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Short Reviews on Films I’ve Watched Recently

July 11, 2020 — Leave a comment

As many of us have been stuck inside during this global pandemic, we have had a lot of time to enjoy some of our more introvert hobbies; One of mine being watching television shows and movies in my spare time. It feels like it has been ages since the last time I was able to experience a film in its fully intended format on the big silver screen. However my love for my hobby hasn’t died down in the slightest. I’ve watched many films since the last time I hit a legit cinema but I’d thought I share some of my thoughts on a small selection of these films I’ve experienced during this quarantine life we have found ourselves in.

Well without further ado here are my short and sweet thoughts:

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The Wolf House 2018
★★★ Watched 08 Jul, 2020

Artistically brilliant but lacking focus.

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I’m No Longer Here 2019
★★★★★ Watched 05 Jul, 2020

I loved this film. Equally a powerful tale of poverty/violence and an examination of what it means to be home.

Ya no estoy aqui (I'm no longer here) (en) | Cinelatino

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Almost Friends 2016
★★★★½ Added 03 Jul, 2020

This is straight garbage romcom with a real generic formula but shit was entertaining to watch, so whatever and that’s how imma rate it. One thing I noticed is that the side plots were distracting/uninteresting. This was a good popcorn flick to watch with a group of friends, significant other, or by yourself if you have some time to burn. If you/they don’t like Freddie Highmore though you might want to pass.

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The Vast of Night 2019
★★½ Watched 01 Jul, 2020

The beginning of this film has some fantastic world building but it sputters out for me at about the halfway mark.

The Vast of Night movie review (2020) | Roger Ebert

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Ingrid Goes West 2017
★★½ Watched 29 Jun, 2020

More comedy than drama which is a huge loss in my opinion.

Review: 'Ingrid Goes West,' and Social Media Is Her Road Map - The ...

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Waves 2019
★★★★★ Watched 16 Jun, 2020

Waves tells it’s story fully and without feeling drawn out. The film tells an expansive story of the lives touched by tragedy and the ripples that permeate their lives. I wish it lasted longer…

Waves (2019) by Trey Edward Shults

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Portrait of a Lady on Fire 2019
★★★★★ Watched 07 Jun, 2020

I was truly wowed by this film. Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a remarkable tale of a fleeting but profound love, highlighted by amazing performances, beautiful costume design, and best in class cinematography.

portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire-trailer

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Millennium Mambo 2001
★ Watched 31 May, 2020

Art house bore. Beautifully shot but horrendous story and lifeless main character.

How Millennium Mambo set the blueprint for Moonlight

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The Hunt 2020
★★★★ Watched 21 Mar, 2020

This movie was pretty fun watching with the family.

Recension: The hunt (Film) | SvD

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The Invisible Man 2020
★★★½ Watched 29 Feb, 2020

Solid popcorn thriller film with solid production and an above average score. This film will be very popular. Go head out with your friends/dates for a very enjoyable theater experience.(Edit: These thoughts were before everything in the country was shut down)

The Invisible Man Scares Up $9.8 Million at Friday Box Office ...

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The Lodge 2019
★★★★★ Watched 22 Feb, 2020

I think this just became my favorite horror movie all time. The film is unsettling as hell and beautifully shot. The entire audience at the screening I attended were morbidly quiet and freaked out from this film. Can’t recommend enough!

The Lodge (2019)

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Jojo Rabbit 2019
★★★★★ Watched 22 Feb, 2020

Loved the uniqueness, simple but effective plot, and humor.

Jojo Rabbit' review: Taika Waititi goofs on Hitler in fab WWII satire

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Marriage Story 2019
★★★★★ Watched 08 Feb, 2020

Adam Driver is phenomenal here. He is a definite runner up for best actor if he doesn’t straight up steal it as the underdog. I abso-freaking-lutely loved this film. Perfectly illuminating the unfairness and brutal honesty of what divorce/separation does to a couple. And don’t let me start on the amazing home evaluation scene. This film is a damn near masterpiece. Please watch it! It’s on Netflix for Christ’s sake. You don’t have an excuse letterbox family.

What's Missing from the Brilliant “Marriage Story” | The New Yorker

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Terminator: Dark Fate 2019
★½ Watched 01 Feb, 2020

Legion flashbacks were interesting at least.

Biggest Unanswered Questions In Terminator: Dark Fate | Movier

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The Lighthouse 2019
★★★★½ Watched 29 Jan, 2020

Dafoe really shines here. I could listen to him berate someone all day.

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American Factory 2019
★★★★½ Watched 20 Jan, 2020

An eye opening look into globalization , American values, and efficiency. American factory is thoroughly entertaining and an equally depressing depiction of the direction the world is going.

American Factory' a tale of two blue collars: US and Chinese | 48 ...

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1917 : Review

January 12, 2020 — Leave a comment

I’ve always loved war movies even though they have been far and few between recently. Upon witnessing teasers of the film 1917, I put a great amount amount of restraint on myself and deliberately held back my excitement for the upcoming movie. All I knew for sure was that I desired to see this film in the biggest screen possible with the highest quality sound that I could find.

I’m certain that the film’s critics will confine the impact of this film into a small box. A box that says this film is simply spectacle and nothing else but after seeing what it had to offer I’d have to strongly argue against this. A strong parallel for this film would obviously be Nolan’s Dunkirk. That film housed solid performances similar to George McKay’s in 1917 but where 1917 really shines is its ability to create sympathy.

The lack of characterization for both of these films is present but felt much more so with Dunkirk. While Dunkirk somewhat frustrated me with its indistinguishable characters Roger Deakins and Sam Mendes overcomes these shortcomings with their direction and work.

Sam Mendes has gone on to say he wanted to convey a story that anyone could relate to despite their previous knowledge. This is a war film that puts its focus on the war itself and in turn successfully emphasizes the futility and horror of war. The film’s single shot approach adds an extra layer of immersion that allows you to engross yourself into the era and feel the harrowing consequences and effects of armed conflict first hand.

I would be disingenuous if I said this film didn’t lean heavily into its technical and awe-inspiring cinematography. I don’t reckon Deakins had a single bad shot in this entire film. Yet, I think he does it effectively and it gives us a film that is a blast to watch.

While I personally don’t believe that this film will have a broad appeal beyond war movie buffs it did something that Nolan’s Dunkirk failed to do for me. It kept me truly engaged. 1917 is truly stirring artistry and conveys Deakins prowess and Sam Mendes deft hand. These two are true leaders in their respective fields. This film soars beyond it’s simple plot and premise and lands into something surprisingly great.

Review: Do yourself a service and watch this while it still rolls in theaters.

 

 

Self/Less: Review

July 11, 2015 — Leave a comment

Self/Less is a film which reminds you constantly not to suspend belief. The plot in Self/Less isn’t bad in itself but paired with bad writing/dialogue and a flat performance from Ryan Reynolds it pushes the film from being a promising B-  film to a soulless cash in on tried formulas. An over reliance on action movie tropes ,such as exaggerated military training capabilities, makes Self/Less fall into the category of outright silliness at times.

Characters behave and react to events in illogical and absurd manners. We are treated with a relatively disappointing and weakly written female supporting roles in a post-Mad Max society. A thoroughly unscientific plot attempts to prove that it is grounded but falls painstakingly short and expounds the gullible nature of Ryan’s on-screen “wife” even further. What could have been embraced as a distant undiscovered possibility is squandered by unconvincing narrative.

This movie had an intriguing premise which would be better suited to relish in its obscurity. It focuses on tried and overused devices in Hollywood filmmaking. With a lack of rational characters and motives, Self/Less fumbles while searching for it’s identity. While there is an obvious protagonist and antagonist, there really shouldn’t be. The audience is essentially forced into an opinion which would be fine if there was some sort of reasonable payoff.

We are given a glimpse about a debate on who is really right and wrong but ultimately do not care due to lack of execution. Self/Less isn’t a terrible movie but it certainly isn’t one that treats its audience as though they are remotely intelligent.

Verdict: 4/10 (Skip)