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Artwork by Laura Watkins (IG: @watkinsillustrations)

'Parasite' Review

☆☆☆☆☆

I've found it really difficult to write this review. That's because this film is honestly completely flawless. I've been thinking and talking about this film constantly since I saw it for the second time, and I'm glad I waited to review Parasite until I'd seen it a second time because me and my boyfriend noticed so many small details throughout the story. Whether it was foreshadowing through the dialogue or ways the message of the film is portrayed through the mise en scene.

So where do I start with Parasite... well firstly its incredibly funny, with such clever humour. I'd maybe even call the first half of this film a comedy which I did not expect. But what I really didn't expect was the turn this film takes exactly half way through its run time. Parasite mutates into this terrifyingly realistic story that honestly moved me to tears, partly because of the pure mastery of the filmmaking. I don't think I've ever seen a filmmaker portray their vision so perfectly to film.

This is a very dialogue heavy piece and also one of the most entertaining I've ever seen. That is a massive compliment in itself as it proves how skillfully written and paced this film is. Infact this is genuinely the most well paced film I have ever seen. Bong Joon Ho utilised the cores of filmmaking, namely cinematography and editing, to bring his outstanding screenplay to life with such fluency, creating an immersive and enthralling journey which at times is beautifully executed it's almost balletic. The uses of montage editing as well as long takes are used so effectively for every situation the viewer is completely immersed in this world, shot with stunning cinematography by the way. The score by Jaeli Jung is also genius, it adds to the building tension and the classical nature adds to the balletic feel. The pacing and choreography is flawless. It felt like the film never stopped, which was fantastic as I never wanted it to.

There is one specific montage sequence that is exactly 60 shots. Most definitely my favourite sequence of the film, it left me speechless and in awe. Each shot tells the audience more information and when formed as a whole, it defines the art of storytelling through film. I must applaud the editor Jinmo Yang for his magnificent craft in putting these sequence together.

All the performances are fantastic and we are told so much through just the facial expressions and body language of these masterful actors. That's another thing I adore about this film. It understands the need of ambiguity, also allowing the actors to show their true talent. It understands that we as the audience aren't stupid, we can interpret how a character is feeling just through the expression they make. So we then understand and empathise with their actions. It was such a pleasure to watch a film by an artist who trusts his audience, letting then discover more subtleties to his craft on rewatches. The clever comedy is utilised discreetly to make you care deeply for these characters, so by the final act I felt so invested in their lives and wanted them to be okay. That is hard for a film to do but also what makes it so impactful, and leaves you thinking about it so much after, wondering what these characters are doing. That desire for more is rare in film.

There really aren't many films I belive are perfect, but Parasite is one of them, and it has proven Bong Joon Ho as a modern master of the art form. It will always inspire me infinitely as a kind of film I aspire to make myself. I could talk about this film for hours but I'm clearly recommending it as highly as possible. Parasite is one of my favourite films of all time, and I'll never stop talking about it. It makes me feel passion for film that I feel for nothing else. It achieves the greatness I aspire to achieve. Bong Joon Ho made a masterpiece.

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Artwork by Laura Watkins (IG: @watkinsillustrations)

'1917' Review

☆☆☆☆☆

Breathtaking shouldn't be a word thrown around lightly. It should be saved for films like 1917. Sam Mendes was already one of my favourite directors but now he's really convinced me he can do anything with film. And there is no question in my mind that Roger Deakins is the best cinematographer working today. I genuinely don't know how he captured this film in the illusion of a single take and he deserves his Oscar for this achievement. All these moments are almost seamlessly edited together by Lee Smith who had a difficult task. There were multiple moments where I realised I was watching through a camera lens and it truly amazed me. 1917 is a testament to what the art form can do, especially from a physical standpoint as you feel how truly large scale all these scenes are. That is also due to a rightly conservative use of CGI, making the terror of the situation feel genuine and real. Deakins and Mendes make this a beautiful technical masterwork, and I can't praise it enough from a technical standpoint.

Scene after scene of relentless, nail biting tension, enhanced by a brilliantly dramatic score by Thomas Newman who adds this to a countless amount of brilliant scores. His soundtrack over such breathtaking visual moments gave me goosebumps and were some of my favourite movie moments of the year.

The film is centred around two fantastic performances that feel so natural, it's like watching theatre. It must have been a tough physical performance and they deserve huge respect for creating such realism. Despite being a less character driven film and much more plot focused, I did develop a care for these characters, and that is a compliment to their acting in the spectacular but also more subtle moments. However, there is a lack of character development due to the nature of the film. But I don't think this would be a fair flaw as it is not the aim of the film and the one-take effect of it would mean too much expositional dialogue if Mendes did attempt to develop these characters more than he did.

With incredibly talented performances, one of the best scores of the year and some of the most skilled cinematography I've ever seen, 1917 is inspiringly masterful and one of the most beautiful and tense films I've seen.

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Artwork by Laura Watkins (IG: @watkinsillustrations)

'The Lighthouse' Review

☆☆☆☆☆

This is the sort of film I dream of making. A film that can silence a room of film lovers, leaving then in awe of the image it's portraying. Robert Eggers' The Lighthouse does exactly that and I don't have the words to praise it. It's a profound piece of art and inspires me infinitely.

Robert Pattinson breathtakingly portrays an unbelievable mix of emotions as a new lighthouse keeper trying to maintain his sanity, and is met with a ferociously powerful performance by the master Willem Dafoe who are both undoubtedly Oscar worthy. Dafoe inparticular is captivating, giving a disturbing yet enthralling performance which devours the screen. I find it tragic that these performances won't get the recognition they deserve by the Academy because the film is just so daring. But they wouldn't be what they are without the beautiful and potent screenplay, written by Robert and Max Eggers, with monologues that honestly made me speechless.

There is such an incredible lack of exposition, making the film rely on beautifully shot visual storytelling. The artistic choices of black and white as well as the square aspect ratio are perfect, immersing me in the time period and forcing me to feel the confinement and isolation of the setting. It's all captured with some of the most skilled cinematography I've ever seen, with some incredibly impactful shots that will stick with me forever.

The haunting score makes my skin crawl and I can't get it out of my head. It creates a distressing and uneasy atmosphere so skillfully, enhancing the film's impact.

This is not a mainstream film. Arthouse films like this leave things ambiguous, feeding you all you need to know through astounding and disturbing imagery. So when you think about it, and piece together what the film is saying, you realise the message its conveying. That's the beauty of filmmaking for me, and The Lighthouse does it maybe the best I've ever seen.

I used to not enjoy horror films; now they're my favourite genre. I think they have the best potential for technical brilliance, especially surreal, psychological horror. That unreal feeling of dread and anxiety is the most impressive thing the art form can do to you. It has moments of pure terror and distress as well as hilarious moments of comedy, acknowledging the madness of the situation.

Please experience this astounding piece of art - it deserves your support. Films like this are the reason I love the art form and inspire me to follow my dream of being a part of it, creating work like this film. I'm very comfortable in saying that The Lighthouse is a masterpiece.