Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  Dune 2021

  ★★★★ Watched 20 Oct 2021

  It’d be an understatement to say that there’s a lot riding on Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel is the best-selling science fiction novel of all time, with a massive fanbase and eighteen sequel/prequel novels. Previous adaptations have been troubled. Jodorowsky’s 1970s attempt fell apart before cameras could start rolling, and David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation was a critical and commercial failure (not to mention a film Lynch would come to disown). On top of all that, studios are desperately…

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  Deerskin 2019

  ★★★½ Added

  If you’re coming across Deerskin (Le Daim), it’s likely that you’re familiar with the work of Quentin Dupieux, and that you know what kind of absurd, potentially horrific comedy to expect. If you know nothing about the his previous work, you’re in for a bizarre ride. That being said, this isn’t the kind of raucous midnight movie absurdity of Rubber’s murderous tire, nor the reality-bending surrealism of 2012’s Wrong. Deerskin finds itself in a more realist milieu, which makes its weirdness that much… weirder.

  ~ Read full review at Battleship Pretension!
  battleshippretension.com/deerskin-odd-fit-by-josh-long/

Popular reviews

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  Captain Fantastic 2016

  ★★ Watched 19 May 2016 1

  I’m sure that you, like me, are immediately wondering if Matt Ross’ Captain Fantastic has anything to do with Elton John’s classic album, Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. The answer, sadly, is no. No dulcet piano ballads, no catchy riffs, no heartfelt autobiographical choruses. However, if you hate Elton John and love self-righteous polemics on mainstream American society dressed up as family drama, then you’re going to love this one.

  ~ Read full review at Battleship Pretension!
  battleshippretension.com/captain-fantastic-better-off-dead-by-josh-long

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  Isle of Dogs 2018

  ★★★★½ Watched 20 Mar 2018

  I really don’t want to be such a Wes Anderson apologist. I feel like it undermines my credibility as a critical filmgoer to like his movies as much as I do. Especially since he has, especially over the last ten years, become a major draw to so many casual film lovers. Wouldn’t it be better for my cinephile cred to dismiss him as derivative of the nouvelle vague and shift topic to Roman Coppola’s CQ? Trouble is, Anderson’s films connect…