Directed by Pella Kågerman, Hugo Lilja Aniara is like if you took Wall-E, Solaris, Passengers and A Ghost Story and put them in a blender, and then you sprinkled in a little Lars von Trier for good measure. It's a story that takes place in a hermetically sealed world, a large space ship taking passengers on a three week … Continue reading Aniara (2018)
sci fi
Alphaville (1965)
Directed by Jean-Luc Godard Alphaville imagines a grim future dominated by detrimental logic and a computer system with a voice that sounds as though it's been yanked from the death rattle of a long-time smoker. Combine that with the loud beeps, flashing lights and all around lack of personality of noir hero Lemmy Caution (Eddie … Continue reading Alphaville (1965)
Metropolis (1927)
Directed by Fritz Lang Alright so here are the influences of Metropolis that I've gathered thus far: C-3PO, the name of Superman's city, Dark City (1998), Logan's Run (1976), Brazil (1985), Blade Runner (1982), Minority Report (2002), really any sci-fi movie, the use of the "Schüfftan Process" (to combine miniature models and people in the same shot), the … Continue reading Metropolis (1927)
They Live (1988)
Directed by John Carpenter They Live both mocks and decries capitalism, effectively, which might have been a surprise considering how much of a B movie this is. It stars a professional wrestler, Roddy Piper, features a five minute long fight sequence between Piper and Keith David over a pair of sunglasses, and well yeah, it's … Continue reading They Live (1988)
High Life (2018)
Directed by Claire Denis It's hard to shake the imagery of Claire Denis' High Life. It's a science fiction film that takes place on a small ship floating through the cosmic abyss, but more than that it's about sexuality, reproduction and isolation. Within its own hermetically sealed world the limited number of characters here begin to … Continue reading High Life (2018)
Hotel Artemis (2018)
Directed by Drew Pearce A gaggle of criminals converge on the infamous Hotel Artemis one night during a 2028 Los Angeles riot. They are all connected, of course, in ways that will necessitate a series of crimes and punishments, delivering the promised blood bath from which no one is safe. At least, that's the premise. … Continue reading Hotel Artemis (2018)
Upgrade (2018)
Directed by Leigh Whannell In Upgrade a man who loathes automation will have to rely on a computer in order to gain back some agency in his own life. His story, a revenge thriller in the style of John Wick (2014), becomes something more thought-provoking, even if working in well-tread territory, like Ex Machina (2015). Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) … Continue reading Upgrade (2018)
The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959)
Directed by Terence Fisher The Man Who Could Cheat Death is pure, delightful pulp outside of a long conversation on the morality of immortality. It's actually quite a good movie, one whose selling points indicate none of the real quality of the film. This is a horror movie that is never quite horrifying, a drama … Continue reading The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959)
Solaris (2002)
Directed by Steven Soderbergh Solaris is a remake of the Andrei Tarkovsky film of the same name. Like the original it is a philosophical science-fiction story that takes its time and might put off certain viewers who want Alien more than they're looking for the final thirty minutes of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The story follows psychologist … Continue reading Solaris (2002)
