AlexLuan Reviews

Knight of Cups (2015)

Cinema as meditative thinking

[10/10 · 23 May 2020]

Knight of Cups exemplifies the concept of "total artwork" as a genuine, immersive experience of many sorts, sensual, emotional, spiritual having the profoundness of life. This multifaceted experience is created by a subtle combination of elements chosen with the most accurate sense of beauty : sceneries, gestures, voices, quotes, skies, living spaces, bodies, works of art, pieces of music, etc., continuing and perfecting the new filmic language inaugurated by The Tree of Life. The best film of the "Trilogy of Love" (the other two are To The Wonder and Song To Song), Knight of Cups is a mesmerizing masterpiece without any doubt and maybe a reinvention of cinema as an exercise in meditative thinking.

Male Hunt (1964)

Délicieusement français

[8/10 · 20 May 2020]

A superb piece of french cinema with brilliant and witty dialogues written by Michel Audiard. The film is worth seeing for its great cast mixing new figures emerged with "La Nouvelle vague" like Brialy and Belmondo, charming actresses like a young Deneuve and an always spellbinding Laforêt, and hilarious acts by Blier, Serrault and Blanche. Belmondo is asked : "Depuis quand nages-tu dans le bonheur ?" He answers : "Depuis 30 secondes !". Inimitable french "humour" which always succeed in lightening our postmodern existences.

The New Pope (2020– )

Magnificent masterpiece

[10/10 · 24 March 2020]

What an extraordinary work of art ! The amount of beauties is almost unbelievable : locations, sets, actors, music, all constantly reminiscent of the great masterpieces of art history. It's also superbly written, full of insightful and profound views and comments on faith, love, humanity, deity. Moreover this show is an aesthetic ode (and a loving one) to christianity and specifically to catholicism.

Interstellar (2014)

Absolute existential masterpiece

[10/10 · 9 February 2020]

Interstellar is a movie that goes far beyond any other science fiction movie. At times, what is showed and carefully depicted, the principles and consequences of Einstein's theory of general relativity, provokes a genuine astonishment in front of Nature and its secrets, and admiration in front of the genius of the human mind. But it's also an incredibly moving film about the force of love between a father and his daughter, a love that transcends space and time. A film that makes you think about Being and Time : time is not a thing, there is time and time is the very essence of be-ing, be-ing is Ereignis. Unforgettable.

The Great Gatsby (1974)

A splendid movie

[9/10 · 5 January 2020]

Here's a true work of art, a piece of pure cinema with great visuals and outstanding performances especially from Sam Waterston (maybe his best performance alongside his in The Killing Fields). A clearly underestimated film whose style, interestingly enough, can be situated between classicism and the new Hollywood.

Too Old to Die Young (2019– )

Sublimely barbaric

[10/10 · 27 July 2019]

Extreme and sublime visual propositions rarely seen on TV. The art of framing here is exerted in its highest form, creating painting-like images of great beauty. The slow pace of the show makes of each scene a ceremony in which each gesture becomes sacred. NWR reveals himself even more as a master of the visual arts. Absolument magnifique.