Recent reviews

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  Requiem for a Dream 2000

  ★★★½ Watched 19 Mar 2025

  a bit disappointing given the film’s cult status 
  but i guess that shouldn’t be a surprise 

  definitely interesting editing and cinematography and score. those were the highlight for me

  the story itself didn’t do much for me, and had little emotional impact, for all it’s horrifying developments. we just don’t really know much about any of the characters or really care about any of them. it’s also just kind of a boring story. feels preachy, like a cautionary tale or…

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  35 Shots of Rum 2008

  ★★★½ Watched 04 Mar 2025

  collage of some reviews that resonated

  “[a film] that adventurous film lovers will feel almost required to love, so as not to appear too unhip to appreciate its fragmentary, Gallic cool. Both casually beautiful and willfully annoying”

  Annoying because of its ambiguity - how is everyone related? No sense of timelines. Scenes are very disjointed. felt really slow to me even though it’s not a long film

  “Denis has eliminated most of the expository material that would tie together the…

Popular reviews

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  Whiplash 2014

  ★★★ Watched 04 Jul 2022

  The first hour is boring and almost unbearable, the second half saves the film

  maybe maybe the hour long exposition is necessary for us to really hate fletcher, the teacher, and get a sense for andrew (miles teller). but it sort of makes you roll your eyes and doesn’t hold your attention.
  it also feels like a caricature. none of the characters feel real or have depth 

  little glimpses of andrews life outside of music feel rushed and sloppy. although…

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  Another Round 2020

  ★★★★ Watched 28 Dec 2020

  Fun, thoughtful movie if a bit cliche/predictable at times. 

  The general plot line (personal crisis -> try some crazy idea -> it goes well at first and then there are serious consequences -> upward resolution) is very formulaic and I found the plot line of Martin’s relationship with his wife to be a bit cliche as well (the sex scene, the confession that she’s cheating on him) 

  The topic itself of the role of alcohol in society is a bit…

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