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Chelovek s kino-apparatom (1929)
A work of art
A masterpiece. Truly, a work of art before a film.
MWAMC strips away all of the fat and leaves film in it's more bare and simple form, a work of pure cinematography.
What sets films apart from literature or theatre? The camera. And the film is almost saying that films until then had been too caught up in plots and characters and dialogue and had forgotten what films could really do that is different to books or music or plays.
This film pushes cinematography to limits that had not been approached until then, because film makers wanted to tell and re-tell melodramatic stories too often. It's almost an anti-film because it challenges what we always associated with film (dialogue, plots, characters, etc) and says that you don't need any of them to tell a story. The story is the thousands of people all around us. The story is the camera and the way it is used, the places it goes, the people it sees. This is the story, not some romanticised, melodramatic fairy tale.
The techniques it uses are ones I didn't think were possible for the time because it was the first film to truly test what cameras can do. It is an instrumental film to the history and trajectory of the film industry and is, in my opinion, the most influential film ever made. No other film is as strong an example of the pure, raw power of the movie camera and the movie camera alone.
Ma Rainey's Black Bottom (2020)
Boseman was fantastic
This feels a lot like watching a stage play on camera, and that's not a bad thing. The acting is great and the script is littered with these great, powerful monologues that really gives Boseman a chance to show his acting prowess.
However, the film as a whole was dull and didn't feel like a story worth telling. I see the overall message they were trying to send but I think there are much more effective ways of sending it. There were even times when I was confused as to the message and themes they were trying to highlight, though perhaps that's my problem, rather than the film's. Overall, I thought it was an excellent sendoff for Boseman as it is truly one of his best performances and one definitely deserving of an Oscar, but the film itself didn't stay with me.
The Tomorrow War (2021)
I want my time back
I was hoping for a fun action film that made up for its horrible acting and writing quality in its entertainment. Even then, I was disappointed. The dialogue is laughably bad, even for a B tier action movie. There's just nothing I can praise this film for.
Midsommar (2019)
Aster at his best
This is certainly the jewel in Ari Aster's crown so far. Hereditary disappointed me. It was certainly disturbing but the general concept of it had me rather uninterested.
I expected Midsommar to be derivative of The Wicker Man with the concept seeming rather familiar from the trailers. But what do I know? Midsommar surprised me with its originality, phenomenal cinematography and excellent pacing.
I love films that gradually descend into absurdity and extremity as the plot progresses and Midsommar does that excellently. The opening 30 minutes reminded me of a cliche horror film but as soon as they reach the commune, the magic happens.
It's disturbing, uncomfortable, gruesome at times and completely insane...and it's bloody brilliant.
Glory (1989)
Had its moments
Glory is an era defining film in many ways. There's no doubt it's a classic with some powerful and emotional scenes sprinkled throughout. However, not even the fantastic performances from Denzel Washington and Andre Braugher can distract from the pacing issues, the inconsistent quality of dialogue and the weak execution at times. Matthew Broderick was a questionable casting choice as he definitely holds this film back with his comically amateurish performance. Glory is not a triumph, but it has its moments.
LA 92 (2017)
LA 92 is a triumph
Provocative, enraging, tragic. LA 92 is one of the most important documentaries to date and a must watch for every American.
Five Easy Pieces (1970)
Lost its effect
This may be a fantastic character study but I feel as though the messages it was trying to convey are very of their time and aren't as clear nor as effective for modern viewers. It's a hard one to rate because I can see why this film is so good yet it doesn't have impact it clearly once did.
I tried to find the message being conveyed but all I was left with was the feeling of dissatisfaction at a seemingly directionless plot. Maybe the whole 'identity crisis' theme spoke to 1970s audiences but certainly not to this millennial.
Justice League (2017)
Truly terrible
Wow, just wow. Against all odds, DC managed to make a worse movie that Batman VS Superman. Just nothing good about it. Don't waste your time with this even if you're a comic book fan as I am.
Babylon Berlin (2017)
Fantastic show
Stylish, suspenseful and dangerously addictive. At its height, Babylon Berlin is one of the best foreign language TV shows out there. It is well acted and mostly well written but does lose itself at times in the many interweaving plot lines and can at times leave you with a bad taste in your mouth with its sometimes sloppy writing but nevertheless, Babylon Berlin is a must watch for any fan of historical dramas.
Get Out (2017)
One of the better horror movies
In an era where actual good horror movies are pretty rare, Get Out gives me a little hope that this genre isn't dead just yet. This isn't just another series of jump scares with terrible acting and a stale plot. This movie doesn't make you jump, it will genuinely make you feel uncomfortable for the most part. I'll be honest, this is one of the only horror movies that actually made me feel sick because of how creepy and uncomfortable it is to watch. The first two acts are great and very well written but the third act and the ending are both a little silly and don't seem to fit with the rest. Overall though, Get Out is certainly a must watch for horror fans or people who just want to watch something different. Oh and Daniel Kaluuya is fantastic!