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)
Tag: opinion
Last and First Men (Review)
Composer Jóhann Jóhannsson's debut - and sadly final - film is a fascinating thing. It exists on the installation art side of cinema and is composed of beautiful (primarily) black and white shots of abstract architecture (and other landscapes) that are accompanied by narration from Tilda Swinton. The footage is of real things but the … Continue reading Last and First Men (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)
Vivarium (Review)
Naming a film about domestic life, in which a young couple 'move in' (more on that later) to a new home, after an observed enclosure gives you a strong indication of the ideas the film is going to push. Vivarium is a film that, ultimately, hides a very predictable and drawn out narrative behind a … Continue reading Vivarium (Review)
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Review)
As a love letter to Eurovision in a Eurovisionless year, Fire Saga is a success. As a film, or as anything else - bar a vehicle for Dan Stevens to be mesmerising, it is a resounding failure. This overlong and deeply unfunny film has a number of fake Eurovision sequences that feel like real Eurovision … Continue reading Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Review)
Da 5 Bloods (Review)
When Da 5 Bloods is at its best, it is something rather incredible. Here, like in many of the best Spike Lee movies, we see the director's ability to entertain and inform whilst pushing meaningful ideas and clear political messages. Though the tonal consistency isn't as strong here as in some of his finer pictures … Continue reading Da 5 Bloods (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)
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)
Assorted Opinions 