Part way through this film, a writer (played my Keegan-Michael Key) talks about his want to make art that does more than just entertain. Dolemite is my Name is a film that somewhat informs but that definitively entertains. This is fitting, as this film is all about the rise of comedy (and filmmaking) legend Rudy … Continue reading Dolemite is my Name (Review)
Tag: opinion
Atlantics (Review)
David Foster Wallace once wrote that every love story is a ghost story. It’s an evocative statement that cuts to the core of the everyday nature of ghosts - not ethereal beings but the literal past clinging onto the present. Atlantics, the remarkable debut feature from Mati Diop (that scooped the Grand Prix at Cannes), … Continue reading Atlantics (Review)
Cats (Review)
The core premise of Cats is very relatable: a collection of characters are desperate to escape the world of cats. There is a vague destination they are heading to, but there's no real explanation or justification. The real reason is pure escape, and it's something audiences will truly understand. Cats is utterly bizarre from beginning … Continue reading Cats (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)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Review)
This is the way Star Wars ends, not with a bang but with a whimper. J. J. Abrams' conclusion to the trilogy is a sparingly charming - but often incoherent - mess of a film. There are high points - Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron and Anthony Daniels' C-3PO consistently deliver and facilitate some lovely moments, … Continue reading Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (Review)
Motherless Brooklyn (Review)
Edward Norton's noir thriller is a film defined by its surface. Luckily, that surface is really rather pretty. Motherless Brooklyn certainly isn't a great movie but it's very handsomely made, with beautiful cinematography, production design and a terrific soundtrack. There's also an entertainingly twisty plot that gives you a fun noir ride. It's a warm … Continue reading Motherless Brooklyn (Review)
A Dog Called Money (Review)
It's rare to see a documentary with such talent behind it turn out so misguided. A Dog Called Money is the seeming final layer of a multi-stage vanity project that has turned an interesting piece of art into an oblivious display of privilege. Technically, it's a documentary to accompany PJ Harvey's 2016 album The Hope … Continue reading A Dog Called Money (Review)
Knives Out (Review)
One of Rian Johnson's gifts as a screenwriter and director is his ability to play with genre and audience expectations. In his murder mystery pastiche Knives Out, this quality flourishes. Knives Out is centred around the presumed suicide of a wealthy crime writer (Christopher Plummer) and the suspicions that then fall upon his family. The … Continue reading Knives Out (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)
Official Secrets (Review)
At the heart of Official Secrets is a very important story that people need to know. For this reason, people should see this film. Outside of this, Official Secrets is unimpressive. There's an excellent central performance by Keira Knightley but there are a number of cartoonish performances and bizarre film-making choices that relegate Official Secrets … Continue reading Official Secrets (Review)
Assorted Opinions 