Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  Z 1969

  ★★★★ Watched 17 Feb 2025

  Costa-Gavras’ cinematic Strategy of Tension - a film in which the restless handheld gaze of the camera dodges and weaves through the scenes of political upheaval, almost developing its own sense of ferality in order to ratchet up the fervor, until the film becomes its own kind of insurrection. The authoritarian omniscience of the static camera is abandoned in favor of the fractured gaze of a collective in turmoil, lashing out against the cruel systems of violence that operate just…

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  Challengers 2024

  ★★½ Watched 18 May 2024

  Affected, unconfident filmmaking. Guadadigno seems to think that in order to make tennis the sensuous spectacle that the narrative requires, he needs to throw his entire arsenal of gussied-up formal trickery at this thing. As the film reaches its climax, the stakes and contrivances start to boil over, which begs the question… why? The reason over a billion people tune in to pro sports every day is that the elements that Guadadigno is so eager to dredge up with his…

Popular reviews

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  Aladdin 1992

  ★★ Watched 05 May 2019 1

  Film fans on blatantly racist films that came out in the early 20th century: "How horrific!"

  Film fans on blatantly racist films put out by the biggest entertainment company in the world less than 30 years ago: "HA! Isn't the Middle East just the craziest place?"

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  The Curse 2023

  ★★★★ Watched 13 Jan 2024

  Watching a TV show attempt something genuinely weird and interesting is such a strange feeling. For most of the show’s runtime, it is very successful at doing what you’d expect: fusing Fielder’s avant-cringe comedy with Safdie’s trademark style of claustrophic, rising tension while featuring a hilariously unlikeable performance from Stone. But then, it abruptly leans away from its audience and becomes something else entirely. I think it’s Fielder’s strongest and most challenging work to date.