Category: Mini Review
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Mini Review: 20 Days in Mariupol
Branching into docu-filmmaking with this years’ Oscar noms, continuing with Ukraine’s #20daysinmariupol, an absolutely surreal & bleak doc that captures real human suffering in full brutal detail. How it was even filmed is an incredible feat. Stream for free on @YouTube.
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Mini Review: ISS
The latest sci-fi thriller #ISS squanders its potential a bit with a plot that is mostly what you expect based on its premise. It treats its socio-political undertones rather reductively. But at least it’s filled with tension & decent performances at its tight 90-min runtime.
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Mini Review: Four Daughters
Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nom’ed #FourDaughters is an incredible piece of cinema & like nothing I’ve seen before, blending staged scenes & intimate interviews as Olfa & her kids relive the uncomfortable events that broke their family apart. Powerful stuff. Watch @TIFF_NET now.
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Mini Review: The Beekeeper
David Ayer’s latest #TheBeekeeper is a solid addition to the Jason Statham-is-a-superhero genre, this time featuring bees & elder abuse. The supporting cast are talented but I wish hammed it up even more. The dramatic score cue on the big reveal is chef’s kiss perfect though.
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Mini Review: Memory
Michel Franco’s #Memory is a fine exploration of people who find peace in their mutual dysfunction, that works because of the performances of its two leads Chastain & Sarsgaard. That said, many ethical quandaries are left never fully addressed, which left me a bit unsettled.
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Mini Review: The Teachers’ Lounge
Germany’s #TheTeachersLounge from director Ilker Çatak feels akin to Kore-Eda’s Monster in its stellar depiction of school politics, perspective & consequence, but it chooses to focus on the intense tension. It’s a riveting & effectively frustrating tale. Now playing @TIFF_NET. https://twitter.com/yearincinema/status/1749089345691074596
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Mini Review: Origin
Ava DuVernay’s #OriginMovie is out and is as stunningly constructed & thought-provoking as expected. It’s a remarkable adaptation of a nonfiction book that channels its emotion through its author portrayed deftly by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor. Just sad we had to wait so long to watch!
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Mini Review: American Symphony
The juxtaposition of success & tragedy of its subjects Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad in #AmericanSymphony is tragic and beautiful indeed. But for me I don’t know if it quite transcended its documentary medium. Available now on Netflix.
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Mini Review: The Eight Mountains
Finally able to watch #TheEightMountains in theatres thanks to @markhamATM! The movie tackles its themes of friendship, healing & self discovery well, but is left a bit overstuffed as a result. But the expansive visuals, cinematography & stellar acting make it well worth a watch.
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Mini Review: Passages
Continuing our end of year catch-up with #Passages, a film about a problematic man & the two romantic partners destroyed in his orbit. While the cast deliver on incredibly introspective performances, the coldness of the movie is ultimately a turn off for me. Stream on @mubi now.
Year in Cinema 