120 battements par minute (2017)

Director: Robin Campillo
Stars: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel
Runtime: 143 minutes

Synopsis: Members of the ACT UP group use extreme measures to pressure the government to take the AIDS epidemic more seriously in 1990s Paris.

Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 7/10
Special Effects: N.A. 
Costumes/Makeup: 7/10
Editing: 5/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Score/Soundtrack: 8/10 

Verdict: Powerful and bold, "120 battements par minute", or "BPM", does not hold back on anything to send its message. Most of the performances were great, despite the fact that the characters they portrayed weren't particularly engaging. However, what I enjoyed most about the film were the discussions these characters were having that truly felt genuine and interesting. The movie is almost two and a half hours long and it could've been much shorter. There were a lot of scenes that went on for way too long, killing the momentum of the movie, a romance that didn't need to exist, and a final act that felt out of place and slow. Had this movie been shorter, I certainly would've recommended it despite the fact that some people might find some scenes shocking and hard to watch, but its length unfortunately really sets it back.    

Final Grade: 7/10

To see how "120 battements par minute" compares to other films released in 2017, click here.