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You’ve got crimson on you ❣️ . . . . . . . . #crimsonpeak #miawasikowska #charliehunnam #jessicachastain #tomhiddleston #filmreview #films #2015 #ghosts #horror #gothic #film #movie #movies #moviereview #cinema #cinephile #review #guillermodeltoro #filmblog #movieblog #SFX #director https://www.instagram.com/p/Bup53VUllSG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=jjzshgjyf0hp

The terrifying ghost design for Crimson Peak. This is exactly the kind of shit that makes me wish I was talented enough/decided to go into SFX work. This is one of many art forms that go into making a film and I have so much appreciation for it without knowing anything about it. The SFX and art departments really brought Crimson Peak to life (pun intended). . . . . . #crimsonpeak #miawasikowska #charliehunnam #jessicachastain #tomhiddleston #filmreview #films #2015 #ghosts #horror #gothic #film #movie #movies #moviereview #cinema #cinephile #review #guillermodeltoro #filmblog #movieblog https://www.instagram.com/p/Bup4Ui9Fnf6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=140bb61g75new

White God (2014): (I’ve been struggling to write a longer review for White God and it’s caused a bit of a pile up. I’ve decided to only write them for newer releases of the past 2-3 years instead. Eventually I want start recording them for YouTube because honestly, who’s going to read a blog?) Due to the Hungarian government implementing a fee for mongrel dogs, a young girl is separated from her pet so her father can save money. In an attempt to be reunited with his owner, the dog experiences dog fights, pound workers and other abandoned strays, resulting in a new agenda to take bloody revenge on humanity. Little about White God differs from your usual soppy dog tearjerker, all the conventions are in place but each one given a less corny take. The antagonists represent the establishment in a less pantomime, much darker way, the dogs in the film aren’t given differing funny personalities and the poignant ending comes with a price. This blending of harsh realism and the wholesome tug on the heartstrings is something I admired but isn’t everything the film has to offer. The overall statement being made can work as an unflinching view on the way animals are treated by people but I think a bigger allegorical commentary on the alienation of minorities generally is at play here. (I mean the film is called White God.) Manipulating the audience by presenting underprivileged hardships through the often harrowing narrative of a dog slowly being broken down to pure anger, was extremely powerful for me. After the killing spree, when dog and owner finally meet again, the films intentions before aren’t sold for a cheap kiss and makeup. Only when the girl lies on the floor and shows the pack of stray angry dogs that they are equal, is there peace and it creates an image that will stay with me for a while. White God is consistent with its message, beautiful in its simplicity and doesn’t mind putting you through some tough imagery to get its point across. It may not be for the faint hearted dog lovers but maybe it’s for the hard hearted cynics instead? 7/10 #whitegod #dogs #dog #hungary #2014 #film #films #filmreview #filmblog #filmblogger #movie #movieblog #moviereview #cinema https://www.instagram.com/p/BupTIkUl6-J/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1j8e3ehraa4ok

Day 37 - Duel (1971): Duel is one of Spielberg’s first films and has a certain cult notoriety with its narrative, which is basically Jaws but with a truck instead of a shark. But unlike Jaws, Duel puts the less is more theory in to practice by never revealing the truck drivers identity and relying on a fear of the unknown. Admittedly I’m not the biggest Spielberg fan, his obsession with the grandiose and epic is too broad and watered down for me to get anything meaningful out of his films and his career signifies a shift in creative control when it comes to big budget pictures. It’s frustrating because he’s undoubtably a talented filmmaker, so it was refreshing to see him working with simple themes and a basic cat and mouse structure executed proffessionally. Duels content is well made and appropriately tense, with a lack of dialogue, characters and setting, there is a big reliance on the camera work/editing technique and it pays off well. There was even enough room to project certain ideas and symbolism of class struggle in America onto it. After a while, watching cars fight and clash into each other did get a bit grating but for the most part that comes down to personal preference (cars in film really aren’t my thing) but overall I enjoyed myself. It was interesting to see Spielberg’s humble roots as a director although it left me pining for more films in this style. 7/10 #duel #70s #70sfilm #spielberg #stevenspielberg #cars #trucks #hollywood #film #films #movie #movies #filmreview #review #reviewfilm #moviereview #filmblog #filmblogger #movieblog #movieblogger #jaws #cinema #cinephile #catandmouse #classic https://www.instagram.com/p/BudJYzKlOs-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=iqc3cukgpbsv

Day 36 - Velvet Buzzsaw (2019): Velvet Buzzsaw is getting its own full blog review soon. ✌️ . . . . . . . #velvetbuzzsaw #art #dangilroy #jakegyllenhaal #zaweashton #nataliedyer #tonicollette #johnmalkovich #film #films #netflix #movie #movies #filmreview #reviewfilm #filmblog #filmblogger #movieblog #movieblogger #2019 #moviereview #cinema #cinephile #horror #modernart #clipping #comingsoon https://www.instagram.com/p/BudFs-rlV3K/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=z2vva4lrlkbo

Day 35 - The Dark Backward (1991): Also known as The Man With Three Arms, The Dark Backward is a peculiar one that isn’t exactly difficult to decipher but it’s weird all the same. I can’t think of many films that made me feel sick without relying on gore, shock or horrible imagery but this film manages to create an uneasy atmosphere through all its odd quirks that I quite admire. Set in what feels like an alternate universes dystopia, an unfunny comedian (Judd Nelson) finds a mainstream audience when a third arm begins to grow out his back. With the help of his sleazy accordion playing friend (Bill Paxton) the duo of outcasts aim for critical acclaim. I personally feel that Judd Nelson and Bill Paxton’s larger than life performances in this are among their best and sets a mood for the almost obnoxiously off beat style. Everything in this film is either layered in grease, dirt or green tinted light and each character’s costumes, surroundings and mannerisms are just plain weird. I’m running out of synonyms for “weird” to sum this film up, it really needs to be experienced to be explained. Aside from its style, the running allegorical theme of differences being exploitable by industry and the promise of fame having an unhealthy hold on working class life are consistent and uniquely explored. I’m aware I’m a sucker for the bizarre and The Dark Backward is trying with all its might for cult status but I think it just won me over? It was a little too much in some areas but overall it stayed true to its intent and made up for its silliness by never being boring. 7/10 #thedarkbackward #manwiththreearms #threearms #arms #juddnelson #billpaxton #cultfilm #laraflynnboyle #90s #weird #film #films #movies #movie ##filmblog #filmblogger #movieblogger #movieblog #filmreview #reviewfilm #review #moviereview #cinephile #cinema https://www.instagram.com/p/BuanwyhF1ch/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1c7a9id67j2o2

I’ll admit this was my FAVOURITE win of the night, nearly making it all worth it. From her humble beginnings in some of my favourite British comedies, to winning an Oscar for her performance as Queen Anne, I’ve been a huge admirer and follower of Olivia Colman’s career and I’m extremely proud. She’s just so wholesome and unpretentious too, look at her 💕 . . . . . . . #oliviacolman #bestactress #oscar #oscars #oscars2019 #theoscars #thefavourite #2018 #awards #peepshow #best #wholesome #actress #filmblog #filmblogger #movieblog #movieblogger #movie #movies #film #films #cinephile #cinema https://www.instagram.com/p/BuTqal5FcTM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=od2bgpd2jdgl

Day 34 - How High (2001): When you’ve stopped smoking weed, few things are more juvenile than a stoner comedy. I’m not going to pretend I’m above it, I still enjoy stuff like Big Lez for its unique comic style but How High has that modern American frivolous humour that makes me feel like I’m losing brain cells when watching it. When two black stoners cheat their way into Harvard with the help of their ghost friend, it disrupts the social dynamics that have been set in stone there. I have to admit that How Highs underlying political rebellion is very much needed, it demonises the upper class white tyranny that exists in education and has an awareness towards the racial hierarchy with each character. However this is often soiled with a reliance on stereotypes, misogyny and all round silliness. Even the more fleeting characters had a purpose, the white professor trying too hard to be black, the black professor whose lost sense of his identity, the white student girls who fetishise black men, the white underdog student doing everything he can to fit in with the jocks and the misfit token Asians banding together with the black students out of lacking their own space on campus, these commentaries all have important relevance. I just struggled to get past the American Pie sense of humour, it wasn’t for me and ruined a lot of what How High had to offer. Maybe this message wasn’t for me but I suppose I’m glad it exists for a demographic that will appreciate it? 5.5/10 For fans of: American Pie, Harold and Kumaur, Half Baker, Friday. #howhigh #stoner #stonercomedy #stonerfilm #2001 #methodman #weed #film #films #movie #movies #filmreview #moviereview #review #reviewfilm #filmblog #movieblog #filmblogger #movieblogger #cinephile #cinema #harvard #comedy https://www.instagram.com/p/BuQ9QkKlfZA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mf2inrav9nqs

Day 33 - Green Lantern (2011): Again, I’m not sure why I wasted my time with this notorious misfire. I guess I wanted to witness the train wreck for myself and use it as a comparison to “better” hero films? Or to prove the masses wrong by finding the overlooked merit? Either way, I had a pretty terrible time. Green Lantern doesn’t exactly take any specific risks that more popular films from the genre don’t themselves. The misunderstood protagonist with troubled backstory, the “amusing” montage of him harnessing his powers, the array of mentor characters with varying conventional personalities of the nice zen one, the distant skeptical one and the comic relief one, the damsel in distress, the villain with questionable motives and cringy trash talk AND the reliance on heavy cgi and special effects. Let me know if I missed anything out but I assure you, it’s all there, it’s just all shit? Not only does Green Lantern rely on obvious archetypes but it gets them all wrong anyway. The serious parts were laughable, the parts where there should be laughter I just winced at and don’t get me started on the uncanny valley CGI that swallows half the character design, action sequences and locations, leaving them useless. I’d have enough resentment for it if it just happened to be another formulaic super hero tale but it goes the extra mile and steals the spotlight as one of the absolute worst attempts at what it’s trying to accomplish. I guess you could say there’s some ironic enjoyment to be had from Ryan Reynolds beta Deadpool performance, the unintentionally terrifying villain animation and the dumb methods in which the Green Lantern saves the day but it’s still a reach. I wanted more to say about this one but the more I dwell on its substance, the queasier I get. What a waste of a great cast too. 3.5/10 . #greenlantern #ryanreynolds #geoffreyrush #timrobbins #dc #2011 #cgi #superhero #hero #film #films #movie #movies #filmblog #filmblogger #movieblog #movieblogger #filmreview #reviewfilm #moviereview #cinema #cinephile #markstrong #alien #petersarsgaard https://www.instagram.com/p/BuPVFnTFjsV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=85mpu2h24jhm

Day 32 - Toys (1992): I would like to add this to the long list of films where the thought “why the fuck am I watching this and not literally anything else?” pops into my head and drowns out any critical approach. I thought with a cast of Robin Williams, Joan Cusack, Michael Gambon and set design that, from the outside, looks really zany and colourful would equate to a fun time with a hidden gem. I was wrong. With a visual spectacle that emulates the taste of way too much sugar in your coffee, the films actual content is so flat and lifeless. The actors who I usually adore seem really despondent like they don’t want to be there, resulting in jokes not landing and off chemistry. With this distracting scenery and a cast that can’t match its energy, the plot that ensues includes Robin Williams love interest that makes little sense, an attempt at fascist allegory that made even less sense and several silly cartoonish sequences that lacked, well, anything. I actually feel bad talking shit about this movie, Toys has this aura of nativity where you can tell it had ambition and can see where each part went wrong, which is a shame because in theory it’s not a terrible film and I really enjoyed its eccentricity in some moments. It’s just the comedic timing, the inconsistent mood, the tacky clashing design, the unclear intentions ect. it’s all too much and makes Toys incredibly difficult to get through. 4/10 For fans of: Robin Williams? Toys? #toys #90s #robinwilliams #1992 #joancusack #michaelgambon #film #films #movie #movies #trash #retro #dvd #review #filmreview #moviereview #reviewfilm #filmblog #filmblogger #movieblog #movieblogger #cinephile #cinema #cinematography #setdesign #colour https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOwhwvlCbR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=5h7qge636urw

Day 30 - Post Tenebras Lux (2012): It’s tedious, it’s confusing and it extremely self indulgent, these are but a few set backs keeping Post Tenebras Lux from the critical acclaim it deserves, but they’re ones that don’t particularly bother me? The seemingly unrelated events shown throughout this film would be jarring to consume if it wasn’t for the gorgeous cinematography and tranquil flow of each segment. A man ripping his own head off in the middle of a rainy field, an English school rugby team playing rugby and an ominous demon figure wandering through an empty a home are just some of the strange occurrences showcased in Post Tenebras Lux. A common theme of quiet chaos seems to run through each scene, the atmosphere is like witnessing the calm before the storm but the storm never comes, then the realisation that gruelling every day life IS the storm sets in once the film comes to its conclusion, (or at least that’s what I took away from it). I’m not going to pretend I understand all the imagery used, nor am I going to try and decipher a narrative but I definitely enjoyed this film a lot. I think Post Tenebras Lux is what you bring to it from your own life, space to breath, think and fill in the gaps is provided which made the whole experience feel like a weird introspective meditation. If you can handle the slow pacing, the wild time/location jumps and the queasy camera effects, Post Tenebras Lux is rather special. The mixture of haunting and inspiring visual poetry, ranging from the existential to the peaceful has stuck with me for weeks and will probably continue to stick with me as I revisit this film with child like curiosity and awe. 8/10 For fans of: Mirror, Upstream Colour, Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, Battle in Heaven. #posttenebraslux #carlosreygadas #mexican #2012 #experimental #film #films #movie #movies #filmblog #filmblogger #movieblog #movieblogger #demon #cinema #cinephile #filmreview #reviewfilm #review #moviereview #cinematography https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOoulSly8W/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ahd1gobayxqw

Sorry I haven’t posted in nearly 2 weeks (man, time can fuck off) I’ve been busy visiting friends and I’ve had trouble motivating since coming back. I may be a few days behind but I assure you I’ve been watching films ~daily~ I just haven’t posted about them yet. Regular reviews and content coming soon, now that I’ve figured out how to schedule posts like a pro. For now, have a rad photo of young Bud Cort 💕 . . . . . . . . #film #films #movie #movies #filmblog #filmblogger #movieblog #movieblogger #budcort #actor #smoking #retro #70s #candid #haroldandmaude #comingsoon #cinema #cinephile https://www.instagram.com/p/BuL4ZBVl_w1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=y32rvchocwml

My favourite part is that people are more disgusted by uncanny valley blue Will Smith than they are about it being another soulless, sub-par Disney remake cash grab that lacks any personality, creativity or relevance but you know, we all love Aladdin. Hope my BROCKHAMPTON meme isn’t wasted on everyone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #willsmith #disney #alladin #liveaction #remake #trailer #blue #geenie #brockhampton #hiphop #saturation #albumcover #meme #musicmemes #film #movie #filmmemes #cinema #filmblog #movies #movieblog #cinephile https://www.instagram.com/p/BtvhQcRlJ0E/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1j943q96d66ao

Fully aware that 70% of the film accounts on here are teenagers ranking Marvel films from their least to most favourite but hey, I didn’t expect Roger Ebert level shit from this platform, people are just indulging in stuff they like which for me happens to mostly be cult cinema. For real though, I’m serious about this film journalism thing and although Instagram isn’t exactly the best way to do it, it’s a start for someone who’s still at square one right? Eventually I’ll start watching all the mainstream stuff I’m pretty sure I won’t like, at the very least know your enemy, at the very most branch out and be “professional” about this. . . . . . . . . . #jimcarrey #eternalsunshineofthespotlessmind #charliekaufman #meme #film #movie #films #movies #filmblog #movieblog #filmblogger #movieblogger #instagram #journalism #critic #filmcritic #cinephile #cinema #filmmemes #moviememes https://www.instagram.com/p/BtkfiRjlZ6l/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18oyrxqzufk3s

Possibly my favourite shot from the whole film, although it paves way for all the weird nonsensical shit all the characters do, I love the symbolism behind it. The way shoes are used to represent her identity in terms of womanhood and her role as a daughter/niece is great. Here she’s surrounded herself with all the shoes her recently deceased father bought her, shoes that projected a repressed and innocent identity. Later in the film, when her murderous uncle gives her heels, she has accepted the violent gene that runs in her family and decides to own it. . . . . . . . #stoker #nicolekidman #mathewgoode #miawasikowska #2013 #korean #parkchanwook #thriller #film #films #filmreview #reviewfilm #review #movie #movies #moviereview #movieblog #movieblogger #filmblog #filmblogger #cinephile #cinema #cinematography https://www.instagram.com/p/BthwfdwFWdI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1l52bjjkuxh20

A few shots from Stoker I enjoyed. I just wish it’s cinematography, especially the close ups, was as good as its blocking and it’s visual storytelling. . . . . . . . . . . . . https://www.instagram.com/p/BthvOAZlYzX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17j1h9522rt9g

Day 28 - Stoker (2013): The characters of Stoker exist in a world where their actions have very little reason, everything they say comes across suspicious or eerie and each persons chemistry so awkward and strange, it’s difficult to pin point how they feel about each other. What isn’t difficult to figure out however, is the big reveals and twists which feel almost like common knowledge when they arrive, due to the consistent foreboding tone which lingers around every possible suspect. I suppose most of the films oddities can be traced back to this being Park Chan-Wook’s first English language film, although his Korean films are a huge success when it comes to artsy thrillers, this one got lost in translation. Regardless of this, the team behind foley work, soundtrack and cinematography created an audio visual treat that made this film bearable. Several striking close ups matched with some invasive, creepy noises stood out to me as incredible but sadly weren’t enough to keep Stoker from being a confident misfire. 6/10 For fans of: Oldboy, The Others, Nocturnal Animals, The Machinist, Cache. #stoker #nicolekidman #mathewgoode #miawasikowska #2013 #korean #parkchanwook #thriller #film #films #filmreview #reviewfilm #review #movie #movies #moviereview #movieblog #movieblogger #filmblog #filmblogger #cinephile #cinema #cinematography https://www.instagram.com/p/Btht5m7lZdZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=an1ctkou2121