Favorite films

Recent reviews

• 

  Ex Machina 2015

  ★★★★½ Watched 27 May 2015

  A smart and tense meditation on the possibilities of A.I. technology in the near future. Some of it is a little far-fetched, yet still somehow believable. Having so few characters never hurts the story either, especially when it takes place in such an amazing house, which was almost like another character itself. All three are fascinating in their own ways, particularly in how the viewer's empathy lies with each one at different times.

• 

  Mad Max: Fury Road 2015

  ★★★★½ Watched 19 May 2015

  It's really impressive to see how well George Miller can shoot action, considering how much technology has changed since the last time he did. These sequences look amazing and realistic and are some of the most thrilling I've seen in years. There isn't a weakness in any area. The script is tight and adds to the intensity of the action. Hardy and Theron give stellar performances which bring so much weight to these characters.
  This is a very important film…

Popular reviews

• 

  Inherent Vice 2014

  ★★★★½ Watched 15 Jan 2015

  A plot has never mattered less. I had no idea what was going on for two thirds of this, and I don't care if ever figure it out. There is so much more to dig into, a lot of what you'd expect from a P.T. Anderson film - the long takes, the tracking shots - but the performances most of all.
  This is the funniest film PTA has made since Boogie Nights, the best moments being Phoenix's reaction shots, specifically…

• 

  Sin City: A Dame to Kill For 2014

  ★★★ Watched 02 Dec 2014

  It isn't nearly as thrilling or well-paced as the original, but it's probably the best movie Rodriguez has made since Planet Terror. I'm not familiar with the graphic novel, but it was disappointing to see Marv, the most compelling character from the original, become relegated to a sidekick in this. It's possible that, in the past nine years, I've changed more than Miller's and Rodriguez's vision for this world has, but I remember experiencing a level of absurd escapism that felt absent here. It still looks really cool, and unlike the Machete series, I would watch a third installment.