01.02.2022
Compartment No. 6 by Juho Kuosmanen
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"You think I'm a bad guy?"
"Well ... I only know what I've seen."
"What have you seen?"
Maybe the real petroglyphs were the friends we made along the way.
All jokes aside, this film is simply amazing. It's so funny, so charming and oh so heartfelt. This film takes you an incredible journey that evokes all kinds of emotions. Easily one of my new favorites of 2021.
Cast ratings:
Seidi Haarla - 4.5/5
Yuriy Borisov - 4.5/5
95/100
02.02.2022
Nightmare Alley by Guillermo Del Toro
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Is he a man ... Or beast?"
The single most fucked-up film of 2021. Yes, even more fucked-up than Titane. Am I saying it's as good as Titane? No, but I'm saying that not even Titane can match up to this film's delicious grotesqueness. Every turn is oddly satisfying in it's own insane way. I want to watch this again as soon as possible.
Cast ratings:
Bradley Cooper - 5/5
Cate Blanchett - 4/5
Rooney Mara - 4/5
Toni Collette - 3.5/5
Willem Dafoe - 4/5
Richard Jenkins - 4/5
David Strathairn - 4.5/5
98/100
03.02.2022
The Worst Person In The World by Joachim Trier
Released in 2021
Viewing number 2
"Yes, I love you ... But I don't."
The first time I watched this, I loved it, but I did think it had one fatal flaw, that flaw being it's messiness. But on a rewatch, I can say with confidence that I missed the point. This film was quite clearly supposed to be messy. The Worst Person In The World is a film about the messiness of life and the absurd amount of horrible choices we make. But the think that is so unique and great about it isn't that it doesn't condemn the choices our main character Julie makes, but instead decides to celebrate them. This film may be quite new, but it already means a lot to me. Shit happens, but life goes on.
Cast ratings:
Renate Reinsve - 5/5
Anders Danielsen Lie - 5/5
Herbert Nordrum - 4/5
100/100
04.02.2022
Raw by Julia Ducournau
Released in 2016
Viewing number 1
"I'm sure you'll find a solution, honey."
Taking how much I have loved Titane into consideration, I was sure that I would love Raw, Julia Ducournau's infamous debut. But to be honest, I left a bit disappointed. This is undeniably a great film. It's exploration of youth culture, youth norms and coming of age is incredibly layered and is told with incredible amounts of life, charm, humour, style and of course violence. And that ending is also just pitch perfect. But this film isn't even nearly as interesting and engaging as Titane for me. But still, this is a very enjoyable film and one I feel will grow on me with a rewatch.
Cast ratings:
Garance Marillier - 4/5
88/100
05.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
Ed Wood by Tim Burton
Released in 1994
Viewing number 1
"This is the one. This is the one I'll be remembered for."
I have never been a big fan of Tim Burton, but this film is a complete masterpiece. Burton could have easily made fun of Ed Wood, but instead he chooses to portray him as a man with a vision, a talent and most of all, a passion. Ed Wood was by no means a good director, but he still made a movie that will be remembered for as long as the artform exists, and that's what is important. One of the greatest loveletters to cinema ever made and a damn masterpiece.
Cast ratings:
Johnny Depp - 5/5
Martin Landau - 5/5
Sarah Jessica Parker - 4/5
Patricia Arquette - 3/5
Lisa Marie - 3/5
Jeffrey Jones - 3.5/5
Bill Murray - 3.5/5
George Steele - 2.5/5
Juliet Landau - 3/5
Mike Starr - 3.5/5
99/100
05.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
Encanto by Byron Howard and Jared Bush
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"You're exactly what this family needs."
I forgot Disney could be this good! This film has the usual Disney flaw of being really predictable, but still, this film is just so warm and fun that I can't hate it. The emotional beats are surprisingly strong and the animation is gorgeous. And don't even get me started on the music! While I do dislike "Surface Pressure", most of the songs absolutely slap. Especially "We Don't Talk About Bruno". That one is a certified hood classic and if it doesn't win the Oscar for best song, I will start a riot. So yeah, quite the enjoyable film. I recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it already.
I still haven't figured out how to rate voice performances, so I'm just not going to.
87/100
06.02.2022
The Suicide Squad by James Gunn
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Why rats, papa?"
"Rats are the lowliest and most despised of all creatures, my love. But if they have purpose, so do we all."
This movie reignited my love for superhero movies. I mean, I still think most modern superhero blockbusters are horribly flawed, but this movie reminded me why I love myself a really good superhero movie. Don't get me wrong, this movie is flawed. Not all the jokes land, the first 5 minutes are a bit akward and James Gunn's direction can get a bit messy. But the thing that makes this film so much better than the original, and really just a lot of modern superhero movies, is that it actually knows how to have fun. This film isn't only laugh-out-loud hilarious, but it's also just incredibly fun. Not only is it clear how much fun Gunn had, but it's also clear that the actors had a blast. Speaking of the actors, the cast is stacked. I came in thinking that Margot Robbie would be the real MVP (which she is), but Idris Elba really blew me away too. And the cherry-on-top is that the emotional moments actually work incredibly well. I don't hesitate calling this one of the best superhero films I have seen.
Cast ratings:
Margot Robbie - 4/5
Idris Elba - 4/5
John Cena - 3.5/5
Joel Kinnaman - 3.5/5
Daniela Melchior - 3.5/5
David Dastmalchian - 2.5/5
Viola Davis - 3.5/5
Peter Capaldi - 2.5/5
90/100
07.02.2022
Holes by Andrew Davis
Released in 2003
Viewing number 1
"I can fix that."
No Sam, I don't think you can fix this movie.
I know there's a lot of people who grew up with this movie and love it, and therfore I would like to apologize in advance for the things I'm about to say.
What a hot mess this film is! I just finished reading the novel (which has become an all-time favorite of mine) and decided to just check it out, which is something I really regret doing. This film feels like like the definition of misinterpreting art. I know that this film is a film made for children, but it just feels stupid to try to make a dramedy made for children out of a novel as well-written and complex as Louis Sachar's Holes! And let's not forget how this film doesn't only misinterpret the art of the novel, but also just basically everything else. First of all, let me say that I think the visuals are surprisingly good. I feel Andrew Davis successfully put the visual landscape of Holes into a movie. But the characters! What an absolute failure! When I think of Stanley Yelnats, I think of an unhappy and overweight kid who slowly finds happiness, not Shia "Golden Kid" LaBeouf. And I especially didn't think that Louis Sachar intended The Warden to be introduced to hip-hop music. But Louis Sachar did write the screenplay of this movie, so who knows. Maybe I'm just overanalyzing it. But even if I did overanalyze, I still can't deny how messy this film is.
I'm not rating the performances here. They are bad, but at least you can see some of the actors had fun with their roles.
13/100
08.02.2022
The Florida Project by Andrew Davis
Released in 2017
Viewing number 2
"You know why this is my favorite tree? Because it tipped over, and it’s still growing."
Is there a feeling better than having a film just click for you? It's like someone presses a dusty button in your brain and suddendly the gears start turning. With my second viewing of The Florida Project, I experienced one of the most powerful instances of this I have ever had. I used to really dislike this film. I had my small issues with the film as a whole, but it was always the ending that ruined it for me. I always thought the ending wasn't too shabby on paper, but the stylistic shift was just so jarring for me that it left me with a sour taste in my mouth when the film ended. But with this viewing, the small issues didn't only disappear into thin air, but I also finally understood the stylistic shift. It's still jarring as all hell, but it's almost like the film breaks free. When the film finally cut to black, I got incredibly choked up. I really underestimated this film. This is one of the best films of 2017 and an incredibly honest piece of filmmaking. A perfect mix of bitterness and optimism.
Cast ratings:
Brooklynn Prince - 4.5/5
Bria Vinaite - 4/5
Willem Dafoe - 5/5
99/100
09.02.2022
The Ascent by Larisa Shepitko
Released in 1977
Viewing number 1
"Don't crawl in shit. You'll never wash it off."
What a surprise it was that a film by the wife of the director of Come And See turned my happiness to dust! Who could have seen that one coming?
Jokes aside, I noticed something really interesting while watching Larisa Shepitko's The Ascent; Both Larisa and her husband Elem Kimlov like having their actors stare into the camera. Kimlov does it to provoke fear and sadness, but Larisa does it to provoke thoughts, and more advanced and overwhelming emotions. The intense stares captured by Larisa here may be the best ever projected onto the silver screen. This movie is frankly incredible. I can't say I'm quite ready to give this a 10 yet, as I kind of have to let it rest in my mind for a while, but I can safely say that there's a good chance this one gets the big 10 in the future.
Cast ratings:
Boris Plotnikov - 5/5
Vladimir Gostyukhin - 4/5
Anatoliy Solonitsyn - 4/5
99/100
10.02.2022
Pig by Michael Sarnoski
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"We don't get a lot of things to really care about."
Pig is a lot of things. Most notably, it sports one of Nicolas Cage's greatest performances ever (I would even personally say this is my favorite performance from him ever), but it's also just one of the year's most fascinating and engaging films. It's a deconstruction of "revenge cinema", a layered exploration of grief, etc. This is a thrilling and strangely moving piece of cinema that I feel will only continue growing on me.
Cast ratings:
Nicolas Cage - 5/5
94/100
11.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
The 12th Man by Harald Zwart
Released in 2017
Viewing number 1
"Where is the 12th man?"
Watched in history class. Let me first state that this film is far from perfect. It is quite incorrect historically, kind of mediocrely acted, a bit poorly paced, and the psychological filmmaking feels a bit cheap. But still, The 12th Man is a very engaging film. The cinematography is quite stunning and the direction can at times be absolutely thrilling. So for everything The 12th Man is doing wrong, it's clearly doing as much right.
Cast ratings:
Thomas Gullestad - 3.5/5
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - 3.5/5
63/100
11.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
Y Tu Mama Tambien by Alfonso Cuaron
Released in 2001
Viewing number 1
"Life is like the surf, so give yourself away like the sea."
I went into this movie expecting a funny and arousing sex romp, and I got that in spades, but the thing I didn't really think about was that this film is by Alfonso Cuaron. As mediocre as I think Gravity is, Cuaron is still one of my favorite directors working today. No matter what story he is putting onto the silver screen, he always manages to put incredible levels of emotion into it (yes, even Gravity has emotion, as flawed as that movie is). And while this movie starts as the sex romp I expected, it eventually evolved into an incredibly emotional experience. Might become a 10 on a rewatch, as it probably will take on new context once I know what happens.
Cast ratings:
Gael García Bernal - 4/5
Diego Luna - 4/5
Maribel Verdú - 4/5
99/100
12.02.2022
Black Widow by Cate Shortland
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"I've lived a lot of lives, but I'm done running from my past."
After watching The Suicide Squad and loving it, I was inspired to finally watch the four Marvel movies that came out in 2021, starting with Black Widow. I forgot that I even watched this, which should tell you what I think about it. If The Suicide Squad reignited my love for superhero movies, Black Widow didn't put it out, but it certainly did dampen it a bit. Sure, this film doesn't lack that classic MCU charm, but there's something strangely lifeless about it. This probably is because the main character in this movie died in the previous movie, which kind of makes this film completely pointless. Why develop a character we aren't ever going to see again? I just guess the MCU producers really needed their money. I hope Shang-Chi is better.
Cast ratings:
Scarlett Johansson - 3.5/5
Florence Pugh - 3.5/5
David Harbour - 3/5
Rachel Weisz - 3.5/5
Ray Winstone - 1/5
45/100
13.02.2022
Drive My Car by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"We must keep on living."
Of all the amazing films that came out in 2021, this is the one. First of all, this is the best paced movie of the year. When walking into the cinema, I was a bit concerned because of it's massive length of three hours, but this film is paced so smoothly that you don't even feel the length. This is also one of the best shot films of the year. Few films have captured modern day Japan as gracefully as director Ryusuke Hamaguchi and cinematographer Hidetoshi Shinomiya did here. Talking about Hamaguchi, his directing here is also some of the best of the year. His direction feels both massive and subtle in it's scale and emotion. The performances are also incredible. Masaki Okada, Toko Miura and especially Hidetoshi Nishijima all give some of the best performances I have seen this year. But most of all, I really appreciate what this film is saying. You could boil this film down to being about grief, but really it is about how the only way to make grieving a bit easier to handle is to break the barriers and communicate. The main plot of Kafuku and Watari opening up about their losses is beautifully parallaled alongside the actors breaking the language barriers and learning to act together. This is such a beautiful film and it already means so much to me. You drive my car, I'll drive yours.
Cast ratings:
Hidetoshi Nishijima - 5/5
Toko Miura - 5/5
Reika Kirishima - 4/5
Masaki Okada - 5/5
Park Yu-rim - 4.5/5
Sonia Yuan - 3.5/5
100/100
14.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
Drive by Nicolas Winding Refn
Released in 2011
Viewing number 2
"Sorry about the noise."
"I was going to call the cops."
"I wish you would."
I used to think this movie was quite good but majorly overrated, but today I decided to give it another spin and ... Yeah, this movie isn't underrated, it's just me who has been underrating it this whole time. I'm sure you can literally drown yourself in this film's stunning neon visuals, out-of-this-world synthwave soundtrack, beautifully subtle performances, stellar directorial choices and moral ambiguity. What can I say? It's a damn masterpiece.
Cast ratings:
Ryan Gosling - 5/5
Carey Mulligan - 4.5/5
Bryan Cranston - 4.5/5
Albert Brooks - 5/5
Ron Perlman - 4/5
Oscar Isaac - 4/5
100/100
14.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
Red Rocket by Sean Baker
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"So why are you back, Mr. Hollywood?"
From the very first ironic hits of NSYNC's "Bye Bye Bye", Sean Baker's newest film is an absolute delight. A pure black comedy with a very grim undertone of a man trying to get his success back, even if it means he has to exploit others for it. Mikey is very clearly a horrible person, but Simon Rex's wonderfully charming performance keeps you from hating him (or that's at least until his true colors are exposed). Suzanna Son is also amazing in this film too. This film isn't perfect, but it sure is a consistently engaging and amazingly made film. Sean Baker truly is one of our greats.
Cast ratings:
Simon Rex - 4.5/5
Bree Elrod - 3.5/5
Suzanna Son - 4.5/5
94/100
15.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
Being The Ricardos by Aaron Sorkin
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"I know how you're feeling right now. I've had to have this conversation a hundred times."
"I'm surprised because you're terrible at it."
Although it does get off to an interesting start, Aaron Sorkin's newest film quickly becomes a over-written, over-paced, over-shot, over-acted and over-directed mess that screams "Oscar-bait". I know I have a tendency to Oscar-bait movies like this and Don't Look Up very lowly, but there just isn't many things that piss me off as someone making a movie just to win an award. And no, this film isn't as painfully bad as something like Don't Look Up, but it's still criminally boring and uninteresting.
Cast ratings:
Nicole Kidman - 3.5/5
Javier Bardem - 2.5/5
J.K. Simmons - 3/5
23/100
15.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
The Long Goodbye by Aneil Karia
Released in 2020
Viewing number 1
"Why do you hate us?"
Short, but hits you right in the gut. Probably the most soul-shaking short film I have seen in a while. I will be rooting for this one on Oscar-night.
No cast ratings for this one.
90/100
16.02.2022
The Tragedy Of Macbeth by Joel Coen
Released in 2021
Viewing number 2
*Was a 92 on previous viewing*
"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes ..."
So, let me clear up some things from my previous review.
"... don't even get me started on Denzel Washington's take on Macbeth. The whole time, I felt like I was witnessing a career best. Am I saying that he's better here than Malcolm X? Well, maybe, maybe not.
As much as I love Denzel's take on Malcolm X, I am 100% certain his Macbeth is his all-time greatest performance. I would even go so far as to say it's my favorite performance of the year. Unlike Mifune's iconic take on Macbeth in Throne Of Blood, Denzel chooses a much more subtle route, but in this creating a completely unique one-of-a-kind weariness that resonates deeply after you have finished the movie. Of course, this is not to discount the equally incredible performances from Alex Hassell, Kathryn Hunter and Frances McDormand.
"Is it as good as Branagh's Hamlet or Kurosawa's Shakespeare adaptations? Well, not really, but it's certainly up there."
Well, as much as I love Branagh's Hamlet, I do think it is flawed, which is something this film certainly isn't. You know what also is flawed? Throne Of Blood, Kurosawa's adaptation of Macbeth, something which makes The Tragedy Of Macbeth my personal favorite film adaptation of the play. I will admit, when it comes to Shakespearean film adaptations, this film certainly won't beat Kurosawa's Ran (an adaptation of King Lear) any day soon, but I will happily settle with this as a close second. This film is pitch perfect and will no-doubt go down as a classic of Shakespearean cinema.
Cast ratings:
Denzel Washington - 5/5
Frances McDormand - 5/5
Alex Hassell - 4.5/5
Bertie Carvel - 4/5
Brendan Gleeson - 4.5/5
Corey Hawkins - 4.5/5
Harry Melling - 4/5
Kathryn Hunter - 5/5
100/100
17.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
King Richard by Reinaldo Marcus Green
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Venus and Serena gon' shake up this world."
I have never been the biggest fan of Will Smith as an actor, but to my surprise, I found myself loving King Richard. The rumours are true: Will Smith does kill it as Richard Williams. He radiates with a very wholesome and supportive energy, one that the whole film is drenched in. This film never lets you forget that it is a crowdpleaser, but I must say that I certainly am pleased, which means it certainly is doing something right.
Cast ratings:
Will Smith - 4.5/5
Aunjanue Ellis - 4/5
Saniyya Sidney - 4/5
Demi Singleton - 3/5
John Bernthal - 4/5
83/100
17.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
House Of Gucci by Ridley Scott
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Never confuse shit with chocolate. They may look the same, but the taste is very different. Trust me I know."
I understand why we were thinking Lady Gaga was going to get an Oscar nomination for this (it truly is one of the best performances of the year), but I cannot fucking believe we were seriously thinking that Jared Leto was going to get one too. Jared fucking Leto! Have you heard his accent in this? He sounds like fucking Mario! Why were we rooting for Jared "discount Mario" Leto to get an Oscar nomination? What the fuck?
Jokes aside (even though that wasn't a joke at all, Jared Leto really is that horrible), this film is as cheesy, corny, overdramatic, uninteresting and overblown as everyone is saying it is, but it fully embraces this, which makes for an surprisingly engaging and fun film, as flawed as it is. Not all the humour works (*cough* Jared Leto *cough*), but still, I had a surprisingly good time.
Cast ratings:
Lady Gaga - 5/5
Adam Driver - 4.5/5
Al Pacino - 4/5
Jeremy Irons - 2.5/5
Jared Leto - 2/5
64/100
18.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
Last Night In Soho by Edgar Wright
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Will you keep it down? Enough to wake the bloody dead."
First of all, let me clarify that I am an incredibly big fan of Edgar Wright. Hot Fuzz is easily one of my all-time favorite movies and maybe the funniest movie ever made in my opinion. The man's creativity, talent and charm seemingly never ends ... OK, I take that last thing back, as Last Night In Soho proves that statement wrong. Seriously, what the fuck happened? The first half of the movie is amazing. Just such an enjoyable series of creative needle drops and refrences to films like Suspiria and Vertigo, all anchored by one of the year's best performances of the year from Thomasin McKenzie ... Or it would be one of the best performances of the year if she didn't reduce herself to a bunch of high-piched squeals in the second half. Which brings us to the second half ... Honestly, the second half might be the worst piece of filmmaking of the year. The film suddenly turns into an endless barrage of cheap jumscares, confusion and horrible plot twists that drags on way too long. And then, after almost an hour of this pure garbage filmmaking, it gives you an ending plot twist that seems like it is making fun of you for watching this whole movie. So yeah, it's horrible. But that first half is genuinely one of the most enjoyable pieces of filmmaking from 2021, which creates such a strange contrast. Whatever Wright was doing in that first half, that's what he should stick with.
Cast ratings:
Thomasin McKenzie - 4/5
Anya Taylor-Joy - 4/5
Matt Smith - 3/5
43/100
18.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
Hot Fuzz by Edgar Wright
Released in 2007
Viewing number 12
"Well, I couldn't see his face, could I? I'm not made of eyes!"
Had to watch this after Last Night In Soho to remind myself of how great of an director Edgar Wright is, despite how horrible Last Night In Soho is. I still stand by my opinion that this is the funniest movie ever made. Those last 30 minutes are peak cinema. The Godfather's "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse", Taxi Driver's "You Talkin' To Me", Hot Fuzz' "It's just bolognaise!" ...
Cast ratings:
Simon Pegg - 5/5
Nick Frost - 4/5
Timothy Dalton - 4.5/5
100/100
19.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines by Michael Rianda
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Oh my gosh. This is like Dawn Of The Dead!'"
"Yeah, and how did that movie end?"
Felt this movie on an astronomical level. There was a lot to connect to here for me, as a cinephile, a son and really just an overall human. This movie isn't perfect, but it already means so much to me that I'm giving it the highest possible score I can give it without me having to call it a perfect movie. And anyways, the pay-off is so huge that it makes those few flaws worth it in the end.
I still haven't figured out how to rate voice performances, so I'm just not going to.
99/100
19.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
CODA by Sian Heder
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Go.'"
I hate to be the guy to say it, but someone has to. As good as the acting, dialogue and representation of deaf people, the main plot here is one that you have seen a million times before and it isn't told in a unique way, which makes the film lack engagement ... Well, for the most part. Because I'll admit, not even my cynical and over-analytical heart could resist the third act here. But for as moving and great as the third act is, the two others ones, quite boring and uninteresting. Still, I'll admit I had a good time and was undeniably moved, but if I ever return to this, it will be for the third act.
Cast ratings:
Emilia Jones - 4/5
Marlee Matlin - 4/5
Troy Kotsur - 4.5/5
Eugenio Derbez - 2.5/5
Daniel Durant - 3.5/5
79/100
20.02.2022
The Last Duel by Ridley Scott
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"I say before all of you, I spoke the truth!"
While The Last Duel is naturally large in it's scale (it's a Ridley Scott medieval epic, what do you expect?), what I appreciate the most about this film is that it always keep it's drama small, making the drama all the more personal and intense. I'll admit, I wasn't really feeling this towards the beginning, but once I realized that this was basically medieval Rashomon, I was hooked. The format here isn't as nuanced as Rashomon, as here, there is one perspective which is framed as the truth, but it's still a format that works incredibly well, creating an incredibly powerful story in the end. Also, the cast here is stacked. Damon, Driver, Affleck and especially Comer give some of their best work. So yeah, good job Ridley, you still have it in you.
Cast ratings:
Matt Damon - 4/5
Adam Driver - 4.5/5
Jodie Comer - 5/5
Ben Affleck - 4.5/5
90/100
21.02.2022
Belfast by Kenneth Branagh
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Dad? Are we gonna have to leave Belfast?"
What frustrates me the most about Kenneth Branagh's Belfast is that it literally is nothing. It is a film that looks back on Branagh's childhood, but it has nothing to say about that childhood. It has some interesting characters that could evolve into something interesting, but those characters don't experience any form of development from the very moment the film starts to the very moment it ends. It literally is nothing. It's just a hollow shell of a movie that tries to seem like it has something to say through it's "stylish" cinematography and "sophisticated" writing, but it just keeps turning blanks. I'll admit that it isn't as bad as something like Don't Look Up, as this movie is largely inoffensive, but the problem is that it is so inoffensive that it kind of becomes offensive in a weird way. I will say that there were some strong moments here and there, some nice performances and an especially endearing portrayal of the joy that is to go to the cinema, but at the end of the day, I left feeling like I didn't even see a film.
Cast ratings:
Jude Hill - 4/5
Caitriona Balfe - 4/5
Jamie Dornan - 3.5/5
Judi Dench - 4/5
Ciaran Hinds - 4.5/5
50/100
22.02.2022
Brazil by Terry Gilliam
Released in 1985
Viewing number 2
"There's been a little complication with my complication."
I haven't had the best history with this film, as it was the last film I watched with my father before his death. He was very sick, something which I guess distracted me from the movie. So yeah, I can't blame myself from never liking this film. But coming back to it and finally giving it the attention it deserves, I'm happy to announce that the pure shittiness of that day has not stopped me from enjoying this movie. It's has actually to my surprise become an instant favorite. I have never been a big fan of Gilliam as a director (even though I am a massive Monty Python fan), but his over-the-top madlad direction works like a charm here, serving as a perfect reflection of the dystopian world he is directing. Also, one thing I missed on my initial viewing is that this movie is literally one of the funniest maybe ever. Also really appreciate the pacing here. For a movie that is 2 and a half hours, it never slows down and becomes boring. You can argue that the ending scenes are badly paced, but those last few seconds reveal that was the point, so that's just a bad argument. I mean, this movie is basically flawless and it's kind of disturbing how well it has aged over the years.
Cast ratings:
Jonathan Pryce - 5/5
Robert De Niro - 4/5
Katherine Helmond - 3.5/5
Ian Holm - 4/5
Bob Hoskins - 3.5/5
Michael Palin - 4/5
Kim Greist - 3.5/5
100/100
23.02.2022
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence by Nagisa Oshima
Released in 1983
Viewing number 1
"Lawrence! Merry christmas! Merry christmas, Mr. Lawrence!"
Ho, ho, hooooooly shit, this thing blew me away. I was first introduced to this thing through Ryuichi Sakamoto's heavenly main theme, a theme which touched me so much that I decided to learn to play it on piano (or at least try to, I'm still working on it). And now that I have finally seen the film, the theme has only become even more powerful. This is a beautifully acted and directed film with a great pacifist message, all set to one of the greatest soundtracks ever composed. I think it will take some for me to get over that last scene. I mean that freeze frame set to that heavenly theme? Oh no, here come the tears again. Gonna be returning to this one.
Cast ratings:
David Bowie - 5/5
Tom Conti - 4.5/5
Ryuichi Sakamoto - 3/5
Takeshi Kitano - 5/5
94/100
24.02.2022
Petite Maman by Celine Sciamma
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Au revoir."
More proof that Sciamma never disappoints. Yes, it is way too short, but it uses it's short runtime in a way that's sweet and heartfelt and that isn't matched by any other film from 2021. Beautiful.
No cast ratings. Not a very performance driven film in any, which is why I have to give it a rewatch before trying to rate the acting.
94/100
25.02.2022 (1 out of 3 films watched)
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child by Tamra Davis
Released in 2010
Viewing number 1
"This is a song for the genius child."
A really good documentary about one of the greatest artists of all time, albeit not anything spectacular. First of all, the documentary format here isn't something you won't find if you turn on your TV and browse the channels for a little while, but it does work, even though it does lower the engagement a little bit. Now, the single best thing about this documentary is how well it captures how interesting of a human Basquiat was. If you aren't familiar with his work, I do suggest watching this documentary, as how well Basquiat is portrayed as a human may give you some interest for his art too. But I do wish director Tamra Davis tried to capture how great of an artist he was too. She does capture aspects of it, like his crossing out of words, his focus on the human body and African culture, etc. But at the end of the day, she doesn't manage to capture the full picture of his genius. I can forgive this though, as Basquiat is by all means a complex and polarizing artist. So yeah, it's a good documentary that I recommend for those not familiar with Basquiat, but those who are (for example me) may find this lacking of engagement.
No cast ratings, as there are no actors.
68/100
25.02.2022 (2 out of 3 films watched)
If Anything Happens I Love You by Michael Govier and Will McCormack
Released in 2020
Viewing number 1
"If anything happens I love you."
Yeah, what can I say? Just beautiful, touching and devastating. Great work from everyone involved.
No cast ratings, as there are no actors.
78/100
25.02.2022 (3 out of 3 films watched)
The Wolf Of Wall Street by Martin Scorsese
Released in 2013
Viewing number 3
"Let me give you some legal advice: Shut the fuck up!"
Three hours of pure uncut sex-addicted, drug-fueled, money-driven cinema. I could talk about how this is a great satire of the rich elite, one that portrays society as a bunch of hyper-masculine fools trying to see who can make the most money, use the most drugs and sleep with the most hookers, something which is kind of scarily accurate to reality, but to be honest with you, this movie is just fun. After a third viewing, this film still isn't boring for one second of it's three hour runtime. It has the single finest performance of Leonardo DiCaprio's career, lemon fucking quaaludes, Jonah Hill quitely uttering "Steve Madden" while ON quaaludes, Matthew McConaughey humming what sounds like a fucking war chant and the single fucking greatest nude scene of all fucking time from Margot fucking Robbie. Fucking Benihana! Excuse my fucking French, but this is what you fucking call a good fucking movie!
Cast ratings:
Leondardo DiCaprio - 5/5
Jonah Hill - 4.5/5
Margot Robbie - 4.5/5
Matthew McConaughey - 5/5
Kyle Chandler - 4.5/5
Rob Reiner - 4/5
Jon Bernthal - 4/5
Jean Dujardin - 4/5
100/100
26.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
Los Sures by Diego Echeverria
Released in 1984
Viewing number 1
"I think people are beautiful here. I don’t care what anyone else says."
So, for this review, I'm going to be comparing this film to one of the most acclaimed documentaries ever; Paris Is Burning. Both portray worlds that are very unknown to people like me, with Paris Is Burning trying to capture the LGBTQ+ underground in New York during the 1980's, and Los Sures trying to capture the world of one of the poorest neighborhoods in New York. Both have some issues trying to fit in everything during their short runtimes, but both still portray these worlds in such vivid detail that it's hard not to admire how great it is. So yeah, Los Sures and Paris Is Burning are quite similar ... Well, except for one thing. Not to put down Paris Is Burning, but if that movie is considered one of the best in the documentary genre, why isn't this one? Both are equally great in my opinion. This is a great documentary, albeit not a perfect one, but it still deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Paris Is Burning.
No cast ratings, as there are no actors.
94/100
26.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
The Big Risk by Claude Sautet
Released in 1960
Viewing number 1
"End of the line, Raoul."
"For who?"
"For one of us."
OK, first of all, this is by all means a great movie. It is action-packed, it has two great lead performances from Ventura and Belmondo, and it has some incredibly well-written characters. But, at the end of the day, it really just made me want to rewatch Breathless again.
Cast ratings:
Lino Ventura - 4/5
Jean-Paul Belmondo - 4/5
73/100
27.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
Stations Of The Elevated by Manfred Kirchheimer
Released in 1981
Viewing number 1
"Oh, there it is. I never seen that one."
Americana? Ambient sound design? Avant-garde filmmaking? A soundtrack featuring Charles Mingus and Aretha Franklin? A focus on art?
Was this movie made for me?
No cast ratings, as there are no actors.
95/100
27.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
The Green Knight by David Lowery
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Off with your head."
Mix the unmatched worldbuilding of The Lord Of The Rings with the existentialist exploration of death in The Seventh Seal, the result: David Lowery's The Green Knight, a film which is arguably one of the most well-crafted, inventive and thoughtful fantasy films since the genre's birth. The worldbuilding here is simply the best in any film from 2021 (yes, better than Dune). Yeah, it often goes to quite bizarre places, but it always remains thoughtfully crafted and strangely belivable. Also, Dev Patel's performance here will easily go down as his career-best, and one of the best performances of the year. All in all, this film is just frankly amazing. I deeply regret how late I am when it comes to this one, so I urge everyone who hasn't seen this to watch it.
Cast ratings:
Dev Patel - 5/5
Alicia Vikander - 4/5
100/100
28.02.2022 (1 out of 2 films watched)
All Too Well: The Short Film by Taylor Swift
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"Wind in my hair, I was there. I remember it all too well."
I'll admit it; I have never been a Taylor Swift fan. But that is exactly why the 10-minute version of All Too Well blew me away so much when I heard it. It's by all means a feat of songwriting. And there's something poetic about how this feat of songwriting has now been paired alongside an equally big feat of filmmaking. This could become cheesy at any moment, but it always stays small, human and honest. Great work from everyone involved.
Cast ratings:
Sadie Sink - 4.5/5
Dylan O'Brien - 4.5/5
90/100
28.02.2022 (2 out of 2 films watched)
Flee by Jonas Poher Rasmussen
Released in 2021
Viewing number 1
"It takes time to trust people."
As much as I love The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, this movie is by all means the best animated film of 2021. As bitterly honest and human as Flee is, it is also one of the most magical films that came out in 2021. It uses it's animation to float through a man's whole life; his dreams, his hopes, his darkest moments, his brightest moments. It's just frankly beautiful and it hit me very hard. That being said, I am not confident in giving this one a 10 yet, so I'm just going to give it a 9.9 for now, but you aren't wrong in expecting a 10 when I give it a rewatch.
No cast ratings, as there are no actors.
99/100
Amount of films watched: 40
Average montly score: 8.4/10
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar