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The Whale (2022)
An honest film about honesty
A wonderful honest look at the challenges of morbid obesity and what the struggles and the psyche goes through.
At first. You would assume the title is a description of the protagonist.
Braddon Frasier gives a wonderful performance and we know it comes from a place of genuine experience given his long history of depression.
It's truthfully a touching piece with dark subject matters (suicide, depression, neglect, and abandonment). It's wonderful story telling that touches emotional beats all from the location of a secluded apartment.
It really shows how even viewing the world from such a limited and contained space could be a wonderful platform for some of the deepest emotions.
The title of the whale refers to Moby Dick and the way it ties in is just wonderful to see.
Tekkon kinkurîto (2006)
A proper manifestation of taijitu (yin-yang)
It's a wonderful film about how to seemingly different brothers develop a wonderful co dependence.
Black and white are in way symbols of two parts of Taijitu and how they influence each other.
The dialogue is short and constructive. There are no more words than was needed.
Black and white have their own dreamscapes that differently pleasant.
The way movie shows these characters and their depth is wonderfully subtle.
There are deaths in this movie that were just wonderfully scripted and written.
Black and white are wonderfully broken but white's innocence is really the pushing force for black both as motivation and transformation.
Tesla: Master of Lightning (2000)
Miserable representation of one the greatest minds
Tesla was not interested in making money and they painted that vividly a s weakness on tesla's side.
Tesla was a visionary who defied expectations on multiple occasions.
His last decades of existence could have defied reality.
Westinghouse made sure Tesla was able to have a place to sit and live. To Tesla's friendship was valued more than any amount of money. I don't see why he should be ridiculed for it.
There was no respect for the person who gave them light, communication, and other wonders. He wanted to give freely.
It seems there was an agenda to paint him as maniac.
Les misérables (2019)
Wonderful and very well thought out
The first film on police brutality that I felt didn't demonize any of the parties.
I felt every character was likeable and you can really see how good intentions can go really bad.
Very well done. The first movie about diversity and the projects that didn't make me go mad with how inconsistent or immature the arguments were.
You feel the troubles of Issa and how the police get panicked. Wonderfully crafted.
1917 (2019)
An experience that's breathtaking
Watch it in IMAX
Every breath they take is your breath.
You take the journey with them one step at a time.
The fact that's it's in one shot allows you to experience every moment with these characters. You see what they have seen for the next 2 hours. There are no cut scenes for them to have a moment to recollect themselves. You feel their rush l..you feel their stolen time.
The Queen's Gambit (2020)
A marvel to watch with so much to praise
The Queen's gambit is a Netflix series that follows a chess prodigy from infancy to adulthood. The series shows the internal turmoil she faces as she progresses to be the best chess player the world has ever seen.
The series is wonderful to watch. The story elements are subtle. In the opening scene of the entire series, we see Beth Harmon in the Bath Tub. We then hear a knock on the door. She emerges frantically to get dressed in what looked like wrecked hotel room. The cinematography is superbly well paced and timed. We see the panic behind closed doors and the pose and finesse that is shown on the stage. That was all done in the first 3 minutes of the show. In those 3 minutes, the show marvelously plants seeds that will be unraveled throughout the series. We get introduced to the tournament, the green pills, and an internal panic.
We never fully understand or revisit that moment in the film until the almost end of the mini series.
What makes the show super compelling is how is poises chess to be entertaining to watch. Every Chess game is essentially the same from a props perspective but every one of them is different. They had one chess game that was framed as an attempt to flirt. One chess game is framed as a domination. One chess is framed as ridicule. There are small nuances in every game that keep you at the edge of the seat as you pieces move on the chess board.
The Queen's Gambit is a marvel to look at and watch. If I had to be picky, there is a bit of an deus ex-machina when a long lost friend comes out of nowhere to provide help when the protagonist is the deepest runt in her career. It's understandable considering how short this miniseries. The ending is still satisfying and there are elements worth a second watch.
The Stained Club (2018)
A beautiful short film that touches a delicate matter well
This film has some great little twists and features.
Finn is a young boy that has "stains". He sees these "stains" as what makes him unique. Which is why only his stains sparkle and look magical.
He sees these stains on other people but they don't sparkle like his because they don't see them as something special.
Finn at the beginning feels like he's part of a group. He's innocence allows him to be part of a group.
You are trapped in his world but if you watch it again and focus on his environment you see it differently. From him eating a bowl of cereal. To his messed up room. From his mom watching the TV.
They made it so well that in the first watch you focus on Finn's narrattive and dismiss where he is.
They are able to get you attached to this boy in such a short time and that is magical on it's own. This story has been told a thousand times but this is the one that really leaves a mark
The one phrase at the end that hits me real hard is
"My friends are not like the others. But they are not like me either"
It's a realization of Finn that he's isolated and lonely. Even though at the start he saw people who are similar to him in his 'stains'. His abuse makes him feel different just like his peers' abuse makes them feel different.
You are given a spark of hope when a friend throws a ball at him and we hear laughter from the group.
It's beautifullly done and marvelous to look at.
Song of the Sea (2014)
A wonderful animation and People Should be aware of it.
Tomm Moore is an animation genius. This movie isn't just beautifully done. It's a wonderful backbone of a story that shows innocence and grief. It sheds light on taking in your emotions instead of heading them away. The story has a plot but with no true villains only people with misunderstood intentions.
Song of the Sea is a masterpiece. I only wish more people knew of it.
The Prophet (2014)
Avery mediocre main Story but Amazing illustrations of the excerpts/poems
If you are really in a rush and I want to get the most of this movie. Skip everything until you see the animations for the poems.
The script itself isn't that great. The story and characters are quite simple and the animation isn't really that great for the main story line and apparently this was done on purpose so it wouldn't draw to much attention away from the poems.
The poems are done by different animation studios and they had complete creative freedom on how to interpret the poem they were assigned and were given a budget.
The way these poems were interpreted and brought to life is just amazing and are honestly the true gems of this movie.
My favourite was "On Love" directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart, sang by Lisa Hannigan & Glen Hansard
The Secret of Kells (2009)
A beautiful animation
I watched this film yesterday and there's something about it that is just soothing for the soul. The music was just enough to send me somewhere mystical.
The animations and drawing are stunning. If you were to take one frame of the movie, it wouldn't probably mean much but the way these frames are put together is simply gorgeous.
It's a movie that is drawn that talks about drawing whether it is drawing blueprints for a wall or drawing for the Book of Kells. (Before this movie I didn't know such a book existed.) You never see a character writing words they always draw.
The movie was spiritual in a way even though it wasn't theological which was quite a feat for an animation that speaks about monks trying to write a bible.
Capharnaüm (2018)
A style that is economical and moving
The movie has a lot of camera shakes and drone shots but I think its because the settings are a bit difficult to do anything else.
A lot of shots were in buses and from personal account they don' t have a lot of space for a tripod or any kind of Stabilizer.
Drone shots were only used to establish settings. There are areas in Beiruts were the roads are too tight for SUVs to come with their equipment. In addition, these roads aren't paved.
So I understand that the crew needed a portable setup. Drones and DSLRs
Some people are saying that these were done just to get the hype for the film but in my opinion there is an economical reason for the style the movie was done in.
The crew was also working with inexperienced actors so a lot of them would uncomfortable with talking with the camera head on. That would be a reason why for most of the scenes the camera seems hidden and in strange angles.
There seems to be consistent argument that the Director picked the pretty faced boy to compile the story more to the foreign audience. To be honest, the movie industry has been shameless about this from a . I would agree that the main character was played by some one who wasn't as pretty. The story would't have been as significant to me.
I would also like to emphasize that the main character and his family are meant to be Lebanese not Syrian or Palestinian in the film. There has been a repeated concern that the movie depicts Syrian refugees in a very poor manner. The movie does the opposite. It depicts Syrian Refugees in a better situation than the local poorer community.
Now as much as I like the film, the movie did have its flaws which were pointed out by the low rating reviews. I was going to give a 10 but after reading the reviews. I had to drop it to a 9.
*********************Spoilers*********************
The second character you see in the film is the director herself. She plays as the child's lawyer and is somewhat playing the kid's savior in a way. It annoys me because it depicts the image that only the director herself can solve the situation. She is also putting herself on a self proclaimed pedestal. It also states that she sides with Zain's solution that these people shouldn't have children. I understand that Zain is 12 years old and is quite short tempered but his lawyer should be educated and a bit more reasonable. Again, if the lawyer wasn't played by the director I would be more forgiving.
In addition, throughout the film Zain does not beg for money. He always buys what he can and tries to find work. This made me like the character more. The fact that he thought himself as a capable individual who didn't want anything handed to him.
*********************Spoilers*********************
If you are lebanese, I highly recommend to watch this. It's rarely we have movies that depict these kind of situations in the country. They are always shunned to side from the public eye but they need to be brought forward and discussed.A Movie that is current to the times. If you are a foreigner, I'm not sure if you could relate to a lot of the inside jokes.
L'insulte (2017)
The First Leabnese Film to Touch Controversy and survive
The Movie is one of the few good films that are produced by a Lebanese Director. The Movie is well done and allows the characters to grow. The ending is eased in and at the end there is a sense of justice.
The movie had a very difficult job of framing the political debate without stepping on anyone's toes. No facts that I know of were polished or watered down.
It's a movie that shows Beirut for what it really is. A city that is still scared from the past.
If you are from the MENA region the movie is a must see. If you have any interest in the cultural or historical aspect of the middle east, the movie provides wonderful insight
Gone Girl (2014)
A movie that will crawl under your skin
The movie has had a lot of bad reviews because I presume it wasn't what most viewers were expecting.
The movie is very thought provoking in terms of how the media can easily jump to conclusions and how these biases can play into an on going investigation.
A lot of movies develop characters and the villain is meant to be a character to be hated. In this movie, you will hate the movie to your core and you will wish something somewhere will happen to this character.
Fincher is an amazing director who believes in meticulous details and repeating until perfection. No shot is taken out of place. No cut is too short or too long.
If you feel it is, then that's how its supposed to be.
If the story is too absurd to believed and people are believing it. Then that's the message he wants to send.
I gave this movie an 8 because it inflicted emotions of distress and hatred.
Watch this movie on an empty stomach and if you can with your wife/girlfriend (It has to be of the female gender not significant other)
T2 Trainspotting (2017)
It sends back good morals and good virtues
It's a great sequel and really does the original justice. The original had great photography but the story was kinda of flat and the movie left on a bad note.
I love the flashbacks and the nostalgia and this movie is for the fans. Its for those who waited 20 years to watch something familiar or simply stumbled upon it after so long.
The movie is about reliving your youth, holding grudges, simple what ifs, and most importantly friendship.
The movie is not like any sequel. It was done for the fans and it was done right. It ain't a money grabber and the soundtrack is as faithful to the original series.
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)
Not a let down for Harry Potter fans
This movie is quite wonderful to watch. I'm a huge harry potter fan and JK Rowling doesn't disappoint with this screenplay.
Even though it's a different medium than what she is used to. The movie is very well down.
There are slight hints to harry potter world with mentions of Hogwarts, the ministry of magic, The textbook that harry potter uses in Hogwarts "Fantastic Beast where to find them"
The movie does stay true to roots. Gellert Grindelwald is portrayed by Johnny Depp and during the film we can see that the character has a gay Ora around him in the way he touches and speaks with Grivence and his hair style. When Gellert even mentions Dumbledore there seems to be a sign of affection.
The movie is a standalone and leaves you satisfied. It's part of a franchise but you can leave the movie completely happy.
Silence (2016)
A Difficult Topic to Portray, but a worthy effort
The movie talks about Portuguese priests who go to Japan.
The movie isn't enjoyable or as enjoyable to non-Christian believers. I'm Christian and the movie tackled subjects that are quite difficult and have been points of criticism to the church. "The Availability of Confession to redundant sinners", "patience and nonviolence", "the limits of unconditional love".
The movie doesn't necessarily answer them head on but doesn't ignore them.
The movie discusses about pride, anger. suffering, and faith.
The movie gave me a headache because the frustration the priests feel and the pain they had to watch and endure was overwhelming.
The ending is hard to swallow but fitting.
I gave it an 8 because i felt that it was more forced than natural. It's not a walk in the park to appreciate the movie especially the moments of silence. The movie has almost no scores or soundtracks which help show "praying to no one".
The actors acted the part and I understand why Scorsese picked them for the roles. I read he picked the young priests with angular features to display how spontaneous and impatient they were as well as impulsive.
The older priests were given rounder features to show a calmer individual, slower and patient.
The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012)
A Romance that even a single can feel for
The movie is beautifully done. Every emotion comes naturally nothing is forced. You appreciate the subtle script lines. There is enough conflict, passion, and love for you to move with the characters through the plot.
*******************************************Spoiler****************** **********
The ending is not your conventional love story ending. However, it is original and authentic. I will not guarantee that you will love it but you will be moved one way or another. The tragedy builds up the character and eventually the plot. Action is character.
*******************************************Spoiler****************** **********
It will make you appreciate BlueGrass Music. It is quite underrated for how powerful the movie is. It's a movie that progresses without any of the characters saying "I love you". It's spoken in action and stares. Action is character. For every fallout they have in words there actions are always 'speaking their true intentions'
The title is The broken Circle Breakdown which sounds redundant but it describes the movies chronological order. We cycle through the events. We go back then forward then back. The cycle is broken until it breaks down.
If you let it be, this movie could redefine your enjoyment for the subtle things
Trainspotting (1996)
A great Film that Sums up every rebel
The Movie is very artistic and really tackles most people's fears. The fear of growing up, responsibilities, torment, and general pain.
It really shows the essence of an addiction. A means to numb pain and responsibility.
The first 40 minutes are great and very enjoyable. Then they take a dark turn and the movie really shows how bad an addiction can be.
The joys you once had are gone. You don't do it for the right reasons or at least not the reasons you want to believe in. The movie isn't as joyful as it was when it started but the message is still as strong.
It will lift you and cause you to switch sides. The first watch is gonna be hard. In the second watch, you become a bit more appreciative of what the director, and writers did.