Log: week 1 / 2025
The series was hilarious (but a tad short), and this 70-minute special isn't any less entertaining. Cunk is the perfect anti-intellectual, grilling a series of intellectuals facing the dumbest questions and conclusions you've ever heard outside of a social media platform comment thread. Diana Morgan is perfection, the comedy is as witty as it is dumb, the parody of the documentary genre is spot on and the runtime is perfect. I would've wished for a tad more variation maybe, it's pretty much one gag spread over a 70-minute runtime, but when it's done this well, who am I to complain? I laughed out loud more than once, that doesn't happen often.Read all
An interesting horror film that embraces supernatural elements while combining them with societal horror. Himena Irei's part is crucial, as she blends both worlds while making sure the film doesn't cross over into the realm of the fantastical. It's a weird and fickle balance, but director Naito pulls it off. There isn't much gore, nor is the film overly scary. Instead, human cruelty and traditional power dynamics within the traditional family unit are the story's true villains. The styling is interesting, the build-up of tension is on point and Irei's character is absolute genius. This felt like a new kind of Japanese horror film, hopefully other directors are taking notice.Read all
Another The Rock blockbuster, aimed at a younger audience and right on time for the festive season. With Kasdan on board, I guess they hoped to recreate the Jumanji remake magic. They didn't quite succeed this time. There's enough silliness present, but the film just isn't all that fun. Kudos for trying to do a contemporary update to the Christmas setting, but they didn't seem to have too many good ideas. The performances are lifeless, the lore isn't too interesting and the comedy rarely hits the mark. There's a lot happening and it never gets excessively boring, but memorable this is not.Read all
I remember seeing the DVD around when I was younger, but I never got around to watching this Japanese horror. A bit of an oversight, because this was a lot better than I expected. It's notably different from the less-is-more style that reigned supreme back then, which is not a negative. The dreamy colors and nervous camera work give the film a unique look, the performances are solid and the local folklore adds an original touch. If you've seen a couple of Japanese horrors it will still feel familiar, but there are some nice touches that help to set it apart from its peers. A nice find.Read all
I'm not the biggest Eggers fan, but he has a clear signature, and his films live in a universe of their own, so I'm always willing to give his latest a fair shot. As the title suggests, this is another retelling of the classic story, with more than a few nods to the silent cinema of the 20s. And the result is pretty nice. The squarish aspect ratio, the bloated runtime, and Skarsgard's cheesy accent are details I could've done without, but the cinematography is stylish, Nosferatu's character looks daunting and the cast is on point, with a special mention for Dafoe, who seems to be having the time of his life. A good film, worthy of a visit to the cinema.Read all
A rather standard sports/racing flick that distinguishes itself with a slightly more interesting premise and pretty decent direction by Blomkamp. It's not the kind of film I like to see him do, but his talent has a respectable impact during the first half and it's good to see him actually releasing some films. I'm not sure how true to reality everything is, but the plot feels quite scripted (especially the races and the build-up of suspense). The performances are nice though, Blomkamp's visual flair is on display and the film reigns in the sentimentality. It's better than other recent racing flicks, but still not that memorable.Read all