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To Catch a Thief 1955
To the critics who bemoaned on the release of “To Catch a Thief” that it lacked Alfred Hitchcock’s usual suspense, I ask:
Is the wonderment of what Grace Kelly will wear in the next scene not enough?
There is a marked lack of psychopaths with thirsty daggers in “To Catch a Thief,” but the film hardly lacks in revelations that take a viewer’s breath away. Perhaps not with a startled gasp, but rather a sigh. A golden ballgown, a white…
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Phantom Thread 2017
I was so stricken during my rewatch at just how unbelievably gripping this movie is. The push-pull dynamic between Reynolds and Alma is dissonant, yet beautiful, tender, but also bitter. It puts together soft, hopeful realities against self-obsessed, narcissistic outcasts in an immaculately shot interiors, played to the most swoony, larger-than-life orchestral score by Jonny Greenwood. For just how uncomfortable it sometimes becomes to watch, it still remains a joy to behold.
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The Wild Bunch 1969
Stylish and influential western with a great story about loyalty and betrayal. The cinematography is so beautiful and Peckinpah's use of multiple angles and quick cuts is amazing. This is definitely one of the best in the genre.
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Scream 2022
In line with the other Scream movies, but I've never really cared for this brand of mediocre and stylistically neutral slashers. The formula, endlessly commented upon, offers something easy and recognizable and makes it pretty watchable. Having no affinity for the legacy characters I'm sure takes away some of what would make this work for fans. Got a chuckle out of one sequence using sound cues to constantly underscore our expectations for jump scares.
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Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy 2021
Thought the first story watched a little too much like ‘my first New Yorker publication’ but the others, especially the finale, are moving portraits of the transcendent power trusting the other can have on your sense of self and belonging, and the risks therein. Screamed a little every time Hamaguchi had an actor look straight into the camera to confess an inner truth, only to have the trilogy’s only true happy ending be a side profile of two characters confessing long held doubts head on, the audience included, but not a part of their rapturous catharsis.
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Top Gun 1986
One of those "pure cinema" classics - makes no imprint thematically, the stakes are ridiculously low, everyone's just posturing, the carnivalesque appeal of watching jets go zoom has dated pretty badly, you've seen Tom Cruise run through this identical character arc in half a dozen other far better movies (Ebert himself coined a name for the formula 30 years ago) - but still, there's something about how unbelievably sweaty they are the whole time, about the euphoric soundtrack (both the…
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Only Angels Have Wings 1939
An argument could be made for this being the most entertaining Hollywood movie. Like Cary Grant’s coin, no matter which way you flip it, it comes up heads. Like all the best Hawks adventures, it’s a mix of action, romance, and hang-out.
“Things happen awful fast around here.” Boys crash planes into mountains, and the remaining boys forget about them fast. Nietzsche taught that happiness is the ability to forget.
The action is intense using real flying, but it’s the…
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Uncharted 2022
15
It would seem that Uncharted as a screen adaptation would be pretty difficult to fuck up. Lost temples and tombs, car chases and double-crosses and globetrotting. Mystical ancient lore and buried treasure. All of Uncharted is Adventure Heaven. In the hands of any dependable action director from the 80s or 90s and a solid cast, this property would've been at least a little bit exciting, but unfortunately, it's 2022 and we're stuck with Ruben Fleischer and Tom Holland. Everything…
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Army of Darkness 1992
I'm not an Evil Dead fan (maybe one of my most controversial opinions). It's goofiness never makes me laugh instead I just smile and think, "oh that's cute". I've always been bummed that I can't find the fervor for this series like everyone else. What I can appreciate is the craftsmanship. Everything from the gooey prosthetics to the medieval sets to the rusting weaponry, you can feel the sweat and passion poured into every detail. So while I'm not rolling over…
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Inside Llewyn Davis 2013
After something terrible, one must watch something that reminds them of the power of their favored art as "life ain't worth living without the one you love." As devastating, bleak, and hopeful as I remember. Could watch this on repeat till I die, even if "there's no money here".
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Fast Five 2011
Tried to watch this three times during the last week, but fell asleep every time. This franchise is still crap, and don't deserve this many sequels. However, this is the least crap so far!
There was NO pointless car races whatsoever, only old-fashion car chases. They talked about racing at one point, but had the decency to not show it to the audience. Instead this film revolves around a heist, which is much more fun imo.
Furthermore, the addition of…
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