Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  Heretic 2024

  ★★ Watched 24 Mar 2025

  With this movie A24 proudly declares what we’ve long suspected – that is has slid into Netflix Original territory, and has no intention of changing course.

  
  Dull and harebrained, Heretic is a weak premise with few thrills and zero payoff (not least for the actors, who deliver consistently ridiculous lines with admirable effort). At no point did I feel scared, shook or even intrigued. The biggest shock was plunking Topher Grace in there for 3 minutes of screen time and a cheap gag.

  I’m glad late-stage Hugh Grant is having so much fun, but maybe not at my expense next time?

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  Naked 1993

  ★★★ Watched 23 Mar 2025

  I don’t know about this one. On one hand I was impressed with the writing, the mood, the confrontational tone. The score is so good, and combined with the bleak and suffocating photography and blocking, I felt like I was stuck on a musty, damp couch along with the characters. 

  On the other hand, spending 2 hours with the most insufferable prick imaginable is a chore to say the least, and think the film would have been just as effective with say…80% less sexual violence?

  An effective indictment of Thatcherism, sure, but so is Billy Elliot.

Popular reviews

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  Hannah Gadsby: Nanette 2018

  ½ Added

  Powerful for sure, emotionally raw, reclaiming your story, all that good stuff.

  I just fundamentally don't understand how this is "comedy"? And the exclusively uber-serious replies I've received in response to that question seem only to reinforce my confusion.

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  Key Largo 1948

  ★★★ Watched 21 Mar 2025

  Loved the setting, and the fun ensemble cast (I think the only real Italians were pretending to be Seminole?) but I never really felt the menace or suspense I was expecting. 

  Lauren Bacall wasn’t given much to work with, just glowering in doorways, and Bogie was even more subdued than usual. 

  Old Man Temple very woke for his time. Florida cops have always been trash.