Log: week 45 / 2023
Nolan's latest is a 3-hour biopic, and that's about all there is to it. The biopic is one of the most generic and stuffy genres out there, and Nolan does very little to update or even reinvent it. It's a little disappointing that films like this are still being made in 2023, it's even sadder that they end up being one of the biggest-grossing hits of the year. The performances are decent, but other than that it's a pretty bland film. There's nothing too bad or out of line, but also nothing that stands out or makes this a memorable experience. Apart from the finale maybe, which peaks around the 120-minute mark. The final hour is just one big outro that made me think Nolan should watch some Shaw Brow movies before he starts a new film. I'd be disappointed, but I didn't expect too much from this film to begin with.Read all
A lovely little South Korean drama. It's surprisingly pure and elemental, much closer to the drama film you'd expect to see coming out of Japan. You could also link it to Ki-duk's work, but even though Bus Stop tackles a taboo subject, it does so without being too confrontational. The performances are strong, the characters are intriguing, the dialogue is smart and pointed, and the presentation is stylish. It's also pretty compact, and while some might scoff at the romance presented, I felt it was handled with the proper respect. I liked it even better than the first time I watched it.
A pleasant, but small and somewhat limited drama. The dream sequences are what set this film apart, but they're not quite extravagant enough to carry the film by themselves. The drama feels a tad too light in contrast, even though it's meant to be pretty deep and harrowing. The performances are solid enough, and the setup of the drama is interesting. The cinematography's a tad too pedestrian though and while the dream sequences look good, the potential was there to do even more. I was engaged throughout and the film has no real weak points, it's just not that distinctive.Read all
An interesting silent, that seems to reference German Expressionist cinema. It's not quite as captivating and the lead character is a little iffy, but the setting is pretty atmospheric, and even though the film is almost two hours long, it never felt as if things were stretched too thin. Gwynplaine looks more goofy than he looks scary or tragic, which hurts his character and the tragedy that befalls him, but other than that the story was decent enough. It's a long film if you're not used to silent cinema, but the pacing is proper, the cinematography is moody and the romance is proper.Read all
Tim Burton does old sci-fi with a strong dose of self-awareness. I love it when respected actors dare to make a downright fool of themselves, so the film has that going for it. It's just that some of the touches to make it more modern feel quite dated by current standards; which was a little confusing. There are some solid gags, the actors are visibly having fun with their parts and there's a goofiness spread throughout that makes it an endearing watch. The special effects are a bit disappointing though (even when they are meant to look cheap) and I'm used to much weirder and crazier films these days, so it's not quite as distinctive as it was the last time I watched this one. Good fun, just not a true favorite anymore.Read all
Wai-Man Yip was among the first batch of directors to trade Hong Kong for China, so it's no surprise to see this film pop up in 2012. It's a pretty simple horror story, but it's executed with the proper flair and doesn't overstay its welcome. One for the more seasoned horror fan in other words. The cinematography is stylish, the story is condensed and to the point and the short runtime makes sure that you won't be too bothered by the fact that you've probably seen this exact thing before. It's typical genre fare, but Yip is the ideal director to drive a film like this home. Good fun.Read all
Noirs are a dime a dozen, and The Prowler is a film that does extremely little to try and differentiate itself from the others. That's not a bad thing if you're into noir cinema, it's pretty damning if you don't. It's another film I never really cared for, and apart from it being quite short, there's nothing much positive to say. Like most noirs, there's a tiny bit of action and tons of stuffy dialogue to fill the gaps in between. The performances are pretty bad, the pacing is jumpy and the presentation is bland. It's not too demanding or too ambitious, which saves it from being a complete crapfest, but it's not a genre/era that brings me much joy.Read all
I've been cutting back on Chinese streamer films because I was slowly starting to overdose (Shaw Bros flashbacks). I'm not ignoring them completely though, as they continue to provide slick genre entertainment. The Book and The Sword is one of Liu Binjie's latest films, and as I liked some of his previous ones, a good bet for a quick sample of the current state of the genre. There's nothing here you haven't seen before (unless you're completely unaware of these films). There's a little political intrigue, a couple of good action scenes, cool settings and costumes, but iffy CG. The film is short and punchy, but there's nothing here that is too memorable. Very good genre fluff in other words.Read all
It's crazy to think a film like this can cause such a ruckus. it's a pretty plain, generic human trafficking flick, tackling a pretty serious subject in the most American way imaginable. It's not a horrible film, but if you're after subtlety and realism it's probably best to look elsewhere. If you're looking for cinematic prowess, no luck either. Big, brawny American man takes on a South American trafficking ring. The presentation is slick and the first hour can get pretty tense, the second half is cheesier and more over-the-top. Performances aren't great, it's all a bit too sentimental and two hours is too long. Not a very remarkable film, but not a terrible one either.Read all