AngusMcNutz
Joined 2021Dallas, Texas
88
Movies6
Shows205
Episodes
- Nostalghia
As is evident after viewing even a single film of his, it's clear that each of Tarkovsky's works has an overarching agenda to them aside from constructed narrative. A direct objective to induce specific (usually melancholy) emotion, enabling it to brew to an uncomfortable degree in the viewer's mind and then seeing how that emotion morphs further interpretation. With 𝘕𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘢, that journey is uncompromising and intensely hypnotic. Probably the most accessible of Tarkovsky's films, 𝘕𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘨𝘩𝘪𝘢 buries you in existential angst and dream-like progression, begging you to let yourself be swallowed into the void that it is desperately trying to kick you into. To be clear, this is its strength. Simultaneously bathing you with beautiful slow zooms, meticulous design and tonal dissonance, this film truly encapsulates the knowledge that the absence of explanation lets your mind wander in the best possible way.Nostalghia - Spiral
Lionsgate exec busting in drunk to a 6 am production meeting at TP: "Oh damn y'all got a decent story? Mind if I scrap it and make this whole thing a waste of time? Don't worry, I've been watching a lot of Criminal Minds, -hic- I got this."Spiral - Seven Samurai
My feelings towards Kurosawa's filmography are similar to Lynch in that I adore his lesser work but still recognize the impact of his magnum opus and this film is, without question, Kurosawa's greatest project. I love Stray Dog personally but this movie has such a raw power inside it that it doesn't leave any room for doubt. Despite going through a literal hell of a production (there are several good biographies that get into this deeper. It is insane.), this film ended up laying the groundwork for the modern action movie as well as continuously serving as the gold standard for camerawork. Kurosawa's eye has been studied to death at this point but it is entirely warranted as he was massively ahead of his time when it came to cinematographic innovation. Mandatory viewing if you want the best of the best of film making.Seven Samurai - The Grand Budapest Hotel
Whenever I approach a Wes Anderson film for the first time, there's usually some lingering feeling of caution or restraint. Something inside me that says "Don't get too excited. Don't let yourself get swept up. Just maintain criticality so you can be objective." After years of seeing this film over and over, I can confirm that all that goes out the window almost immediately, no matter what kind of mood I am in or what mindset I choose to fruitlessly maintain. This is, by far, one of the truest representations of the magic of cinema. Anderson's other works have their place and their own individual impacts, for sure, but The Grand Budapest Hotel stands boldly and proud as the culmination of meticulous detail and genuinely heart-opening writing. I implore you to delve into cast and crew anecdotes from this production and you'll find a constant throughline of care, craft and sheer adoration for how this film came together. Themes like nostalgia, loyalty and class are so easy to produce but difficult to truly master, yet this film knows exactly what to do with them and, more importantly, who do execute them with. To say this film is well casted is an extensive minimization and it speaks to Anderson's ability to create comfort within roles that let actors truly engage with the subtlety of their personas. Do yourself a favor. Watch this movie when you're having a bad day.The Grand Budapest Hotel - Fury
I'm all for the war/horror blend but this one hits the brakes at so many points that it entirely diminishes the impact of its dread and, instead, settles for played-out dynamics that we've seen countless times over. Points for the sound mixing though; whoever was on the board really did their homework.Fury - Bone Tomahawk
Could use a bit of trimming on the length but this one gets points for (mostly) successful genre-blending as well as some damn effective uses of violent tonal shift. Not a huge fan of the "savage natives" trope, but at least they make a hard point to differentiate the cannibal cave-dwellers from actual Native Americans. Solid performances throughout and some glorious late 1800s facial hair will see you through if you decide to give this one a shot.Bone Tomahawk - Better Call Saul
One of the most complete (in all senses of the word) stories that serves more as a maturation of the original series' themes instead of merely planting the seeds for the incoming narrative. If Breaking Bad was about power, this is about consequences. Been a long time since I enjoyed a show as much as this and I am a bit distraught that I have no more left to consume lol.Better Call Saul - The Highwaymen
There is boring, and then there is absolutely lifeless. Not even worth a watch if you're into B&C, honestly. Just low stakes copaganda that acts like its crushing it when it finally decides to do something instead of putting on a master class of banality and fatigue.The Highwaymen - First Reformed
Petition for Paul Schrader and Osgood Perkins to form the "Static shots that linger" club. They found out a while ago that the best way to build tension is just staring at something a bit too long. Purposefully droning, abruptly jarring and intentionally unsatisfying. A phenomenal character study showcasing the inherent and infuriating clash between fundamental tradition and modern capitalism. Feels like a cry for help even though the crier knows no one is listening. Not the best movie to watch in the midst of a depressive spiral but I can't resist Ethan Hawke in any shape or form <3First Reformed - 1917
The true masculine urge to crawl through the trenches and slowly bleed out with your homies. All jokes aside, I find the main appeal of Sam Mendes' films is the sense of balance he's able to cultivate; this film being the most exemplary display. War films usually dump attention to pacing and structure for emotional gut punches over and over. As seen here, its entirely more effective to land a couple direct haymakers rather than a barrage of jabs.1917 - Evil Dead Rise
Just a big "Eh..". Serviceable, for the most part, with plenty of the absurd gore you want. Just felt a little long in the tooth for how little actually happens, although that sentiment is probably more representative of the entire franchise itself.Evil Dead Rise - Saw II
I remember liking this movie a whole lot more when I saw it years back but man, idk what I was looking at. Because it sure wasn't this rambling, ham-fisted mess of a story.Saw II - Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Back when Marvel had a soul. One of the few MCU movies actually worth a damn.Captain America: The Winter Soldier - Cyclone
Rutger Hauer's doppelganger chases a poorly-written but aesthetically slaying heroine for an hour and a half. Then, the movie is over.Cyclone - The Lighthouse
ALL MY HOMIES HATE CINEMASCOPE. WHAT UP 1:19:1 ENJOYERS I could talk about this film for hours on end. Technically wondrous, emotionally soul-clenching and, somehow, able to appear neatly self-contained while bursting with mystic symbolism and mortal strife. A criminal understatement to call Dafoe's and Pattinson's performance anything short of stark, flawless and full of human grit. The true essence of the violence that often binds men and has no mercy in its consequence. Cinematographic sidebar: wowowowowow balls out for not only busting out the Millennium XL2, but also building custom density filters for the old bird. I cannot begin to imagine the labor hours spent on color correction to get that perfect orthochromatic look. Eggers is such a nerd lolThe Lighthouse
