Update: I’ve since published a full review of this film.
“It’s fire, it’s freedom, it’s flooding open”
There should be more big budget original non-animated musicals
Reviewed on The Goods: A Film Podcast during Circus Month
Category: Deprecated Review
This capsule review has been superseded by a full-length review you can read here:
Full Review: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
The visuals are some of the most breathaking I’ve ever seen: free-flying comic art with intense neon splashes and irrepressible energy. The story is amazing too, if a bit slow to get going. One of the best superhero movies, period.
Note: I published a full review of Titanic. Read it here.
Peak cinema. Near, far, wherever you are.
Note: I’ve published a full review of this film.
Charming beyond reason. Amy Adams is absolutely phenomenal as a Disney princess come to life. The romance and idealism are palpable. Too many flaws to be truly great, but damn close.
Note: I’ve published a full-length review of Superbad with an updated rating. You can read it here.
The most quotable comedy of my young adulthood. Unmatched cast chemistry. A tapestry of dick jokes with an undercurrent of homoerotic best friend love. Not for all tastes, but a masterpiece.
Update: Full review here
Gorgeous B&W and a woozy Rachmaninov score emphasize the emotional experience of brief love when you’re already content with someone. A stunning tearjerker.
A great ensemble mystery with some great performances and a thoughtful core of social commentary.
Note: This capsule has been superseded by a full-length review.
Visually, Suspiria is a stunner. One of the most striking uses of color I’ve ever seen, with lighting that illuminates every tinted surface of every space we see. The soundtrack is disorienting weirdness too: a ringing, whispering drone.
The script and pacing, on the other hand, have some hiccups that really pulled me out: The weird U-turn of exposition when Suzy meets the psychologist and professor is jarring, and the apocalyptic ending lasts all of 30 seconds, with the credits rolling just when I was getting into it.
Reviewed on The Goods in our first episode here
Edit: This is my first movie since I started logging and reviewing again during the pandemic. It’s also the first movie I discussed on my podcast with Brian. In other words, this is the moment I officially launched my return to film criticism, so this specific film will forever hold a special place in my heart.