Favorite films

Pinned reviews

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  For Sama 2019

  ★★★★★ Watched 03 Feb 2020

  A love letter and an apology, an excuse and a reason, a commitment and a choice. Through the lens of journalist Waad al-Kateab, this first-person documentary becomes all of these. Filmed over the course of 5 years (and created by al-Kateab and co-director Edward Watts from a reported 500 hours of footage), both behind and in front of the camera, al-Kateab guides us through an odyssey in war-torn Syria that she never really expects to survive. It’s a very personal…

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  Parasite 2019

  ★★★★★ Watched 21 Nov 2019

  A movie to restore my faith in movies. 3 complete acts with developed characters that works on multiple levels in multiple genres while still being accessible, entertaining and unpredictable. Winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes and my early pick for Best Picture (which made me wonder how many films have won both. Answer: One. Marty in 1955). Don't read about it. Just see it.

Recent reviews

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  The Remarkable Life of Ibelin 2024

  ★★★★½ Watched 28 Feb 2025

  Although it drags a bit in the middle, here is a sincere, heartfelt documentary about the power of friendship. That it takes place in a world in I will never understand makes no difference to the impact of the message.

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  Venom: The Last Dance 2024

  ★★ Watched 27 Feb 2025

  Me: I have to finish the trilogy, right?
  Also me: Why did I finish the trilogy?

  Tom Hardy is awesome. Venom isn't terrible. It's all the other nonsense that blows. Couldn't we just have the two of them do a road trip, like Kung Fu?

Popular reviews

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  The Silent Revolution 2018

  ★★★½ Watched 09 Apr 2020

  Dead Poets Society meets All Quiet on the Western Front (never mind this is based on a true story).

  When you can't tell the fascists from the socialists from the communists you simply...

  Carpe Schweigen!

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  Da 5 Bloods 2020

  ★★★★ Watched 21 Jun 2020

  Spike Lee's latest has a lot in common with an average action movie: quality set pieces, plenty of spent ammunition, a high level of predictably and a decent sized portion of cheese (grenade!). One difference though is that Lee layers Bloods with history and politics and, whether you agree with the politics or not, the layers give the film added weight (along with added run time). The other difference is Delroy Lindo, who runs a gauntlet of emotions and gives the performance of a lifetime.