Lights, Camera, Insightful Film Analysis
Counting down the best films of the year.
As we look ahead at what appears to be a fantastic new year for movies, it’s worth taking a glance back at the eclectic mix of successes we were treated to over the past year. While there were almost certainly some films that would have made the list had I been able to see them (I’m looking at you Suspiria), here are the ten movies I was most impressed with in 2018.
After 12 years, Nancy Meyers’ frothy escapist film remains the golden Christmas rom-com benchmark that others attempt to emulate.
In recent years, Christmas-themed love stories have increasingly proliferated on the small screen, mostly from the likes of Hallmark and Lifetime during November and December. With streaming giant Netflix now throwing their Santa hat into the ring with a slew of romantic comedy offerings such as The Holiday Calendarand A Christmas Prince, the question of why this type of predictable, cookie-cutter story is so popular with viewers naturally arises.
One has to look no further than 2006’s The Holiday to understand why this genre has grown exponentially over the last few years.
Continue reading “Why THE HOLIDAY Is The Perfect Embodiment Of The Christmas Rom-Com Craze”
(3.5 / 4)
Barry Jenkins has followed up his 2016 masterpiece ‘Moonlight’ with the same artful poetry. Through its accomplished blend of moving musical score, striking cinematography, and impeccable ensemble acting, ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ captures all the sincerity of falling in love. It is impossible not to get swept away by this bittersweet poem about the power of optimism and community in an impossibly unjust environment.
Director Barry Jenkins returns to the big screen with his first film since his 2016 best-picture winning masterpiece Moonlight. While that coming of age drama revolving around the lifelong quest for identity was so powerful in part due to its exploration of sexuality in the context of the urban working class, its biggest strength was in the deeply personal poetic nature by which the film was told. In his follow up, Jenkins has adapted the 1970s novel If Beale Street Could Talk from influential social critic and novelist James Baldwin. It comes as no surprise to learn that the screenplay was written during the same time that Moonlight was written as Jenkins has created another mesmerizingly emotional tale of romance and sincerity.
It has often been stated that every film, whether it be a fictional story or a biographical documentary, is political in nature. While movies that reflect on timely sociocultural issues have always been a driving force of cinema, recently this type of appeal has translated into massive success in terms of audience interest at the box office. Stories that have gone the extra mile to break the mold of societal and cultural norms are fueling a phenomenon in which social change is essentially being commoditized for moviegoers. Viewers are not only being drawn to the novelty of watching a film from a different cultural point of view, but they are also inspired to buy a ticket and become a part of history, doing what they can to support the paradigm shifts in Hollywood standards.
Continue reading “Why WIDOWS Was Unable To Commoditize Social Change”
(3 / 4)
Loud, shallow, and utterly entertaining. Aquaman is in capable hands with James Wan at the helm, as he has crafted a beautifully imaginative world that is a prime setting for the vibrant epic action spectacle. The film also serves as further evidence that the DCEU should stick to refreshing origin stories for now and put the collaborative team-up features on the back burner.
Despite being a legacy character within the DC comics ecosystem, Aquaman has long been the target of copious jokes in pop culture. This ridicule stems from the hero’s powers of communicating with aquatic life being viewed as useless when compared with his other super-powered peers. While his abilities are understandably not the most glamorous or awe inspiring, the character’s representation in the otherwise disappointing 2017 Justice League film capably demonstrated that the character can be a lot of fun thanks to Jason Momoa’s unique “surfer-bro” take on the character. This trend of being a distinctive character that audiences can rally behind continues in Aquaman, as the origin story offers a refreshing hero that is crowd-pleasingly entertaining.
(4 / 4)
Yorgos Lanthimos has brought to life another devilishly idiosyncratic story, this time tackling the audacious power plays of 18th century royalty. Between the talent behind the camera and the award worthy turns from the trio of actresses at the center, The Favourite is a wickedly original dark comedy and one of the best films of the year.
Around this timeframe each year, moviegoers are inundated with an endless barrage of films seemingly created with the sole intention of garnering awards and thereby bolstering the prestige of respective movie studios. For all their acclaim, these types of movies, coined as “Oscar bait,” often follow by the numbers stories that don’t dare to be original and are often still rewarded for their existence regardless. On the surface, a film such as The Favourite appears to be in this same vein with it being a historical period drama with the usual furnishing such as top-notch cinematography, a memorable soundtrack, as well as impeccable costume and production design. However, it is clear from the moment the characters begin to speak that this diabolically demented historical dramedy is anything but the usual fare up for awards consideration.
(3.5 / 4)
Through its intermixing of hot topic issues such as terrorism and school shootings with celebrity culture, Vox Lux is a darkly themed musical epic that is unlike anything you have ever seen. This examination of pop music featuring an award-worthy turn from Portman may prove too challenging for some viewers, but for those who found A Star is Born is Born too conventional this is definitely not to be missed.
After its world premiere at the 75th Venice International Film Festival, Vox Lux was quickly garnering attention with many touting it as the dark twin of A Star is Born due to the two’s similar themes. Vox Lux is a music-focused drama that attempts to explore every facet of fame; what ignites stardom, where it ultimately leads to, as well as the cost it will tax on the individual at the center of the popularity. It is an extraordinarily unique take on this timeless concept that the trailers don’t even begin to scratch the surface of.
(1.5 / 4)
In an attempt to deepen the Potter mythology, The Crimes of Grindelwald forgot what made the first so remarkable. This results in a series that has lost its focus and is the first major misstep in the otherwise enchanting Wizarding World series.
When it was first announced that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter would live on through a spinoff series, it was understandable for fans to have their apprehensions as to whether this series would be anything more than a ploy to unnecessarily elongate the initial 8 film story. 2016’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them was however a strong entry that capably demonstrated there was still magic to be found in other corners of this enchanted world, and the presence of an orphaned boy with a lightning shaped scar was not required.
Continue reading “‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ Film Review”