Log: week 47 / 2021

Sarandon and Lancaster are rather poor leads, the drab cinematography doesn't do the film any favors and the plot isn't much to look at. If you're into this type of grayish 70s crime then it's probably a film worth seeking out, personally I think it's a pretty big step back from the other Malle film I've seen.

Go Ayano's performance is great, the build-up of the film is strong, and the score is pretty interesting. It's still a very typical crooked cop/Yakuza crime flick, and it's not a film that is going to turn the genre upside down, but it's clear that Shiraishi has a real feel for the genre. So far, he hasn't disappointed me yet.

The performances are rather weak, and it takes a while before the film gets going. Once Ghost Lab finds its footing though, there are some pretty nifty horror scenes. Not the most scary or gruesome you've ever seen, but pretty nasty and entertaining nonetheless. Solid filler, nothing more, nothing less.

Caine is pretty badass, it's just that I don't really care for that bland 70s vibe. Everything looks so gray, desolate and drab, the characters aren't all that interesting and the plot isn't really a winner either. The last ten minutes are more stylized and show a different side, but not quite enough to save this film.

Tangerines is not a bad film, it's just a bit uneventful, especially as the concept didn't really appeal to me. The anti-war message isn't very subtle, the conversations between the men not that interesting, and the lack of overt styling didn't do the film any good either. It's a short and gentle drama, but nothing very memorable.

Saitoh's use of sound is remarkable. The slight (and dry) comedy touches are compelling, the way he cuts up the narrative and still makes it look effortless is also very worthwhile. The actors do a solid job, the drama is pleasant, and the film looks decent enough. Not the greatest Japanese drama out there, but a very solid film from a promising director.

Don't go in expecting a polished, stylized film, like Ichikawa's more commercial projects. It's really a more free-flowing indie drama. There are three characters that are loosely connected, each of them is given some time in the spotlight. The camera work is basic, the soundtrack does add a bit of atmosphere. There are moments of beauty here, but it's not really enough to stand out in such a densely populated genre.

Encanto is a technical wonder. The level of detail is incredible and a lot of attention was given to more traditional cinematic qualities (like the camerawork and editing), helping the film to attain a proper aesthetic. The characters are fun, there's no irritating sidekick, the hysterics are mostly absent, and the comedy is actually pretty decent. I'm still not the biggest musical fan and the songs are somewhat drab, other than that this was a very nice surprise. A very happy, colorful and charming film.

The lead performance is strong, the cinematography is appealing enough. The film keeps jumping back and forth in time to add a little intrigue to the plot, but there isn't really enough there to warrant the near 2-hour runtime. A slightly faster pacing or tighter styling would've made this a better film for me, but it's certainly worth a watch.

The comedy is drab, the pacing all over the place, the cinematography paltry. I didn't care much for the plot and the characters, nor for anything else to be honest. I'm not the biggest costume drama fan to begin with, but this was a notable low in the genre. It's a film that has slipped into obscurity after winning its big prizes, and that's where this one belongs.

This is a film that no doubt benefits from knowing Fujio's work (which I do not), but the style of the film makes it abundantly clear what type of manga he drew. Asano and Horikita deliver solid performances and there are some fun, memorable scenes, but it's a bit too basic to really stand out from the crowd.

There's a lot of potential here, but the pacing is just too slow, and the styling isn't quite intriguing enough. There are certainly moments that jump out, and the score deserves plenty of praise, but the colors are rather drab, performances are a little weak and the film fails to make a real impact. Still worth a watch, especially if you like more arthouse-oriented films with lighter genre influences.

The build-up of the tension is skillful, the mystery is upheld until very late into the film and Elwy's performance is exquisite. The Welsh language takes a bit of getting used to (subtitles are a must), but adds to the unconventional atmosphere. There are some slight pacing issues though and the ending isn't quite as full-on as I'd hoped, but other than that a pretty great film.

The art style is nice, with some nifty variations in techniques. The music is quirky, but gets a little repetitive over time and there isn't really enough plot to support the runtime. There are also moments with simplistic social critique that don't really fit in with the rest. Overall though, a film worth watching. There's a lot of imagination and wonder to discover here.

Apart from the dog (annoying comic relief), this is a pretty straightforward fantasy/adventure with some big action scenes to lighten the mood. The animation is decent, but the film's aesthetic qualities easily make it better than most of its CG peers. The plot and characters are fun enough, the pacing is perfect and the finale on point. A very welcome surprise.

Performances are rather poor, the editing is random, there's no tension nor any decent scares. This doesn't even feel like an actual movie, more like a randomized TV series recap (which, in some ways, it was). I'm truly surprised they bothered to release this in its current form. I don't often advise against watching a film, but I will do so here.

The film is based on a Broadway production and the writer of the dialogues is featured heavily on some posters, so don't expect a visual feast. All the yapping isn't very funny and gets annoying really fast. The plot has potential, but doesn't make much of an impact nowadays. A relic, but not the worst romcom of its time, even when it fails its primary genres.

Bautista and Nanjiani are a decent enough duo, but there's no real spark between them. They stick to conventional humor and reactions, which isn't enough to make this film stand out from its peers. Neither is the plot or the direction, but at least the pacing is solid and it never gets slow or dull. Just simple genre fare that delivers exactly what it promises from the outset.

I'm not quite sure whether it is Blanchet's performance or her character that failed to keep me interested, but I just didn't care about her situation. The dialogues are rather drab, the friction with her sister feels a bit too scripted and none of the secondary characters manage to add much. There's still a bit of Allen charm left, just not enough to save the film.

Garfield is a pretty big miscast, the rest of the cast isn't notably better. The songs are pretty basic without any dazzling cinematography to complement them and two hours is way too long for the material. I just didn't care for any of it, I think Miranda would be better off focusing on the music and letting others care about directing the film.

Performances are solid, there are some dreamy scenes that stand out and Campion finds a lot of humor in things that aren't necessarily funny. It's a nice enough film, but as it pivots to drama in the second half, it became clearer with the minute that the characters weren't quite intriguing enough for me to carry a more serious film. Not a bad effort though, and definitely worth a watch.