Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  The Brutalist 2024

  ★★★★½ Watched 02 Feb 2025

  Fantastic overall and all the film’s topics and critiques are executed superbly. Guy Pearce was sensational in the range of his performance. When his character is first introduced he has a dry sense of humour that is funny, but then reveals himself to be more and more arrogant and finally despicable person. Love this for its examination of how capitalism impacts art and how American treats its immigrants. Though more interesting to me was the film’s focus on how people process trauma, the final scene does so much work here for that.

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  Anora 2024

  ★★★★ Watched 12 Mar 2025

  So hilarious, some of the best buffoon-henchmen comedy filmed. Sean Baker does a lot with framing and characters, it felt significant that in several scenes Ivan isn’t even on screen when he is talking with Anora and instead the camera remains focused on her. Solid performances all round, obviously Mikey Madison tops them. Igor is a gem, bless him. Loved that the film takes place in Brighton Beach and not elsewhere in New York. It would have been too easy for Ivan’s mansion to be a Manhattan penthouse that has been used in film many times before.

Popular reviews

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  Star Trek: The Motion Picture 1979

  ★★★½ Watched 08 Dec 2020

  I think I have seen more parodies of Star Trek than actual Star Trek, so it was exciting and refreshing to watch the original. Thematically, I really enjoyed this movie. This did what all great, memorable, and important science fiction movies should do, ask thought provoking questions on our humanity. I only wish that those question were executed in a better way. Technically, it was less than agreeable with me. This was too long at far too many points, a…

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  A Woman Under the Influence 1974

  ★★★★½ Watched 22 Aug 2020

  This film is as brilliant as it is uncomfortable and its genuine uncomfortableness is brilliant. Totally captivating, unnerving, and searing performances by Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk. John Cassavetes’ directing style was plain and profound simultaneously, all combining to have the tension be unrelenting even until after the movie ends. In the end, although it is potentially longer than necessary it is utterly human all the same.