Letterboxd — Your life in film

I see this becoming a big awards contender in the coming months, and its likely going to stir up a lot of fuss with people, especially on Film Twitter. And while I get that this sort of sentimentalism isn't everyone's cup of tea (it usually isn't mine either), it's just sincere and charming enough that I ultimately find it endearing. Obviously, its far from the best thing I've seen this year, but it's a sweet little romp and it works well for what it is.

This is my first time watching anything from Jane Campion, and if this film is any indication of what to expect, I'd be really interested to see what else she has in store. Remarkable direction coupled with a rich character-driven story, and featuring some truly laudable performances, particularly from Cumberbatch and Dunst.

Largely entertaining, if not a bit uneven, and the performances are all-around commendable, with the exception of Jared Leto's, which is cartoonishly over-the-top and sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the cast.

Billy Wilder really was one of the best writer-directors of his era. A searing critique of American media and the culture of opportunism, wrapped in an endlessly riveting plot, and featuring a great lead performance form Kirk Douglas.

Makes exquisite use of black and white cinematography that not only looks stunning but significantly enhances the unsettling tone. However, the real standouts here are Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum, both perfectly cast in their respective roles; Peck as the strong and respectable hero, and Mitchum as the dastardly villain (who's enjoyable yet intimidating), and it's this core dynamic between them that really drives the film.

Charming, quirky, dynamic, and visually engaging— in other words, a Wes Anderson film. Honestly, I don't have much else to say; the movie was a lot of fun and was definitely one of my more enjoyable theatrical experiences this year.

An endlessly gripping film noir narrative with a charming set of characters (all exquisitely performed) and an ingenious set of twist and turns that left me both in awe and excitement. A top tier entry in the genre.

[Watched for a school assignment]

Overall, pretty well put together, especially in terms of its editing, and it makes a really solid case for its thesis, but considering how much both the internet and our media landscape have evolved (for better and for worse) since this films release, a lot of it comes off as quite dated.

The underwater scenes easily make up the best portions of the film, possessing an almost sensual and dreamlike quality along with a real sense of horror that ultimately elevates this from a generic monster movie to a genuinely fascinating take on the genre. I can certainly see how filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro could draw such inspiration from it.

A significant improvement from the original film, which I personally found underwhelming. The increased production value does a lot to enhance the overall mood and brings out a chilling feel that I didn't quite experience with the first movie. The performances are all-around a lot better as well– the standouts including Ernest Thesiger's enjoyably creepy portrayal of the villain Doctor Pretorius, and Boris Karloff's reprised role as the infamous Monster, who the film makes an effort to humanize in a manner more akin to the original novel (something I can definitely appreciate).