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“I’m Thinking of Ending Things” Review: Charlie Kaufman Returns with Another Existential Masterpiece

Few filmmakers have fallen farther down the rabbit hole of existentialism than Charlie Kaufman. The screenwriter/director has penned some of the most thought-provoking and original films ever made, having been nominated for two of his scripts and one of his directorial efforts at the Academy Awards, as well as winning Best Original Screenplay for 2004’s

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Review: “Malcolm & Marie” – Sam Levinson

It’s the best night of his life – Malcolm has just returned from the premiere of his first film, still overwhelmed by the encouragement and praise of his audience, but quickly has to find himself back in reality. His girlfriend Marie has perceived the events quite differently and confesses to him in all truth her

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SeanKlaus: The Top 38 Films of 2019 & 2020

2019 and 2020 are total polar opposites in terms of cinema. In every way 2019 was one of the best years in the history of film, 2020 was an abysmal and depressing regression. Where 2019 was filled with amazing cinematic achievements and was the best year in cinema since 1999, 2020 was filled with delayed

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Review: “A Real Pain” – Jesse Eisenberg

In “A Real Pain”, Jesse Eisenberg steps behind the camera to deliver a film that deftly intertwines dark humor with profound introspection. This 2024 release stands out as a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities of familial bonds, inherited trauma, and the often uncomfortable journey of self-discovery. The story centers on cousins David (Eisenberg)

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Review: “1917” – Sam Mendes

It was the exact moment when lead actors George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman appeared on screen, that there was no escape from facing World War I yourself, because the whole atmosphere drags the audience into a claustrophic swirl which takes your breath. Award winning director Sam Mendes (“American Beauty”) based his newest picture on a

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“Lux Æterna” Review: Demented Descent Into Hell is Gaspar Noé’s Most Hysterical Film Yet

Gaspar Noé is a filmmaker that warrants strong reactions. Whether it be causing 250 walkouts at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival with “Irrevérsible”, or filming unsimulated sex scenes in his 3D film “Love”, or filming a 42-minute-long unbroken take for “Climax”, Noé takes immense pleasure in causing a whirlwind of provocation and emotional turmoil in

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Review: “Whiplash”

Shortly after Damien Chazelle released his eighteen-minute short film, titled “Whiplash” in 2013, in which J.K. Simmons plays the eccentric and manipulative music professor Fletcher pushing the young Andrew Neiman to peak performance, the young director won the “Short Film Jury Prize” at Sundance, which supported him to make a feature-length film out of this

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Another Round: Is There a Final Round?

According to Norwegian philosopher Finn Skårderud’s hypothesis, human beings are born with a deficit of 0.5‰ of alcohol in their blood. In other words, humans need about two glasses of wine to feel better and get their creativity, courage and open-mindedness boosted. This is tested in the Danish Oscar contender Another Round which explores how

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Review: Mickey 17 – Bong Joon-ho

Director Bong Joon-ho returns with a thought-provoking narrative that delves into the complexities of identity, mortality, and the ethical implications of cloning. Adapted from Edward Ashton’s novel Mickey7, the film presents a futuristic tale that challenges societal norms and questions the essence of human existence. Set in a not-so-distant future, the story follows Mickey Barnes

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“Tenet” Review: The Brain-Bending Magic of Cinema is Back

Few names are more synonymous with modern cinema than Christopher Nolan. The acclaimed British auteur has amassed an enormous empire of epic studio action blockbusters with the craft of an arthouse film, focusing on the technical mastery of his craft and pushing the envelope of non-linear storytelling with a persistent obsession with time. “Memento” is

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“Unknown Gems”: 3 Underrated Movies I Love

If you find yourself thumbing through your streaming services and saying “I’ve seen that” over and over again, we’ve got you covered. From time to time our writers are going to recommend some hidden gems and films that mabye didn’t hit big when they were initinally released, but are well worth watching regardless. I focused

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I Am Greta: The Utilisable Halo Of An Environmental Goddess

Because of her truly altruistic aspirations, I hope Greta Thunberg perpetuates herself as a symbol of the youth raising awareness of significant social issues, and not as ‘the overly emotional sick girl who has to go to school’. However, if her good deed falls into the wrong hands, she could become a dangerous political weapon.

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Review: “Companion” – Drew Hancock

Drew Hancock’s Companion takes a more intimate approach to the genre, crafting a gripping, unsettling thriller that dives deep into the ethical and emotional minefield of artificial intelligence in human relationships. The film follows Josh (Jack Quaid), who introduces his new girlfriend, Iris (Sophie Thatcher), to his friends during a weekend getaway at a remote

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Review: „Kajillionaire“ – Miranda July

Especially at the beginning, “Kajillionaire” is reminiscent of the films of Wes Anderson – when, for example, the family of three crooks repeatedly sneaks crouched past a site fence to escape their landlord who is waiting for his money. Or when Old Dolio (Evan Rachel Wood), who only got her unusual name because she wanted

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Review: “Nosferatu” – Robert Eggers

Robert Eggers’ “Nosferatu” emerges as a masterful reimagining of F.W. Murnau’s 1922 silent horror classic, blending meticulous period detail with a fresh, unsettling vision. This film not only pays homage to its predecessor but also carves out its own distinct identity in the annals of horror cinema. Set against the eerie backdrop of 19th-century Transylvania

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The Emotional Euphoria of “Waves”

Few independent filmmakers of the last several years have had as interesting of a short-spanned career thus far as Trey Edward Shults. Starting off in the early 2010s as an intern and production assistant on Terrence Malick’s films “The Tree of Life”, “Voyage of Time” and “Song to Song”, Shults steadily created short films with

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Review: Honey Boy – Alma Har’el

“My whole work requires and is motivated by trauma reminders!” Otis (Lucas Hedges) hisses at his therapist in the first act of Honey Boy. The names are different and some details were omitted, but the true nature of his real life trauma becomes readily apparent. Shia LaBeouf wrote this screenplay during his 10 week court

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Review: Capone – Josh Trank

There is a fine line between haunting and laughable and Josh Trank’s “Capone” toes that line bunglingly. Some of the images certainly transport the viewer into a wicked nightmare, as Al “Fonz” Capone (Tom Hardy) waddles his way through a dreamscape rife with cascading jet black and steel gray balloons, violent acts of savagery, ravenous

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“Cherry” Review: Russo Brothers’ Follow-up to the MCU is A Misguided Exercise in Cinematic Pretension

To say Joe and Anthony Russo have reshaped the landscape of cinema would be an understatement. After successfully redeeming the latter two-thirds of the “Captain America” ​​trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Russo brothers went on to direct the 4th and 2nd highest-grossing films of all time respectively with “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers:

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Und Morgen Die Ganze Welt: Why Is Germany’s Pick For The Oscars Dangerous For The Public?

Compared to countries with a polarised media landscape, i.e. a political spectrum ranging from the extreme left to the extreme right, reflecting an equally polarised society (e.g. the USA, the UK), Germany offers a system wherein all major media are clustered around the media-political centre (Reuters Institute Digital News Report, 2017, p.20-21). The weight of

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Review: “So long, My Son” – Xiaoshuai Wang

Years ago Yaojun and Liyun’s son Xing died in a tragic accident, while his best friend Hao has to live with the guilt. For decades, Wang’s film has been a knotted web in the middle of Chinese one-child politics, jumping from scene to scene from past to present. The personal influence in the story is

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Review: “Last Christmas” – Paul Feig

Every year just in time for Christmas there is no escaping – if you want or not you have to voluntarily surrender to the classic “Last Christmas” by Wham !, which is played on the radio on endless loop until the holidays and mercilessly nests in the ear canals. “Bridesmaids” and “Ghostbusters” director Paul Feig

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Review: “Ma” – Tate Taylor

Thrilling, oppressive, psychological – that is the model that the company Blumehouse is standing for. The production company has proven in recent years that it hasn’t yet shaken up the cinematic landscape enough, but that a new wave of horror film has opened up. In this new genre representative Olivia Spencer is supposed to keep

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Review: “Queer”

No one has the same disciplined work ethic in Hollywood as Luca Guardagnino (except perhaps Ayo Edebiri, who ironically will star in his next film). It almost feels like the Italian director, who has acclaimed films like ‘Call Me By Your Name’, ‘Bones and All’ and most recently the superb ‘Challengers’ under his belt, is

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Nomadland: The Languor of the Biggest Oscar Contender

A while ago, Fern (Frances McDormand) and her husband lived in a small American town based around industry. After the local gypsum factory’s shutdown, the town practically ceased to exist. And during this painfully chaotic situation, Fern’s husband died, leaving her forlorn, jobless, houseless (as she likes to call herself). She starts living in her

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Review: “Blitz”

“All we need is love,” says director Steve McQueen at the press conference for his film ‘Blitz’, whose DNA, like the Briton himself, is anchored in the history of this country. An epic that illuminates an event through the eyes of a mixed racial 9-year-old boy who is separated from his mother and has to

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“Aftersun” Review: A moving time capsule

[*CLICK*… Start recording] You press the red button, the shot shakes as you try to figure out how to zoom properly. You stare past the camera into space, realizing nothing will ever be the same again. Once the realization hits and you understand what it means, the heaviness in your chest sets in. Leaving behind

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Review: Parallel Mothers – Pedro Almodóvar

Pedro Almodóvar latest films all hit very much the nerve of what I search for in movies. And his latest entry “Parallel Mothers” is no exception, moreover an honest portrait that captures the emotional complexity of motherhood through its masterful use of color. Almodóvar is known for his vibrant and bold use of color in

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Review: “A Complete Unknown” – James Mangold

In A Complete Unknown, director James Mangold ventures into the labyrinthine persona of Bob Dylan, delivering a biopic that is as enigmatic and multifaceted as its subject. Eschewing traditional narrative structures, the film offers a kaleidoscopic portrayal of Dylan’s early years, capturing the mercurial essence of an artist perpetually in flux. Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of

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Essay: “Afire” and the glowing embers

It is night and he looks out at the open sea. Until now, he has ignored this beauty, this glitter on the water – he didn’t even wanted to notice it. But now that the emptiness envelops his body and takes over his soul, he suddenly pays attention. How a single fire, a blaze within

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Kritik: “Honey Boy” – Alma Har’el

“Meine ganze Arbeit erfordert und wird durch Trauma-Erinnerungen motiviert!” Otis (Lucas Hedges) zischt seinen Therapeuten im ersten Akt von Honey Boy an. Die Namen sind unterschiedlich und einige Details wurden ausgelassen, aber die wahre Natur seines wirklichen Lebenstraumas wird leicht ersichtlich. Shia LaBeouf schrieb dieses Drehbuch während seines 10-wöchigen, vom Gericht angeordneten Reha-/Beratungsaufenthaltes nach einer

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#LFF23: “Priscilla” Review

A haunting – at first look beautiful – tale, which unfortunately corresponds to what really happened behind the glitz and glamour. Sofia Coppola is the master of showing what womanhood means and letting her main character strut through empty Graceland rooms with curls in her hair, dark shadow on her eyes and one dress more

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Review: “Wolf Man” – Leigh Whannell

In the pantheon of cinematic monsters, the werewolf stands as a symbol of primal fear and transformation. Leigh Whannell’s Wolf Man aspires to rejuvenate this iconic figure for a contemporary audience, yet despite its ambitious premise and a cast brimming with potential, the film falters in execution, delivering a narrative that is both underdeveloped and

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Review: “The Zone of Interest”:

“The Zone of Interest” is the very reason cameras were brought into existence. There was no visual horror provided in this film but it captivated my senses with a subtle chill thinking about what has really happened. From the first moment on it gave me goosebumps all over my body and an uneasy feeling in

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#LLF23: “Maestro” – Review

No maestro has yet fallen from the sky. In its sophomore feature, one can certainly acknowledge Bradley Cooper’s ambitions, and I respect many of the creative choices of this unconventional biopic, but neither Cooper’s prosthetic nose nor the structure want to work for me. I can well imagine that there will be a high abandonment rate

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“The Apprentice” or the American nightmare

There was a time, way before the ‘Winter Solider’, when Sebastian Stan was simply the pretty boy of network TV. He stayed in the background and embellished the overall picture, be it in “Gossip Girl” or “Once Upon A Time”, but for a few years now you can see that the actor has realized where

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Review: “Babygirl” – Halina Reijn

Director Halina Reijn delivers a provocative and unflinching examination of power dynamics, desire, and self-discovery within the corporate world in “Babygirl”. Starring Nicole Kidman as Romy Mathis, a high-powered CEO, and Harris Dickinson as Samuel, her intern, the film ventures into uncharted territory, offering a raw and nuanced portrayal of a complex relationship that defies

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Review: “The Brutalist” – Brady Corbet

In The Brutalist, director Brady Corbet embarks on an ambitious journey, crafting a sprawling narrative that delves into the complexities of ambition, identity, and the immigrant experience in post-war America. Spanning over three and a half hours, this epic tale centers on László Tóth, portrayed by Adrien Brody, a Hungarian Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor

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Review: “Blitz”

“All we need is love,” says director Steve McQueen at the press conference for his film ‘Blitz’, whose DNA, like the Briton himself, is anchored in the history of this country. An

More

Review: “Whiplash”

Shortly after Damien Chazelle released his eighteen-minute short film, titled “Whiplash” in 2013, in which J.K. Simmons plays the eccentric and manipulative music professor Fletcher pushing the young Andrew Neiman to peak

More

Review: “The Zone of Interest”:

“The Zone of Interest” is the very reason cameras were brought into existence. There was no visual horror provided in this film but it captivated my senses with a subtle chill thinking

More

#LFF23: “Priscilla” Review

A haunting – at first look beautiful – tale, which unfortunately corresponds to what really happened behind the glitz and glamour. Sofia Coppola is the master of showing what womanhood means and

More

#LLF23: “Maestro” – Review

No maestro has yet fallen from the sky. In its sophomore feature, one can certainly acknowledge Bradley Cooper’s ambitions, and I respect many of the creative choices of this unconventional biopic, but neither

More
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