This is a hagiography, so in many ways it's didactic and lacks nuance, as you'd expect. But despite this, I still found it to be full of subtleties and subtext. It doesn't make many explicit political statements but the depiction of interpersonal interactions is so rich that it leads the audience to political conclusions. It makes it clear that every seemingly insignificant life plays a role in the politics of a group of people however large they are. The refrain…
Favorite films
Recent activity
AllPinned reviews
More-
-
The Other Side of the Wind 2018
On this second viewing I was less consumed by the magnitude of material, really one theme presented itself to me. Primarily I saw the film depicting people using each other, without much love or care. There is depth in their methods, but not much depth to their feelings. For the most part they use each other to further their careers and reputations, ostensibly to make money, although Hannaford's motivation is murky; the money he needs is just a tool to…
Translated from by
Recent reviews
More-
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice 2024
The teenage romance scenes made me cover my eyes in embarrassment at the writing but the murderous surprise redeemed that plot a little. There are too many plots to hold on to any. My favorite segments were Beetlejuice’s flashbacks but they also troubled me, thinking he’s always been
a supernatural being through and through, not the spirit of an Italian from the Middle Ages.It’s strange to say but the nearly perpetual roving camera made me uncomfortable, from the steadicam to the drones. I longed for static shots of longer length to be able to take in the scenery.
Translated from by -
The Brutalist 2024
Had such a strong grip on my emotions that I felt dread, waxing and waning but always present, for the entire runtime, with moments of hopelessness. Can’t explain it or analyze it closely, but the feelings evoked were so much stronger than those from any of Paul Thomas Anderson’s period pieces to which this has been readily compared. So many of the images are breathtaking. It’s very well made.
[will write more]
Translated from by
Popular reviews
More-
Burning 2018
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
The first thing that struck me was the naturalism. It is a very soft and understated movie in many ways, but it also very realistic. I don't think I've ever seen anyone spit after smoking in a movie, as they do here repeatedly, but I've certainly seen it in reality plenty of times. In that way it is striking in its naturalism. Overall it is not beautiful although it has its moments of beauty.
After seeing early reviews I have…Translated from by -
Metropolitan 1990
Stillman has a pleasantness and lightness that most people are too afraid to show since it might be seen as weakness. That being said, I still think this is a fairly biting satire even though it smiles politely the whole time.
Translated from by
