The best of the Soderbergh/Koepp collaboration so far. Influenced by le Carré but flipped on its head where spycraft services love, not nation. This feels like an instant classic in the genre, with strong but subtle character work from Fassbender et al. and crackling dialogue. I always enjoy when exposition is not over-explainy but reveals incrementally.
Steven Soderbergh, Peter Andrews, Mary Ann Bernard: quite literally the Holy Trinity of Film.
A solid continuation of world-building with one of Hans Zimmer's best scores and insanely epic swashbuckling sequences. Even during its craziest and most complicated sections with a high firing rate of betrayals and changing loyalties, the expanses of this pirate world are a blast. May all actors be blessed enough to have a role where they are having as much fun as Geoffrey Rush as Captain Barbossa - what a gift of a performance.
A cute indie romantic film shot in Toronto (including all the obligatory 'love letter to the city' imagery). Tonally, I love how Stay the Night looks warm and cozy. The film is structurally simple but executed with a tender and contemplative quality, using awkwardness and silence more effectively than exposition to establish character. Organic conversations are woven tentatively throughout the narrative to make the wordless interactions between Grace and Carter more meaningful. Looking forward to seeing more from Renuka Jeyapalan.
Suspenseful and thrilling - this is a film that uses surprising twists to elevate the plot. Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, and Emily Blunt deliver inspired performances here. The action is sublime - not overstated or exaggerated but unflinching in its brutality. Shots of landscape are exceptional and close-ups are framed impeccably as is expected from the hands (and eyes) of Roger Deakins. This is an unforgiving film, in the best sense, that pits vipers against vipers as the audience and heroine are left to figure out what just happened.
