Inclined to Opine

Though I like to think of myself as varied in my film choices and open to international cinema (what with being a polyglot and having dual citizenship), the truth is that it's still rare for me to watch non-English language movies. But I am so very glad I watched this one! Though, as usual, I have steered clear of other reviews until I've written mine, there's still a sense that this film may be perceived by some as an ode to drinking and alcoholism. I vehemently disagree. We're presented with four men stuck in their current lives, going through their days by rote, a grey existence for one and all. When the idea to explore a philosophical theory through experimentation arrives, they all jump at it, the sense of grasping at anything that will alter the routine palpable. And so they embark on this often poorly thought out adventure, having a blast along the way. There are, of course, ethical questions that the film raises and that I believe are meant to make the audience ...

Given the cinematic importance of Citizen Kane, a film about how it was written undoubtedly makes sense. Armed with a witty trailer, strong cast, and 10 Oscar nominations, I settled down to enjoy a tongue-in-cheek rendition of past events. Unfortunately, Mank didn't deliver. It clearly tries to be a stylistic piece, over-the-top yet believable, in a similar vein to La La Land, The Artist, or even a Wes Anderson film. But because it doesn't commit enough to the style, doesn't go far enough into the larger-than-life viewpoint, it just comes across as superficial and without a ring of truth. The writing is downright bad at times, with characters having inconsistent speech patterns and saying things that even in 1941 would have sounded stilted. The storytelling is very obviously paying homage to Citizen Kane with its narrative jumping through time, the story half told in flashbacks, but unlike the film it tries to emulate, the result is confusing. Also, the choice of scenes to ...

What does it feel like to have dementia? How does one perceive the world when the mind starts playing tricks? How do you create and maintain relationships with people you don't always recognise or remember? Florian Zeller directs this adaptation of his own play and I for one welcome him to the world of film. A beautifully contained piece, much of the feel of a play is maintained through a small cast and limited locations. Ah, the locations. It's not often that I feel impelled to comment on a movie's production design but here it's such an integral part of the storytelling that I was ecstatic to see the Oscar nomination in this category. Using what is essentially one set, we experience the same déjà vu, familiarity, and sense of confusion as Anthony, moving from his flat to Anne's to a doctor's office to a hospital... Superbly done, we're given visual hints as to when in the timeline each scene is set, though nothing is ever certain. Speaking of the timeline,...

With nominations for Best Picture, Director, Actress, and Screenplay (among others), this had all the markings of A Promising Young Film, an opinion that was strengthened by the trailer. A fresh, insane premise, I sat down thoroughly expecting to enjoy myself. And I did! At least for the first half. The film starts brutal and to the point; from the get-go, we know it's not going to pull punches and that whatever's coming ain't going to be pretty. I dare anyone to watch the opening dialogue and not cringe, the awareness of how realistic it is beautifully at odds with the dark humour. Then the audience's introduction to Cassie (the character, as opposed to the stereotype we see through the men's eyes) is superb. I was gasping and laughing out loud the moment she breaks the fourth wall and lets us in on her "secret", that she's only playing drunk. As we see more of Cassie's world, we gain insight into her motivations but are also treated to some delic...