At the heart of this documentary is a perceptive statement about the way the elderly are treated by wider society. It is a film that wants to highlight the isolation and loneliness that is burdened upon the older population, even by the well meaning. It is a thing we notice at an institutional level, but … Continue reading The Mole Agent (Review)
Category: Films
Mulan (2020) (Review)
Seeing as there are many legitimate reasons to boycott Mulan, it certainly helps that it is awful. This takes an animated classic, and an evergreen story, and repurposes it as a flat, nonsensical mess with almost nothing of value. The film prods at the wuxia genre, as a way of legitimising it not being a … Continue reading Mulan (2020) (Review)
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Review)
Though primarily an important documentary about the disabled community - and about disabled representation in general - this film is also a great document on the change that everyday people can achieve. The film morphs into something really inspiring and shows how revolutionary actions come from seemingly pedestrian origins. It is a portrait of potential, … Continue reading Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (Review)
Onward (Review)
The beauty of Pixar films often stems from a crystal clear premise, the kind of singular idea that a film just laps out of - and that is then effortlessly surrounded by accessible yet deep themes. Toys come alive at night; monsters want to care rather than scare; a discarded robot is in search of … Continue reading Onward (Review)
Over the Moon (Review)
From the very start of this animated musical, you know everything that's going to happen. Some of this is because it ticks some comfortingly familiar boxes but, mostly, the lack of narrative originality is a chore. The film also repeats regressive tropes, starting with a woefully predictable event that is a much too common an … Continue reading Over the Moon (Review)
Nomadland (Review)
Despite its poeticism and beauty, Nomad feels oddly empty. To an extent, this feel purposeful. After all, it is a film about nomadic lifestyles shot in a fascinatingly pseudo-documentary style that combines reality and fiction. In this film, we have the verité of non-actors alongside Frances McDormand, who is as excellent as always. Her performance … Continue reading Nomadland (Review)
The Midnight Sky (Review)
While so much sci-fi explores unknown and uncharted territory, The Midnight Sky decides to boldly go where every other film has been before. And boldly is charitable. This George Clooney directed, and starring, feature is an awkward mess of science fiction tropes and faint echoes of better films. The bizarre thing is, at points it … Continue reading The Midnight Sky (Review)
News of the World (Review)
It is almost impossible to write about News of the World without using the word 'capable'. It really is the perfect word to summarise not only the filmmaking but a core philosophy that the film expresses. What this means is (on a craft level), as with most films from director Paul Greengrass, you are in … Continue reading News of the World (Review)
Greyhound (Review)
There is a cold competence to Greyhound that turns its all action promise into an all monotony result. This is a film full of bombast, explosions and climactic battles. Most moments are all out war at sea, with a focus on specific details and with solid sound design. If you want to see things go … Continue reading Greyhound (Review)
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Review)
Outside of an impressive central performance from Andra Day, this film has absolutely nothing going for it. The United States vs. Billie Holiday is a poorly constructed, shallow and misguided essay that at best simplifies an icon - and a vital figure in history - and at worst is a complete disservice. This film, with … Continue reading The United States vs. Billie Holiday (Review)
Assorted Opinions 