johanna-690-69967 Reviews

Boxing Day (2021)

Fun and Fresh

[9/10 · 21 March 2022]

Aja Naomi King is a delight, as always, and Aml Ameen sparkles - he's clearly one of the next breakout stars. I loved the bits of British-Carribbean culture, and the tie in to Christmas and Holiday traditions. This was a truly fun and heartwarming film, with a fresh spin on the "Christmas Movie" tropes we've seen before. Not to mention Leigh-Anne Pinnock's singing, which was gorgeous.

Rust Creek (2018)

Visceral and Thought-provoking

[9/10 · 3 January 2019]

Rust Creek's moody and evocative cinematography creates a visceral sense of the environment, bringing us closer to the protagonist's experience. Propelled by a stellar, subtle performance by Hermione Cornfield, this film is a valuable, thoughtful addition to the "Me Too" cannon that leaves its audience inspired and motivated to take control of their own self-defense.

The Shape of Water (2017)

A Modern Fairytale

[10/10 · 31 December 2018]

Del Toro's execution of an innocent fairytale set in a less than innocent world is a delicate balancing act that pierces the viewer's cynicism and leaves them inspired and connected to their child-like wonder. The tone and sentimentality reminds me of "Cinema Paradisio" or "Amelie," but "The Shape of Water" grapples with much more complex themes, such as prejudice and cruelty, and still manages to leave me charmed.

Labyrinth (1986)

A Lovely 80s Fable

[31 December 2018]

A beautiful, quirky film that was entirely ahead of it's time. The practical effects, iconic characters and masterful execution of fable render this film an 80s fantasy classic.

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Fun

[8/10 · 31 December 2018]

The best thing that I can say about this most recent addition to the Star Wars cannon is that it's actually fun. Unlike the other recent Star Wars films, "Solo" neither presents a complete and predictable replica of the originals, nor focuses on deviating from expectation to the point of absurdity. Rather, it just tells an enjoyable, adventurous and unique story, allowing the characters to drive the tone.

Amarcord (1973)

Classic

[10/10 · 31 December 2018]

Fellini's brilliant interweaving of fantasy and reality perfectly captures the childhood memory, the way we see our past through a romanticized lens. Highlighted by odd, bittersweet moments and spots of unexpected humor, this film is fascinating.

Happy Death Day (2017)

Repetitive Squared

[2/10 · 31 December 2018]

I admire the clever application of a "Groundhog Day" experience to a thriller/horror genre, however if I'm going to see the same sequence of events repeating continuously, I don't want the entire plot to be utterly predictable. This film was straight up boring, punctuated by the fact that every character was unlikable and not worth rooting for.