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AMERICAN HONEY

Melancholic USA vibes, with the slightest tinge of happiness. 

In case  you forgot, here’s how things go on this blog: I watch movies under the guise of “film criticism” in order to feel somewhat productive, because Peak Capitalism is when enjoying two hours of film immersion is deemed ‘relaxation’. After I watch the movies, you read the reviews, perhaps raise an eyebrow and go on about your day completely having completely forgotten what I wrote on here, as you should. The only thing left for me to do after this is agonize over the fact that the Internet is actually eternal and infinite, and that this stuff  I write is here to stay, forever, for all eternity, till the end of time, or at least till the cyborgs have taken over and hacked The Internet. 

Speaking of which, I watched American Honey two weeks ago and absolutely loved it! Quite the suprise, as everyone here is aware of my deep-rooted hatred for aesthetically pleasing road movies with young girl main characters and soundtracks featuring Rihanna. I mean, *insert Paul Rudd video* who would’ve thought, huh? NOT ME.

So, American Honey: car rides, depressing motels, America, supermarkets, dancing, bees, boys, fights, exhibitionists, worms, drinks. It’s literally quite the ride. 

The movie starts off with a young girl with two kids dumpster diving for food and a stranger dancing on the checkout counter. The girl is called Star and the stranger is a boy called Jake. Star decided to join him and his cult/group/gang/colleagues to join them as they drive around the country selling magazines. American Honey is about being in love and being young forever, but it’s also about being afraid: afraid to love, to grow up, to stay the same, to go nowhere, to be ambitious. It’s the kind of movie where so much seems to happen, yet nothing seems to change. But that lack of plot development doesn’t bother me at all, as the many road scenes and dimly lit motels beautifully evoke the restlessness of travelling, of endless car rides, of sweaty teenagers, crappy radios, of stretching your legs at a faded gas stop and sitting on the curb watching the cars pass. I can’t think of another movies to encapsulate so perfectly the highs and lows of going nowhere, of time passing by so slowly you can feel it happening as you stick your hand out the window. 

Sasha Lane puts up one of the most exquisite performances ever on screen. It’s an effortless display of what it means to be a girl and to be young. She’s the kind of character I could fall in love with over and over again. STUNNINGSTUNNINGSTUNNINGWOWOMGICANTSTRESSTHISENOUGH.

My second favorite thing about the movie was the photography, colour, composition. The color palette is warm and full and saturated and perfectly contrasts the effortlessly beautiful style of filming, capturing every single scene delicately, yet being very “in your face”. It’s an obscure work of art that says “here I am, look at me” in a vulnerable whisper. 

[24hrfilm]

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS

Even in a post-Twilight era, there’s still hope for vampire movies. 

What We Do in the Shadows is like Twilight, only better. I know what you’re thinking, how in Robert Pattinson’s name dare you compare Twilight aka modern cinema’s greatest accomplishment to some weird cult-ish vampire mockumentary? HOW DARE YOU?

Please bear with me. Here’s why I said what I said. What We Do in the Shadows features vampire dudes, werewolves, sex and awkward dinner tables. And even though, yes, the vampires are slightly older of age and, okay, the werewolves are huge dorks, this movie is beyond a shadow of a doubt (see what I did there? #puns #tumblrjokes) the best vampire movie ever created.

The downside of these lesser-known cult movies is that they’re nearly impossible to find online. I know downloading films illegally is on the “Why Generation Z’s use of the internet is society’s biggest source of evil”-lists, but tell me how exactly I could have foreseen my sudden need to watch What We Do in the Shadows at 3 AM on a summer night? Anyway, I spent about 3 hours looking for a website to watch it on after giving up and trying to buy it in the microsoft store, which didn’t work AND resulted into a temporarily blocked microsoft account. Even Amazon prime was against us, giving paypal as the only payment option. Exasperated, I tried googling it again in hopes of finding a magic link to watch this movie in peace. A lot of near-hackings and Cookies later, we finally managed to find a website. Tears of happiness might have been shed and high-fives were given out. Moral of the story? 

1) Good anti-virus software is not too bad of an idea

2) It was utterly, completely, absolutely fucking worth it.

Released in 2014, What We Do in the Shadows brilliantly combines the concept of ‘The Office’ with the timeless allure of a vampire horror flic. It was written and directed by  Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, who also portray two of the lead roles. In this mockumentary, a camera crew follows the lives of Viago, Deacon, Vladislav and (though semi-mummified and 1000+ years old) Petyr, 4 vampires living together in a flat in Wellington, NZ. Their nightly activities include flat meetings calling people out for “not doing the bloody dishes”, going out at night, partying, meeting other vampires or mocking the local werewolves, looking for potential victims to suck blood from. Not to forget the event of the year, a monster party called the annual Unholy Masquerade. 

What We Do in the Shadows is a joy to watch because of two reasons. The first one is that the whole concept of a vampire flatshare is so brilliantly thought-through, making for hilarious jokes, puns and situations. It’s one of those movies that makes you burst out laughing through so many different ways: how they absolutely nailed the whole mockumentary thing (including awkward smiles at the camera crew), because of the fantastic perfomances by the actors, and because of the lousy special effects/makeup/flying scenes. The second reason is that you can’t help but think of how much fun the writers/actors must have had while filming this movie. I would’ve considered selling a kidney to have been able to attend at least one of the brainstorm sessions. I just imagine these guys improvising on set, coming up with the craziest ideas and laughing their asses off. The fun they had in filming translated beautifully on screen, which makes for a movie that, despite its horror-vibe, bursts with happy energy. 

Most importantly, What We Do in the Shadows is a message of hope for the future of the vampire trope. Call it a cinematic cleanse of the genre, a fresh start, whatever you want, but vampires are cool again, and it was about time. 

[24hrfilm]

FIRE WALK WITH ME

I screamed™ (and David Lynch is to blame)

At one point mid-quarantine, everyone sought refuge in some kind of weird obsession. Instagrammers started baking banana bread, my mom briefly turned into an interior designer and my neighbors collectively started mowing their lawns 4 times a week. I watched two seasons and 22 episodes of Twin Peaks in less than 10 days. I guess we all have our coping mechanisms. 

All things considered, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks is escapism at its peak and lends itself perfectly to times when we are forced to be alone with our thoughts. Laura Palmer’s death was the unsolvable mystery I needed to keep my mind busy and my body lazy, because that’s what quarantine is truly about after all (or maybe that’s just my interpretation, idk). 

ANYWAY, the obsession grew. It didn’t take long before I found myself diving into the Pit Of Doom aka the Tumblr archives, screenshotting pictures of an empty staircase, a young girl wrapped in plastic and a lady with a log. 

(That last sentence sounds like I’m talking about a twisted fever dream. In fact, it might as well could be. Who knows? Probably David Lynch. Certainly not me!)

Now for the second time: ANYWAY. A few months and Belgian governmental flops later, life is now a fragile equilibrium between limited social circles and the sweet, sweet sensation of the human touch. And while I could be spending all of my free time outside just to feel the thrill of entering a store WITH ANOTHER PERSON, I still love staying in from time to time, turning on the TV and feel the blue light damage my skin. Whatever makes you feel alive, right? I read somewhere that blue light actually causes your skin to age faster. A scary thought for the vain and screen-addicted iboard/toktik/instabook-generation that we are, right? 

Third time’s a charm I guess: ANYWAY. My boyfriend and I decided to watch Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (loosely translated to Twin Peaks: The Movie or Twin Peaks: The Prequel) a while ago. I’m glad we watched it together because a) #humanpillow; and b) Bob scares the shit out of me and watching it by myself would’ve caused a few sleepless nights. Here’s what I thought of the movie:

1) The plot development and narrative arc are on point. There’s the perfect mix of tension buildup followed by a temporary release, followed by even more buildup, followed by a grand finale. All while constantly teetering on the edge of a trashy horror movie but never falling in. Hashtag amazing. Hashtag David Lynch rules all. 

2) Cinematographically, the movie is even more stunning than the series for me. While the series is rather slow-paced, the movie gives us one incredible shot after the other. I’m talking flashing lights, color symbolism, all that jazz. However, the movie lacked a sense of humor the series has. 

3) My boyfriend said “he liked the movie, but mostly because he’s seen the series. If you compare the two, there’s a lot more to appreciate about the movie.” Also. “You need to accept that logic just doesn’t exist in David Lynch’s universe”. This seems like a fair point to me, but I might be biased.

4) Why??? the fuck??? was Donna recast??? Really??? Mr. Lynch, I need answers, right now. Please check your voicemail/letterbox/email ASAP. (I don’t know if my carrier pigeon survived crossing the Atlantic Ocean, but if it did, please send him back to me. I still need it to ask the Avatar writers what happened to Zuko’s mom.)

5) What I loved most about Fire Walk With Me is Sheryl Lee’s incredible performance playing Laura Palmer. I can see how she was a muse to many. She’s mystifying in a way I’ve never really seen before. Her loneliness and pain as her hopelessness grows and things slowly decay. Laura Palmer sent shivers down my spine. I could feel it from my heart to my fingernails (#lol #inside joke). No but honestly LAURA PALMER RULES.

6) there’s like, paraLLELS AND FLASHFOWARDS AND REFERENCES AND THEN ANNIE APPEARS AND OH GOD ITS JUST HEARTWRENCHING REALLY. *sobs uncontrollably*

7) Honestly Bob. Just Bob. That’s my final thought. Hope you enjoyed this review

[24hrfilm]

UNDER THE SKIN

Under the skin, into my mind, never came back out.

There is something comforting about relishing in melancholy from time to time.  Not to sound like the guy on Headspace talking you through your daily meditation sessions or anything, but allowing sadness to just exist without running from it is an important part of life. So when I found myself feeling gloomy a few weeks ago, I decided to acknowledge the moodiness and maybe even explore it. Rain was pouring down and as I was aimlessly laying around my dimly lit bedroom, watching a horror film set in grimey Glasgow about an alien creature seemed like the best way to turn that into action.

Under The Skin’s plot is hard to put into words yet simple at the same time: an alien takes the shape of a young woman and drives around at night stalking lonely men, taking them to a house where they dissolve into nothingness. Its simplicity is a blanket and covers every aspect from script to set to costume design. From its neutral color schemes to the slightly “off” sense of filming, as if the main character herself is being stalked by a mysterious entity with a low-quality film camera documenting her strange endeavors. There is no clear storyline, just a collection of carefully selected footage. Sometimes, the scenes are straight to the point; the young woman driving around in a van, asking for directions and seducing young men, the young woman being chased by a stranger in the woods. More often, the scenes are dubious and disturbing and left me feeling weirdly nervous; the young woman leaving a young child at the beach, the young woman taking the bus, the young woman suddenly having trouble walking.

In that sense, Under The Skin is just as much about everything as it is about nothing. It’s about sexuality, gender, fear, nature, outer space, loneliness and it’s also about the average: eating, shopping, going out, taking the bus home, walking. It carries an ordinariness so unbearable, it becomes extraterrestrial, like watching the most mundane of everyday efforts through the sideview mirror of a broken car or through security footage screens (the ones they put in store entrances). Cinematographically stunning in one sense and straightforward at the same time. 

Under The Skin isn’t trying to be happy and prefers to be its gloomy self, full of conflict. It’s mysterious and disturbing, and I devoured every second as I wrapped myself in the melancholy of that rainy afternoon a few weeks ago. It felt pretty okay feeling sad. 

[24hrfilm]

LITTLE WOMEN

Starting a film review with a childhood memory you dug up from the depths of perpetual nostalgia is easy. It’s like, “Hi there! This one time when I was a toddler I got lost at the supermarket and my mom spent like, 20 minutes looking for me. Anyway, here’s my review on Finding Nemo and how it was so truly touching and relatable, having been through the same thing.” and that’s all there is to it. You know? It’s so easy. It’s a default intro to a film review when writing seems impossible and you’ve been staring at your computer screen for half an hour straight while the latte you ordered at the coffeeplace you think you’re more productive at went from piping hot to lukewarm in what felt like the blink of an eye. Great, now that you’re informed of the situation I’m currently in, let’s commence this review. Here goes.

I remember being about eleven years old when my mom put me to bed and decided that I should start reading a new book called ‘Little Women’. It was her favourite book as a child and she thought I might like it as well. Naturally, she was right, and I spent the following weeks immersed in a story of four sisters and their unlikely adventures. Every night, my mom would either read a chapter to me or I would read it myself and occasionally gasp and look up at my mom, and she would say something in the likes of “I know, right?!”. These memories are spilled with the warm glow of the lamp on the nightstand and smell of old book copies and sweetness. I read the whole thing once and didn’t think of it again as I was too busy becoming a sassy 12 year old who exclusively read dystopian young adult novels. Peak Generation Z behavior. 

While watching the movie a few days ago, I couldn’t help but fondly remember the nights I spent reading Little Women in bed. Watching the movie unfold was like meeting an old friend you haven’t seen for ages but didn’t change one bit. These sisters were old friends. They were all my favourite. Jo was my favourite because she was a writer and I wanted to become one too. Amy was my favourite because she was the youngest and because she was fearless yet vulnerable. Meg was my favourite because she was sweet and because I imagined her having a great sense of style. Beth was my favourite because, well, Beth was everyone’s favourite.  

This sense of nostalgia, of comfort, is one of the key points of the film. As Jo reflects back on her life, growing up with her three beloved sisters and her mother, we keep moving back and forth in the timeline of their lives. Family flashbacks full of christmas foods and awkward parties are followed by scenes in which an uncertain Jo March, our heroine, struggles to find her voice as a writer. Greta Gerwig’s decision to step away from the chronological order of events makes for a film that feels fast-paced and dynamic, yet classic and timeless.

Some other things I liked about the film, because I’ve been working on this review for too long and my second cup of coffee is getting colder as we speak: 

- Jo’s discourse on society’s expectations of women and love, and how she’s independent and lonely at the same time, all beautifully put into words as she’s frantically pacing through her childhood bedroom. Pure gold.

- Amy’s character developement and, more importantly, Florence Pugh’s portrayal of Amy. Double gold.

- Beth. That’s it. Just Beth.

Have a great week!

[24hrfilm]

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

The TRAGEDY. The FLAMBOYANCE. the SPECIAL EFFECTS.

Here’s the truth and nothing but the truth. Actually, let’s call it the truth and a slight over-exaggeration of the truth. I watched this film about two months ago and ALL I REMEMBER IS THIS: (that’s the exaggeration right there):

a) Keanu Reeves’ outfits

b) A great performance by some really under-the-radar, kind of unknown, hidden-gem-of-the-film-industry-actor called Al Pacino. I mean, he’s quite good at acting, I guess.

d) Keanu Reeves’ outfits

e) Some really fucked up special effects that made me shit my pants in the theatre. Seriously. What is up with the face distortions? And the teeth?

f) Have I mentioned Keanu Reeves’ outfits?

Let’s commence this chaotic review with my favorite part: KEANU REEVES’ OUTFITS.

Imagine being a promising young advocate. You’re charismatic, bright, neatly trimmed and spruced. There’s nothing you love more than defending guilty sources of pure evil in court, and you’ve never lost a case. You’re with a beautiful, smart woman and live in some weird suburban town that feels like a movie set. (Maybe it is a movie set. Maybe this review is actually about The Truman Show. Who cares.) One day, someone makes you an offer in a sketchy suburban bar to come work for a Big and Fancy Law Firm in New York City, baby! Needless to say, you move to New York, which means you have to wear a classic 90s NYC outfit. A power suit, leather briefcase, and shoulder-padded trenchcoat, obviously.

You may have noticed that I did not just talk about the outfits, I also sneakily provided you with the film’s plot! How sly!

Now that we know what the film is about, let’s get to business. Here are my thoughts.

I want to start by elaborating on how wonderfully dramatic this film is. I basically worship drama. The way this film develops slowly but surely while never letting go of the viewer’s interest is impressive, but what elevates it to another level is the grand, bombastic ending. It’s right there on the edge of disproportionate, but hasn’t fallen off the roof yet *winks*. Then again, I don’t believe in this dreadful thing called ‘too much’. 

Additionally, the acting is really great. I think I finally understand the hype around Al Pacino now. No further comments on this.

This sadly but inevitably brings me to the big however. I loved the film, however, I was very unimpressed by the way the women in this film were portrayed. While Lomax’s wife Mary Ann (portrayed by Charlize Theron) is a character that actually went through interesting changes, played an important part in the storyline and didn’t really lack depth, the other female characters were not only stereotypical but also sexualized in ways that didn’t sit right to me. I feel like every single female character except for the devil’s advocate’s mom was full-on nude in this film at some point. It was quite striking how most of the scenes including female characters were either sex scenes, scenes in which their bodies were bluntly sexualized, or scenes in which they seemed to merely act as an accessory to Al Pacino’s character. Personally, this didn’t really sit right to me, especially since the male characters barely had any scenes in which they were not fully clothed. 

That being said, The Devil’s advocate is definitely a film worth watching, be it only for the grotesque speech at the end. 

[24hrfilm]

AMERICAN BEAUTY

Kinda good, but kinda not.

Let me start this review by saying that I didn’t like American Beauty. I had heard of so many people raving about this movie and felt rather dissapointed after watching it. I didn’t feel ‘enlightened’ as people said I would. I felt icky and needed a snack. That was it. 

American Beauty is one of those films that is on pretty much every ‘20 MOVIES YOU MUST WATCH BEFORE THE EARTH IMPLODES AND EVERYTHING GOES TO HELL’ list. However, I never got around watching it. The few screencaps I’d seen were not cinematographically mind-blowing (except for the flower scene, I guess that one was pretty impressing. And, of course, as a teenage girl who’s film repertoire consists of romantic comedies, coming of age films, and maybe a few psychological drama’s (a rare find in my film collection), I was not immediately attracted to this comedy/drama.

American Beauty tells us the story of Lester Burnham, a middle aged, white male unhappily married to his tense wife. The couple has one daughter, Jane, who is pretty much the prototype of what society thinks of as a Troubled Teenage Girl. Lester feels as though he’s in a constant trance, and is indifferent to his wife’s words or his daughter’s attitude. Tired of being stuck in his rut, Lester decides to throw his life around when he gets a crush on Jane’s best friend. The daily life of the Burnham changes drastically as Lester starts working out and smoking weed, stops tolerating his wife’s constant stream of insults. Throughout the story, more characters get involved, including the new neighbours, a conservative, radical navy seal and his son, a teenage rebel with drug issues. 

First off, I want to talk about the film’s lead role, which is played by Kevin Spacey. Kevin Spacey has been accused of sexual misconduct and sexual advances towards young boys over 15 times, even way before the rise of the #metoo-movement. Kevin Spacey plays the role of a middle-aged man constantly objectifying a teenage girl. Even though he’s playing a character, I can’t help but feel extra uncomfortable watching the film. Whether artists/actors are detached from their work is an ongoing controversial topic. I’m not sure whether this sexual misconduct also happened on the set of American Beauty, but I do want to acknowledge the fact that he is not someone that I want to support, and I can’t write a review without calling that out first.

So, what are my likes and dislikes of the film?

An exceptionally strong asset of this film is the character development. Every character is very thought through and contains many different layers, just like us humans. Their actions are often inexplicable (I’m talking to you Lester, what the fuck were you doing man) and almost all of the characters undergo a big or small evolution. I was especially intrigued by the neighbours and their family dynamic. The navy seal is both abusive, but strangely loving, his wife looks like she’s in a constant state of shock, probably caused by the abusive nature of her husband. The Boy Next Door is a troubled teenager who spends his days secretly filming the Burnhams’ everyday life. It is revealed that he spent a few years in a mental hospital due to a drug addiction. He now deals in secret, because his violent father cannot find out that he still uses drugs. The way these characters are portrayed is extremely interesting.

I must admit that I was slightly dissapointed by the cinematography. The iconic scene with the roses and the girl was okay, but the remaining scenes were pretty unexceptional. 

American Beauty starts off easily and slowly progresses, then rapidly shifts into a thriller like-ending. I think the storyline is interesting, as it depicts lust, dreams, the mundane and the exceptional, the American Dream and love in its many different shapes and sizes. The film revolves around the definition of ‘normal’, and how it’s something very superficial and abstract. And while these are interesting themes to explore, the way it was done made me feel uncomfortable. I know what you’re going to say, “ITS SUPPOSED TO MAKE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE YOU DUMB FUCK”, but I don’t think it even works in that sense. I’ve felt uncomfortable and still liked a movie, and this is different, especially being a teenage girl myself and having to deal with the systemic sexism and sexualization rooted into society. Using those struggles for your “grand” story about the suburban American male just doesn’t sit right with me.

[24hrfilm]

GOOD WILL HUNTING

At least half of the inspirational quotes you find online are lines Robin Williams said in this film, no joke.

I love a good drama film, especially when there’s angst and adolescence involved. This is more than just a film about an angsty young man trying to cope with living, though, and Good Will Hunting truly deserves its status. 

Will Hunting is a 20 year old math (but also just overall) genius, orphaned as a child, he lives in a poor neighbourhood working as a janitor at a prestigous university. When he manages to prove theories that most students can’t get their heads around, he sparks the interest of the school’s renowned mathematics teacher, professour Lambeau. He decides to take Will under his wing to keep him out of prison, as Will has a history with violence. Will tries to cope with his past while trying to make room for his intellect and looking for direction.

What truly wowed me about this film were the characters. I feel like these characters were very developed and complex, forming a base for more recent films and characters. You can immediately tell that Will is a genius, but he’s very laid-back and has this sense of presence that’s very appealing. I think that’s why his teacher, mr Lambeau, and his psyhologist, Sean, are so intrigued by this young man. Will is passionate yet aloof, and trusts only a handful of people, including his best friend Chuckie. I felt like all of the characters in this film had a history I knew almost nothing about, which is a good thing. You kind of get the idea that there’s a lot more going on than you see by the way these characters interact with each other 

The storyline developed fast, while also showing a gradual change of Will’s personality and attitude. It kept me in its grip the entire time and didn’t let go until the final scene. You can tell that the script is very thought-through.

Cinematography-wise, this film isn’t very different form your average 90s film. I happen to love the aesthetic because it just gives this weird sense of sunday-afternoon coziness, don’t ask me why. There was some symbolic light and colour play, but can’t bother to dissect all of the scenes. 

The cast is exellent, especially Matt Damon and Robin William’s performances were mind-blowingly strong. The cast lacks some diversity, though, being all white-men and one woman, who happens to serve solely as a love interest. Talk about stereotypes!

Anyway, I loved this film, it’s heartbreaking and beautiful and totally worth its iconic status.

[24hrfilm]

AMERICAN HISTORY X

It’s the freaking camp leader from Moonrise Kingdom, you guys!!!!!

Last week, during a daily dinner table talk with my family on serious matter (aka me hating on school for half an hour) I said that we were learning about crime in English and I told my brother that we were watching a film. Before I could even finish my sentence, he answered: “Let me guess, American History X”, so I guess a lot of you reading this have seen it in school (maybe, I don’t know actually).  

First of all, I want to make it clear that the opinions I am going to give are not really relevant as I, even though it’s unknowingly, watch this film as a privileged white person. I might be missing some things, and I think it’s more important to hear what poc have to say about this than the 1000th white person concluding that Racism Is Bad, you know what I mean? So that’s why I just want to say that I’ve read reviews by poc prior to writing this review because I should educate myself and keep those opinions in mind. I don’t want to claim a space that’s not supposed to be for me, and please correct me if I say anything incorrect. So let’s get started, shall we?

American History X’s opening scene is a shocking one. A young boy wakes up his older brother when he sees two guys trying to break into his car. The older brother, Derek, gets out of bed, revealing a swatiska tattood on his chest. He grabs a gun, goes outside, shoots one of the guys, then kills the other one. 3 years later, the story starts with Derek being released for prison, in which he served three years for the muder of those two african-american men. We follow Derek, who seems to have changed during his time in prison. With a shaved face, a head of hair and a mature attitude, he tries to ‘rescue’ his younger brother Danny from going down the same path. 

American History X features an extremely racist main character, Derek, and his little brother Danny. They’re both part of a neo-nazi, skinhead gang in L.A. It’s very unsettling, because throughout the fim, the main character evolves from a “vilain” to a “hero” (in a movie-sense, Derek is not a saviour), and it’s pretty scary to feel sympathy for such a despicable person.

This film is full of hate, and shows beliefs and actions that are beyond disturbing, but I think a flaw of this film is that it shows little nuance for a film about racism. The message is more like: “Racism Is Very Bad” and doesn’t show that racism is totally engrained into our society. It gives us a definition of racism at a very extreme point, but doesn’t show us the other ways in which racism is present in our society, through power dynamics and systems. 

Edward Norton puts up a chilling performance as Derek, totally blowing my socks off. He truly shows that he can embody a character like Derek and does an amazing acting job.

Ultimately, I think this is a film worth watching, however, you should do some research before going into the film. Be critical of what you see and take time to reflect and educate yourself.

[24hrfilm]

ISLE OF DOGS

Laughed my ass off at the theatre.

Wes Anderson fans all around the world freaked out big time when he announced a new film in 2016 (2017?) coming out this year. I admit that I am one of them. I’ve fallen for Anderson’s eye for colour and composition ever since seeing Moonrise Kingdom for the first time, and I’ve a love affair with his films ever since. I must admit that I was slightly dissapointed when I heard it would be an animated film, and even more so when I heard it would be about dogs (I am a hardcore Cat Person, don’t judge me). Boy, was I wrong. I went to see Isle Of Dogs last week, laughed my ass off at the theatre, and I continue to have the occasional chuckle every now and then. 

Isle of Dogs is set in a modern age/alternate universe - Japan. After a war between the dogs and the cats of Megasaki City, a dog flu virus has taken over the town, turning owner’s beloved pets into vicious dogs (the cats are out of the picture from now on, I don’t really know where they’re at tbh) that show various symptoms ranging from aggresiveness to extensive weight loss. The mayor of Megasaki City comes up with a great (read: insanely stupid) idea: exporting all of the infected dogs to a trash island near the coast. We follow the story of a young boy named Atari, who goes on a big adventure to Isle of Dogs to find his beloved pet friend. A funny story begins, introducing us to a bad-ass (but helpful!) dog squad, a hilarious owl, youth protestors and corrupt governments.

I loved this film. It was everything I hoped for and even more. It was by far Wes Anderson’s funniest film yet, and I think the aesthetic was surprisingly cool, considering the grime circumstances of the dogs. One thing I like as the fact that the dogs are truly the main characters of this film. This dog squad showed us an array of unique personalities, each with great depth. The dogs were more developed as characters than the humans, which I love. Character-wise, I loved this film, the only thing that bothered me was the fact that there is a serious lack of female representation in this film. The only female characters were meant as love interests, or not important to the storyline. The other thing is that, just like Wes Anderson’s previous films, Isle Of Dogs isn’t completely thought-through. Anderson mentioned this film is a tribute to his favourite Japanese films he watched as a kid, but I guess the problem with a white filmmaker creating a film set in Japan, featuring a lot of cultural elements is slightly tricky. The director did cast Japanese actors, but the main roles are still played by American actors. Let’s not forget about the soundtrack as well, which was created by Alexandre Desplat (not a Japanese artist, I think...). Nevertheless, Isle Of Dogs is entertaining, and has everything a classic Wes Anderson film has: colour, wit and lots and lots of humour.

[24hrfilm]

GONE GIRL

I am still not over this

Put together the classic plot of a Scandinavian crime show and the psychological impact of a Hitchcock film: Gone Girl is born. This film starts with a ‘normal’ crime plot, a young woman is reported missing by her husband. Throughout the search and the investigation, cracks start to come in their marriage, are they really happily married? 

In Gone Girl, we follow Nick Dunne as he goes through the investigation of his missing wife. We are close enough to Nick to have sympathy for him, but far away enough for the watcher to distrust him. At first, facts about Nick’s wife, Amy, are largely uncovered. We see her the way she is portrayed in the media: a succesful woman, brutally taken from her home. As the plot developes we get to know Amy a little bit better though...

Gone Girl constantly puts you on the wrong tracks, it’s a classic ‘Whodunit’ thriller where the viewer is constantly sucked into the story again and again by new discoveries in the quest for Amy. There are quite a few plot twists as well. I think the storyline was exceptionally strong, especially because it’s so psychological. MIND BLOWING, for sure. I don’t want to spill too much, though, so I won’t go into detail of everything. I merely exist to recommend you this film. That’s all.

This film has a strong and talented cast. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike put up stunning performances as Nick and Amy, provoking both sympathy and disgust for people like me who invest all of their emotions into films (this is very unhealthy, btw, do not recommend at all 0/5). 

The graphics aren’t extroardinary, but I feel like extremely unique cinematography wouldn’t add to the storyline. There is a continuity between all of the colours, though, which makes Gone Girl pleasant for the eye.

I thought this was a great film, and a sense of uncomfort lingered for a few days, so from that I conclude that it was a strong film. I should warn you though, you’ll never want to get married every again, lol.

[24hrfilm]

THE FLORIDA PROJECT

Pretty much heartbreaking.

My sister and I had been planning on watching The Florida Project for a long time, so a couple of weeks ago we finally got to the movie theatre and, let me tell you, this film is worth leaving your house for.

The Florida Projects follows the summer of a young girl named Moonee. Moonee is six years old and lives in a motel near Disney World with her mom, she like adventures and has a shitload of energy. She spends the days with her friends, and she’s social and outgoing. We get a glimpse into her life, in which poverty looks pretty pleasant. This film starts off on an excited note, with Moonee and her friend welcoming a new resident in the motel. The Florida Project immediately sets the tone. It’s a funny film, but there’s also something threathening about it.

There isn’t a complicated storyline involved in this film, but that’s not even necessary as the life of Moonee is so interesting you don’t need much more. Throughout the film we get to see Moonee’s favourite places, we get to know what she likes to eat (ice cream and waffles, pretty much like every other kid) and what she likes to do when she’s not in school. However, as the film continues we get to know more of her living conditions, and we’re introduced to Moonee’s mom. A young mom who barely manages to pay for the room they live in. The entire film kind of builds up to this one big moment in the end, so there’s this dark cloud hanging above the characters heads throughout the entire film.

What impressed me the most about The Florida Project was the acting. It felt so natural, and I think it’s such a strong aspect. The relationship between Moonee and her mom is portrayed beautifully, and I think there’s this chemistry between all of the actors that’s very sensible during the film. You can see that the actors were really invested in this film and had a lot of fun making it.

Cinematography-wise, this film has a very Wes Anderson-esque vibe.  That’s really unique as the story isn’t Wes Anderson-like at all. There’s this hazy pink filter, which makes The Florida Project stand out from other films. The pastel colours and the use of long shots really add to the suburban Disney nostalgic vibe of The Florida Project. 

The Florida Project is a stunning film, with great acting and some cinematographic masterpieces. It really made me feel both happy and sad, and I recommend it to everyone.

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WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

Seriously, though, we need to talk about this kid.

I’ve been postponing watching this film for a long time. I’m not good at dealing with horror/thriller films, especially when there’s a psychological aspect involved. We Need To Talk About Kevin is pretty much all of this combined into a thrilling film. I finally got around watching it, and I’m glad I came out of my comfortzone to try something new. 

We Need To Talk About Kevin follows a boy named Kevin (I guess you didn’t see that one coming) from the eyes of his mother, Eva. Eva has a hard time raising her son, and doesn’t seem to feel a bond other mothers have. From a young age, Kevin occurs to act strange and manipulative. Nobody notices this except for Eva, who is getting increasingly wary of her own son, who is kind of a psychopath to be honest. The entire series of events leads up to this big moment we only get to see in one of the final scenes. 

I think this film had a very strong storyline. We get little clues here and there of what happens at the end of the film, because a lot of the film consists of Eva reliving what happened, while also trying to deal with the consequences of it. I know this sounds really vague, but I don’t want to spoil it. 

We Need To Talk About Kevin gives you a constant feeling of uncomfort during the film. I think that’s one of the strongest points. There is an extremely tense vibe, and the cinematography of this film really adds to that tensity. Every single conversation, scene and act is so carefully chosen, and I feel as though this film is full of symbolic scenes. 

As we watch this film, the viewer can’t help but ask the question: “Did Kevin do this horrible things because his mother didn’t manage to raise her own son?”. I guess that’s what Eva is trying to figure that out as well. Where did she go wrong? 

Tilda Swinton puts up a stunning performance throughout the film, as well as Ezra Miller embodying the mentally-unstable teen. I think the only way for this film to be this strong is because the actors do a really, really good job. In a film where the two main characters both appear to be mentally unstable, We Need To Talk About Kevin keeps its credibility. 

There is one more thing to talk about (haha, punny) before I finish off this review. That being the cinematography. As I said, this film is full of symbolism. The use of colour is a very direct way of the director to bring over that symbolism to the public. The colours are mostly soft and light, but there is a distinct use of bright red throughout the film. 

We Need To Talk About Kevin is a film worth watching. It’s chilling and strong and leaves you feeling very drained in certain way. 

[24hrfilm]

RUMBLE FISH

Everyone seems to be saying the names Rusty James and Motorcycle Boy after every sentence and it makes me feel slightly uncomfortable.

Ever since watching (and loving) The Outsiders, Rumble Fish has been on my to-watch list. I finally managed to get my hands on a copy at the library, and after watching it, here are my thoughts on the film.

Rumble Fish takes place in a desolate American town, think the place where The Outsiders takes place, where Rusty James is a young criminal trying to live up to his brother’s reputation while longing back for the rumbles the different gangs used to have. That’s about everything you should know, because one thing that stood out to me was the lack of a clear storyline. It didn’t necessarily bother me a lot. It just seems like everything that happens in the film is merely a tool to add suspense than a part of the entire plot. I think that was interesting, but it made it very hard to get a grip on the entire film. 

Despite the lack of a great storyline, this film still managed to keep my interest because of the cinematography. Coppola turns this mundane little town into a retro-futuristic city, which I found very innovative. The director seemed to be very consious of shadows and contrast in his images. That’s very noticeable throughout the film and makes every shot even more interesting than the previous one. 

The actors put up a decent performance during the film, at least the main characters do (I’m sorry, Nicholas Cage, I really am dude). I love Matt Dillon a lot, and he puts up a great performance as a moody and angsty teenager. 

Overall this film is pretty cool for those who love to watch something more symbolic and less story-based, it’s full of great shots that have a lot of potential and I can totally see them being used for art projects and collages. Rumble Fish isn’t in my heart like The Outsiders is, but it’s definitely in my head somewhere, waiting for a chance to be used as a reference for any future projects.

[24hrfilm]

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING

Your fave new coming-of-age film (also: I know I only picked screencaps of the ocean but I did it for the aesthetic okay DON’T JUDGE ME)

Everything, Everything is a young adult, coming-of-age film based on a popular book among many teens. I, being the teen-film obsessee I am, wanted to watch this film the day it came out, but I only got around watching it yesterday night with my mom. 

After watching the trailer, my mom and I prepared for a cry-throughout-the-entire-film kind of night (we learned to prepare mentally for these kinds of films after watching The Fault In Our Stars). However, I was very wrong. This film is not a sob-story, nor does it try to be one of those ‘quirky’ teen film with cutesy drawings that pop up on the screen every now and then. Thankgod am I right.

Maddie Whittier has never been outside, because of a serious sickness, which could cause her to basically die if she went outside. She lives in California with her mom, who’s one of the few people Maddie knows. She spends her days reading books, taking online architectural classes and watching films with her mom. One day, a new boy named Olly moves in nextdoor, and I guess you know what happens next...

Everything, Everything revolves around love, and it portrays an array of different relations within a limited social space (aka Maddie’s home). There’s the relationship between Maddie and her mom, between Maddie and her only friend, between Olly’s parents,  and most importantly, between Maddie and Olly. There are many sides to love, and this film manages to show all of them. Love hurts, love makes you happy, love makes you crazy. Despite all of the ‘love’ in the air, this film manages to divert from corny, stereotypical teen films. I love the fact that the main characters are an interracial couple, which is barely even mentioned in the film, but that does make it stand out from other young adult films. The young adult film scene is very dominated by white main characters, and the fact that this film revolves around and interracial couple makes Everything, Everything a very powerful film. 

The dialogue is also very witty and well written. Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson perfectly play their roles as Maddie and Olly. They manage to make the dialogues seem very natural, and not like they’re just saying witty lines to each other. Great acting, totally digging the chemistry. 

Even though this film does a good job at portraying teens these days (texting etc...) Everything, Everything preserves a slightly dream-like vibe. Sure, it’s not completely realistic, but it doesn’t have to be, and I think the slightly fantasy-like aesthetic brings this film to a higher level. 

Everything, Everything is a great film with great acting and cinematography, and an awesome storyline with a little twist at the end... (PS: THE SOUNDTRACK IS AMAZING)

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BLACK SWAN

Ballet has never been this psycho.

A couple of days ago I made the brave decision to watch Black Swan by myself, home alone. I’m known as the person who freaks out really easily over horror films. This blog is the proof for that fear, have you ever read a horror film review on this blog? I don’t think so. I got through it, though. I survived, and more than that, I liked the film. 

Black Swan follows the professional ballet dancer Nina, a shy, timid girl with a great ambition: play the lead in the new performance of Swan Lake. Nina eventually gets the role. She perfectly executes the role of the angelic White Swan, but struggles to embody the sensual Black Swan. As she continues to struggle with her part, a story of jealousy, psychological horror and tese situations starts. 

What I found the most brilliant part of this film was the incredible main character. Nina is an extremely tense character, and that tension is very tangible throughout the entire film. The fact that there’s something slightly ‘off’ about Nina is shown from the start, through small habits or hallucinations. The focus point of Black Swan is the character development. Nina goes from a tender, timid young girl to a jealous, paranoid woman. However, that paranoid woman has always been inside Nina, which is what makes this film so brilliant. Natalie Portman excellently portrays Nina, and puts up a stunning performance during the entire film.  

The cinematography in Black Swan is very interesting as well. The colours are soft, yet dark, and the lighting and decor are constantly intriguing yet nice to look at. The aesthetic of Black Swan really speaks to me. 

Black Swan is a great film, it is both thrilling and beautiful and leaves you feeling a certain way, which is a strong point for me. I definitely recommend watching it, as it’s full of hidden meanings and symbolic characters. 

[24hrfilm]

THE LOBSTER

Get a bottle of water ready because the humour in this film is too dry for words.

Imagine living in a world where everyone is a couple. I know, horrifying for my fellow singles out there, and the most disturbing part of this entire world is that if you don’t manage to get a partner, you will be turned into an animal of your choice. The Lobster is a dystopian thriller, with a reasonable amount of horror thrown into the mix. As if that wasn’t enough, there is a big dose of deadpan humour for good measure. In this film we follow the head character David, an awkard, single man who is sent to a hotel, where his purpose is to find a life partner as soon as possible before he gets turned into an animal of his choice, a lobster. An intriguing, funny and not-at-all-emotional story starts, pulling you into this dystopian world of love.

While watching this film, there were only two things that I could think of. The first one being: “Why is every single character in this film a psychopath?” and the second one: “Why do I keep watching this film when the only thing I’m doing is torturing myself with these horribly awkward situations that make me want to hide under the covers until they’re over?” The Lobster is probably the most awkward and tense film ever, mostly because of its lack of any emotional commitment. I took me a while to get used to Yorgos Lanthimos’, the director’s, eccentric and unmistakable style. However, when you’re someone who appreciates a fucked-up but still really funny kind of humour I highly recommend this film.

The Lobster comically plays with stereotypes of both singles and couples, creating a weird aesthetic where every inexplicable action follows up another even weirder action. This film is definitely unique, and it’s hilarious once you learn to appreciate the weirdness. The images and graphics are pleasing for the eye and thought-through. The music compliments the story beautifully.

The Lobster if a film worth watching and I won’t be surprised when it becomes on of those ‘classics’ within the ‘indie-film’ scene.