Centering a story on a lie that grows to an exponential degree is a pet peeve of mine due to how inevitable the climactic liar reveal is - not to mention the shift in tone that conveys "we're about to get serious, kids" in neon lights - but at least most examples of this commit to placing its lead characters in the wrong. This movie, on the other hand, tries to wave away the blame by showing the leads' ability…
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Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind 2004
The level of enthusiasm when it comes to showing magic tricks to the audience knows no bounds. Without question the showiest tricks are the ones aided by visual effects - the sudden disappearance of people, objects, and even text never ceases to catch the eye - but they are no match for what this movie does on a narrative level. To first-timers, the opening ten minutes almost feel like a parody of an indie romantic drama. From the peppy score…
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Duel 1971
Duel is probably the most literal example of "nightmare fuel" I have ever seen.
Despite the TV movie limitations, Steven Spielberg has managed to convey an illogical yet completely visceral thriller better than most filmmakers today. And considering that this is widely recognized as his feature debut, that's even more impressive. The masterful editing, carefully planned shots, and insane premise create an engulfing atmosphere that only gets more tense as it goes along. Not to mention, the fact we never…
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Up 2009
Watched in preparation for Pete Docter's newest film, Inside Out.
Although I like Up quite a bit, I still don't find it to be the masterpiece other people say it is. Yes, it goes without saying that the first ten minutes are absolutely brilliant, flawless even. From the opening bit of exposition to the utterly astonishing montage showing the relationship between Carl and Ellie over the course of several decades, the filmmakers managed to create possibly the greatest thing to…