Julien Faddoul

Julien Faddoul Patron

No longer a film critic, but I still post on here.

Favorite films

  • Trouble in Paradise
  • Citizen Kane
  • Barry Lyndon
  • Spirited Away

Recent activity

All
  • Nickel Boys

    ★★★

  • The Brutalist

    ★★★★

  • Wolfs

    ★★★

  • Will & Harper

    ★★★½

Recent reviews

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  • The Brutalist

    The Brutalist

    ★★★★

    Protracted but absorbing novelistic saga on the mid-century immigrant experience and capitalist intrusion that presents its themes through a series of uneasy conversations, shot in 35mm VistaVision, often in long, handheld takes.

    As lyrical as it frequently is, the imposed grandiosity and committed performances elevate an otherwise simplistic script, heavy on obvious dialogue and broad characterisations.

    Cutting would've probably helped, but it remains engrossing throughout.

  • Anora

    Anora

    ★★★½

    Essentially a mix of Nights of Cabiria (1957) and the early films of Miloš Forman: Baker offers to the audience these amusing gaggle of buffoons in his typical nonjudgmental manner, always focusing on their instinctive impulses. But there’s a step back in the writing here, with an over dependency on profane semi-improvised shouting matches for the sake of comedic mayhem and no real unearthing of interrelationship psychology. As a result, the emotional ending, although beautifully performed, feels unearned.

Popular reviews

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  • The General

    The General

    ★★★★★

    I'm not sure why people scoff at old movies. They are still new to those who have not seen them.

  • The Hottie & The Nottie

    The Hottie & The Nottie

    ½

    Even though I can't quite recommend the film, I do recommend the DVD commentary for those who want to hear over and over again how "Paris has such a big heart".