Movies Graded

Director: Jane Campion Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons Runtime:  126  minutes Synopsis:  Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.   Verdict:  Applauded at every film festival it’s been screened at, Jane Campion’s first directorial effort since 2009’s “Bright Star” has proven that the Kiwi filmmaker has not lost her artistic touch despite her 12-year long hiatus. A western drenched in a sensual touch only she holds the secret to, it’s a period piece aimed at defying gender norms by exploring the relationship between an experienced, rugged cowboy and the softer son of his brother’s wife. Starring a menacing Benedict Cumberbatch and a convincing Kodi Smit-McPhee as well as one of Hollywood’s most overlooked couples in Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst, one of the film’s stronges...

Director: Paul Thomas Anderson Stars: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman Runtime:  95 minutes Synopsis:   A psychologically troubled novelty supplier is nudged towards a romance with an English woman, all the while being extorted by a phone-sex line run by a crooked mattress salesman, and purchasing stunning amounts of pudding. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Editing: 5/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: Dirk Diggler, Daniel Plainview, Reynolds Woodcock,... Paul Thomas Anderson truly has blessed us with so many iconic characters throughout his career. In "Punch-Drunk Love", he introduces us to yet another member of that gallery with Barry Egan, played by an unrecognizable and quite honestly scene-stealer Adam Sandler, who without a doubt delivers one of the best performances of his career by a clear mile, only matched by his recent outings in the Safdie's "Uncut Gems" and Noah Baumbach's dramedy ...

Director: Leos Carax Stars: Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Simon Helberg Runtime: 141   minutes Synopsis:  A stand-up comedian and his opera singer wife have a 2-year-old daughter with a surprising gift. Verdict:  To fully comprehend Leos Carax’s intentions with his latest absurdist project is a nearly impossible assignment. On the surface, it’s a one-of-a-kind musical in which the ever-so-talented Adam Driver shows off his vocal abilities alongside the lovely Marion Cotillard. He plays a stand-up comedian, she plays an opera singer, and together they form a romantic unit that fuses comedy with drama, providing the audience with the film’s tone along the way. Their relationship takes a brusque turn when their daughter, Annette, is born. Introduced as a wooden puppet, she alone symbolizes the narrative’s strangeness, a common trait in Carax’s body of work that will surely leave audiences divided. Even though I can’t say that I fully understood what the eccentric director’s...

Director: Martin Scorsese Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, Winona Ryder Runtime: 139   minutes Synopsis:  A tale of nineteenth-century New York high society in which a young lawyer falls in love with a woman separated from her husband, while he is engaged to the woman's cousin. Verdict:  Seriously, though, how many filmmakers can make one of the best gangster films of all time, a haunting psychological thriller, and a costume period drama back to back, all in the span of 4 years? By directing “Goodfellas” in 1990, “Cape Fear” in 1991, and “The Age of Innocence” in 1993, Martin Scorsese proved that he’s not scared of diving into uncharted waters and that he truly is one the most prolific auteurs of his generation(s). Now I’ll be honest, I’m usually not the biggest admirer of this particular type of dramatic period piece (emphasis on usually), even when they star the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, or Wynona Ryder as three New York upper-class membe...

Director: Eric Rohmer Stars: Patrick Bauchau, Haydée Politoff, Daniel Pommereulle Runtime:   89  minutes Synopsis:  A womanizing art dealer and a painter find the serenity of their Riviera vacation disturbed by a third guest, a vivacious bohemian woman known for her long list of male conquests. Verdict:  With “The Collector”, or its more appropriate female-specific original title “La Collectionneuse”, being only my second experience with an Eric Rohmer project, it’s still probably too early to make up my mind about the French director, considered a pillar of the French New Wave era of Cinema. But a recurring feeling I got from his 1967 color film debut and “Claire’s Knee” is one of relaxation and tranquility, all due to the exquisite summer vibes captured by the filmmaker. Between a sense of unmatched freedom and gorgeous scenery composed of luscious greenery and beaches, he truly invites the audience to partake in a trip of absolute meditation and escapism filled wi...

Director: Éric Rohmer Stars: Amanda Langlet, Arielle Dombasle, Pascal Greggory Runtime: 95   minutes Synopsis:  Marion is about to divorce from her husband and takes her 15-year-old niece Pauline on a vacation to Granville. She meets an old love... Verdict:  Another day, another Éric Rohmer film to brighten my mood! The French director’s reclining style is one I cannot get enough of during these stressful times. His movies are sublime, sunny, and uplifting in their own special way, blurring the line between ultra-realism and dreamlike sceneries. “Pauline at the Beach” is yet another project of his that checks all three components that make his work so ever soothing. With radiant characters, engaging dialogue, and locations that will make your eyes melt, it’s a film that succeeds at showcasing a handful of characters’ views on love and relationships while maintaining a light ambiance that makes for a perfect after-midnight watch. I absolutely adored sitting back to experie...

Director: Éric Rohmer Stars: Melvil Poupaud, Amanda Langlet, Gwenaëlle Simon Runtime: 113   minutes Synopsis:  A shy maths graduate takes a holiday in Dinard before starting his first job. He hopes his sort-of girlfriend will join him, but soon strikes up a friendship with another girl working in town. She in turn introduces him to a further young lady who fancies him. Thus the quiet young lad finds he is having to do some tricky juggling in territory new to him. Verdict:  Gaspard, a young secluded math graduate with a penchant for music, takes a short holiday in a small commune in northwestern France to work on his compositions and take advantage of the gorgeous beaches there before starting his first job. His plans are quickly challenged by his introduction to Margot, a local waitress/ethnologist who pushes him out of his comfort zone by becoming his friend and initiating multiple conversations about all sorts of topics over the course of his stay.  It’s a wholesom...

Director: Wong Kar-Wai Stars: Tony Leung, Ziyi Zhang, Faye Wong Runtime: 129   minutes Synopsis:   Several women enter a science fiction author's life over the course of a few years, after the author has lost the woman he considers his one true love. Verdict:  Revered filmmaker Wong Kar-Wai is one of the most respected and beloved figures within the film community. The unconventional, almost rebellious techniques he has used to tell stories revolving around the themes of relationships, memories, and loneliness continue to inspire many directors to this day, earning him a spot on the Mount Rushmore of auteurs whose features are englobed by a distinct personality. It’s difficult not to admire what Wong Kar-Wai has offered to the medium of cinema even if, like me, his movies don’t resonate with you as much as you’d like them to. “2046” is the third and final chapter in Wong Kar-Wai’s unofficial Love Trilogy, preceded by “Days of Being Wild” and “In the Mood for Love”, and se...

Director: Jon M. Chu Stars: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace Runtime: 143   minutes Synopsis:  A film version of the Broadway musical in which Usnavi, a sympathetic New York bodega owner, saves every penny every day as he imagines and sings about a better life. Verdict:  Rejoice, everybody, for the season of Lin-Manuel Miranda is finally upon us! Following the success of “Hamilton” last year, he struck Hollywood gold by signing deals left and right that will see him write, produce, and even direct a bunch of upcoming projects. Directly adapted from the stage musical that made him the theater icon that he is today, “In the Heights” takes place under the heat of a Hispanic neighborhood in New York City and follows its community in their search for a better life. Directed by Jon M. Chu (“Step Up 3D”, “Crazy Rich Asians”), the film relies on an ensemble cast to bring an unmatched energy to its atmosphere. Anthony Ramos and Melissa Barrera are both standouts, but it’...

Director: Randal Kleiser Stars: John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing Runtime: 110   minutes Synopsis:  Good girl Sandy Olsson and greaser Danny Zuko fell in love over the summer. When they unexpectedly discover they're now in the same high school, will they be able to rekindle their romance? Verdict:  Released in 1978, the movie adaptation of “Grease” - which was, at the time, one of the most recognizable features in the musical productions business - defined an entire generation. The story of Danny and Sandy, played respectively by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, touched many due to their unconventional romantic relationship used to challenge gender norms or societal peer pressure in a typical 1950s American high school, although inhabited by actors who look well over 30. Fast forward to 2021, and the topic of gender fluidity has evolved to a point where it’s easy to see how outdated or even harmful the points presented in “Grease” are, especially w...

Director: David Lowery   Stars: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara Runtime:   92  minutes Synopsis:  In this singular exploration of legacy, love, loss, and the enormity of existence, a recently deceased, white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to try to reconnect with his bereft wife. Verdict:  An ungodly amount of my time is spent at my desk, at home. It’s the place where I get my work done during the day and the place where I escape to my little world of movies in the evening. Right in front of me, two pictures that I constantly glance at are hung: a photograph of my late grandfather holding a younger and unrecognizable version of myself, and a polaroid taken decades later on a night out with some friends. While one holds a much greater emotional significance to me, they both serve the same purpose of capturing a memory I’m not quite ready to let go of just yet. David Lowery’s “A Ghost Story” is a meditative exercise comparable to staring at a moving polaroi...

Director: Jacques Demy Stars: Anouk Aimée, Marc Michel, Jacques Harden Runtime: 90   minutes Synopsis:  A bored young man meets with his former girlfriend, now a cabaret dancer and single mother, and soon finds himself falling back in love with her. Verdict:  My life has significantly improved ever since I discovered Jacques Demy’s enchanting work. From Cherbourg to Rochefort, he invited me into a world where music reigns supreme, a world where reality and dream are one and the same. His directorial debut “Lola” may not be a musical, but Michel Legrand’s symphonic score makes it seem like one. His timeless composition that combines original symphonies and existing ones added color to the black and white classic, a well-needed attribute for a film that relies on a lyrically romantic atmosphere to drive its plot forward. The plot itself is a rather simple one. It follows the single-mother and dancer Lola’s (Anouk Aimée) interactions with a couple of men who are not hiding ...

Director: Eric Rohmer Stars: Jean-Claude Brialy, Aurora Cornu, Béatrice Romand Runtime: 105  minutes Synopsis:  On lakeside summer holiday, a conflicted older man is dared to have a flirt with two beautiful teenage stepsisters despite his betrothal to a diplomat's daughter and the fact that the girls have boyfriends. Verdict:  Oh to be on vacation in a small European village during the 1970s! Set in a gorgeous setting that will make you daydream of clear lakes and green mountains, “Claire’s Knee” is a brilliant little gem of a movie that relies entirely on the dynamic of its characters to function. We follow an engaged-to-be-married Jérôme’s encounter with Aurora, a writer and old friend of his, who proceeds to dare him to get into flirtatious discussions with two teenage step-sisters so she can get the inspiration she needs to finish her latest novel. What follows are somewhat uncomfortable but certainly engaging conversations about love, desire, and happiness presented ...

Directors: Lenny Abrahamson, Hettie Macdonald Stars: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Paul Mescal Synopsis:  Follows Marianne and Connell, from different backgrounds but the same small town in Ireland, as they weave in and out of each other's romantic lives. Verdict:  Marianne is a school outcast constantly ridiculed by her peers due to her feisty attitude and lonesome nature. Connell, on the other hand, sits at the cool table where he gets to boast about his athletic achievements. The two don’t have much in common, but they secretly have feelings for one another. Feelings that ultimately blossomed into a relationship kept hidden from the public as Connell doesn’t want his social status at school to be in jeopardy. This brief summary constitutes the first brick in what is going to become a typical “will they, won’t they” relationship spanning over the course of years. The 12-episode long limited series sees the couple evolve together, sharing joyful and tearful moments that will only streng...

Director: Edward Yang Stars: Wu Nianzhen, Elaine Jin, Issei Ogata Runtime: 173   minutes Synopsis:  Each member of a middle-class Taipei family seeks to reconcile past and present relationships within their daily lives. Verdict:  *minor spoiler in the final paragraph* Oh Edward Yang, what have you done to me? I’m literally at a loss for words after finally committing to your masterpiece that is “Yi Yi”, a movie that I have quite frankly put off for many years now due to its intimidating runtime of 3 hours. For that, I must apologize, because every second of your gem was a delicious treat filled to the brim with human emotions. Emotions that hit my fragile soul like a speeding bus, leaving it shattered as the end credits started rolling following what may be simultaneously one of the most heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes in the history of Cinema. The beauty of “Yi Yi” comes from its simplicity to tell the most complex story anyone’s ever experienced: life itself. Thro...

Director: Filippo Meneghetti Stars: Barbara Sukowa, Martine Chevallier, Léa Drucker Runtime: 99  minutes Synopsis:  Pensioners Nina and Madeleine have hidden their deep and passionate love for many decades, but their bond is put to the test when they are suddenly unable to move freely between each other's apartments. Verdict:  Nina and Madeleine are elderly neighbors who have loved each other for decades. They have kept their relationship a secret but their dream of buying a house in Rome is obstructed by the fact that Madeleine hasn’t come out to her children yet. They loved their late father, and she knows that such a revelation may come as a shock to them, to the point of jeopardizing the maternal bond they still share. The pressure of having to choose between the love of her life and her offspring eventually led to serious health problems and complications that will test the couple’s love once and for all.  “Two of Us” introduces a conflict that has been explored...

Director: Rob Reiner Stars: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher Runtime: 95  minutes Synopsis:  Harry and Sally have known each other for years, and are very good friends, but they fear sex would ruin the friendship. Verdict:  “When Harry Met Sally” is a pillar in the romantic-comedy genre that is still beloved by many over three decades after its release, and for good reason. It’s the quintessential boy-meets-girl story, spawned from the singular question asked to every couple in existence: “How did you two meet?”. As this query is rapidly answered by a multitude of elderly couples, we focus on the evolution of the titular characters’ relationship. Respectively played by Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan (of whom this is surprisingly my introduction), we witness Harry and Sally as they go through every step of a relationship that was organically developed over the course of several years. We see them mature together, learning to bring up the best in one another by providing ...

Director: Harry Macqueen Stars: Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci, Pippa Haywood Runtime: 95  minutes Synopsis:  Sam and Tusker are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have. Verdict:  I can't think of many situations that are more tragic than being conscious of the burden your illness causes on your loved ones. Harry Macqueen's "Supernova" deals with that very topic as it is centered on a couple's attempt to renew their love after being told that one of them suffers from irreparable dementia. Sounds like a recipe for tears, right? So why did it struggle so much to get its emotions across? I greatly admire the acting chops of both Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, but a clear lack of chemistry between the couple made the watch a much less impactful one than it should've been. It's certainly not their be...

Director: Sam Levinson Stars: Zendaya, John David Washington Runtime: 106  minutes Synopsis:  A director and his girlfriend's relationship is tested after they return home from his movie premiere and await critics' responses. Verdict:  I know that at least a few of you are thinking about it so I’ll address it immediately: I promise you that my not-so-secret admiration with Zendaya won’t get in the way of providing you with my honest and unbiased thoughts about this movie.  With that out of the way, I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t at the very least intrigued to see what another collaboration with Sam Levinson (creator of “Euphoria”) would look like. The only worry I had about it was the fact that it was entirely developed and shot in the midst of the global pandemic, a trait that hasn’t proven itself just yet with failed attempts that include “Host”, “Locked Down”, or “Songbird”. But I’m glad to report that “Malcolm & Marie” is by far the best inclusion in th...

Director: Jacques Demy Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon Runtime: 91  minutes Synopsis:  A young woman separated from her lover by war faces a life-altering decision. Verdict:  With "La La Land" being one of my favorite movies of all time, it only made sense for me to check out the French classic that inspired it. And while the similarities between the two films are more than apparent, it was a relief to see that they both stand out on their own two feet. In fact, Jacques Demy's "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg" filled me with the same wonder I felt when I watch Damien Chazelle's masterpiece for the first time and it wasn't until the very end that the parallels became clear to me. For approximately an hour and a half, I was transported into a world of music and striking bright colors. A world that for a second made me forget about the one we currently live in and which, more than ever, is devoid of everything that made Demy's univers...