As the father of two daughters who love princess stories, Frozen is more of a utilitarian commodity to me than a piece of cinema.
Frozen (2013)

As the father of two daughters who love princess stories, Frozen is more of a utilitarian commodity to me than a piece of cinema.
I’m not quite sure this movie realizes that it’s a neo-noir.
What’s this? A film from the 1970s that treats homosexuality with nuance and earnest generosity, not as a big icky farcical hoot or a facade for depravity? To be fair, I am very much NOT up to speed on my queer cinema history, but given that this felt like a fair depiction in 2021, I can only imagine how progressive it was 42 years ago.
At a basic level, The Debut presents a clear and effective metaphor:
Jabberwocky is Terry Gilliam’s first solo directing effort and second overall after Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
The Happiest Girl in the World is a simple, linear film taking place in one day and mostly one location. Despite its humility, I was on its comic and dramatic wavelength for most of its runtime, and got a pretty big kick out of it.
(Note 12/2022: I just want to say that the following review soft-pedals my affection for this movie. I will write something more effusive someday.)
I fear that I will never again be able to watch The Godfather with fresh eyes or a sense of wonder.
This is the hardest time I’ve had slapping a rating on a movie in a long time, for the simple reason that I love its ambition and capital-V Vision, but can’t stand what it’s doing with those things.
The Departed is simultaneously ridiculous and exciting — a potent combination for a watchable movie, but not necessarily a great one.