> Personal log: film reviews and written dispatches.
Project Hail Mary
★★★★★ · 2026
Mar 16, 2026
Watched on Monday March 16, 2026.
The Apartment
★★★★½ · 1960
Mar 12, 2026
I love a movie that urges you to introspect and figure out the kind of person you’re becoming. I love a movie that shows love as a way to bring out the most human version of yourself. I love a movie that doesn’t show power dynamics as something natural but rather something that exists and something that well meaning people have to navigate inside of. I love a movie that shows that, sometimes, breaking out of those power dynamics is what it means to be free, even if that comes at personal cost. This is all of that and more.This is a film that shows the corporate world in a somehow remarkably sterile, somehow remarkably gross light. We see an office worker so listlessly trying to move up in the world, he offers his own apartment for his bosses’ illicit hookups because that is what a good employee does. And in trying to move up in the world, he finds his person, trying to do much the same. In falling for each other, they find that in giving up their principles they have inadvertently trapped themselves in a system where they are unable to be together. It’s not a Hallmark movie, we see that the characters are “realistic” about their relationship, but perhaps because of that and not moving at the right pace for their feelings they inflict pain upon each other. In a kind of karmic twist of fate, for them to attain what they really wanted, they had to give up all that they worked for. It’s equal parts beautiful and hopeful as it is difficult to see.It’s a kind of movie we need to watch more of. In a world where it really does feel like a race to the bottom, we need to remind ourselves that we stand to lose so much more than money in giving up our principles. And for a film from literally 65 years ago, it’s remarkable to see how little things have truly changed. Worth a watch.
Alphaville
★★★★★ · 1965
Feb 27, 2026
If there ever was a list of films that are required watching for the times in which we currently find ourselves, Alphaville is absolutely deserving of a top spot on that list. A stunning noir piece set in "Alphaville" (a setting that doesn't even try to hide its Parisian identity), we follow a spy in his effort to stop an insidious force that is sucking the very humanity from its residents. Throughout his escapades, we are really presented with a story that asks us to question whether the pursuit of efficiency and logic in the modern era actually also serves to strip us of our humanity.This movie is able to do a great deal in its simplicity. The cinematography is somehow both understated and technically stunning. We are presented with long handheld shots that flow through the setting that make you feel like you are a part of the action and facilitate powerful fourth-wall breaks. But you are also met with beautiful static tripod shots that will have you questioning how on Earth they managed to expose the film for the insane lighting that they were able to get across. I think just for beautiful aesthetics alone, this film is worth a watch.But, technical mastery aside, this movie's strength lies in its ability to ask the really important questions. We are presented with a late-stage capitalist society that is strikingly similar to what we have today. We are shown how the pursuit of efficiency and performance above all else literally costs people their humanity. It is a film that shows that the arts and doing things for no other reason than because they serve to feed the soul are the very essence of existence. If the purpose of a movie is to make you think, this is a must-watch.As I was watching this movie, I could only think how scarily accurate this movie is. We have an antagonist of an AI that is literally sucking the resources and beauty from the society that built it. This society has spiralled into rampant colonialism in order to continue feeding its soulless existence. This 60-year-old movie served as a warning for many of the major problems we face today. I wish more people took the time to pay attention.The AI needed a better voice though.
City of God
★★★★★ · 2002
Feb 22, 2026
I think this is one of the best movies ever made. Certainly one of the best I’ve ever seen.All of the characters are so deeply understandable and while perhaps not directly relatable to me, you will undoubtedly find reflections of them in yourself and in those around you. In that lens, this is one of the most poignant, heartbreaking, and through-provoking things I’ve seen. The movie swings between jarring and violent to serene and pure in breaths as if it wishes you to question everything, but also understand that there are people behind everything. We follow a few characters closely, and while they take extreme paths in life, you don’t ever feel that their path in life is contrived. Instead, you gain a true appreciation for how a society and culture and life can make choices for you. This movie somehow shoots the slums of Rio in a loving, tender manner, all the while gang wars are erupting all around. I think that really speaks to the essence of this film. It’s a difficult thing to explain but somehow this movie asks you to love and care for something in spite of it all. That makes it profoundly beautiful. Loved this so very much.
The Fly
★★★★★ · 1986
Feb 16, 2026
This movie is somehow profoundly gross and jarring but also poignant and contemplative. It’s condensed, we have a very tight cast and number of sets, but it also touches a huge gamut of very intrinsic questions about the human experience. It was made in the 1980s but the visuals hold up today, and the acting is sublime. And the sound effects will literally make you flinch.I found myself in awe over how many deep subjects this movie touched in 90 minutes. It is a decidedly feminist movie. In a movie with a literal monster, somehow one of the most jarring things shown is trying to control a woman’s body. There are two remarkably insecure men in this movie. Their controlling desires quite literally cause them to descend into inhuman behaviors. I think one of the major strengths of body horror films is their ability to distill down the human psyche. This movie shows that insecurity is monstrous.I am not good with horror movies. Never have been. I loved this movie regardless. Highly recommend a watch.
Send Help
★★★ · 2026
Feb 3, 2026
It’s fun and doesn’t fall into any horrible tropes but also this is one of those movies you can’t think about too hard or it falls apart. Also a bit sad they could have told a more impactful story about guilt and trauma but instead we got something simpler. Definitely interesting.
Iron Lung
★★½ · 2026
Feb 2, 2026
It definitely feels like it would make for an interesting video game but as a story it was pretty basic. I love a low budget film that cares and you can see that happened here but you could also very much feel that their vision exceeded what they could give. Interesting sound design but pared down visuals. The single set made me feel claustrophobic. I wish the world building was done through more than video game style ambience storytelling and overly simplified dialogue.
The Northman
★★★★★ · 2022
Jan 16, 2026
The whole time I was watching this movie I was upset with myself for not having watched it in theaters. It’s nothing short of a spectacle. This is one of those movies that sticks with you for all the right reasons. Incredible acting, beautiful scores, breathtaking cinematography, and a story line that somehow strikes a balance between being brutal and vengeful but also somehow simultaneously caring and tender in moments. I was completely immersed in the dramatic set pieces but also in a mythology that was complex and intricate but also mesmerizing and beautiful.There’s a certain degree of control that’s shown in this movie that I think is very well done. Control in the sense that while this is a movie with magic and Vikings and betrayals and gore, nothing ever feels overdone. The sets give you an immense sense of scale but also remain tight enough to actually feel the impact of the fights we see. The music swells at just the right moments to give you the emotion in the right amount. And the acting is absolutely immaculate, even with very difficult subject matter. I think one of the hardest things in filmmaking is guiding your audience to feel the right thing at the right time. This is a movie that does that very well.If you are into a movie that will linger, be it for beautiful shots or dialogue or music, this is an absolute must watch. We could all use more Robert Eggers in our lives.
2046
★★ · 2004
Dec 29, 2025
Anyone who says this movie is a sequel to In the Mood for Love is lying to you. I think the message it gives rings hollow and is largely unhealthy. It’s really annoying to see characters with such depth spiral into becoming terrible people, and it leaves a nihilistic view of love. If you loved the first movie for its characters and romantic tension, you’ll just find yourself annoyed with this one. It’s a lot of sex and touching with zero emotional payoff, which is literally the opposite of the first movie which is one of my all time favorite movies.Just generally irritated with this.
Kotaro Lives Alone
★★★★½ · 2022
Dec 26, 2025
Watched on Friday December 26, 2025.
Marty Supreme
★★★★½ · 2025
Dec 25, 2025
There's no such thing as sanely chasing your dreams. From the very first shot to the final cut, this movie demands your undivided attention. It's funny, heart-pounding, engaging, and all the things you'd expect from a sports movie, but it's about ping-pong. It's tongue-in-cheek in all the right ways, but right when you get comfortable, you are reminded that the real world is very rarely simple. There is not a single bad bit of acting in this whole movie. I should have known that a Safdie movie would have me anxious for a huge chunk of its runtime, but I was not prepared for this. Marty himself is never portrayed as a likable character, but he is an understandable one. The rest of the cast is perfect, punctuated with an absolutely stunning performance from Odessa A'zion. Tyler the Creator basically plays himself, but that's fun too.Some of the plot points were pretty out there, but then again, this is a movie about a ping pong savant. I got to watch this in a packed theater. People were cheering for ping pong. I was cheering for ping pong. I was cheering for chasing dreams. I was cheering for trying to make things work against all odds. And don't even get me started on the soundtrack. Perfection. So so good.
The Housemaid
★★ · 2025
Dec 20, 2025
The pacing left much to be desired. The twist was handled poorly in my opinion. I thought some of the acting was lacking. Way too much fan service that ends up serving little point for the story. Generally forgettable for me.
Kedi
★★★★½ · 2016
Dec 16, 2025
It’s supposed to be a documentary on the street cats of Istanbul but instead you get a deeply contemplative exploration on the importance of loving for no other reason than because it is what the soul requires. And just for that, I think it’s something profoundly beautiful.“If you can enjoy the presence of a cat, a bird, a flower what can I say, all the world will be yours.”
The Queen's Gambit
★★★★ · 2020
Dec 13, 2025
Just went and bought a book on chess because it’s never too late.
KPop Demon Hunters
★★★½ · 2025
Dec 11, 2025
I like the idea of musicians protecting us from the forces of evil, it’s fun to me.
Eyes Without a Face
★★★★ · 1960
Nov 28, 2025
This is an awesome film. It’s very French 60’s movie in its aesthetics and general vibe, but in a way that good cinema is so uniquely capable of, it somehow feels relevant today in a world where outward appearances become more and more commodified. It’s a movie that invites you to think about whether freedom to change your appearance to suit the whims of what you believe others want is really freedom at all, and whether the cost to yourself and others for this ability is worth it.I will submit that this movie makes no attempt to cram in the absolute maximum amount of plot into its runtime. It is perfectly happy with slowly, methodically dictating the plot, and because of that we are left with a fairly simplistic story. However, that may be one of this movie’s strengths as well. We are able to look at the characters with far more clarity because we are allowed to see them have space to develop on screen. The acting is superb. The daughter is remarkably expressive, and all we can actually see of her face are her eyes. Her father, the triumphant doctor, is stoic as if his atonement for his sins is to lose his own expressiveness. The assistant, even with a successful reconstructive surgery of her own, wears a scowl through much of the film. Every single character is trapped in a cycle of their own creation and something has to give to free them from it.And something does give, and in truly poetic fashion. The ending of this movie is its strength. Much can be said about the symbolism and allusions made in the last few sequences of the movie but suffice to say, the ending will leave you thinking. And none of this even mentioned the gross but also insanely cool visual effects that they pulled off in this film that will make you appreciate the fact that this was made in the 60s so much more, or the score that somehow makes you feel everyone’s spiral into madness despite its cheery carnival-adjacent overtones. This movie was great, would recommend a watch.
Frankenstein
Nov 16, 2025
It was tough for me to see the point of the deviations from the book. The first act felt slow, albeit the creation scenes were visually spectacular. The last act felt very rushed, even though the movie was long. Oscar Isaac’s Dr. Frankenstein doesn’t feel like the character in the book to me, and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing but I felt that in making him look as hyperbolically devoid of empathy as shown in this depiction, we lose much of the point of the original work. The monster was fine and acted very well but again I felt that this version of the character was lacking the nuance of the original work. There were some plot points that felt random to me but I guess I’ll have a think about them. I love Guillermo Del Toro films, and it feels wrong comparing this movie as it is a nice story, but it’s hard to love when you know it is missing some of the important complexities of the story.
Bugonia
Nov 13, 2025
I loved the premise and symbolism in this movie, but the density of the plot felt a bit lacking. You did feel real empathy for the antagonists in this movie but I felt that they were used more as a setting piece rather than an honest investigation of real problems. The ending wasn’t really for me but I can see how one might like it. The acting was very good, there are scenes that will make you feel remarkably uncomfortable by design. Definitely worth a watch.
Angel's Egg
★★★★½ · 1985
Nov 11, 2025
Damn.
Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc
★★★★★ · 2025
Oct 26, 2025
Watched on Sunday October 26, 2025.
Metropolis
★★★★★ · 1927
Oct 23, 2025
I love the cinema. This is an amazing film, full stop. The message is relevant, the medium is pushed to its limits, the scale is massive. All of this screams that this is a spectacle through any lens with which you examine it, but then you remember the film is almost 100 years old. Then the movie goes from amazing to something like sorcery. There are so many points where I simply couldn’t understand how they pulled off the shot that they did, how they managed to get the actors to do what they did. There are shots where the sheer number of people crowding in the manner shown, knowing that it was all done practically, makes you realize the lengths that people had to go to realize their artistic visions. It is really humbling to see.I had never watched a silent film this long before, and it was striking to me how much emotion and nuance could be conveyed with only motion. The movie plays out more like ballet than modern narrative in many points, but somehow it is able to use these limitations to its advantage. It is an entirely different kind of acting than we are used to in modern cinema but it does an exceptional job of conveying the messages the actors wish to get across. This film in particular has some exceptional performances. There is an actor who plays two versions of herself, and without any words or auditory cues, we know exactly which version is on screen at all times. It’s remarkable when you think about it. Movies like this are why cinema is special. It’s people sharing a story on a grand scale, using whatever tools they have available to convey their thoughts and finding a way regardless when people say those tools aren’t there. Much of this movie was lost as a result of the Second World War. In a time where film was expensive and difficult, literal hours of footage were lost. It took a literal multinational effort to put this film back together. A half hour comes from a bootleg cinema in Argentina that just so happened to have this film lying on a shelf. Somehow we are lucky to have it just available to us. It’s a beautiful thing, and a spectacle to watch. I love movies.
Cemetery Man
★★★ · 1994
Oct 17, 2025
There’s a lot to like about this movie. It’s technically gorgeous, with a heaping serving of absolutely gorgeous shots and amazing sound design. The sets and the ambiance really do set a vibe that strikes the right balance between wacky and spooky that this film so desperately demands. Even the romances, while insanely hyperbolic and contrived for what is ultimately a horror-comedy, did have their moments of tenderness amidst the freak and the gore. The actors were hot. But I think that it’s precisely this lack of nuance that makes this movie difficult to love for me.For me, this movie is ultimately an examination of what it means to live at the margins. We are presented with a protagonist that is the caretaker of his towns cemetery, and immediately we are shown that it is a job that is thankless and difficult but also innately required for the functioning of his community. His helper is an effectively mute character that is constantly made fun of but we also find that he is more complex than he is given credit for. And for taking on this singularly important role in their community, they are ostracized and vilified, becoming the butte of jokes and harassment. We are shown that these characters want what anyone wants, love and companionship and acceptance. Their sacrifice, whether they chose it or not, led to their base desires being difficult to attain. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand that this movie is meant to be wacky and crazy and hot, but I think not thinking a bit deeper about what is conveyed is a disservice to the art. After watching this movie, I was left thinking whether the implication was that it was OK for someone to lash out at those who have done nothing to you because you felt you’ve been wronged. And for me, in this particular story, I don’t think it was. Maybe I’m overthinking it, but it is difficult to get past that. There are also some other things I take issue with: there are scenes that feel entirely like they’re there to satisfy the men in the room. Some of the characters felt annoying to me for little payoff (looking at the girl that hopped on the zombies bike) and while reasonably well done, I thought Gnaghis character was a bit of an unfair punching bag at points.All in all, this is a fun movie. If you’re in the mood for the wacky, zany, macabre stuff that would fit right into only the coolest of Halloween parties, this is your beat. It certainly is one of those where it’s funner when you’re laughing at the craziness of it all.
Suspiria
★★★★★ · 2018
Oct 13, 2025
Going into this movie, I will admit that I had my reservations. The original Suspiria film is an absolute spectacle. To remake a classic is always going to be something that is uniquely difficult: how does one go about pleasing people who already hold your source material on a pedestal? With all this in mind, this is one of my favorite horror movies of all time. This version of the film, in my opinion, takes all the best parts of the original film and elevates them. The bright interior designs, the unapologetic color panels, the amazing sound design, all of that is retained. But a far more compelling story is told in this version of the film. Horror, as a genre, is incredibly effective at conveying truths about a society. We are presented with a story that shows how trying to work in evil systems inevitably leads to terrible outcomes, even if well-intentioned. The acting in this movie is sublime. Tilda Swinton absolutely killed her performance, I quite literally can't think of anyone else that I could see filling this particular role as well as she did. This is one of those movies where, across the board, there were no misses in casting. It's a sight.This movie has scenes that quite literally had my jaw on the floor. Somehow, it makes dance and body horror tie together in a way that can best be described as mesmerizing. It makes you happy that they fleshed out the dancing aspect of the company of dancing witches. I am also very, very glad that I watched the original version first. Being able to see the homages to the original really does make this interpretation that much better. The old psychiatrist guy wears a knit tie in a few of his scenes. I need to get me one of those. Amazing movie.
Perfect Blue
★★★★★ · 1997
Oct 11, 2025
Amazing film that makes you question identity and sense of self. Very uncomfortable to watch at times but even with the difficult subject matter, I left thinking deeply about many different topics. What does it mean to pursue dreams and desires when we are prescribed a path, how much control do we really have over our identities? So good. Watch it in a theater while you have the chance.“No, I’m real.”
The Martian
★★★★ · 2015
Oct 2, 2025
I got to watch this with a bunch of my space nerd friends and a lady who drives the actual mars rover in space accompanied by a space nerd panel pointing out cool tidbits of the film. So very dope. Also the movie is good.
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
★★★★★ · 2023
Sep 21, 2025
I got to watch this movie with my mama. When I was little she read me Roald Dahl a lot. It was one of our things. I love Roald Dahl. I love my mama. Awesome movie.
Treasure Planet
★★★★ · 2002
Sep 20, 2025
Dune meets One Piece, holy shit.“You can’t help people with a doctorate you just sit around and are useless.” 😭😭😭
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle
Sep 13, 2025
This movie is a two and a half hour long love letter to everything that makes Demon Slayer great, and somehow it still doesn’t feel long enough. The guy next to me had to take a leak during the movie and, for very good reason, it was the fastest I’ve ever seen a dude use the bathroom. Obviously, the visuals were stunning. Watch with the best sound system your local theater has to offer, and if you can make sure you go to one that’s packed because you will want to cheer. Akaza deserved so much better. Fantastic film.
GoodFellas
★★★★★ · 1990
Sep 7, 2025
Watched on Sunday September 7, 2025.
Caught Stealing
★★★ · 2025
Aug 28, 2025
It’s a movie that’s fun in isolation but just don't think about it too much or it doesn’t hold up. Super loaded cast (Matt Smith with a mohawk, Bad Bunny with an unfortunate situation) but perhaps not used to the fullest of their abilities. Some cool shots, and real examinations of recovering from repressed traumas but the plot with which it’s explored leaves a lot to be desired. The cat did a great job.
Weapons
★★★★ · 2025
Aug 26, 2025
I like this movie because it has the base understanding that the parasite can be beaten pretty easily by like the local police and that gives me comfort. Overall, very fun.
★★★★★ · 1977
I am traditionally awful with horror, and for the longest time, I have had a carte blanche understanding that the genre is not for me. This movie is something that challenges that. It is terrifying and unnerving in all the ways that horror films typically don't vibe with me, but for this film in particular, it all works. A lot of it has to do with the way that everything ties together. This is a surrealist film at its very essence. The first thing that will punch you in the face is the unabashed boldness with which the coloring and cinematography are done. The movie is visually stunning. Each set has its own motif, and while it can verge on overstimulating at times, I would argue that in totality, it's this trueness to its essence of loud (but somehow nuanced?) visual storytelling that is both charming and central to the way this film works. You'll also hear some of the coolest music that I've ever heard in a horror film. The soundtrack is eerie and creepy but also catchy in all the right ways, and aside from just adding to the ambiance, we are given a recurring motif that tone-sets very well.This movie does have scenes that will make your spine crawl in spades. At the end of the day, it is a horror film after all. But I think that this movie, in a way that I am still learning to appreciate, can utilize those base fears that everyone has to really make a piece of art. It really is very, very cool to see.Very fun watch.
Argentina 1985
Aug 24, 2025
Watched on Sunday August 24, 2025.
Donnie Darko
★★★★★ · 2001
Aug 18, 2025
Complete disclosure: I thought this movie was a horror going into it lol. But this is one of those movies that is a seminal piece precisely because it is difficult to define. If I was to ascribe a single adjective to this film it would be dense. Dense in allegory and symbolism. Dense in world building and ambiance. Dense in character dynamics and the expectations thereof. It’s a movie that begs you to look deeper.One of the strongest aspects of this movie is the acting. I watched this movie with a friend and we kept noticing how many A-List actors from today we kept seeing in this film, and they all truly did a great job. Gyllenhal in particular showed a kind of range that was truly breathtaking to see from when he was such a young actor. There came a point where a smile he gave was unnerving. The supporting cast also does a great job. His family feels messy and difficult but loving and caring in all the ways you would want a family to feel on a screen. They have some forced school relationships in this film and there is clearly some early 2000s influence on how they depict bullying and school interactions but in general it’s well done. And in the midst of all the bizarre occurrences happening much of that doesn’t feel particularly out of place. And in a very Mulholland Drive kind of way, the interactions between those important but oft seen characters (Grandma Death and the Science Teacher) carry a certain degree of mystery and weight to them that’s hard to describe without experiencing it.I think on the most distilled interpretation of this movie it’s a mystery. Why is the world ending? Who is Frank? What’s going on with the jet engine? How are you gonna host a Halloween party at your house and walk around in a hoodie??? But I think the strength of this movie is its ability to use the mystery that is bowtie-ing everything together to ask some more difficult questions. Is fear truly the opposite of love? Is existence meaningless if it has an inevitable end? What is time really? These aren’t questions that you typically get in a movie, generally not in most Seth Rogan films, but you get those here. If a good movie is a movie you can keep coming back to this movie is astounding.It wasn’t a horror movie but I did get jumpscared a few times.
All That Jazz
★★★★★ · 1979
Aug 6, 2025
At the end of this movie, I felt an urge to stop and examine my own life. Thankfully, I identify with very little of the struggle of the character Joe Gideon. But in a fundamental level, you don’t have to be a chain-smoking, alcoholic womanizer to feel some affinity with this film. The thrumming bass note of this film is an examination of mortality, how we try to pretend it isn’t real until we are slapped and reminded of its existence. But the tenor is really a call to examine the legacy we leave. You don’t have to be the greatest showman in the world to empathize with that. This movie is special, it touches such a fundamental aspect of life but it does it in a truly remarkable way; this movie is a musical and a comedy and a satire and a tragedy all at once. We witness a man so thoroughly enthralled with his life’s calling that he forgets what it means to live. We know what he is doing is not what he should be doing but we are constantly shown that him doing precisely the wrong things is why he became as great in the eyes of the world as he was. We saw that when his life was on the table and it came time to care for him as a man, the work he gave his life to overshadowed the fact that there was not any life of his left to give, that he was literally dying on a table.In the end we don’t get a happy ending but we get a complete ending. At the end of one of the most insane musical numbers I’ve ever seen on film, we get a final sense of peace in the story a character whose waking life was so devoid of it. It left me with a hollow feeling that I, in some way not wholly dissimilar to him, was also just going through the motions and missing the big picture. And any movie that reminds me of that must be a film worth watching. 5, 6, 7, 8…
Kamikaze Girls
★★★★★ · 2004
Jul 28, 2025
Watched on Monday July 28, 2025.
I'm Still Here
★★★★★ · 2024
Jul 23, 2025
This is a movie with very little action. One might say it’s a mystery movie, but you get next to no clues. One might say that it’s a period piece, but it feels remarkably applicable today. And for all of its ambiguity, this is one of the realest movies I’ve ever watched.This is a film that excels at showing family. Juxtaposed on a totalitarian, autocratic dictatorship, we are shown the warmth of a truly loving family. The dynamic between the characters feels real. The father loves his children to a fault. The mother is equally loving but imposes discipline. The children are unique but at the end of the day children. The first third of the movie had next to no plot, we only saw a loving, happy family interspersed in between a broken government. Had it not been for the reminders of the broken society around them, this movie would have been just warm and fuzzy depictions of just that.But it all comes crashing down so fast. And somehow, the family doesn’t feel any less real. The character Eunice is one of the strongest characters I think has ever been put to screen. Enough can’t be said about how incredibly portrayed she was. We are shown a mother who has to be the rock for her kids in a time when the whole world is collapsing around them. We are shown grace and strength and ultimately a human being doing her very best. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking to watch.It’s therefore even more sad that this movie feels so apt to watch today. My heart sank when the end credits rolled and they showed us a picture of the real family this film is based on. A movie about the crushing effects of families being torn apart should be a stark reminder, not a familiar story. But that is why this movie is more important than ever. Eunice is a hero, I’d be blessed to be half as strong as her one day.
F1
Jul 22, 2025
Idk man, if my driver crashed that many cars I’d probably reconsider some things. The score and sound design in general was phenomenal. I love cars sm.
Superman
Jul 20, 2025
Childish? Yeah. Exactly what a Superman movie is supposed to be? Also yeah. Just do the right thing man.
Totally F***ed Up
★★★★ · 1993
Jul 16, 2025
I’d like to think that I had some idea of what this movie was trying to tell me before I watched. I mean, I’ve read about the struggles queer people go through and I am lucky to live in an age where it is not taboo to talk about sexuality (certainly not to the extent it was just a few decades ago). But this movie, with its non-judgmental lens and authentic feeling characters, felt honest and straightforward about showing the struggles people had in 1980s America for simply being themselves.The best thing about this movie is how real the characters and their interactions are. The friend group that we follow is just a group of young adults trying to handle all the same issues that young adults face today: finding love, maintaining a community, dealing with consequences of their actions. But omnipresent is a set of challenges the world throws at them simply because they don’t fit societal norms: beatings, family ostracization, the fear of horrible illness that no one appears to care about. And in the midst of all this, you watch them try to navigate the same problems people face today and realize how hard it was. It’s a testament to the movie that these messages simply fell out of what really is a largely tongue in cheek film until it gets very dark very fast.This is an important watch. It’s a hard watch. I think it’s meant to be. The world can be a hard, mean place if you don’t fit in. Movies like this are important because experiencing things is far better than just hearing about them. Good movie. Deric deserved better.
The Tale of The Princess Kaguya
★★★★½ · 2013
Jul 10, 2025
Some movies feel like a hug and this is one of them. This movie shows you how simple life could really be if we let it. In a world where our pure hearted protagonist finds joy and comfort in the simple things, the effect of societal restrictions being thrust upon her is profound. Ghibli films have a very unique way of conveying very deep themes in simple subject matter and this is no different. The movie really asks is it worth giving up the happiness you have now for the happiness that we are told is better? This movie looks and feels like a children’s storybook come to life. The depictions of childhood are simply beautiful. The narration in the Japanese version of the film quite literally dictate the flow of the film as if it was a story. And I do not think I can say enough about the animation: it is equal parts warm and welcoming as it is expressive and nuanced. There is one scene that is so well done I don’t think I’ll forget it for a very long time.Sometimes I’ll watch a movie and think that it fed my soul. This is one of those. We shouldn’t let the world tell us what the right way to be happy is. We’re born knowing it. And I’m very glad that I got to watch this reminder of that. The moon chariots were so cool.
Mononoke
★★★★½ · 2007
Jul 7, 2025
One of the coolest anime’s I’ve ever seen, will stick with me for a long time.
The Master
★★★★★ · 2012
Jul 2, 2025
When I watched this film, I only realized that I was watching a film about the formation of a cult about halfway through. Am I slow? Yeah. But I think that speaks to what this movie really is: an examination of what it means to crave belonging in a world that is all too happy to let you go it alone. Off the bat, this movie has some of the most immersive acting I've ever seen. Joaquin Phoenix was tremendous, and Phillip Hoffman was just as enigmatic as he was commanding on the screen. It was truly special to get to watch these actors play off each other. And as is the case with PTA films, you get some truly remarkable shots that beg you to reflect on what you just watched. And this is a movie that is just that: an invitation to think. It's a story about a guy who joins a cult. There truly should be very little that feels familiar. But throughout my watch of the film, while hyperbolic at many points, I really saw a deeply flawed but hurt man trying to figure out somewhere to belong in the world that had been both broken and built around him many times over. In this lens, I think the quote that capstones the film really shines: "If you figure a way to live without serving a master, any master, then let the rest of us know, will you? For you'd be the first person in the history of the world."We all have the things that guide us and force us to behave in ways that may not be our immediate instinct. Be it religion, social structures, the law, our vices, even social taboos that liken us to animals. We are all beholden to something or more overtly someone. This movie tells you to look at yourself before you judge others for their masters. And for that, I think its special. But what do I know, it took me an hour to figure out what was going on. Please don't drink the fluids in the missiles, they really aren't good for you.
Ocean's Eleven
★★★★ · 2001
Jun 15, 2025
Watched this then made exactly $1.85 at the horse races.
Frances Ha
★★★★ · 2012
Jun 8, 2025
This was so cute. I saw someone write on here that this movie feels like a hug. That's probably the best explanation of the feeling this movie gives. At its core, this is a movie that tells you that we're all figuring things out together, and that's not only OK, but beautiful in its own special way.My life is nothing like Frances'. I am still able to relate to her experiences completely. Because this movie isn't just about Frances as she struggles through navigating being an adult. It's really about how it's OK to feel scared when we don't know what's next. There are lots of things about this movie that are endearing. The characters are fun and quirky. The camera work is expressive and well done. The acting is very well done. But I think the most important thing about this movie is how we are able to immediately relate to the idea of changing relationships with those we are close to. Life happens to everyone at different times. It can be very awkward sometimes to see your loved ones drifting away simply because life is happening to everyone. The beautiful thing about this movie is that it reassures you that it's OK and that while it can be messy and hard it doesn't mean anything is over, just different.There's this scene where Frances describes what she wants out of her relationships. It's a beautiful dialogue about wanting to share moments, stealing fragments of time while the world moves around two people with unrelenting continuity. It's a feeling that most people will identify with. I think the most special thing about this movie is that it shows that while the moments we do share with people are numbered and measured, no matter what is happening between two people who care about each other, you still can be the only two people in a crowded room. That by itself makes it worth a watch.I know where you hide your pills. Don't treat me like a three-hour brunch friend.
Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
May 26, 2025
All the stars come from the ending.
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
★★★★½ · 2024
May 18, 2025
So incredibly beautiful. Also potentially the single worst movie to watch when flying away from your parents for an extended time.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
★★★½ · 2013
May 14, 2025
Severance prequel involving a dead dating app. I too choose not to do my job sometimes and will say poetic shit to save face. Ending was cute.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
★★★★½ · 1984
May 7, 2025
Something about Miyazaki movies are healing to a very base part of me. It's the way the characters interact with not just eachother, but their environment that grounds their actions in reality. Watching this movie for the first time made me feel that all over again. A part of me was sad that despite being almost 40 years old, it is so relevant today. But more than anything, I wished that I had watched this movie earlier. This is a movie about loving nature. Despite it all, we must love the planet that sustains us. If there is one message in this movie, it is that. A recurring thought I had was that I wish we had listened to this idea when it came out. But diving further, this movie touches on relatively complex matters like the effect that war has on the environment. It's a relatively rare occurence in films where I look at a character with a gun and think "You have no idea quite how useless that is, do you?" but this movie had that idea in spades. And now in a world where our planet is burning and we fight among ourselves, it was quite poignant to see a film that put it all in such clear perspective.More than anything, this movie asks us to be better. We not only share the world with other people, but we share it with other beings. When we fight, we hurt each other clearly, but we also hurt creatures that have no means to ask for their rights. As I was watching this film, I thought to all the people who say they intend to save the planet with unrealistic plans and insanely complex systems with which we beat nature into submission. All I could think was how naive and arrogant we are to take such positions. There is in fact a scene that shows you exactly what Miyazaki thinks of these ideas. I wish we had the heart and brains to listen.I think the ohms are cute.
The Daytrippers
★★★½ · 1996
Apr 30, 2025
This is a fun movie. The premise is quite straightforward which works for this story. At its root it’s a movie about family and they portray the trickiness of dealing with loved ones really well. It can also be surprisingly poignant and even question fundamentals about society, all wrapped up in a somewhat wacky plot.For me the ending was pretty abrupt, at the very least I had several questions about the end of several story lines. But the main strength of this movie was the family dynamics and if you like nothing else you will be pleased with that.Carl’s a good guy, I want to read his book.
Screaming into the void is still a kind of music, I think
Nov 30, 2025
An unwise man rambles more than he should be allowed to.
I pray my friends never call me doctor
May 12, 2025
Some musings from a madman