There's a beautiful complexity to Guillermo del Toro's new version of Pinocchio that few other filmmakers could have reasonably pulled off. I think it's because there isn't one direct element of this latest adaptation that commands attention as being the thing that sets it apart from all the others. It isn't just the high quality … Continue reading A Real Life – Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
At long last, a very tumultuous year is about to come to an end. Inflation was rampant, an absolute slew of beloved celebrities shuffled off the mortal coil, and once again America just barely squeaked by on maintaining the basic tenets of democracy. It was rough, no doubt about it, and there are still 31 … Continue reading This Film is Not Yet Watchable – December 2022
Luca Guadagnino is one of the most surprising filmmakers working today. With Call Me By Your Name, he made statutory rape and jizzing into a peach somehow heartwarming. With his version of Suspiria, he managed the rare feat of creating a remake that felt unique enough to stand on its own. And with Bones and … Continue reading Bite Me – Bones and All
Mexico's entry for International Feature is a curious one, mostly because it's very clear that the decision to submit it was down to the prestige of the filmmaker rather than the film itself. With a barely passable Rotten Tomatoes score of 60%, Bardo, False Chronicles of a Handful of Truths relies almost entirely on the … Continue reading A Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man – Bardo, False Chronicles of a Handful of Truths
There is a certain boldness to Mark Mylod's The Menu that few other movies could pull off. That gamble came in the form of the film's two major trailers, which made it very clear that the movie would contain quasi-horror elements about a high-end chef trying to murder his patrons. There were even overt references … Continue reading Eat the Rich – The Menu
I've made it clear many a time on this blog that I'm not a religious person. It's just not for me, and it likely never will be. But that doesn't mean that I don't wholeheartedly support religious freedom. If you have faith, good on you. I truly hope it makes you feel comfort and fulfillment … Continue reading Heroes Without Capes – Eternal Spring
As any reader is aware, there are two things going on with this blog right now. One, I'm in a near-constant state of clearing my backlog due to the absolute glut of films being released right now. Two, this is because it's Awards Season, and everyone is jockeying for position, attention, and prestige. Well, as … Continue reading Let’s Hear it For the Multiverse – 38th Independent Spirit Awards Nominees!
Harvey Weinstein is a piece of shit, truly garbage made flesh. Even before the truth came out about his predatory sexual behavior and outright rape, he basically represented the worst Hollywood had to offer. He was mean, aggressive, greedy, and his unabashed bribery and woefully unethical campaigning is the reason Slumdog Millionaire won Best Picture … Continue reading Going on Record – She Said
My relationship with the work of Steven Spielberg has been a complicated one over the last decade or so. He's undeniably one of the greatest creative and visionary minds in cinema history, harnessing the pure magic of movies while actively coming up with new tricks at every turn. Over the course of nearly five decades, … Continue reading I Am Sam – The Fabelmans
There really isn't much to Bolivia's Oscar entry, Utama, in terms of story and character. There are basically only three main players, all largely confined to a tight space on a llama farm in the Andes. The plot is fairly simple, about an elderly couple trying to get by as severe drought makes life at … Continue reading The Dying Lands – Utama
I Actually Paid To See This 