2018 Movie Log: December

2nd: Burning – Lee Chang-dong (2018)
Watched at the Music Box with Gioia and Max. It’s so intricately written and paced out. Each line of dialogue is engaging and revealing, but not fully understood until the ending of the film. I can’t even imagine how good the writing must be if that translates.
Grade: A

8th: All the President’s Men – Alan Pakula (1976)
Watched at home. It’s wonderful. I’m honestly shocked at how much work it leaves the viewer to do. They don’t lay out any of what’s happening, just enough to keep the story rolling. It’s so smart, rewarding, and engaging.
Grade: A

11th: The Favourite – Yorgos Lanthimos (2018)
Watched at Landmark with Gioia. I think it’s my favorite of his movies. It’s really light in tone, which keeps the heavier aspects of his filmmaking in check. The best part of the movie is the performances. All three leads are incredible. I’m honestly shocked by how much I liked Emma Stone in the role. Her ability to convey one thing to the characters and another to the audience is amazing.
Grade: A-

30th: Shoplifters -Hirokazu Kore-eda (2018)
Watched at the Syndicated in Brooklyn with Gioia. It’s a beautiful story. I found myself equally emotional at even the happier moments. You’re on edge the whole time for this set up to fall apart. And it doesn’t answer whether or not it’s better for it to happen.
Grade: A

Author: Samuel

Big fan of TV, movies, and books. Even bigger fan of maniacally recording my thoughts on them in the desperate and inevitably futile attempt to keep them in my memory forever. View all posts by Samuel