#Independent Film Review

[ulkaralakbarova]

"Suze: A Heartwarming Journey of Empathy, Healing, and Unconditional Love - A Must-Watch Indie Film Gem"

Michaela Watkins (left) and Charlie Gillespie (right) in “Suze” ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. Independent Cinema: A Spotlight on “Suze” As we consistently emphasize at http://www.moviemovesme.com, our primary aim is to shed light on, celebrate, and prioritize independent cinema. Some may question the downsides of big studio films. While such inquiries remain pertinent, it’s crucial to acknowledge…

[dgspeaks]

Capturing the Quiet Moments: A Review of "The Farewell" (2019)

In the vast landscape of cinema, few films capture the intimate intricacies of family and culture quite like Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell.” This independent gem, released in 2019, offers a poignant and deeply personal exploration of familial bonds, cultural clashes, and the universal struggle of saying goodbye. Through its delicate storytelling and authentic performances, “The Farewell” stands as a…

[anarchic-miscellany]

Review to follow, but: Rather than giving money to Hollywood, give your money to "Kneecap": the anarchic, debauched, drug fuelled punk ode to rebellion, independence, anti-authoritarianism, pushing back against gate keepers of culture, and fucking mayhem. All told through Irish hip hop. I'm a proud patriotic Irishman now. I have never been to Ireland.

[13lizardsinatrenchcoat]

Barbie (2023) is progressive enough to say "indigenous" but not progressive enough to avoid smallpox comparisons...

Also, weirdly obsessed with the idea of reverse misogyny and ken's feelings.

[ogradyfilm]

Recently Viewed: Hundreds of Beavers

[The following review contains SPOILERS; YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!]

Hundreds of Beavers isn’t just the best comedy released to the general public in 2024; it is also quite possibly the greatest live-action cartoon ever made.

Embracing the delicate art of slapstick with an unapologetic sincerity rarely glimpsed since the silent era, the film miraculously manages to sustain the gleefully anarchic tone of your typical Wile E. Coyote short for the entire duration of its feature length running time. It accomplishes this impressive feat by adopting a hybrid narrative structure. Although the plot primarily revolves around a relentless barrage of sight gags (most of which are variations on the theme of a bumbling fur trader and his ostensibly “adorable” prey repeatedly inflicting sadistic physical violence upon one another), it is not, in fact, strictly episodic; on the contrary, every detail, no matter how seemingly insignificant at first glance, is absolutely integral to the overarching story. The pair of woodland critters that resemble Sherlock Holmes and Watson, for example, aren’t merely an amusing one-off joke; they eventually play a substantial role during the third act. The absurdly chaotic climax, meanwhile, serves as a sort of final exam, testing the myriad skills that the protagonist has acquired throughout the preceding scenes. Even a humble trapping pit established way back in the tale's inciting incident (after which it was probably swiftly forgotten by the average viewer) pays off spectacularly later on—i.e., nearly an hour after its initial introduction!

Boasting imaginative mixed-media visuals (incorporating puppetry, CGI, and intentionally crude hand-drawn animation), delightfully frenetic fight choreography, an outstanding lead performance by Ryland Brickson Cole Tews (which combines the exaggerated mannerisms of Jim Carrey, the paradoxical mischievous pathos of Chaplin’s Little Tramp, and the “rubber hose” style of character design popularized by Max Fleischer), and genuinely gorgeous black-and-white cinematography, Hundreds of Beavers is a feast for the eyes as well as the funny bone. Immaculately crafted and unabashedly immature in equal measure (toilet humor abounds), it is a wholly unique experience. “Masterpiece” is too inadequate a descriptor; this cannot be properly classified or categorized as anything less than an essential, genre-redefining work.

[secondhandself]

Birdy (1984) dir. Alan Parker

a young man who wishes he was a bird and his lovesick best friend grapple with the horrors of war and the troubles of conflicting views within a relationship. this sweet and unusual and honestly truly bizarre film has been one of my favorites ever since i watched it. matthew modine (stranger things) and nicolas cage (so many movies) deliver intriguing yet comfortingly plain performances. if you like war or slightly homoerotic movies from the 80s, this is for you. 8/10.

[filmho13]

i made a list of my top 100 movies to see in your lifetime; this is 1-25

the full list write-up will be posted after the last quarter 🌟

[fibula-rasa]

Watch More Movies ’24: Annual Roundup

Pictured: Si muero antes de despertar (1952), Eugenia Grandet (1946), The Vourdalak (2023) Quilombo (1984), Yo, la peor de todas (1990), Wedding in Galilee (1987), Le altre (1969), Eleven P.M. (1928), and Smouldering Fires (1925)

Favorite New-to-me Films of 2024

(ranked)

If I Should Die Before I Wake / Si muero antes de despertar (1952) [letterboxd | imdb][1]

I, the Worst of All / Yo, la peor de todas (1990) [letterboxd | imdb] (Still Sets)

The Others / Le Altre (1969) [letterboxd | imdb] (Still Sets)

Eleven P.M. (1928) [letterboxd | imdb | kanopy (US)] (Gif & Still Sets)

Quilombo (1984) [letterboxd | imdb]

Smouldering Fires (1925)  [letterboxd | imdb]

Wedding in Galilee / Urs al-jalil (1987) [letterboxd | imdb] 

The Marriage Circle (1924) [letterboxd | imdb] (Gif & Still Sets)

Eugenia Grandet (1946) [letterboxd | imdb][2]

The Vourdalak (2023) [letterboxd | imdb]

Honorable Mention:

(presented chronologically)

Phil-for-Short (1919) [letterboxd | imdb]

Why Change Your Wife? (1920) [letterboxd | imdb] (Gif Sets)

The Salvation Hunters (1925) [letterboxd | imdb] (Still Sets)

Intohimon vallassa (1947) [letterboxd | imdb] (Still Sets)

Hercules in the Haunted World (1961) [letterboxd | imdb]

Torture Garden (1967) [letterboxd | imdb] (Still Sets)

The Clowns (1970) [letterboxd | imdb] 

Personal Problems (1980) [letterboxd | imdb]

My Brother’s Wedding (1983) [letterboxd | imdb)]

Wolf’s Hole (1987) [letterboxd | imdb]

Pictured: Cinema Fouad (1993), Footnote to Fact (1933), Gribouille redevient Boireau (1912), Poplar Tree (1996), Coucher de la mariée (1896)

Favorite New-to-me Shorts:

Footnote to Fact (1933) [letterboxd | imdb] (Gif & Still Sets)

Black and Tan (1929) [letterboxd | imdb] 

Poplar Tree / Тополя (1996) [letterboxd] (Gif Sets)

Cinema Fouad (1993) [letterboxd] 

Tomato is Another Day (1934) [letterboxd | imdb]

Gribouille redevient Boireau (1912) [letterboxd | imdb]

Bedtime for the Bride / Coucher de la mariée (1896) [letterboxd | imdb]

La cartomancienne (1932) [letterboxd | imdb] (Gif Sets)

——— ——— ———

[1] This was on my top NTM films from November, but I didn’t get a chance to write up the films that month! But, I hope to write something more detailed about it sooner or later!

[2] Since I watched this film in December, it will probably get written up in the next WMM Notebook!

——— ——— ———

Apparently, this post is too beefy for tumblr to handle! But, if you wanna read the full rundown of what I watched, what I researched, what I posted, and so on and so forth...

Watch More Movies ’24: Annual Roundup

[filmcourage]

The Formula For A Great Movie - James Cullen Bressack

Watch the video interview on YouTube here.

[courseyoulovemeyoudontknowme]

The Illusionist (2006, Neil Burger)

19/11/2024

[cinephilesadeqi]

Movie Analysis and Review: "Detachment" (2011)

Synopsis:“Detachment,” directed by Tony Kaye, delves into the life of Henry Barthes (Adrien Brody), a substitute teacher who avoids emotional connections, constantly moving from one district to another. Placed in a public school filled with apathy among students and disinterested parents, Henry inadvertently becomes a role model to his disaffected students and forms a unique bond with a teenage…

[thishadoscarbuzz]

268 - Shattered Glass (with Richard Lawson!)

Hayden Christensen arrived seemingly out of nowhere to land the role of pre-Vader Anakin Skywalker, becoming one of Hollywood's hottest stars overnight and largely untested as a screen presence. After a respected turn in Life As A House (see previous episode!), the Attack of the Clones reviews soured audiences on this brand new star. The very next year, he gave a terrific performance in Shattered Glass as journalist Stephen Glass who famously fabricated stories for The New Republic. But awards bodies overlooked Christensen's work and instead nominated the rising Peter Sarsgaard as Glass' pseudo-rival Chuck Lane.

This episode, we talk about the Entertainment Weekly It List that was Christensen's first debut post-Star Wars casting and his return to the franchise. We also talk about director/writer Billy Ray, Sarsgaard's near nomination here, and journalism movies that were successful with Oscar.

Topics also include working with fact checkers, college group watch television, and the 2003 Independent Spirit Awards.

Links:

The 2003 Academy Awards

Vulture Movies Fantasy League

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[thatgeekwiththeclipons]

Happy 54th Birthday to filmmaker Kevin Smith! ^__^

[the-celluloid-correspondent]

Ghostlight: Healing Through the Power of Theatre.

When a construction worker unexpectedly joins a local theater’s production of Romeo and Juliet, the drama onstage starts to mirror his own life.

Grief is a strange thing. It is a powerful force that will either tear us apart or allow us to find inner peace. But our path to coming to terms with it is a long and winding road that will lead to somewhere unknown. Ghostlight tackles the uncertainty…

[againstdying]

If the movie, In a Violent Nature, blew chunks, what movie would you recommend people watch instead? Horror movie wise.

hiii im not a horror expert or anything but i have a couple recs :)

i loveddd braindead (1992) for awesome nasty gory grossness and its fun and exciting and silly. definitely recommend watching with friends if you can

thanksgiving (2023) has a really stupid plot but it's a good slasher and successfully grossed me out a couple times so extra points for that

christmas evil (1980) (starring fiona apple's dad, of all people) surprised me with how much i liked it, it's not super gory if i remember right but it's definitely entertaining

barbarian (2022) if you haven't seen it it's best to go in blind but its so good and really funny at times but it's also genuinely unsettling

house of wax (2004) is also really fun even though it has terrible reviews there are some really cool effects (though i watched it a couple years ago and dont remember it too well)