Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  Guantanamera 1995

  Watched 18 Mar 2025

  w/ introduction by special guest Gladys Gonzalez Martinez of Cuban Film Institute ICAIC.

• 

  Memoir of a Snail 2024

  Watched 15 Mar 2025

  a god damn beautiful masterpiece.

  worth shelling out to see at the cinema.

Popular reviews

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  Paris Belongs to Us 1961

  Watched 20 Feb 2025 2

  “Nightmares are alibis.”

  Can’t quite figure what that means in my jet-lagged stupor, but sounds cool. Indeed this film looks cool in mesmerising b/w. Lots of expository dialogue and I was still uncertain what was going on, but I’m no good at following convoluted plots at the best of times …

  Respect, but I’m unsure Rivette would be one of my go-to nouvelle vague filmmakers; and I’m three films in at this stage (ha, he is partial to detailing theatre…

• 

  The Double 2013

  ★★★★ Watched 01 Apr 2014

  BFI screening with Richard Ayoade Q & A hosted by Danny Leigh.

  A strange concoction of Brazil, Eraserhead, The Apartment, GM's Darkplace, Bartleby, the source novel, among other influences. Very dark in both meanings of the word (no natural light used).

  Part of the film's charm is the casting in small roles of many of Ayoade's colleagues from SUBMARINE and his TV work. J Mascis cameo was unexpected! I wish the character Hannah were given more motivation as she is as intriguing as Simon/ James.

  The last third is muddled, but I got enough enjoyment from this feature to go along with it.