I'm guessing we'll get less vagueness after CAPTAIN MARVEL is released. After the disappointment of A MOST VIOLENT YEAR (2014), I hope director J.C. Chandor is back to his ALL IS LOST (2013) and MARGIN CALL (2011) form. MORTAL ENGINES ★★☆☆☆
In the future resources are scarce, so... cities and towns roam around on wheels. Eh?! There's a STAR WARS-y vibe. A Death Star-thingummy. A Luke Skywalker-Darth Vader-y relationship. A rebellion. No charisma though. Stilted dialogue and nonexistent characterisation. Wherever the lead goes, everything gets destroyed. The lead doesn't seem to care. SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE is ambitious, but a shame this wasn't a live action endeavour. The animation style and editing of the action sequences grated.
GREEN BOOK ★★★★★
D: Peter Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber To, Hall Pass, The Heartbreak Kid; Me, Myself & Irene; There’s Something About Mary, Kingpin, Dumb and Dumber). S: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini. Acting, dialogue and tone work in harmony to create a charismatic buddy road movie of substance. Deftly humorous and moving without resorting to the saccharine. Likely to become a Christmas staple. It is actor Nicholas Hoult’s birthday. His top 5 films:
- A SINGLE MAN - MAD MAX: FURY ROAD - THE CURRENT WAR - THE FAVOURITE - X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST CREED II ★★★★☆
Surprisingly packs an emotional punch. Geddit? *I’ll grab my coat* I hope this is the final instalment in the ROCKY franchise. It would be a fitting conclusion. THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT ★★½☆☆
D: Lars von Trier (Nymphomaniac: Vol II, Nymphomaniac: Vol I, Melancholia, Antichrist, The Boss of It All, Manderlay, Dogville, Dancer in the Dark, The Idiots, Breaking the Waves). S: Matt Dillon, Bruno Ganz, Uma Thurman, Sofie Gråbøl, Jeremy Davies, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Ed Speleers, Riley Keough. A messy 152-minute serial killer film set over 12 years. The recent movies of director Lars von Trier have become annoyingly attention-seeking. My review: http://www.filmaluation.com/the-house-that-jack-built.html NEXT GEN ★☆☆☆☆
Woeful. Lacks coherent and logical world-building. Inept characterisation, dialogue and storytelling. It is actor Jeff Bridges’s birthday. His top 5 films:
- HEAVEN’S GATE - HELL OR HIGH WATER - THE BIG LEBOWSKI - TRON - TRUE GRIT [2010] |
This website is written by Hemanth Kissoon.
Filmaluation is dedicated to arts culture, with a particular focus on film. I care about intelligence, quality and entertainment. Need some movie and TV show recommendations? See the drop down to the right of the Home tab. Enjoy. The vital ambitions of art and entertainment: - Perceptiveness - Illumination - The unexpected - Innovation Brains and soul are key; but adrenaline junkies do not fret, there is also much love for an experience that delivers a sucker-punch to the guts via stunningly delivered thrills. Noun, “filmaluation”: The evaluation of a film Verb, "to filmaluate”: To evaluate a film I am well aware how difficult it is to make a film, put on a stage play, create a television show, write a novel, let alone make something of note. (That appreciation doesn’t stop me from having high standards though.) This online magazine is edited by Hemanth Kissoon. Filmaluation is owned by Filmaluation Limited (Company number 8549302. Registered in England and Wales) Archives
February 2024
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