About half way through Extraction, I found myself wondering if some stellar action sequences can make up for everything else in a film? And I mean everything else. At the end of the film, when I was relieved to realise that the final fifteen minutes of what I thought was a two hour film were … Continue reading Extraction (Review)
Misbehaviour (Review)
The Miss World competition of 1970 is a fascinating moment in history. It is a landmark event due to the first victory by a woman of colour; due to including a woman of colour as a contestant from South Africa (who placed second) and due to the entire event being overshadowed by a feminist protest … Continue reading Misbehaviour (Review)
The Platform (Review)
A great premise can get you very far. However, it is what you do with it that ultimately matters. The Platform has a great premise and, to an extent, executes this premise well. But, with a film as overtly political and allegorical as this one, you need to provide a cogent thesis or clearly illustrate … Continue reading The Platform (Review)
The Long Goodbye (2020)
This collaboration between director and co-writer, Aniel Karia, and star and co-writer, Riz Ahmed is an incendiary short about racism in Britain. Though it only spans twelve minutes, it's an expansive project with an impact far wider than its diminutive running time. It's another example of the power of short film: refined storytelling that is … Continue reading The Long Goodbye (2020)
Ocean Waves (Ghibli: The Netflix Batch)
With Netflix (in most territories) adding the entire Ghibli back catalogue (minus Grave of the Fireflies) over the next three months, it’s the perfect time to either revisit or visit the collection. If revisiting, why not write about them? Great idea. Welcome to ‘Ghibli: The Netflix Batch,’ a collection of essays inspired by each film. … Continue reading Ocean Waves (Ghibli: The Netflix Batch)
The Whalebone Box (Review)
There's something inherently cinematic about a closed box. Open boxes? They aren't interesting. Closed boxes are instant enigmas full of potential, in which the obfuscation is the appeal. The Whalebone Box relies on this appeal and plays nicely with this idea. On its most basic level, this video collage by Andrew Kotting is about taking … Continue reading The Whalebone Box (Review)
Kiki’s Delivery Service (Ghibli: The Netflix Batch)
With Netflix (in most territories) adding the entire Ghibli back catalogue (minus Grave of the Fireflies) over the next three months, it’s the perfect time to either revisit or visit the collection. If revisiting, why not write about them? Great idea. Welcome to ‘Ghibli: The Netflix Batch,’ a collection of essays inspired by each film. … Continue reading Kiki’s Delivery Service (Ghibli: The Netflix Batch)
Emma. (2020) (Review)
Adaptation is a difficult game, especially with classics that have already been adapted time and time again. How do you breathe new life into something so familiar and how do you make your version stand out? And, do we even need a new version? Much like with last year's superlative Little Women, Autumn de Wilde's … Continue reading Emma. (2020) (Review)
The Cat Returns (Ghibli: The Netflix Batch)
With Netflix (in most territories) adding the entire Ghibli back catalogue (minus Grave of the Fireflies) over the next three months, it’s the perfect time to either revisit or visit the collection. If revisiting, why not write about them? Great idea. Welcome to ‘Ghibli: The Netflix Batch,’ a collection of essays inspired by each film. … Continue reading The Cat Returns (Ghibli: The Netflix Batch)
The Hunt (2020) (Review)
Unfortunately, the Hunt will be forever overshadowed by the controversy it caused. The controversy was ridiculous and framed the movie as something grotesque and deplorable. It also gave the film a huge political weight, one that it is not equipped to handle. Fundamentally, The Hunt is not the movie it was described as being - … Continue reading The Hunt (2020) (Review)
Assorted Opinions 