Jack Davenport and I are back for part two, find the full context here and watch the second part of our film awards here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv3DOWDLxWE&t=1912s
Tag: opinion
The STACK Awards 2021 (Part 1 of 2)
On this blog, I've previously done my own version of the Oscars in text form - just to show how strange that ceremony would be if they let me have control (more horror movies and arthouse fare). This year, I collaborated with the talented music producer, audio engineer, composer, sound designer, visual artist (self described … Continue reading The STACK Awards 2021 (Part 1 of 2)
Quo vadis, Aida? (Review)
Films about horrific historical events are difficult. The question of what not to show versus what you must show is always a hard one - and the want to present, and comment, without glorifying is always challenging. Quo vadis, Aida? focuses on the Bosnian genocide of 1995. It takes place during the events leading up … Continue reading Quo vadis, Aida? (Review)
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)
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 Father (Review)
There is a pleasing intricacy to how the Father is constructed. The narrative bends in intelligent ways, ways that slowly reveal a larger intent. This structural dexterity, primarily enforced through dialogue, is used to invoke subjectivity. This is both subjectivity of meaning but also an internal subjective state as the film tries to align itself … Continue reading The Father (Review)
My Octopus Teacher (Review)
This stunningly filmed Netflix documentary starts out somewhat offputtingly. It seems to have no purpose beyond showing off some incredible underwater cameras and to facilitate a man's desire to spend a year swimming in a beautiful location. Luckily, this all soon makes sense and is subverted - and legitimised - in a beautiful way. Throughout … Continue reading My Octopus Teacher (Review)
A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (Review)
Aardman movies used to feel like events. Their unique visual language and attention to detail, that necessitated long production times, made each new film (or TV movie) special. Alas, with this, and with Early Man, we see how lengthy production can make things feel dated. Farmageddon is still a fun film peppered with creative visual … Continue reading A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon (Review)
One Night in Miami… (Review)
A lot of historically inspired films are, realistically, historical fan fiction. However, this does become a problem when they also feel like historical fan fiction - and this is the case with One Night in Miami. This adaptation of a stage play dramatises the night after Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) became the heavyweight champion … Continue reading One Night in Miami… (Review)
Sound of Metal (Review)
As a piece of technical filmmaking, Sound of Metal is quite astonishing. It is defined by superlative sound design, subtly brilliant visuals and precise performances. It also adheres clearly to effective dramatic formulas, carving out a narrative that hits established emotional beats with a touch of arthouse flair round the edges. All of this is … Continue reading Sound of Metal (Review)
Assorted Opinions 