What’s it feel like to die?

Six years since the release of his magnum opus, Bong Joon-ho is back with Mickey 17, an oddball, science-fiction satire that is as entertaining as it is incohesive. The film loses effectiveness in attempting to convey too many themes at once. Moreover, a lack of tonal consistency & subtlety obfuscates its message. But, there is an undeniable charm & humorous quirk to Mickey 17 that gives it life.

Like Life.

Oz Perkins’ subsequent release to Longlegs, The Monkey is less horror film & more like a dark comedy, attempting to say something about the unpredictable nature of death & the baggage it creates for the living. 

Something of a cross between Jumanji (1995) & Final Destination, this film has some decent comedic beats & kill scenes, but ultimately fails to hold interest.

Small rooms & high ceilings.

Contrasting vastness with confinement, & juxtaposing softness with harshness, The Brutalist tells the story of a Jewish immigrant, thrust into a ‘dream’ he did not wish for; as well as the story of an artist, a master of his craft, and the effect that his traumas have on his art. 

Veritably one of the most ambitious films of 2024, it disappoints in just falling short of fully realizing its lofty potential, at least upon first viewing. And yet, it stands out as a beautiful & interesting piece of filmmaking.