Wow! Kore-eda gradually makes you care for the charming family at its center by balancing their harsh reality with the joyful moments of connection, and it all pays off in that whopper of an ending. The whole ensemble is great, with Sakura Ando the clear MVP.

It reminded me slightly of If Beale Street Could Talk, in its delicate balancing of tone and deep understanding of humans at odds with the larger society. I stan filmmakers that care!

Watched again nearly a year later and it really holds up, even on a smaller screen. Absolutely stellar ensemble (took special notice of Danai Gurira on this watch), gorgeously photographed, cleverly infused themes that parallel the real world without feeling forced or heavy-handed. It's gonna be a real shame if the Academy fails to recognize how special this film is.

Ralph Breaks the Internet is a super affecting experience, even more than the first. Reminiscent of Inside Out in its creation of an abstract world governed by emotion. Clever without being cloying; even the princess stuff works! Vanellope von Schweetz is iconic. Her journey!

Whew. This tapped into a visceral fear within me, an uncontrollable, sprouting fear of nature and its devastating indifference. Alex Garland tackles a lot here and I need to marinate on whether all of it works, but I admire the ambition, especially in that final third. Uniformly excellent cast led by Portman, who adds yet another fascinating, layered role to her filmography here. That bear tho