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Reviews
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)
"I think there is a natural goodness born into us all. You can either cross that line into evil, or not. And it's our life's work to stay on the right side of that."
My favourite film of 2023.
And considering this is now my favourite installment in my second favourite film franchise, you can imagine this ranks pretty highly on my all-time list. In fact, this is in my top 10, as crazy as that may sound.
But now onto why that is. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) exceeded my expectations a million times over. I absolutely loved every single thing about this.
Let's start off with the cast. I'm surprised that I haven't seen much mention of Tom Blyth's portrayal of the infamous President Snow, as he was truly staggering. I knew that this wouldn't be the kind of movie to receive Oscar nominations, but I genuinely believe Blyth's performance was worthy of a nom it was that good. As for Rachel Zegler, not only did she provide us with a passionate and emotive showing, but her singing was beautifully enchanting. Heck, I'm getting goosebumps right now just listening to the soundtrack! There are also some noteworthy supporting performances, primarily Viola Davis', who completely transforms into the sinister, manipulative Dr. Volumnia Gaul, in both appearance and psyche. Her unflinching determination in her ghastly work will leave you terrified of her whenever she is on screen. Additionally, Jason Schwartzman does an impressive job of echoing Stanley Tucci's portrayal of Caesar Flickerman in the original Hunger Games films as Lucky Flickerman here, as he is just as snappy and exuberant as his counterpart.
Essentially the entire cast is great. Admittedly though, some of the actors and actresses playing the other students do underperform to say the least, but it's a very minor scruple that I have with this feature.
This picture doesn't drag at all, and that is due to an excellent decision to have title cards at the beginning of each act. It may seem like a small thing, but if it wasn't for that, everybody who hadn't read the book, including myself, would've expected the film to end with the ending of Act 2, but thanks to the Act 3 title card, we immediately expect the movie to continue for another 40 minutes or so. If it wasn't for that title card, we would've been sat there for the next 40 minutes or so thinking "when is this gonna end?". The reason I mention it is because I think if it weren't for that, this would've received noticeably worse ratings, as a lot of people would've found this to be a drag, so I believe these title cards are vital to the film's positive reception.
I talked a little bit about the soundtrack earlier, and it is a wonderful one at that. I listened to it on repeat for hours after I'd seen the movie. Rachel Zegler's songs (which she sings live on set) are the standouts of course, after all they're probably what this installment will be most remembered for, but even the other songs are fantastic to listen to, and I'll probably be adding a lot of songs from this soundtrack to my personal playlist.
The costume design is exceptional by the way, definitely the best of the series. You've not only got the iconic, kaleidoscopic floral dress of Lucy Gray, but there's also brilliant costumes for the likes of Dr. Volumnia Gaul, Tigris Snow, etc.
I could go on and on and on, but I really ought to stop here. To summarise, this is a captivating and majestic installment in the Hunger Games franchise that will never leave my mind.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015)
"Mockingjay, may your aim be as true as your heart is pure."p
In my opinion, the most underrated film of the series, and I honestly don't get why. It's an utterly thrilling action-packed movie that personally never bored me for a second.
The main reason why I considered this to be my favourite Hunger Games installment back when I first watched it was essentially because it really hit me on an emotional level, primarily due to the undeserved death of an innocent character. Now it is no longer in the top spot for me, but that is simply down to the fact that I finally recognised the sheer greatness of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), which I have now ranked above this sequel.
But ultimately, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 (2015) is still a masterpiece in my eyes.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
"It takes ten times longer to put yourself back together than it does to fall apart."
When I first watched this I considered it to be one of my least favourite Hunger Games films, and I still firmly have that same opinion now. It's not a bad movie, it's just not on the level of the other three (yet I still give this a 10/10 rating just because I love The Hunger Games so much). Upon this rewatch, I primarily noticed just how much this installment can drag, particularly when they're shooting the propos. Also I would say that the reason why this is not generally rated as highly as the others is simply because, nothing really happens here, at least not up until the last 10-15 minutes. But even at the climax, the ending is a relatively small one in comparison to what we've experienced from the other installments, hence why this is the weakest film out of the bunch.
Yet I still love it, and I can't even describe why. I guess I just love the vibe of it more than anything else.
But one thing I wanted to mention which I noticed during this viewing was the impeccable, and even terrifying, performance of Josh Hutcherson, especially during the ending. If there's one thing this sequel has going for it, it's that it contains arguably Hutcherson's best singular piece of acting of the entire series.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
"Our lives aren't just measured in years. They're measured in the lives of people we touch around us."
Interestingly, before this rewatch I actually considered this to be one of my least favourite Hunger Games films. Don't get me wrong, in my eyes, each of these installments are 10/10 to me, but my issue with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) was that the part where they visit each district did drag for me a fair bit. But that was my only problem with it. And actually, upon this viewing, it didn't drag at all for me, so I've no longer got a problem with that, hence why I now consider this to be a complete masterpiece. What makes this stand out amongst the other Hunger Games movies is the twist, which is cleverly done. You know throughout Act 2 and 3 that something is up, but you just can't quite tell what exactly. And wow, you would never be able to predict the twist, especially a twist of that magnitude. And whenever you rewatch it, it's always interesting to see how it was expertly foreshadowed.
And finally, this is the installment where our two protagonists' relationship really blossoms. I truly love the chemistry between the two of them, and it adds a bit of an emotional spark to this franchise which I think might be one of the main reasons why I cherish The Hunger Games so much.
The Hunger Games (2012)
"Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous."
I don't know what to say about this installment other than I absolutely adore everything about it - to the point where I find it impossible to believe anybody could dislike it! The characters are so unique and marvellously written, the actors are perfect for their roles, the soundtrack is pretty great as it fits with the feel of both Panem and the arena perfectly, I could go on. It's also not cliché at all in my opinion. In comparison to my initial viewings of this picture (I kept watching the entire series over and over again back when I first watched it a year and a half ago, so I've lost count of how many times I've seen this), I found the lavish eccentricity of the Capitol citizens rather bizarre at first, but upon this viewing, I believe it was an excellent choice, in order to exacerbate the stark difference in social class between the Capitol and the lower districts. Plus, it really shows off the remarkable skills of the hair & make-up team, as well as the costume design team! Also, I was more emotionally moved with this rewatch, most notably with the Rue scene, which never really hit me that hard up until now.
By the way it's perhaps important to note that this is all coming from the perspective of somebody who has never read the books (however I do plan to one day) so I had no prior knowledge or feeling towards The Hunger Games up until I saw the films.
But I will leave my review here, and to summarise, this is a brilliant dystopian future film which I strongly consider to be essential viewing for almost all young to mid-teens out there, it's two hours and 22 minutes of sheer captivating excitement.
The Red Shoes (1948)
"A great impression of simplicity can only be achieved by great agony of body and spirit."
The story is told very well as it provides an unforgettable portrayal of love, passion, and most importantly, an overriding obsession for both. The colours are mesmerising, and quite astounding for a 40's picture. The score works excellently alongside the film, as it sucks you in, making you feel as if you're really there, sat in that grand theatre, gazing at Victoria Page's enchanting performance, and taking it all in. And the characters are fantastically written, as we get intimate knowledge of each of their ambitions and the way that they each try to pursue them. Lermontov is consistently focused solely on the success of his ballet company and sees other passions in life (especially love) as a distraction, whilst Craster & Page both find themselves between a rock and a hard place as they strive not only towards their respective careers, but also towards love, and each suffer terrible consequences as a result. Linking to this, I have to say the ending is utterly shocking, it will truly leave you feeling thunderstruck, but at the same time it sums up the movie so perfectly, and it's the main reason why I've given such a high rating because of that.
However the reason I haven't given a 10/10 rating is due to the overly long 15-20 minute ballet sequence during Act 3. I know I'm definitely in the minority here as from what I've seen, a lot of people actually consider that part of the movie to be their favourite, but for me it was just too long. Five minutes would have been enough in my opinion. I got so bored waiting for the performance to end that I honestly fast-forwarded past it!
But despite that, it's still a wonderfully constructed picture, and one that is arguably a must-watch before you die. Definitely check this out one day.
Salinui chueok (2003)
A movie filled with gloom... and humour.
A brilliant detective film with some emotionally brutal scenes, excellent use of 4th wall breaks to signify the bleakness & despair of the horrific crimes, a great score, and even some moments of hilarity which I was very fond of.
As for negatives, I would just say that during the 1st act, I noticed a few detective tropes that are commonly found in detective movies in general. This, as well as the fact that this just didn't feel like a complete masterpiece to me, is why Memories of Murder (2003) doesn't get a 10/10 rating from me.
But nonetheless, this is still one of the best crime films out there, so I definitely recommend it for your viewing.
The Shining (1980)
The best horror I've ever seen.
And that's primarily thanks to the staggering acting of Jack Nicholson, who put in one of the top 10 best lead performances I've ever laid my eyes upon. It's literally the Jack Nicholson show for 2h 26m, and we're all just lucky to be witnessing it. Also, Stanley Kubrick's direction is unbelievably extraordinary. However it's such a pity to hear about his subhuman treatment of Shelley Duvall during filming. It doesn't dock my rating, but it is rather disappointing.
Back to positives though, I was thoroughly impressed by Danny Lloyd's performance as Danny Torrance (the child), especially considering he didnt even know he was acting in a horror movie (as the crew had led him to believe they were shooting a drama film instead)! As for Shelley Duvall, I would say that her character wasn't written all that amazingly for this screenplay (which is actually part of the reason why Stephen King doesn't like this picture), but with saying that, I do think she managed to do the best she could, considering both this and the harsh treatment she suffered on set.
Finally, despite the fact that this truly is the best horror flick I've watched, I found the ending quite bemusing, so much so that I honestly had to watch an 'Ending Explained' video just to get a grasp on it. Also, I found the climax just before it a little underwhelming, but in saying that, it did make sense to me once I'd understood the meaning behind the final shot. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Kubrick's execution of the closing 5 or 10 minutes was fairly flawed in my opinion.
Overall, I was left speechless by this picture. It really is astonishing, and it's understandably a cult classic. 100% a must-watch before you die. 100%.
The Prestige (2006)
This surely has to be Christopher Nolan's magnum opus.
I haven't even seen Inception, Interstellar, or the Dark Knight Trilogy, so you may wonder, why on Earth would I make such a bold statement?
Because this picture directly challenges the way that you view a movie. I've never experienced anything like it. I mean who would've thought that the biggest trick from a film about tricks would be the film itself? And it's the ending (or should I say 'The Prestige'?) that makes you realise this. Personally I did somewhat figure out the twist during The Turn (Act 2), but as John Cutter uttered in his closing monologue, "you're looking for the secret, but you won't find it of course, you're not really looking. You don't really want to work it out. You want to be fooled." And I realised after hearing this line that that is exactly what happened to me! I allowed myself to be easily fooled even after I'd solved the trick, and the reason why I was so easily fooled was purely thanks to both the phenomenal writing of Christopher Nolan, and even the video editing (as there was very little focus on the thing that gives the finale away).
As for the rest of this masterpiece, the cinematography was surprisingly beautiful, and the performances from all the cast were superb, with the most notable ones coming from Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, and Michael Caine, the latter of whom's monologues were a lovely touch to the film, I really believe those were key to this being such a showpiece.
To summarise, this is an unbelievable feature, and I can now see why this is some people's favourite Nolan flick, as it left me with my jaw dropped to the floor.
Se7en (1995)
"What I've done is going to be puzzled over and studied and followed... forever."
For the first two acts of this movie, my impression of it was simply that it was a very very good detective film. But then the third act happened, and oh my word that was truly incredible. Insanely incredible. You will never in a million years expect that ending, and for it to be presented so horrifyingly too. It hits you just as emotionally as it does the protagonists, and that's all credit to the legend that is David Fincher, with his excellent use of cinematography and film editing to strengthen that feeling of sheer agony.
As for the feature as a whole, I loved the grittiness of it all, giving the movie a sort of neo-noir feel to it, despite it not quite being one. And the cast - most notably Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, and Kevin Spacey - were magnificent, with the latter two's performances sticking out in my mind even to this day (I'm writing this review weeks later than I was supposed to).
Overall, I would say that the stellar acclaim for this picture is totally justified, and whilst it may not be my favourite of Fincher's filmography, that doesn't mean it's not still high up on the list.
Ying xiong (2002)
"The sword resides not in the hand but in the heart."
Don't really have a whole lot to say other than it was a great film, the fight scenes were spectacular to marvel at, the colours were an absolute feast for my eyes (even if I was unable to interpret what the colours may have symbolised), and the twist was simply shocking, and that feeling was intensified by a plentitude of successive plot-twists as the third act became progressively nuanced. The third act is really where things stepped up a notch or two, as it is just incredible to say the least.
But the reason I'm not giving this a perfect rating is purely because this picture didn't have as much of a deep impact on me as I would've hoped for or at least expected.
But in saying that, there aren't actually any obvious faults with this feature so it's definitely one that I'd recommend for your viewing.
Sin City (2005)
"Power don't come from a badge or a gun. Power comes from lying. Lying big, and gettin' the whole damn world to play along with you."
Absolutely loved it but this was just two downfalls away from being a masterpiece. The main negative for me is, why on Earth is this sci-fi? This could've been so nearly perfect if it had been kept realistic. It would've had an almost Pulp Fiction kind of feel to it. I'm aware that this is based on a comic book series, but I guess what I'm pointing out here is the big flaw in Frank Miller's screenwriting. I say screenwriting because whilst the science fiction elements may suit comic books, it certainly doesn't suit a movie of this sort of theme. It just feels a bit silly to be honest. The minor fault with this feature are the somewhat poor visual effects, primarily everytime there's a car chase or travelling sequence. They were quite off-putting and as a result, noticeably reduced my immersion in the film.
But ultimately like I say, I adored this picture. The black-and-white artstyle is incredibly unique and it highlights the grittiness of this titular crime-infested city. And I was surprisingly taken aback on an emotional level, especially with that shockingly heartbreaking ending. And this is definitely rewatchable, as it's utterly entertaining and fascinating. I 100% recommend if you're looking for something... a little different, to say the least.
The Apartment (1960)
"I've decided to become a 'mensch'. You know what that means? A human being."
This is one of the most original screenplays I've ever come across, and it's also one of the best. It's ranked #15 on the WGA's list of the 101 greatest screenplays of all time, and that doesn't even surprise me. Heck, Wilder still has two other films somehow ranked even higher on that list! And his overall direction in The Apartment (1960) is simply spectacular. It flows wonderfully. From my experience of this picture, the 1st act felt like comedy, the 2nd act felt more like drama, and the 3rd act felt like comedy, drama, AND romance all in one.
And I mustn't forget to mention the captivating, entrancing performances of the likes of Jack Lemmon (as C. C. Baxter) & Shirley MacLaine (as Fran Kubelik), and even the whole cast as a matter of fact! Having previously encountered the former in an earlier Billy Wilder masterpiece, Some Like It Hot (1959), I knew I was in for a treat and of course he managed to impress me here a second time. He was the absolute perfect choice for the character that he played, absolutely hilarious at times. And when it came to MacLaine, I was utterly transfixed by her remarkable portrayal of the tender yet fragile Miss Kubelik. I may never fail to remember that gin rummy scene, both of them in fact, but particularly the first one, as she spirals into a sad, depressive state as she philosophizes about love, and her challenges of finding it. It's my favourite moment of hers across the entire movie.
I will have to leave my review there, but to conclude, this is an exceptional showpiece, with some of the best writing imaginable. And with enthralling showings from some incredible actors, I find it very difficult to imagine how you could consider missing out on such magnificence.
The Exorcist (1973)
The most scared I have ever been in my life.
Seriously. The moment where I was most terrified was when Father Karras walked back into the room by himself, turned to look at Regan, and instead of Regan we get jumpscared with the sight of someone else there instead (I won't say who so as to not spoil it). That moment made me jump out of my skin, a feeling which I have literally never felt before. I felt like I had been possessed myself. I thought I was going to die. For real, that was not funny Friedkin.
I'm almost too afraid to give this anything less than a 10, but I have to, as unfortunately, this picture starts just like any other horror you will find out there. It's an extremely slow beginning, with boring exposition. It's a shame Friedkin decided to follow the same basic horror templates that so many other films of this genre use.
But the ending is unbelievable. I really believed I had predicted the ending at one point but I was soon after proven wrong, only to then be absolutely shocked at what truly unfolded.
And before I finish up this review, I have to mention the visual & sound effects, as well as the editing. The visual effects and the editing are incredible for a 70's film, and it astounds me that they were even capable of achieving such effects. And there's a reason why this won the Best Sound Oscar, as it really immerses you into this disconcerting & unsetting world that the movie creates.
In conclusion, I can totally see now why this feature is held in such high regard, and I can wholeheartedly say that this is one of, if not the scariest picture of all time.
Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Not quite a masterpiece but still remarkable nonetheless.
What this latest installment in Martin Scorsese's filmography has taught me is that he is for sure a very very versatile director. Not only is he capable of making a film about absolutely anything at this point, but each and every one of his pictures feels so different to the rest. I seriously would not have been able to tell that this was a Scorsese flick if I hadn't have known beforehand (and also if it wasn't for that final scene). With Killers of the Flower Moon (2023), he has made one of the most poignant, thought-provoking movies of his career so far. It is one that by the end of things leaves you struggling to fathom how on Earth such a heartlessly murderous era could be lost and forgotten in American history.
And as a result of Lily Gladstone putting in what was, in my opinion, the best performance out of the entire cast (to the point where I literally forgot that she was even acting, like genuinely when I left the theater I thought "wow Leo and De Niro were incredible", and I completely missed out Gladstone because her performance felt so real that it felt like I was simply watching her play herself), it makes the murders all the more heartbreaking & brutal, and it makes the money-grubbing murderers come across all the more callous & cold-hearted, as we connect and become emotionally invested in the Osage tribe through her character, and it's easy to do so thanks to her warm & amiable personality being portrayed excellently.
And to top it all off, the little man himself made a shock appearance towards the end, which really drove home the feeling of deep sadness which was already consuming my mind enough as it was. It was this particular scene that legitimately elevated my rating for this feature, as it highlights how this isn't just some project to him. No, rather, it highlights how this is a story that wholeheartedly moved him when he first heard of it, and now his goal is to get us to experience the same flurry of emotions as he did. And he executed that goal marvellously.
But to quickly explain why I haven't given a 5-star rating, I will firstly say that this did not need to be and shouldn't have been a 3½ hour film. Even though there was no moment that dragged, there were some scenes that could've been cut without any major effect on the story. Perhaps I'm just saying this because I was fairly tired during the first act and found myself nearly falling asleep & failing to concentrate, but to be clear that's not because it was boring (because it wasn't) but simply because I was tired in the first place, and consequently I was very conscious of the time from early on in the movie, and so by the time we reached the end, it did feel like quite a stretch. But regardless, I do think my argument still stands. But apart from that, I guess it just didn't have as much of an impact on me as I'd hoped for, so I perhaps just got my expectations up a tad too high.
But in conclusion, this is a picture which can be very touching, and it is one which I definitely recommend to anybody who somehow hasn't seen this by now.
V for Vendetta (2005)
Really good... for a dystopian
I have to admit I'm somewhat baffled as to how this has such incredibly high ratings, but nevertheless I still really enjoyed it. It's just that this isn't anything too special compared to other dystopian future films out there. Don't get me wrong, it's one of the best dystopians I've seen, but that's simply because movies of this genre tend to falter in terms of storytelling anyway. With V for Vendetta (2005), whilst the plot did progress in ways that were not only unpredictable but even emotive, none of it truly wowed me as much as I would've hoped. Having known of just how highly regarded this film was before watching it, I found myself waiting & waiting for something big to occur, something surprising and impactful, as there had been nothing of the sort to warrant such a high rating. And indeed by the end of things, there was nothing of that sort, not for me at least. Hence my slight disappointment overall. Also, aside from the script, I really think this needed a higher budget, as even though this is meant to be set in the future, many scenes (mainly the ones in the alleyways) looked as if this was set about 100 years in the past, so yeah I definitely found the production design a bit bizarre at times.
But I am speaking far far too negatively about a picture that I did like to be fair. I'm sure better writers than me could go on and on about how this portrays society and whatnot, but it really does do so well at depicting totalitarianism and autocracy in the modern-day era, and you could even say our real-life government are slowly becoming more and more like the one showcased here. Additionally, both Hugo Weaving (as V) and Natalie Portman (as Evey) are exceptional as the two conspirators aiming to overthrow their tyrannical authority. The former is witty and charming in personality yet determined and passionate when it comes to the ultimate goal, and this attitude rubs off on the latter whose performance gets better and better until the end as a result. And Portman is so incredibly excellent at illustrating Evey's newfound spiritedness that it even rubs off on us, and gets us rallying for a resolution just as much as she now wants one.
Altogether, it's honestly brilliant at getting its message across, and although it may not be a masterpiece of filmmaking, it can certainly leave you feeling rather pensive.
Psycho (1960)
"It's sad, when a mother has to speak the words that condemn her own son."
My first ever experience of a Hitchcock picture and I can already get a feel for what his style of filmmaking is like just from this one movie, as it is so modern and contemporary for the 50's & 60's era. He did an excellent job of building up suspense and tension in each and every one of the major scenes, and this was also aided by the tremendous score which took me by surprise right from the get-go. Additionally, Anthony Perkins was fantastic at portraying his character's peculiar and unpredictable self, and there were remarkable supporting showings from Martin Balsam and Simon Oakland, the latter of which had a mere one-scene cameo, but he really owned the stage in that moment. But what shot my rating up was the mind-blowing twist which I completely thought wasn't even possible given how the story had progressed.
So from this, I can now finally see why Alfred Hitchcock is regarded as one of the greatest directors of all time, as Psycho (1960) highlights his modernistic approach which stands out amongst all other filmmakers of that time. And even now, more than six decades on, his films feel almost just as revolutionary as they did so long ago.
Quo vadis, Aida? (2020)
"Now you will see the real film."*
Things get super emotional in the final 20 to 30 minutes, from the moment *this chilling line is spoken. It's like the director Jasmila Zbanic is forgoing the storytelling and at this precise moment is directly breaking the fourth wall in order to explicitly get her message across to the audience. It makes the film deeply poignant at that point, and really makes the audience reflect on the horrors of this harrowing real-life war.
Despite this, what makes this a not-so-perfect movie for me is that the lead character isn't very likable up until the third act. It's not that she acts malevolently or immorally in any way, but she's not a very warm character, so it was very difficult for me at least to connect with her.
In case some of you are put off by foreign language pictures, this one is pretty much 50% in English (and you'll understand why if you read the plot) so it's definitely one that's much easier to follow and understand.
Overall, a profoundly tragic drama that can leave you feeling rather pensive about a little-known massacre that for sure needs to be remembered in history. And this feature does a remarkable job at that.
Paris, Texas (1984)
"I used to talk to you all the time, even though I was alone. I walked around for months talking to you. Now I don't know what to say."
The first act severely dragged, the music was horrible, and character development was pretty poor (certain characters had sudden changes in their manner/attitude which felt nonsensical and unrealistic), but my god, this is still exceptional. Act 3 takes my breath away with just how incredible it is. That act alone is a phenomenal example of peak cinema. The performances from the likes of Harry Dean Stanton, Nastassja Kinski, and Hunter Carson will live long in my memory. All three of these cast members gave awe-inspiring, compelling portrayals of each of their personalities. Carson was my personal favourite here, and whilst this may simply be due to the fact that most of his lines were utterly remarkable, there is no denying that he was genuinely spellbinding in his acting, as he stood head and shoulders above the rest (despite being heads and shoulders shorter than the rest (as he is only a mere child)). The story progresses so unpredictably, most notably with a horrifying revelation which leads to an ending which you certainly will not have seen coming up until that point. There were also a couple of moments that made me burst into hysteric laughter, whether they were actually intended to be funny or not I don't know, but either way it raised my enjoyment of this picture a fair bit, so it was worth mentioning. And one final thing, the cinematography is some of the best I've seen, ever. It fits perfectly with the style of the movie, and it's just so extraordinarily impactful. It takes this already marvellous feature up a notch further.
There's a reason why this is so highly regarded by cinephiles all around the world, I urge you to give this a go if you haven't already.
Lion (2016)
A tearjerking masterpiece.
It goes without saying that this is an incredibly moving picture, a guaranteed tearjerker to say the least. I mean how can you not shed a tear after witnessing such an unbelievably powerful story unfold before your eyes? Director Garth Davis (in his feature film debut!) made a key decision that completely transformed this plot into something even more special than it already is. Rather than switching back and forth between flashbacks as Saroo searches for home, we get a much more beautifully drawn-out life story of how Saroo initially gets lost in the jam-packed, hectic country of India and how he desperately tries to navigate his way back home, before he is eventually adopted and we see how his adult life in Australia is heavily affected by his unmoving desire to locate his home village. This directional choice adds so much emotional depth to the film that the ending hits us like a ton of bricks. But this isn't the only reason why this feature is so hard-hitting. The performances of Sunny Pawar (as Young Saroo), Dev Patel (as Saroo Brierley), & Nicole Kidman (as Sue Brierley) are simply exceptional. Sunny as the little boy aimlessly wandering the hustling & bustling streets of downtown India highlights the innocence of the sad sad mistake that he so dearly made. He is ultimately the star of the show, but of course we also have Patel as the despairing orphan-turned-adoptee and Kidman as the caring & tender maternal adopter who both shine with their richly emotive showings. And the third major factor in making this movie so touching is none other than the score. Just listening to it now as I write this review is enough to rend my heart, and it is wholeheartedly deserving of its Oscar nomination.
In case you haven't figured it out by now, I absolutely loved this film to bits. The poignancy, yet at the same time, heart-warming nature of this picture makes it a sheer masterpiece, one which I completely and utterly recommend for your own personal viewing. It is seriously a must-watch.
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
"I wouldn't kill him, because he looked as frightened as I was. I looked at him... and I saw myself."
This never took my fancy as a kid, simply because I wasn't interested in dragons in the slightest, so I never watched it, even despite my best friend from that period constantly going on about it over the years. But now as a grown adult, but more importantly as a cinephile, I decided to give this a go, especially after I was immensely surprised by the incredibly high ratings that this has received. And I definitely understand where these acclamatory reviews are coming from, as there is a beautiful story which unravels before us.
I really liked how the story was sort of split into two. It eminently highlighted how Hiccup had to lead a double life, including a life where he felt no sense of belonging, it was sadly quite relatable! I also took delight in the sequence where Hiccup learns several new skills from Toothless, and then implements each one into his dragon-fighting training, it was a great way of quickly developing the plot, and very entertaining too.
I adore the score, most notably Test Drive, it's an absolute masterpiece, but the soundtrack as a whole is genuinely tremendous, I'm so glad it was recognized by the Academy, what with it being given an Oscar nomination.
As for negatives, I found it bizarre, and mildly annoying, that all the children had American accents and the adults had Scottish accents. If they are Vikings, and this is set in Scotland, then surely they should all have Scottish accents? It's just disappointing, and it actually lost me in the Immersion a little bit.
Also, this film made me realise how much I hate the way relationships are portrayed in family movies. It's honestly infuriating how this picture sticks to the typical romance tropes that you see in almost all other family-friendly films, where the guy wins the girl through doing nothing else but impressing her. You can see it coming from a mile away.
When it comes to the animations, almost everything was decent. The one aspect that was poorly executed were the beards of the Vikings, most noticeably Stoick's. They couldn't have looked more computer-generated.
Finally though, I'll end on a good note by saying that what elevated this to a 8/10 for me was the shocking twist that we see when Hiccup gets out of bed, it was completely unexpected, and a decision by the writers that I truly admire.
So overall, a fantastic feature, one that was much better than I thought it would be.
Black Bird (2022)
"You can die, but you can't unlive. I lived."
Never expected to be logging this as it's actually a mini-series, but I was utterly captivated, and even enamoured, by this show. Not even for one second does it get boring for me. Taron Egerton is an unbelievably excellent lead, he genuinely shocked me with his showing here, he evokes so much emotion out of us. But even his performance is topped by the astonishing Paul Walter Hauser, who plays the repulsive rapist to perfection. For his acting alone, this is worth the watch. Both wholeheartedly deserve Emmys, and I'm glad they've at least been recognised with nominations. I so hope they both win, for I cannot stress just how formidable their performances were. As for the story, I mainly just remember what happened in the last two episodes, as they were so engrossing that I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for a second, as I was literally on the edge of my seat! Episode 5 is my favourite, as it is extraordinarily emotional. Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) describes in horrifying detail what he did to one of his victims, and even just thinking about it now makes me so angry yet melancholy at the same time, especially considering that this is sadly based on a terrible true story. And this feeling is intensified by Keene's (Taron Egerton) reaction to this gut-wrenching anecdote, whose reaction is exactly the same as ours, only at a more extreme level. It's such a harrowing scene, and there are many many scenes that you could pick out that are simply exceptional. It's a masterpiece of a series, and I recommend it to absolutely anybody who has Apple TV+. If I were you, I wouldn't want to miss out on this. Heck, I wish I could forget it all just so I can watch it all over again, that's how much I loved it.
Saw X (2023)
"This is not retribution. It's a reawakening."
At long last, we have received the tenth installment of what has been a tremendous franchise so far. And Saw X (2023) not only reaches the same levels as those that have come before it, but even eclipses many of them, including the original for me. Unlike all the others, this one focuses primarily on hitting you in the feels, on touching you deeply in your heart.
Starting with a super long exposition (the longest we have ever gotten), we see everything from John Kramer's perspective, right up to the end, which Saw megafans will undoubtedly adore. We get an insight into his experience of suffering from cancer, and his desperation for a cure. As a result, it makes it all the more unspeakably abhorrent when we find out the big twist in the middle of the film. But I will say the lack of gore up until this point & the fact that the exposition lasts for an incredibly prolonged amount of time could be a drag for some of you. Personally I was somehow still thoroughly entertained by the beginning, even though not much was even going on. It was weirdly engaging.
When it comes to the gore as a whole, it's brilliant. Not the best of the series, but awesome nonetheless. Valentina's trap was the highlight by a mile for its thrillingly gruesome nature, the people in my theater were so on edge during that scene, myself included! It's a shame that the eye vacuum, which had been so heavily marketed in the build up to release, was considerably underwhelming, partly due to its short runtime but mainly because of, to vaguely put it, its disappointing ending. Another thing I wasn't pleased with was the fact that we had two back-to-back traps where the victim was killed purely because they ran out of time at the last second, even when they had technically done the task that was assigned to them. I cannot understand how the writers didn't realise how repetitive and monotonous it would feel to have two consecutive games end in pretty much the exact same way.
But it didn't matter too much, as things really stepped up a notch from there. I won't go into detail anymore about what occurs, but there are two or three more twists from this final act, and one or two of which will horrify you. Remember when I said this one gets you right in the feels? This is where the most heartbreaking moment lies, for a twist that even Kramer himself doesn't see coming happens. And whilst tears may not have escaped my eyelids as I watched this unfold, they were damn near close. It's an unbelievable scene executed masterfully by Kevin Greutert, who has yet again pushed the boundaries for what this horror franchise can become, nearly two decades on fron its introduction into this world.
So, overall, it's a fantastic return to greatness after the two substandard flops we've had in recent years. With his uniquely modern approach, Kevin Greutert has brought the Saw franchise right back to the mighty heights where it so belongs.
Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)
"John Kramer was right. The spiral: a symbol of change, evolution, progress."
Look, what can I say? Contrary to most, I actually really liked this. I was totally engaged from start to finish. I found the whole premise rather interesting. Targeting corrupt cops is a great idea which we as an audience can all easily side with. And the investigation into the elusive identity of the culprit was highly fascinating, I wasn't bored for a second. And when we eventually did find out who our copycat was, I have to admit that I utterly did not expect it to be that person! I know a lot of reviewers predicted it from early on but the clues had evaded me completely. This, combined with the awesome twist in the final scene is what makes my rating so high. And believe it or not I genuinely was quite fond of Chris Rock's acting here. I do agree with those who say that he was inconsistent, in the sense that his mood & emotional state fluctuated massively (rather than gradually intensifying), but his showings in individual scenes were superb in my opinion, delightful even. He was a breath of fresh air compared to the more dull & uninspiring cast members (such as Marisol Nichols for example). But the best of the bunch was Max Minghella, who completely captivated me at times, and dare I say it I was awestruck with his performance by the end of things.
But all of this isn't to say that there aren't flaws. The main one that sticks out in my mind are the embarrassingly cringe-worthy voice recordings, which baffle me more than anything. Like what on Earth made them think that those were acceptable for a franchise which, up until this point, was (and still is) known for having such a menacing and intimidating killer? Everytime one of those audio clips played, it really brought the tone of the movie down, as they were comically atrocious. Unfortunately, as I'm writing this review several days after watching the film, I've forgotten any other critiques that I may have had, but either way, my rating is predominantly just based on what I gave the other Saw installments.
But that's all I have to say on that. Overall, it definitely exceeded my expectations, and it's one that I enjoyed a heck of a lot.
Shutter Island (2010)
"Which would be worse: to live as a monster, or to die as a good man?"
Shutter Island (2010) is a Martin Scorsese-directed psychological thriller which tells the gripping story of two US marshals, Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) & Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), who are sent to an ominous mental asylum on a remote island in order to delve deep into the inexplicable disappearance of a particular patient, but in the midst of their investigation, Daniels goes through his own mental struggles whilst simultaneously uncovering the darker and more sinister truths behind not only the missing patient, but the asylum as a whole.
I coincidentally watched this on the same day that I had been learning about schizophrenia in school just hours prior. As a result, I gullibly thought that I had cracked what the twist was very early on in the picture. I may not have been totally wrong, but wow I did not expect *that* kind of curveball! What makes the ending so special is that even if you're able to predict one or two elements of it, there's still two or three more which will blow your mind away. There are so many cogs working at full speed in this film. It's so complexly convoluted, it's utterly brilliant, and I have nothing but sheer praise for the writer of the novel that this is based on, Dennis Lehane. But I will say, the finale is not as shocking as I've seen some reviewers say. Some viewers have said that even when the turn of events was revealed, they were so astonished that they legitimately couldn't believe it, and didn't believe it at first. For me, whilst I was left stupefied, I still found it fathomable at the very least, to the point where it dumbfounded me that other people didn't. Then again, this could easily just be because of my pre-existing knowledge of schizophrenia, which meant I was able to recognise some of the symptoms portrayed in this movie.
But I have to mention the very closing scene, for it is ridiculously good. After first watching it, I had what I now believe to be a false impression on what that moment meant. It was only after reading reviews of this that I realised the much more intricate explanation for what had occurred, and it elevated this picture to an even higher level than I thought imaginable.
The story as a whole is phenomenal. Despite being a 2h 18m feature, it somehow never drags, or even falters for that matter. Once again, Scorsese smashes it out the park with his direction. I'm starting to believe he may be my favourite filmmaker.
But moving on to the all-star cast now. We may as well start with the awe-inspiring lead, Leonardo DiCaprio. His standout moment for me was during a harrowing scene at the end which reduced me to floods of tears where he gave a wholly heart-rending performance. But throughout the movie he was his fantastic self as he showed yet again what a marvellous actor he is. By the way now is probably a good time to mention that this was a complete snub at the Oscars. *Zero* nominations, let alone wins. And how DiCaprio wasn't up for Best Actor I'll never understand. That truly is unfathomable. And perhaps the same goes for Ben Kingsley (as Dr. John Cawley) for Best Supporting Actor who was genuinely flawless as the secretive lead psychiatrist. You can tell everytime he's on screen that there's something he's hiding, but you just can't discern exactly what. As a result he makes the film that much more intense and exciting, right up until the climax. No cast member was inadequate at all, but I do wish we had seen a lot more of Chuck, Mark Ruffalo's character, as he was essentially neglected for almost all of the first act, so much so that I nearly forgot he was even there! I'll never understand why they chose to give him so few lines in this part. There were several times where I was just wondering "why on Earth is he being so quiet?" It's like he was just, there, in the background.
But now onto the incredible soundtrack, which is actually the thing that surprised me most of all. Right from the beginning, you are hooked in with a score that instantly transports you to the eerie world where this takes place. The thumping music greatly intensifies the movie in the perfect way. It keeps you on the edge of your seat as the film edges closer and closer to its dramatic conclusion.
The final thing I loved from this feature was the visual effects, which were simply stunning. With this and the thrilling composition playing in the backdrop of dialogue-filled sequences, I felt like I was watching a Nolan flick! In fact I don't think I ever would've guessed that Scorsese was behind this masterpiece, as it's just so different from others in his filmography that I've seen. I was totally amazed by the spectacle that I was witnessing before me. The use of water, blood, and charred debris raining down was nothing short of magnificent. Visually, this picture is a beautiful sight to behold.
You have to give this a watch someday if you haven't already. I cannot stress just how much of a showpiece this really is. It truly is an exquisite feature.