Initial Thoughts:
Every single frame of this film could be a painting in its own right.
Deeper Analysis:
I’m a sucker for character-driven films, and Portrait of a Lady on Fire might just be the pinnacle of that. It narrows its focus to a small set of characters, allowing their emotions and relationships to take centre stage. Set in 19th-century France, the film captures a brief yet deeply profound moment in two women’s lives—like a painting frozen in time.
The…
Initial Thoughts:
Not as bad as I expected, but certainly not as focused as it should have been.
Deeper Analysis:
I’ve recently lost a bit of faith in Ridley Scott. Films like Gladiator and Alien are cinema staples, but House of Gucci… not so much. So, I put off watching Napoleon for a while, and even now, I feel like I could have kept it that way.
I went in with low expectations, not just because of the mixed reviews…
Initial thoughts:
Extremely well paced and intense from start to finish.
Deeper Analysis:
The biggest strength of September 5th is its pacing. The fact that the real events unfolded over just a day and a half—yet the film maintains a relentless sense of drama and impending doom within a tight 90-minute runtime—is outstanding. The seamless integration of real archive footage from the live ABC broadcast only enhances the authenticity, making it feel like I was in the room with them.…
Initial Thoughts:
A refreshing take on the biopic genre—one that embraces its subject’s flaws rather than glossing over them.
Deeper Analysis:
It’s wild to say this, but when I first wrote my initial thoughts, I had completely forgotten that a CGI monkey was on screen for the entire runtime. Given the initial outcry over the decision to replace the lead actor with this creative choice, it’s impressive how quickly you stop noticing it. Even in the film’s most emotional moments—those…
