This was really wild. Other films crossed my mind with somewhat similar premises, but none of them can really compete with how surreal and sexual this is. Closes comparisons are probably to Inception, with questions of reality dream worlds within dreams similar to games within games. I thought the ending was great, and adds another layer completely. The consoles being pulsating lumps of flesh will stick with me for sure. Cronenberg continues to climb for me, he’s pretty solidified as one of my favorites. About time for me to watch Videodrome.
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F for Fake 1973
One of the most enjoyable film experiences of my life. Just wonderful musings on what is, isn’t, or perhaps could be, considered art. Down right silly at times, yet still able to deliver moments of profound impact. Like Welles monologue with the cathedral of Chartres which moved me near to tears. I would never consider myself an expert on art, but I did take some art history classes in college and have a great personal interest as well. Anytime I…
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Eyes Wide Shut 1999
Idiot flashes his doctors certificate around everywhere like he’s CIA, falls face first into the Bohemian Grove and discovers women have feelings too. This was actually the first Kubrick movie I had seen while young, and I didn’t like it much. Yeah, for a middle school boy, there’s obviously stuff to enjoy, but I found everything else extremely boring and confusing. I only watched for the notorious sex scenes!
I was too far too young and immature then, but now…
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The Northman 2022
Man, if you even kinda like viking stuff, this movie is wildly awesome. The story is obviously treading really familiar territory being Hamlet (I know it’s not a Shakespeare adaption but still). That’s not really where this film shines. Eggers is probably the best working director when it comes to immersion and audience investment in the culture of his settings. It’s such a fresh experience watching Northman. Even if I don’t think it’s perfect, this is such a badass big budget…
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Mad Max: Fury Road 2015
Yeah man. One of the best movies made. I’m not gonna go into detail why. It’s existence is why.
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The Iron Claw 2023
Maybe my expectations were a little to big, I really wanted to love The Iron Claw. Mostly, it is pretty good. It’s just not quite special. The main issue is focus. The film feels spread thin between the various tragedies and brothers, it never manages to synchronize them. Another issue is with the father. I don’t think it went very hard on him at all, and clearly it should’ve. He put all this pressure on his children to live up…
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The Holdovers 2023
Such a sincere film, with deep pockets of sympathy and bitterness. One of the great Christmas movies instantly, and a tremendously funny, sad, and beautiful picture. Every cast member is special, memorable, and important. Dominic Sessa, I sure hope I see you in more films. Dances with cliches constantly, but never feels indulgent or too familiar. Some of that is the humor, dry and sudden, and some of it is the bitterness of misfits that never truly have a wonder…
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Killers of the Flower Moon 2023
It’s just like Tulsa.
White Americans live in a fantasy where the Wild West was full of courageous cowboys and mountain men, who through their charm, wit, overwhelming intelligence, and overwhelming power, this country was conquered. For the good of the native, for their own benefit. It’s the same argument made in relation to African Americans, if they weren’t slaves to begin with, they’d still be in Africa. So all white transgressions are absolved, tied up neatly, called manifest destiny,…
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Duck, You Sucker 1971
This is, supposedly, another Western by the master Sergio Leone, yet it opens with a quote by the Chairman Mao
The revolution is not a social dinner, a literary event, a drawing, or an embroidery; it cannot be done with elegance and courtesy. The revolution is an act of violence.
And involves an IRA explosives technician and a Mexican outlaw set during the Mexican Revolution. If that sounds like a mishmash of different revolutions, from different times and places, that’s…
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Twin Peaks: The Return 2017
The final two episodes are gonna leave me spinning forever. Im gonna rant a bit here. My personal theory, and heavy spoilers obviously, is that when Laura disappears as Cooper attempts to take her to the Fireman (white lodge I guess?) and Judy makes her big push to take her by force herself (I think this is pretty clear) the timeline fractures, and some of the scenes we saw of Cooper earlier in the red room happen again. Just like…
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Fire of Love 2022
Melancholic. But beautiful. Really love the poetic tone. I expected incredible shots of volcanoes, and certainly the film is full of those, but the moments in between where we have a nice bit of animation, or a shot of birds flying as a flock, or men on horses galloping off, or just Katia and Maurice goofing around, made this more than just a pretty nature doc.
Definitely, I wish there had been more of Maurice and Katia. More interviews, more…
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Rear Window 1954
There’s a lot that’s been said about Rear Window as, in part, a dissection of the male gaze, or in this case specifically, Jeff Jeffries. Confined to his apartment, we learn early on how special of a photographer he is, and with that a prestigious background exploring the world with his camera. The risks he’s willing to take to qualm his curiosity.
It’s a perfect model to have him confined to an apartment due to his own impulsive desire. Stuck…