gr4ndinqui5itor

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

let me just say, al pacino looks soooo handsome in this film with his shaggy hair and big brown doe eyes

the movie is such a good snapshot of NYC in the 1970s - you have the incessant media sensationalism, tension between the public and the police, and most surprisingly, representation of the thriving queer community at the time

i really dont think a story like this would have been greenlit into a movie if the real thing hadnt occurred in real life just three years prior, which makes it so much more interesting for a major 70s hollywood flick

its high strung and intense with some great one-liners! and you cant help but root for our bisexual poly king!

AL PACINO as SONNY WORTZIK | Dog Day Afternoon (1975) dir. Sidney Lumet

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Agot Chol by Alberto Aguar for Schon Magazine September 2024

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Sheila Bawar by Fernando Tomaz for Elle Brasil Magazine June 2025

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

i love it when shows are centred on a social message, and i love it even more when that message is directed point blank at the government

this one in particular is an undoubtedly scathing critique on korea's mandatory military system, and the very avoidable atrocities that continuously occur that are often swept under the rug to avoid accountability and wide-scale change

their government forces young dudes into the army, cramps them into extremely hostile and stressful environments where bullies, social hierarchies, and abuse thrives, then offers no mental or wellbeing support - and then dares to avoid responsibility when things inevitably goes south - that's fucked up!!!

the message is loud and clear on this one - reform the system, put an end to fostering vicious power dynamics, and make those responsible for injustice take accountability

overall, this was excellent television!!

watched in 2023:

D.P. SEASON 2 디피 시즌2 (2023) dir. Han Jun Hee

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

ah yes, another highschool fight club kdrama which i enjoyed like crazy!!

the fighting was gritty, which i loved, but i also really liked the introspective aspects moving the story forward, where the mc was internally battling his demons and physically taking his frustration out on the local bullies

eventually, he begins craving the control he feels when fighting, jumping at any chance to do so, contrasting his otherwise suffocating life with an overbearing father and the nauseating weight of his brother's death

it gives a fresh take on the high school underdog trope we've seen before, where instead of the lead fighting to protect his friends and being morally righteous, he's using violence as a therapeutic outlet, his principles slipping more and more as he becomes a morally grey antihero of sorts

ONE: High School Heroes| Trailer Release Date: May 30, 2025

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

what a fun and entertaining film!! it has one of those storylines that can be set in any era or country and still be just as funny - which is rare!

i honestly think this film holds up reallyyy well to the usual contemporary social criticism you'd expect to find about a movie made in the 70s

i just loved how the main couple's queerness wasn't played out for laughs but was genuinely established, with scenes showing how loved they are by their neighbourhood and their bickering being very domestic

i loveddd the catty humour, and this film caught me by surprise with how genuinely hilarious it was! simply iconic!!

La Cage aux Folles (1978) dir. Édouard Molinaro

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

not only is the chemistry between the lead actors so damn enjoyable, the charm that oozes from the screen whenever cleavon little is present is sooooo palpable - i thoroughly enjoyed every single 4th wall break lmaoo

yes the film might be a lil controversial for a few reasons, but its definitely worth rewatching over and over again just for how it invites the audience to laugh at the idiocy and absurdity of racists - something studios would never be brave enough to do in this current era

filled with hilarious one-liners and entertaining spoofs of the classic western, its a great way to spend 90 mins

Blazing Saddles (1974) // Dir. Mel Brooks

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

a gloriously depressing film about moving forward and not letting the past hold you back from living your life - essentially, no matter what life throws at you, things WILL get better

the voice acting was great and conveyed sooo much emotion and nuance! and the stop motion animation was so stylistic and beautiful!

it was so interesting to see the way the twins sought comfort in their estrangement. grace's snail-collecting initially began as a self-soothing hobby that spiralled into obsession/hyperfixation, while gilbert resorted to pyromania and physical outbursts (totally valid)

a stressful movie to watch tbh! but so so soooooo worth it!!!!!! emotionally cathartic for sure!

Life can only be understood backwards, but we have to live it forwards.

Memoir of a Snail (2024) dir. Adam Elliot

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

this is such a nostalgic film for me! i used to pop this into the lil portable DVD player i had and watch it on repeat! watching it now, the psychology behind the characters and their actions was actually quite interesting!

dev was ruled by his insecurities, and assumed the world was against him because of his poverty, including anjali's father, hence his hostility and insolence

ram was a lover, not a fighter, and resolved conflicts with kindness, not hatred. He had a streak of winning people over with his kindness and charm, including anjali

anjali was a girl of honour, and let it dictate all of her actions, no matter how she felt about it. she wasn't swayed by money or influence but by integrity and principle, hence why she refused to elope with dev, and remained loyal to ram

loved the dramatic romance and style of this film, its so perfectly y2k bollywood <333

Shilpa Shetty in Dhadkan (2000)

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

this has got to be one of the most incredible psychological thrillers I've seen

just when you're shocked by the supernatural horrors of the show, it hits you with the true horror - the incomprehensibly evil and corruptible nature of humanity

the political intrigue within the Goto family was a surprising but welcome plot development in s2, i loved the conflicted nature of the brothers

yuya yagira is so ruggedly handsome and plays daigo, an average man gaslit into near-insanity and frustration, so well! by the end, he was taking no shit from nobody and i love that type of character growth

DRAMAS in 2025: 08 | Gannibal Season 2 ガンニバル シーズン2 (2025) — dir. Katayama Shinzo         

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

what a beautiful and consistent sequel! now with a bigger budget, a longer run time and a story not limited by its environment, this film really goes above and beyond all expectations i had

it manages to continue the story of the initial film and turn it into an amazing crime thriller with our boy now going deep undercover - grimey as fuck!!

the raid duology is most definitely one of the defining blueprints for tightly choreographed action sequences in film; all newer films try to meet it in terms of quality and standards, yet cannot even compare!

The Raid 2: Berandal (2014) dir. Gareth Evans

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

if you've ever seen a contemporary action flick that features close-range hand-to-hand combat, 2-on-1 fighting or a one-man-army, chances are that it was GREATLY influenced by this film right here

absolutely phenomenal action choreo with minimal dialogue and exposition so you can completely focus on whoever is getting their ass kicked

the use of indigenous indonesian martial arts (pencak silat) is genius because all the moves are so unlike anything I've ever seen before!

im telling you, its a certified classic!!!

Iko Uwais - The Raid (2011 / 2024 4K Remaster)

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

i loved how this show remained insanely intense until the very end by having an antagonist that's a PROPER threat to our leads and their friends - it kept things unpredictable and fresh!

i loved these two himbos so much lmao, their friendship was so heartwarming and sweet! and i enjoyed the brief moments of found family with the old guards teaching the new

i gotta say though, the eye candy was INSANE - props to the actors for working incredibly hard to achieve that god-like physique

Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi as Kim Gun Woo and Hong Woo Jin in

Bloodhounds / 사냥개들 (2023) dir. kim joo hwan

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

really gorgeous framing and lovely folksongs in the first hour, followed by a phenomenal final 30 mins that really bring this avant-garde mythological folk tale to life!

not gonna lie when i say that the dog and the parrot were somehow the best actors of this film, even though there were no faults in anyone else's acting

the final scene of the boy releasing the parrot was sooo good, especially after he had personally experienced what the loss of freedom feels like - it felt so emotionally packed!

i think i will watch a few film analyses to really grasp the nuances and meaning because it's just that good

Kummatty (Govindan Aravindan, 1979)

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

my god, i love this film so much for how grimey it is and not shying away from the brutality that is systematically inflicted on minorities in India

this was honestly such a devastatingly beautiful film if you understand all the inferred commentary made on the combined and targeted effects of systematic oppression, wealth disparity, and religious fanaticism

the political, cultural, and religious nuances were just simply chef's kiss

dev patel you beautiful gorgeous man, please continue to grace my screen!

MONKEY MAN (2024)

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

oh boy, it truly is a real pain to let people in and perceive the real you, not knowing if they'd still love you, flaws and all

both characters envy the other for something they possess, seeing in each other what they themselves lack - and it makes for an interesting dynamic! jealousy, love, hate, and by the end of the film, understanding.

i loved the cinematography in this one - it was so still and calm and peaceful, heavily contrasting its historical context as well as the emotional changes between the cousins

"I walk around with this terrible fucking image of you in my head."

[gr4ndinqui5itor]

this film goes hard asf 🔥

though its strongly focused on jail brawls, its got an overarching theme of persevering through one's limits to break out of a self-destructive cycle of passiveness/submissiveness, with plenty of satisfying character growth along the way

the mentorship and camaraderie are completely harmonious with the brutal ass whooping and make this well worth the watch

What do we get from fighting? Punishment and injuries, that’s all. Even if everyone calls us trash. No, even if we are trash, we can’t continue living like trash. The four of us, no more fighting until we get out. Let’s form a peace pact.