- The Exorcism
Annoyingly boisterous and unimaginably pathetic. Constantly recreating shots and set designs from earlier Exorcist films as if to remind you that there are better movies you could be watching right now. Also can we get some Ibuprofen for Russell Crowe at this point? My man is so bloated in the face that it almost distracts you from his abominable accent attempt.The Exorcism - The Irishman
The defining statement that sets this one apart from all other (including Scorcese's) mob films is in its grounded simplicity and refusal to glamorize. Granted, it's very fun to watch the flashy, raucous, live-fast-die-hard energy of the mainstays, but taking a hard turn into realism is where this one shines and blossoms into a story less about the mob itself and more about consequences and the fallout of actions that you know are going to come back to haunt you.The Irishman - Tetris
Starts off real strong but loses steam insanely quick and, by the 3rd act, it comes across like no one knew how to wrap this script up. My best guess is that the writers wanted a semi-gritty political thriller and the producers and license holders wanted an America=good/Soviet=bad jerk off party. Doesn't really succeed in either respect but does have some charming moments if you can stomach the rest of it.Tetris - The Shining
Yeah, yeah, the book is better, I know. ...Still. This is simultaneously a very comfy and very stressful movie; great if you want to gawk at Kubrick composition, try to parse your own version of what's happening story wise or just admire how cute Shelly Duvall is in every shot she's in. I really like Shelly Duvall.The Shining - Red Dragon
Ask me a decade ago and I would give this an unequivocal 5-stars. Now, upon re-reading the books and running through the films again, I find this one honestly pretty shallow and weirdly monotonous, especially when you look at how meticulously stylized 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 is in comparison. Incredibly formulaic and full of missed opportunities, this one is carried entirely by its cast which, unsurprisingly, brings their all despite what they've been given to work with. Not one to entirely run away from but I would temper your expectations a bit going in.Red Dragon - Stargate
Holds a special place in my heart being among the first sci-fi mainstays that I watched growing up before I was aware of how clunky Emmerich's writing is and continues to be. Things just kind of happen and most scenes are fueled by the 90s style "We've gotta do the thing" pacing. Points to set and costume design though. Roland knows what he likes.Stargate - Nostalgia
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.Nostalgia - 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
