There are films that defy description, and then there are Charlie Kaufman films. In the wake of the release of Tenet, a film positioned as the saviour of cinema, it is this Netflix produced feature that really illustrates the power of the medium - fundamentally, I'm Thinking of Ending Things is a true illustration of … Continue reading I’m Thinking of Ending Things (Review)
Tag: Drama
Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Review)
Though already an interesting filmmaker, Never Rarely Sometimes Always (NRSA) establishes Eliza Hittman as one of the most impressive writer/directors in the business, and as a unique voice making important films. On a narrative level, this is the tale of an under-18 girl from rural Pennsylvania (Autumn (Sidney Flanigan)) who, after an unexpected pregnancy, has … Continue reading Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Review)
Dogs Don’t Wear Pants (Review)
Off-putting name aside, Dogs Don't Wear Pants (DDWP) is a really impressive movie full of excellent decisions. It is a film of real style - and of some substance - that manages to cleverly negotiate disparate tones while always feeling cohesive. From the beginning, DDWP involves a number of tropes that are often off-putting, or … Continue reading Dogs Don’t Wear Pants (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)
Dark Waters (Review)
There's a wonderful synchronicity to the narrative and the construction of Dark Waters. It tells the enthralling, and frequently shocking, true story of how a corporate defense attorney took on the DuPont corporation and exposed a lengthy history of the company knowingly polluting its customers (and, in places, the wider population). Why this feels so … Continue reading Dark Waters (Review)
Blinded by the Light (Review)
Music is a powerful thing: it crosses generational boundaries; cultural boundaries and shapes identity. Blinded by the Light is a film all about this - specifically the impact of Bruce Springsteen's music on the child of a Pakistani-immigrant family in Thatcherite Britain. It's an oddly specific premise but it works brilliantly, presenting the theoretically incongruous … Continue reading Blinded by the Light (Review)
Jojo Rabbit (Review)
Somewhat unsurprisingly, Taika Waititi's coming of age comedy set in Nazi Germany (just before the end of the war) about a young Hitler Youth member who likes to hang around with his imaginary friend - who is Adolf Hitler - doesn't quite work. There are moments when things click, but the whole hodge-podge of ideas … Continue reading Jojo Rabbit (Review)
Marriage Story (Review)
There's a point in Noah Baumbach's fantastic Marriage Story where our two protagonists (played note perfectly by Scarlett Johansson - thankfully staying in her lane - and Adam Driver) close a gate together, one on either side. They push this barrier between themselves, working together to drive themselves apart. It's a wonderful moment that is … Continue reading Marriage Story (Review)
Luce (Review)
Somewhat to its credit, Luce is a film that deals with a lot of complex ideas. However, this core complexity is consistently overruled by odd directorial and writing decisions. The end result is a fascinating failure that goes no further than just dipping its toes into provocative territory. Yes, the issues it is tackling (race, … Continue reading Luce (Review)
The Souvenir (Review)
With only four films under her belt, Joanna Hogg has already established herself as a unique and important voice in British cinema. Following her promising debut, Unrelated, Hogg's work has only got stronger with each release and, with the Souvenir, she has completed her first (and hopefully not last) masterpiece. Despite its conventional appearance - … Continue reading The Souvenir (Review)
Assorted Opinions 