the-nightly-film

[the-nightly-film]

March 15th, 2024

I've had a few days to consider Solaris (1972) and I will say, though I was originally a little disappointed by the lack of space and action in this Russian space opera, I do appreciate its meditative themes on human nature and the power our memories hold over us. It is always interesting to me when the science fiction elements of a sci-fi film take a back seat to the story. I would overall consider this as more of a close character study that just so happenes to be set in the atmosphere of a foreign planet. True, the story does not quite work without the sea of Solaris but the plot details are used to drive the character arcs of the main players rather than the other way around.

#solaris #andrei tarkovsky

[the-nightly-film]

March 14th, 2024

What more is there to say about Heavy Metal (1981) than this:

It was neither as bad or as good as I have heard. The last 30 minutes could have been a pretty solid epic. I feel like given the name, the soundtrack could have been a bit better featured actually.

#heavy metal #gerald potterton #letterboxd

[the-nightly-film]

March 12th, 2024

Tonight I made sense of yet another great Futurama episode by finally watching Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). The original and perhaps the greatest of the art house Sci-Fi flicks, I understand how this film so deeply influenced many of today's greatest living directors.

#2001 a space odyssey #stanley kubrick

[the-nightly-film]

March 11th, 2024

The Dune movies have put me in the mood for space operas so I decided to start the week off with one that I've been meaning to get around to for over a decade. I will say I had absolutely no idea that Prometheus (2012) was a prequel to the Alien franchise, so I'm really glad I watched that first one last summer, or else the entire third act of the film would have meant almost nothing to me. That's not to say that the movie can't be enjoyed by viewers who aren't fans of Alien, but as the subject matter and set design of this movie slowly become more and more familiar there is a certain satisfaction in watching it all lead up to that very final moment.

#prometheus #ridley scott

[the-nightly-film]

March 9th, 2024

I decided to get one last nominee in tonight. American Fiction (2023) wasn't exactly what I thought it would be, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I believe the trailers made it seem like more of a comedy than it was, and while there were some genuinely humurous moments, this film was a deeply emotional and thought provoking character study on an artist trying to find his way in a world he no longer recognizes. I am glad it has gained decent recognition and acolades throughout this awards season and hope it reaches a broader audience because of it.

#american fiction #cord jefferson

[the-nightly-film]

March 9th, 2024

I finally got to watch Poor Things (2023) this evening just in time for the Oscars tomorrow night. As a fan of the book I greatly appreciated that this was an adaptation that kept the core themes and ideas of the story. Lanthimos is such a brilliant story teller in his own right that the changes that did need to be made felt perfectly natural.

Emma Stone is absolutely brilliant as Bella Baxter and while Gladstone is still my favorite for Best Actress, the award would also be well deserved for Stone. I would like to see this movie take home best supporting actor for Mark Ruffalo and cinematography. It is absolutely stunning and has such a gorgeous and fun aesthetic that leaves just as much an impression on the audience as the plot itself.

#poor things #yorgos lanthimos #emma stone #mark ruffalo

[the-nightly-film]

March 7th, 2024

As promised I went to see Dune: Part Two (2024) tonight. I'll spare the review of any major spoilers because its been out less than a week, but I will say I am absolutely thrilled I got to see it in a proper theater. This is one of those films that was absolutely made to be a cinematic experience.

I know the third movie hasn't officially been greenlit but I do hope it gets made because there's no way you can just end the story where this left off. Plus as a fan of a certain actor, I audibly gasped at that cameo and will feel robbed if I don't get to see their full portrayal of that character.

#dune part 2 #dune #denis villeneuve

[the-nightly-film]

March 6th, 2024

I revisited Villeneuve's Dune: Part One (2021) this evening because I am going to see the sequel tomorrow night. I do so far prefer this version to Lynch's adaptation and am glad they've taken the time to split the story into two movies. My greatest regret with this movie is that I didn't get to see it in a proper cinema and am looking forward to righting that wrong tomorrow night.

#dune part 1 #dune #denis villeneuve

[the-nightly-film]

March 5th, 2024

I don't know why but I'm in a vampire type of mood this week. As a fan of the monsters there are not many movies in this subgenre that I have not seen, and I do feel that I have begun to scrape the bottom of the barrell with Dracula 2000 (2000).

I've been putting this film off for a long time because I heard it was infamously bad and since both Dracula and Craven are personal favorites, I didn't want to face the disappointment. The movie is absolutely a product of its time, placing Dracula in that sort of clunky, all silver chromed cyber punk aesthetic that was popular in the late 90s and early 2000s. Clearly meant to compete with Marvel's Blade, Craven just falls a little flat with this adaptation.

I think it's worth a watch for anyone who loves cheesy horror and can accept how bizarre Dracula is, but there are directors and storylines that embrace the character's ridiculousness with a little more success.

#dracula 2000 #wes craven

[the-nightly-film]

March 4th, 2024

House of Darkness (2022) is a really interesting retelling of the Dracula story. Which can be hard to say in a world oversaturated with such stories. Since the movie is coming up on being two years old I don't feel like it's a major spoiler to reveal its Dracula ties, and I do think it would actually be a bit more popular if its core concept was more widely known. Other than that I'll let the film speak for itself because it really is a gem of a slow burn that fans of Dracula and vampires in general will enjoy.

#house of darkness #neil labute

[the-nightly-film]

March 1st, 2024

I'll be honest I only watched Miller's Girl (2024) out of mild curiosity after a bunch of people freaked out over the age difference between Freeman and Ortega. The movie isn't that great but I think the pearl clutchers are missing the point here. The movie could have done more to condemn a few of the teacher's actions, or his lack of actions in some cases, but overall you're supposed to agree this dynamic is unhealthy and unsettling. A fascinating performance from Jenna Ortega. I'd like to see more of her in the future. Other than that I don't think this one left much of an impression.

#millers girl #jade halley bartlett #jenna ortega #martin freeman

[the-nightly-film]

February 26th, 2024

I love a good arthouse sci-fi flick, and High Life (2018) is about as arthouse as you get. Ultimately a thought provoking examination on human autonomy and what it means to any given individual, the Lord of the Flies type plot and nonlinear narrative are just unique enough to make the audience curious enough to engage with the story. Breathtaking cinematography and an intriguing cast make up for when the plot lags. It won't blow your mind like some of the other artsy space operas of the past decade, but fans of the obscure and chaotic will find something in this film.

#high life #claire denis

[the-nightly-film]

February 23rd, 2024

Sofia Coppola's Priscilla (2023) was definitely not a perfect film. Like any biopic it had its accuracies and inaccuracies. It chose to drag on a few minor moments of the story which ended up feeling like a waste of screen time because the film ends so abruptly. Rather than telling the whole complicated story of the love between Elvis and Priscilla Presley it chose to focus on a small summary of their courtship and marriage which makes the movie feel rather anticlimactic.

However, it was worth the watch. Elordi's protrayal of Elvis was perhaps the highlight of the film. When compared to Austin Butler's portrayal we could actually put both versions of Elvis together to get the full, complex, flawed man that the superstar really was. He does a fantastic job of showing why Priscilla fell for Elvis in the first place while also making it clear that the man was no Saint. Elordi's brooding presence was perfect for this angrier side of Elvis that doesn't often get explored in modern media.

The cinematography and soundtrack were also highlights and I did like how we never once heard a full Elvis song throughout the film. Just snippets here and there because that's -according to the film- all that Priscilla and the rest of his family really got of him.

I'm not the biggest Elvis fan so I can't go much deeper into fact checking the film, but it is an interesting reflection upon the small sliver of the story it chooses to portray.

#priscilla #sofia coppola

[the-nightly-film]

February 21st, 2023

Quick disclamer: I tried to make this post on Wednesday after I saw the movie but tumblr ate it.

I will say that unsurprisingly, Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) is another masterpiece. Yes, it is three and a half hours long but I was so enraptured by this film that it didn't at all feel daunting to get through. Of the three best picture noms that I've seen this year, this is currently the one I'm rooting for the most. I could also see it take home best cinematography (though the explosion scene alone in Oppenheimer might have secured that award for that crew) and I would say if Lily Gladstone wins for best actress it would be well deserved.

The entire cast was fantastic but Gladstone shares the screen with De Niro and DiCaprio and still manages to leave the biggest impression on the audience. I say this as someone who is a massive fan of both men's acting. I hope to see more of her in the future and I wish this movie well throughout the rest of awards season.

#killers of the flower moon #martin scorsese #lily gladstone

[the-nightly-film]

February 2nd, 2024

Shakespeare's Macbeth is one of my favorite plays and I genuinely enjoyed Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021). Washington and McDormand -as well as the rest of the cast- were of course stellar. I think what helps this particular adaptation truly stand out is the perfect marriage of the two specific aesthetics of artistic strangeness that come from the worlds of Coen and A24. The setting was somehow modern and period. Minimalist but extravagant.

I'd say this film is definitely worth a watch for Shakespeare fans. Though I would actually also recommend it to those who struggle with Shakespeare because they can't follow it. The fact that the actors genuinely understand their lines makes it easier for you to follow along just by their moods and delivery.

#the tragedy of macbeth #joel coen #shakespeare

[the-nightly-film]

January 6th, 2024

I suppose I already broke my promise because the two anime movies I watched tonight were both Studio Ghibli films. Though they are two I have never seen before. Tales from Earthsea (2006) and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013) are at least two of the lesser known Ghibli films. Perhaps because the actual movies have been somewhat overshadowed by behind the scenes conflict, or because they weren’t directed by Hayao Mayazaki. Their lesser popularity is a shame because they are both strong examples of master storytelling and animation.

As a fan of Le Guin’s Earthsea novels I did genuinely enjoy the little slice of her world that Goro Mayazaki brought to life. Though this film is perhaps not quite as warm and whimsical as some of his father’s films, Earthsea still very much feels like a Ghibli movie in all the best ways. Even though this might not look and feel exactly like the Earthsea I know, I got a chill when Ged introduced himself as Sparrowhawk and loved all the references to the books that hinted we were dealing with a world much larger and complex than the little window we are given through the runtime of the movie.

On the other hand, Princess Kaguya’s stylistic animation is a refreshing take on the traditional Japanese folktale. Despite not looking like some of the other more popular Ghibli films its magical world and eclectic cast of characters fit in perfectly with the type of fantastical storytelling the studio has become so beloved for. I know that Kaguya is not the only Ghibli film that branches away from the studio’s traditional style, but it is the first I have had the pleasure of seeing and am glad I had the chance to.

#tales from earthsea #Goro Mayazaki #the tale of princess kaguya #isao takahata

[the-nightly-film]

January 1st, 2024

The first movie of the year is The Deer King (2021). It has absolutely nothing to do with the holiday, I just felt like I was in the mood for a fairy tale and this definitely scratched that itch. This movie is visually stunning and a unique entry into the “grumpy warrior’s heart is softened by the orphan that fate kind of throws at him” subgenre. While watching it I realized this is the first non Ghibli Japanese animated feature I’ve watched and I would like to add to that list over the coming year.

#the deer king #masashi ando #masayuki miyaji