Cinesludge

The least Edgar Wright movie Edgar Wright has made yet.

Movie #24 of 2026: The Face

Movie #23 of 2026: Tramway

Setsuko Hara, Yoshika Kuga, and especially Chieko Higashiyama shine and steal the entire show. These are the most realized portrayals of women in a Kurosawa film that I've seen so far. Originally edited into a 4.5 hour 2 part adaptation of Dosteovsky's novel "The Idiot" that shoehorn's in the plot of the novel into contemporary Japanese culture. In post-war Japan Kameda suffers from PTSD because WWII was fucking HELL. The producers told Kurosawa it was too long so he told them to cut it "lengthwise". They sure as shit did. The missing 100 minutes makes the film feel disjointed at best and confusing at worst with title cards and aggressive editing making up for the gaps in story. However, this is still a remarkable film. Kurosawa is credited as editor and his signature screenwipes swipe left, right, and whichever direction they damn well please. It really feels like you are watching a contemporary film at times due to Kurosawa's influence over American cinema since at least the 70s. The winter landscape of Sapporo on the northernmost island of Japan is stunning, especially the scenes of icicles, streets with snow piled 10+ feet high. Then there's the mood the wintry landscape evokes motivated by the protagonist's wintry mindscape as the titular "Idiot" navigates a world where honesty and vulnerability are swatted away like an annoying gnat. This is a deeply beautiful film on so many levels that the butchered cutdown of 166 minutes feels like a dream, though the end drags a bit and will put you to sleep if you're watching it with the lights down. The buddha bells are ringing. Also, it me.

"Now I have just one thing left to do: nothing. I want no possessions, no memories, no friends, no lovers -- they're all traps."

Movie #20 of 2026: Weapons

Movie #19 of 2026: Appleseed

Udo Kier leaves one hell of an impression in his final film role. RIP to one of the greats.

Movie #17 of 2026: Valkyrie

Otokichi Hiruta: [in English] "Merry Christmas, everybody!"

"You know why this country doesn't make progress?" [beat] "Because it's full of idiots!"

Lung: "He killed someone once. A black person. Later the police came and he was acquitted. He said that in the States, if you see a suspicious person in your yard, and if you can shoot them dead, drag them into your house and plant an unregistered gun on them. They call it self-defense. You're not guilty." Beautiful use of color throughout. Watch for the reds, greens, and blues (and yellows at night and when signifying uncertainty)

Movie #13 of 2026: I Live in Fear

Movie #12 of 2026: Gugusse et l'Automate

Movie #11 of 2026: Che: Part Two

Movie #10 of 2026: Carlos

Cuban Diplomat #1: "Love of humanity... of justice and truth. A real revolutionary goes where he is needed."