- Jan 5, 2006
- 41,790
Thoughts on some 22 films I've seen in the past week. Sorry @preston and @Sphygmo, I'll get to Andor and All at Once soon.
Skinamarink (Ball)
Very unsettling. Much taut. I don't know if this would work well for people needing a clear narrative or story, but it will work well for people who can submit to its alienating and unwavering sensory nature. I'll need more time for it to sit with me to figure out if I'd call it my favorite thing I've seen this year, but at the very least I think it is clearly the most interesting film I have seen this year.
Armageddon Time (Gray)
I had hoped this would take us back to Gray's New York and erase the disappointing effort out of my mouth that is Ad Astra, and it did exactly that. This goes back into the city for Gray's usual classicism filled take on old Hollywood pictures. An appropriate swing on race, workers and family just before the Reagan administration in 1980. Without being overbearing or cloying in these themes like many can be these days. A very worthy addition to his already grand filmography. It's nice to be welcomed back into Gray's mastery.
Fresh (Cave)
This has some good bits(bites?) that had me wishing I liked it more overall. At its worst it throws a bunch of gotcha moments out that rarely land as well as it thinks it does. And at its best it comes across like a bad imitation of Mikkelson / Fuller's Hannibal.
Deception (Desplechin)
For my second Desplechin he is already giving me the feeling that I need to see his entire oeuvre. There is something of a stage play feeling about this one (a compliment), that treats adultery, carnality, creation, disease / inevitability of death, Israel and much more all in intelligent digressions. All while Léa Seydoux is quietly illustrious. Seydoux is on quite a run right now.
Fourth of July (C.K.)
This would probably work better for some if Louie wasn't the head. Which is a shame, because like with all his work, this has hilarious moments throughout and is actually a bit life affirming. After his sitcom Louie and Horace and Pete it's clear to me that his true talents are as a director. And I hope he continues this trend in the future.
Benediction (Davies)
An excellent war film without really being a war film. Playing out more as a rumination on the life of a homosexual man who was born in the wrong era, without even feeling much like that either. Equally subtle and understated. I need to go deeper into Davies' work.
the Eternal Daughter (Hogg)
In some ways the Souvenir part III. A mystery that presents itself as some kind of ghost story, that transforms into something much deeper and ultimately more rewarding. Swinton is Swinton, and she plays two roles here so my Tilda fix was definitely satiated.
Skinamarink (Ball)
Very unsettling. Much taut. I don't know if this would work well for people needing a clear narrative or story, but it will work well for people who can submit to its alienating and unwavering sensory nature. I'll need more time for it to sit with me to figure out if I'd call it my favorite thing I've seen this year, but at the very least I think it is clearly the most interesting film I have seen this year.
Armageddon Time (Gray)
I had hoped this would take us back to Gray's New York and erase the disappointing effort out of my mouth that is Ad Astra, and it did exactly that. This goes back into the city for Gray's usual classicism filled take on old Hollywood pictures. An appropriate swing on race, workers and family just before the Reagan administration in 1980. Without being overbearing or cloying in these themes like many can be these days. A very worthy addition to his already grand filmography. It's nice to be welcomed back into Gray's mastery.
Fresh (Cave)
This has some good bits(bites?) that had me wishing I liked it more overall. At its worst it throws a bunch of gotcha moments out that rarely land as well as it thinks it does. And at its best it comes across like a bad imitation of Mikkelson / Fuller's Hannibal.
Deception (Desplechin)
For my second Desplechin he is already giving me the feeling that I need to see his entire oeuvre. There is something of a stage play feeling about this one (a compliment), that treats adultery, carnality, creation, disease / inevitability of death, Israel and much more all in intelligent digressions. All while Léa Seydoux is quietly illustrious. Seydoux is on quite a run right now.
Fourth of July (C.K.)
This would probably work better for some if Louie wasn't the head. Which is a shame, because like with all his work, this has hilarious moments throughout and is actually a bit life affirming. After his sitcom Louie and Horace and Pete it's clear to me that his true talents are as a director. And I hope he continues this trend in the future.
Benediction (Davies)
An excellent war film without really being a war film. Playing out more as a rumination on the life of a homosexual man who was born in the wrong era, without even feeling much like that either. Equally subtle and understated. I need to go deeper into Davies' work.
the Eternal Daughter (Hogg)
In some ways the Souvenir part III. A mystery that presents itself as some kind of ghost story, that transforms into something much deeper and ultimately more rewarding. Swinton is Swinton, and she plays two roles here so my Tilda fix was definitely satiated.
that's like a season of GoT
