I was expecting a wonderful twist on the stereotypical "Western", but what I got was so so much more. The characters are full of heart, the asides are eloquently satirical and entertaining as hell (I need more form cheese-squeezing lady), and the beauty of ramen finally gets its due justice. I look forward to revisiting this film many more times.
Reviews
29 Reviews
The Game
(1997)
Above Average Thriller
19 July 2020
Ultimately the message is actual a good and relatively (psychologically) deep one. It takes A LOT to get through this movie though- both in terms of anxiety and disbelief. Wasn't satisfied with the ending immediately, but upon reflection it is better than the average thriller.
Tokyo Story
(1953)
Relationships do age...
15 July 2020
As a Westerner, this film can be hard to comprehend. It depicts a very different family dynamic than I am used to. However, that is what makes the film so engaging. It slowly peels off layers of civility and politeness to reveal a deep humanity and emotional vulnerability that resides within the family. This such a welcomed contrast to the overly dramatic and often one-note American films depicting the subject. Parent-child relationships do change with age, and it is often difficult to navigate. This film is heartbreaking in its honesty.
The Florida Project
(2017)
the child as a lens
24 June 2020
The contrast between the poverty and depravity of the characters and the pastel wonderland of the a project next to the "happiest place on Earth", PLUS the amazing child actor lead, PLUS Willem Dafoe trying his damn best... It's really hard not to fall in love with this film. Wish I had seen it sooner.
Capote
(2005)
Haunting
18 June 2020
A transformation that has only been topped by Whitaker as Amin, Hoffman is so captivating. The cinematography is so breathtaking and the intermittent bursts of music between long stretches of silence create an air of anxiety, a feeling that at any moment the manipulation, and Capote himself, could fall to pieces.
Snow on tha Bluff
(2011)
Authenticity at it's most startling
18 June 2020
At no point did it dawn on me that I was watching a scripted a film. It was disturbingly real. The amateur feeling created a more engaging and authentic experience-- these characters are so representative of real people. People left behind, hustling, doing the best they can. It's also a subtle commentary on the trauma black men have continuously been prevented from processing. Very memorable and always relevant.
Juno
(2007)
A wonderfully written character
16 June 2020
This has aged remarkably well. It has so much heart and you really feel for Juno every step of the way. People are often turned off by the abundance of "witty dialogue" but I find it realistic. Like, teens are dumb and they try too hard to be cool. And that's what the film is about- a child forced into adulthood.
Da 5 Bloods
(2020)
Kanye...Is that you???
15 June 2020
Paul is supposed to be a Kanye West stand-in, right? I wanted to like this movie. I really did. The central message is important and relevant, but it's presented in such a messy and convoluted way. I almost want Lee to try again, because the concept and the acting are there. Just not the cohesion.
La haine
(1995)
It is what it is...
12 June 2020
This is a film that aims to present the yearnings of the poor and brown/black in the simplest and truest form possible. Everything for Vinz is black and white, while Hubert's world is shaded in grays. Saïd is just doing his best to keep up. Through the three main characters, our own thoughts on the state of society (police brutality, poverty, etc) are revealed. That's the beauty of the film. It asks you the questions instead of serving you the answers in a way that's not preachy but encouraging. And that ending...
Full of feeling
11 June 2020
This film is so full of feeling. It's a quiet contemplation on black masculinity and the folly of attempting to build an identity in a society that is hell-bent on stripping it away. Beautifully shot and thoughtfully acted. Everything is intentional and gives me Black Wes Anderson vibes.
Thirteen
(2003)
Raw and Oddly Nostalgia-inducing
1 June 2020
You have to be of a certain age to watch this film, because it plays on a raw nostalgia for the trials and tribulations of pre-teen-hood set in a time just before social media. The directing style makes the inner-lives of the characters feel real and Holly Hunter does an amazing job.
District 9
(2009)
A little too on the nose
26 May 2020
District 9 is not transcendent. In fact, it's a little too grounded. The allegories to apartheid, xenophobia, and racism in general are a little too explicit for my liking. It's not a pleasant film to look at at, though I appreciate the poverty and hardship they were able to depict on a fairly small budget. The "prawn" feel real. But the emotional punches come off as a little cliche.
The Lighthouse
(I) (2019)
Like a dream...
20 May 2020
It's like trying to retell a dream you once had to a friend. It's not a good dream or a nightmare, there is no cohesiveness, and the details get more muddied as you go on. Super trippy, but it ultimately has nothing important to say.
Becoming
(II) (2020)
Really beautifully shot
16 May 2020
I smiled/cried throughout the entire thing. This is NOT a documentary about Barack Obama's presidency. It is a celebration of a black woman who has worked hard to maintain a sense of self when America tried her to deprive her of it. It is really well shot and the music selection is moving. Michelle has renewed what little hope I have for this country.
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