Tag Archives: film review
Funky Forest: The First Contact (2005): “What a strange dream.”
Originally posted on FILM GRIMOIRE:
Potential viewers need to be aware that in order to watch Funky Forest: The First Contact (2005), you need to have a healthy tolerance for the more ridiculous aspects of cinema. This film was brought into being by three directors (Katsuhito Ishii, Hajimine Ishimine, and Shunichiro Miki), and is extremely…
Blindspot 2016: Jellyfish Eyes (2015)
Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami is well known for his highly imaginative style, his use of bright colours, and cartoon imagery. In his directorial film debut, Murakami brings us Jellyfish Eyes (or, Mememe no Kurage), released in 2013 in Japan, and 2015 in the United States. Jellyfish Eyes is an adventurous story about family, friendship, […]
Labyrinth (1986): My Five Favourite Things
The passing of the one and only David Bowie was a tough experience for a lot of people in January of this year; myself included. I wrote a post on my top seven Bowie tunes (keeping it to seven because otherwise it would have spiralled out of control and I would have ended up listing […]
Prophet’s Prey (2015): “Perfect obedience produces perfect faith.”
Documentaries which focus on uncovering the evils of religion are a particular favourite of mine to watch, and this documentary is no exception, despite its harrowing and sickening subject matter. Prophet’s Prey (2015) is directed by Amy Berg, whose specialty as a documentarian appears to be in exposing crimes against children within the context of […]
Goodnight Mommy (2014): Quick-shot review!
A creepy and atmosheric Austrian horror film, Goodnight Mommy (2014, dir. Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala) recalls the existential dread of both childhood and parenthood, and the child’s attachment to its caregiver, in an extremely excruciating and tense manner. Its synopsis is as follows: In the heat of the summer, a lonesome house in the […]
The Piano (1993): “She is a strange creature.”
Directed and written for the screen by the formidable Jane Campion, The Piano (1993) is a New Zealand drama film about a mute piano player and her daughter. Winner of three Oscars (Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Original Screenplay), and nominated for five more, The Piano is a moody and contemplative film with […]
The Act of Killing (2012): “My conscience told me they had to be killed.”
Originally posted on FILM GRIMOIRE:
Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing (2013) is a surreal documentary about a dark time in Indonesia’s history. In 1965 to ’66, an anti-communist purge occurred all throughout the country, as a new president was elected and the country’s Communist Party was decimated. Death squads were responsible for killing one…
The Look of Silence (2014): “We could forgive them.”
The follow-up to director Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing (2012), The Look of Silence (2014) is brutal but essential viewing. Grounded in history, The Look of Silence speaks to the years 1965 to 1966 in Indonesia’s history, where an anti-communist purge occurred all throughout the country, as a new president was elected and the country’s […]
January 2016 Favourites
The first month of 2016 is over and done, and what a month it was. Quite the auspicious start to my new year, with a change of jobs and an entire week off to relax in between! During that time, I watched and enjoyed a whole bunch of films, and it was great. And as […]
“Is it worth paying for a ticket?”: Joy (2015)
David O. Russell’s latest directorial effort is Joy (2015) – the story of inventor Joy Mangano, a divorced mother of two with a complex family situation, who is in the throes of developing her newest idea, the Miracle Mop. Led by Jennifer Lawrence as the titular Joy, and with an ensemble cast of many and […]
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