Nobody makes films like Nobuhiko Ôbayashi does, and with his tragic death in 2020, we are never going to have films like them again. Luckily, we have Labyrinth of Cinema; after giving us a final filmic statement in 2017 with the wonderful Hanagatami, Ôbayashi lived long enough to make one more final film. This film … Continue reading The Labyrinth of Cinema (Review)
Tag: experimental
Ghost Strata (Review)
Ben Rivers' experimental film begins with the filmmaker being given a tarot reading. This moment is looped back to at the end and foregrounds the film's major themes. On its most basic level, this a filmic scrapbook that chronicles the passing of time: there are twelve chapters, one per month, and each is made up … Continue reading Ghost Strata (Review)
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)
Climax (Review)
You should probably be suspicious of people who tell you they like Gaspar Noé's Climax. However, few will be able to deny it is at least a very impressive piece of work - as it combines extremely long single shots with extensive improvisation and avant-garde camera work, while still managing to remain internally coherent (I … Continue reading Climax (Review)
Madeline’s Madeline (Review)
Where does art end and reality begin? It's a pretentious question, but a pertinent one that merits exploration. It's also one of the many questions that Josephine Decker's sublime film tackles. The focus of Madeline's Madeline is more experiential than narrative. It's nominally about a troubled teen, Madeline (played astonishingly by Helena Howard), and her … Continue reading Madeline’s Madeline (Review)
Assorted Opinions 