Directed by David Michôd The King has a little more life to it than I recall many of these kinds of medieval, historical dramas having. Maybe that's because the Robert Pattinson character is quite amusing or because the plot of the drama here feels relatively modern (even if a bit predictable). It's a story about power, … Continue reading The King (2019)
Author: Matt
Frankie (2019)
Directed by Ira Sachs There's something very pleasant about Frankie. It's a relaxed story that takes place over the course of a single afternoon in a vacation town in Portugal, spread amongst a small ensemble of similarly relaxed but agitated individuals. They discuss the pivot points or possible pivot points in their lives, things like divorce, … Continue reading Frankie (2019)
The Castle (1997)
Directed by Michael Haneke The Castle is a bureaucratic, alienating nightmare based on an unfinished Franz Kafka novel. In it a man named K. arrives to a wintery, barren village with the promise that he is to be made the Land Surveyor. When he arrives no one knows of such arrangements and he is instead … Continue reading The Castle (1997)
Runaway Train (1985)
Directed by Andrei Konchalovsky In Runaway Train two convicts escape from prison and share the misfortune of hitching a ride on a train with no conductor. For Manny (Jon Voight) this is hardly his first escape attempt, instead just the most recent prison break into which he knows he was goaded by the prison warden, Ranken … Continue reading Runaway Train (1985)
Tell Me Who I Am (2019)
Directed by Ed Perkins Tell Me Who I Am is a gut-wrenching, at times frustrating documentary about a completely fascinating true story. It's the type of story a Netflix executive's dreams are made of, something that follows in the footsteps of other Netflix content like Making a Murderer, The Staircase or Evil Genius. And I find these stories … Continue reading Tell Me Who I Am (2019)
JoJo Rabbit (2019)
Directed by Taika Waititi Taika Waititi's movies have such an appealing innocence. His characters, often children, learn perhaps obvious but nevertheless valuable lessons, as is the case with most coming of age films, and I think his young, bold protagonists highlight something similar within all of us, albeit a confidence that has been battered and … Continue reading JoJo Rabbit (2019)
Yesterday (2019)
Directed by Danny Boyle Yesterday is remarkably delightful. It's a film with a simple premise that doesn't necessarily deliver on all the narrative promises of that premise, and yet it is just so likable because the performers themselves are so likable. Jack Malick (Himesh Patel) is a struggling musician with a loyal manager, Ellie (Lily … Continue reading Yesterday (2019)
Notting Hill (1999)
Directed by Roger Michell I can't find it right now, but there's some Billy Wilder quote about how in romantic comedies you don't need to establish reasons why the central couple should be together but instead establish reasons they can't be together. That's the whole movie, all those obstacles, and I think Notting Hill does just … Continue reading Notting Hill (1999)
Black Mass (2015)
Directed by Scott Cooper Black Mass is another Boston-set mob movie, this time about Jimmy "Whitey" Bulger (Johnny Depp), a mob boss who cut a deal with the FBI that helped him and the Winter Hill Gang flourish for years. It follows in the footsteps of Goodfellas and, perhaps even more so, in the shadow of The … Continue reading Black Mass (2015)
St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)
Directed by Joel Schumacher St. Elmo's Fire is a strange 80s classic about a group of recent Georgetown graduates trying their best to figure life out. Armed with a certain amount of wealth and opportunity, a film like this focuses on how they get in their own way. They are concerned about harbored crushes, cushy … Continue reading St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)
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