Perfect Blue captures a perfect blur between reality and fiction. Satoshi Kon’s masterpiece shows exactly what you can achieve with animation.
World building and wonderment is left at the wayside for this anime, as Kon operates within the psychological thriller genre more so than any other animated film I’ve seen. It is cold, it is brutal, and it is mindfuckery at its most powerful.
But the deep dive into Mima’s psyche is made all the more accessible and…
(Guillermo del Toro ranking)
(2013 ranking)
Guillermo del Toro’s attempt at a glitzy mecha-monster film ends up being more of a lousy rust bucket.
Pacific Rim borrows heavily from Hideaki Anno’s masterwork Neon Genesis Evangelion. But although it competes and perhaps exceeds its influencer in its epic battles, del Toro’s attempt at the more humanistic segments all fall flat on their shiny metal asses.
The characters are archetypal action heroes - bland, one-dimensional and capable of the occasional zinger. But…
A film that feels so incessantly raw and real in its portrayal of psychosis and it’s effects on family that it becomes an overwhelming sensory experience. But John Cassavetes’ control of every scene means it works.
There is such power and gravitas to behold, with Cassavetes’ writing and direction just as deserving of commendation as the two central performances from Gena Rowlands and Peter Falk as Martha and Nick Longhetti.
The scenes with just Rowlands and her…
Criterion Challenge 24/52 - Made in the United States
I think I need to stop going into Kubrick films expecting masterpieces. The Killing is brilliantly directed and I loved seeing Stan the Man’s take on a film noir, but it ends up being a little run-of-the-mill.
It unsurprisingly looks fantastic. As is the way with Kubrick, there is so much detail packed into every frame and the meticulousness pays off again here. The pacing is also brilliant,…
(Robert Eggers ranking)
(2022 ranking)
A brutal unwavering spectacle that showcases Robert Eggers at the peak of his powers, The Northman may not be exactly what I expected but it is certainly one of the best of the year so far.
The story at its centre is a simplistic tale of revenge, and so it relies on its storytelling, visuals, setting and direction to stand apart. And it is within these four aspects where the film excels.
Some of the…
Easily one of the best movies I’ve seen in a long while. The Apartment has stood the test of time and is probably the most monumental and watertight screenplay ever written.
Each scene and each character plays a part in the overall story of this 60s classic. The pacing is fantastic, the dialogue and interactions are all laced with humour and wit and an unbeknownst cynicism that you can’t help but love.
I can imagine this was…
