  
  82/100
  
  1 like
  

 

Dec 9, 2014

The Skeleton Twins - This was...a bit of a downer, no? I'm not a big fan of people who get upset over what a film ISN'T, but in this case I couldn't help myself...I wanted Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig to be funny. That's an unfair knee-jerk assessment, as they both turn in surprisingly excellent performances. But this movie seems a bit heavier than it needs to be, so by the time it ended I was ready. A film I admired but didn't love.

Punch-Drunk Love - Think I love this one more each time I see it. I get a little bit sick to my stomach every time I witness the greatness of Sandler's performance, because a decade later he's back to doing...f---ing...Grown Ups 2. Wasted potential aside, it's hard to deny just how strong he is here, along with all the supporting actors (Philip Seymour Hoffman especially, who has a blast with a small role). Feels a bit slight right in the middle of a filmography stacked with towering epics, but it's a brilliant, underrated gem.

 

Dec 7, 2014

Nightcrawler (2014)

Nightcrawler criticizes scare journalism and exploitative film violence seamlessly. The fact that you can't tell which is which drives the point home that much further. Its meta commentary is so precise that when the characters review a scene from moments before, your own inner monologue becomes their reaction. It feels dirtier that way, like the p--- still running after the high from your climax fades.

Elswit handles this convention of meta filming with an expert hand, keeping the carrot on a string slightly out of frame. Gyllenhaal seems to be in the prime of his career at the moment, and his work here is further proof. He perfectly channels the creeping social falsities and plastic mannerisms fit for a character as comfortably hollow as Patrick Bateman or The Cable Guy. Pretty d--- good film.

 

Dec 4, 2014

I too saw The Babadook last night. I dug it quite a bit. Its trajectory is fairly obvious early on and it does employ a number of traditional horror tropes, but director Jennifer Kent utilizes them in a number of clever ways and, as such, her consistently unnerving horror film also doubles as a moving portrayal of coping with loss. Essie Davis in the lead delivers a classic horror performance, one that should warrant awards season attention but won't cause of its genre.

 

Nov 30, 2014

@Narsh GOTG was hyped as a world building space opera and it was a rushed origin story with a sense of humor. The world it built had no flair or semblance of visual identity. It had the harmless appeal of a Pixar film. The drama wasn't dramatic and the action was the same derivative, kid-friendly stuff we've seen in superhero films for the past decade.

The Maze Runner (2014)
My girlfriend made me watch it. Had no expectations going in. I knew some of the actors from Skins and Game of Thrones. Another entry into the young adult lit trend that hasn't captivated me since Harry Potter. If it does get a sequel, I have no clue where they're going with it. The movie completely lost me in the last 15 minutes.

The Great Gatsby (2013)
Girlfriend also made me watch it (I see a trend here). Another movie aiming to leach off of young adults who read books. Part jewely advert, part roaring 20s fantasy. Who decided a period piece needed that much green screen work? The soundtrack is laughably out of place. If Tarantino can effectively use Rick Ross in a Spaghetti western, anything should be possible, right? Apparently not. That worked because the tones worked together. This movie had the same sad a--- Lana Del Ray song playing every 5 minutes. You can retool the instrumentation all you want; It's still a somber love ballad. It's not right for every scene. Beyond that, it looks like the Tim Burton Chocolate Factory. The movie sold it's soul to the top 40 charts and Tiffany & Co. to afford sets it didn't need and actors it didn't deserve.

Spirited Away (2001)
This s--- right here? This s--- right here?!? This is how you captivate the imagination. Story telling is an artform, not some mad lib for you to fill in the blanks with. In America this s--- would've been that 3D animation that ages terribly, had two sequels plus a TV show, and anything tangential to macabre would've been left in the editing bay.