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jacobmhoff
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Uncut Gems (2019)
Fantastic pacing and acting, Safdies are great!
I recently saw "Good Time" the Safdie bro's movie with Robert Pattinson and was digging their style off the bat. I heard from a few friends that this film was very "frantic" and with so much frantic stuff going on in the world it took me a while to get around to "Uncut Gems" because I was worried it would stress me out.
That being said I ended up loving the film. Sandler is so good, best performance since "Punch Drunk Love" in my opinion. He really shows his chops as a character actor in this film. Lakeith Stanfield is also fantastic as always, I think he is one of the most talented actors of this generation, great work from Idina Menzel as well and I loved seeing/hearing The Weekend.
The Safdies are versed in creating gritty tension, a world of paranoia and heightened circumstance. It's like if you took the "frantic" portion of a Scorsese movie and just made a whole movie out of it, but it works because it's authentic to the characters and the concrete jungle world they are depicting. They also have a cool retro vibe that I like, love the neon coloring or weird 80's video game sounds, it just gives the picture weight.
Great work! Highly recommend, yes it's frantic but not quite as painstaking to watch as I anticipated, good fun over all.
Buffalo '66 (1998)
Great film with echoes of Cassavetes and Lynch
Wow I was really blown away by this film, it's tempered and styled so well and I found it so funny and incredibly cinematic as a whole. Vincent Gallo creates an of off beat world that feels grounded and spur of the moment like a Cassavetes picture, while also taking key moments to really heighten the world and add a surreality that feels like a David Lynch film.
Bravo performances all around. This film may not be for everyone but for those who really appreciate an auteur touch to a film, like me, you may be taken for an incredible journey. Highly recommended!
The Ice Storm (1997)
One of the greatest.
This film is a full blown masterpiece. The rating is currently 7.4 which is just sad, this film should easily be on the top 250 and regarded for what it is, brilliant cinema.
I won't review the content of this film; I mean why? It's an experience you just need to have. It's a human experience, not just a pretty picture, a slice of life that could only really be compared to other masterworks like "Death Of A Salesman" or Tolstoy. There is a universal human bond to this film that will keep it relevant forever.
The direction, I mean my God. The acting, tone, writing, pacing, its all in a league of its own.
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Genius
This movie floored me in the theater. Never have I seen such a crisp, heightened world of life in the theatre portrayed so honestly. Every performance deserves acclaim and the cinematography and pacing should be studied for years to come. Very deserving of the best picture Academy Award and any praise that comes it's way.
The Breaking Point (1950)
Man this movie is good.
Wow, I wasn't expecting this film to grab me the way it did. Michael Curtiz has an excellent way of creating films that demand your attention without having to be falsely stylish or shocking to do so; instead he crafts a believable environment, slightly heightened but always grounded in reality, and allows the emotional impact to come to the forefront.
I encourage everyone to expand their knowledge of the pictures of Mr. Curtiz, he may not be remembered the way Huston and Hawkes are but I could argue that his films hold just as high a standard of craftsmanship. Do yourself a favor!
Knives Out (2019)
Good, but doesn't redefine the genre
I enjoyed the ride of this film, but did it linger in my mind, no. Some funny moments, some suspenseful moments but nothing really ties a bow. Every performance is good, Michael Shannon and Christopher Plummer being my personal favorites. I was a bit disappointed there wasn't more for Jamie Lee Curtis to do.
Maybe I'm just not a huge fan of "who done it's" I do enjoy Gosford Park and Murder By Death but otherwise I find the genre a bit dull. I appreciate the effort here and all it just doesn't resonate quite the way I expect.
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
A knockout
This movie is my favorite film of the year. Yes "Parasite" is a masterpiece but the world of this film is incomparable to anything else. Every Tarantino movie lives in such a heightened and complex world and this is maybe the densest picture of all. Some viewers may be surprised that this films pacing and tone differ from other Tarantino pieces but this is only a testament to how talented he is.
Gravity (2013)
Good, special effect driven, but good still.
I'm pretty bored to death of "special effects." My idea of a good "spectacle" is creating believable characters, I mean come on, HOW do they do it!? That being said I give credit when it's due, this film is driven by special effects but it does something wonderful along the way, it manages to be entertaining. The characters aren't so deep and neither is the plot but man it's just a ride from start to finish and who can complain about that?
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)
Not on the bandwagon...
I've been a fan of Mission Impossible, the work of Tom Cruise and heard such good things about this film that I'm very surprisingly disappointed here. I usually always feel so uplifted after a Mission Impossible movie, like I could run through the theatre and into an armored car chase. This movie I couldn't even get through though sadly, the script is so weak and you can't do much with a weak script that feels like it's built to make cheap call backs to other MI films and not creating believable enough characters for us to care about the action. No set up, no pay off of you ask me
Phase IV (1974)
Trippy, moody, original.
This film was an interesting find. I love "Animal Attack" movies or giant creature films and find myself maybe more receptive to flawed films of this nature. I have to say though this film stands out in the genre. Its got an atmosphere to it, a sense of intelligence to the concept too that really elevates it.
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
A masterpiece that stretches the boundaries of cinema.
"Mullholland Dr." is the kind of film that manipulates your very idea of a what a movie can be. Most notably the plot and structure of the film is so original, so artful and interesting that nearly every review i have read seems to confuse me more by trying to describe or make sense of it all. The best thing to do with this film is just watch it without any preconceived ideas or notions of what it is. Don't try to understand it, just feel it creep into your conscious until it becomes your obsession the way it has for me. Knockout direction from David Lynch, one of his very best films.
The Lady Eve (1941)
A Romantic Comedy done right.
"The Lady Eve" is a fun gem of a film. Writer/Director Preston Sturgess crafts a film That plays with perception, personality and a playful relationship between Stanwyck and Fonda.
Any lover of great dialogue and charming, whimsical comedy will enjoy Preston Sturgess and "The Lady Eve."
The Favourite (2018)
Good, but overrated.
This is a decent film. Where it excels is in cinematography, costuming, and few good chuckles. Otherwise I found very little emotional investment in the characters and story. Also there were times where the "Modern" delivery and lines took me out of the period of the film, maybe it could have worked if it was more clever but just saying a modern swear word in a classical setting doesn't qualify as a joke to me.
The performances are decent, the material and the script is really where my problems lie with this movie. See it, but there are many better films this year.
Pink Flamingos (1972)
Divine comedy, a treasure for Midnight cult/camp fans
I'm a huge John Waters fan. "Pink Flamingos" was my first Waters experience and something I'll never forget. Is it trashy? Absolutely, but also strangely elegant. Is it offensive? Universally. Is it funny? Insanely!
If you enjoy this film another classic Waters pairing is "Female Trouble" which is my personal favorite of his films. It scores lower on the trashy scale and higher on the laughs in my opinion but the world of Pink Flamingos is truly so visceral and alive it must be remembered as Water's masterpiece.
The Master (2012)
Top notch filmmaking and acting, a must see.
I've seen "The Master" 5 times. The first time was in theatres, I have to say I didn't quite grasp the magnitude of what I saw on the first viewing, but it stuck with me... as a matter of fact it grew into an obsession. After viewing it a second time I realized this film as a true classic. The performances from Phoenix and Hoffman are my favorite of both their careers (and that is saying a lot from their body of work).
P.T. Anderson is one of the strongest voices in American cinema today. Of all the incredible aspects that he strings together to make great films I think his strongest asset is his writing. His screenplays feel like a work of great literature and "The Master" is maybe the truest of this example.
Don't hesitate to watch this film, don't be alarmed if it's difficult or makes you think, you will Be ultimately rewarded.
Blue Velvet (1986)
Take the ride, you won't regret it.
David Lynch's films are a truly unique, mind bending experience and "Blue Velvet" is a prime example. I always recommend knowing as little as possible before diving into his films, they simply can't be described by plot, character or any other typical reduction. This film is a piece of art.
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
One of the year's best!
Great film from Barry Jenkins! A moody film that focuses on a beautiful relationship. Regina King is triumphant, glad she got the Oscar nomination but was hoping for more recognition by the Academy for this film.
Coffy (1973)
Top class Exploitation.
Hold onto your salad, this movie is dynamite. This is arguably the quintessential Brackexplotation film and my personal favorite. Pam Grier is groovy and the rest of the cast is fantastic. This movie will transport you to the seventies.
Blow Out (1981)
Masterclass filmmaking from DePalma
Blowout is a great movie. The most mentionable aspect being the technical filmmaking. The skill with the camera and editing is truly in a league of its own and has inspired filmmakers like Tarantino and will continue to influence. Travolta gives one of the best performances of his career.
Eraserhead (1977)
My favorite film, a work of genius.
Eraserhead is a gem unlike any other experience you will have. My recommendation, don't read too much about it and experience it with great sound and picture. The film is the first feature, a 5 year labor of love, from master director David Lynch.
Watch it, experience it, fear it, laugh with it, love it.