So's Reel Thoughts: Must-See

Showing posts with label Must-See. Show all posts

Another year, another list. But unlike most years, 2016 was one for the books and I truly thought my top 10 films of 2016 should encompass the realistic world in which we live. So the films that I picked are not only made by visionaries but are ones that show the beauty of humanity and those that remind us the most important aspects of life. Whether they are stories of people with vastly different background, opinions and experiences, we get a sneak peek into their world and into their shoes. And above all, I found comfort in other people's stories as they took me on an exhilarating ride from the heavens to hell, made me face my fears and even made me laugh to bring light to this crazy place called life. So here we go!

Top 10

American Honey (Dir. Andrea Arnold)

Andrea Arnold is one of my favorite filmmakers because her films portray life in all its beautiful chaos accompanied by raw intimacy and electrifying performances. In American Honey, not only does it focus on a coming-of-age story of a free-spirited woman trying to achieve her own “American Dream” but it also shows a daring portrait of the socioeconomic landscape of America while focusing on the most underrepresented citizens. American Honey’s gritty reflection of America is uncompromising, relevant and a hopeful place as ever. // Full Review

Green Room (Dir. Jeremy Saulnier)

I can’t think of another film to come out in 2016 that reflects America’s political division amongst its citizens more accurately than in Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room. At the end of the day whether one is a punk rocker or a neo-nazi, Saulnier presents the vicious cycle of vengeance like a master covering all sides of the spectrum whether his characters are on the right or wrong side of the situation. Thinking that this is Anton Yelchin’s last film, the film shares an important lesson of fighting for what you believe in at all cost. Green Room is grounded in realism and it is powerful in its execution and style that makes it an unforgettable and scathing ride. // Film Review

Spa Night (Dir. Andrew Ahn)

Andrew Ahn perfectly captures a specific corner of the Korean-American experience set in Koreatown, Los Angeles, with his directorial debut, Spa Night. Watching Spa Night as a Korean-American, the film hit too close to home because my problems never felt more validated until I saw it on the big screen. I saw myself in David played by Joe Seo who delivers a powerfully restrained performance, who feels the burden of exploring oneself while trying to abide to familial obligations. Ahn’s acute direction is finely tuned and hones on the specificity of the never before seen culture and stories of second-gen Asian Americans and that we desperately so need. // Trailer

The Fits (Dir. Anna Rose Holmer)

Anne Rose Holmer’s stellar debut film, The Fits, is an emotionally visceral, visually stunning and haunting meditation on the anxieties of adolescence. Newcomer Royalty Hightower is mesmerizing to watch, transforming Toni from tomboy to dancer, all while battling with her own complexities with identity and gender through assimilation. With Holmer’s singular vision, DP Paul Yee’s dreamy shots, and the intoxicating soundtrack, The Fits is an ethereal and spellbinding experience that viewers deserve and rarely see in cinema today. // Trailer

The Nice Guys (Dir. Shane Black)

If anyone could make a thrilling and super-charged buddy cop comedy, it’s Lethal Weapon’s Shane Black with The Nice Guys. You have never seen either Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe quite like this who deliver terrific performances especially Gosling who makes a hilarious turn as an inept alcoholic detective. With hysterical one-line zingers, slapstick comedy and the terrific chemistry between Gosling, Crowe and newcomer, Angourie Rice, The Nice Guys is a sidesplittingly hilarious and refreshing neo-noir film you cannot miss!

The Wailing (Dir. Na Hong-jin)

There has been many groundbreaking Korean films to come out this year from Train to Busan to The Handmaiden but there has been one film that leaves the rest in the dust and that’s Na Hong-Jin's The Wailing. Na toys with our mind and turns the dial to a feverish 1000% in this occult murder mystery which expertly blends various horror genres including the supernatural, zombies, and possessions to say the least. The Wailing doesn't present a clear cut answer and it's not suppose to. It's the hellish descent into madness with a philosophical undertone that truly makes this film, one that will terrorize you many nights to come. // Favorites

Moonlight (Dir. Barry Jenkins)

Once every few years, we get a film that is overwhelmingly stunning in its singular vision and originality that we wonder what did we ever do to receive such a gift? Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight is that film and it’s easily one of the best films of the decade. The film’s poetic portrait tackles themes of identity, toxic masculinity, and isolation, which bursts with sensitivity and shows blackness in all its painstaking beauty. It’s exploration of the complexities of black homosexuality within the community and family has never quite been shown on screen till now and that’s something to laud about. // Trailer

The Invitation (Dir. Karyn Kusama)

You already know a dinner party with your ex and her new lover isn’t going to go well. Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation amps up this “dinner party from hell” story with themes of grief and isolation to deliver a chilling story that you won’t forget. She crafts a suffocatingly tense psychological thriller with razor-sharp precision and artistry. The Invitation is her most masterful and finest work yet. // Full Review

Toni Erdmann (Dir. Maren Ade)

There has never been a film like Toni Erdmann. It’s hard to begin to explain the brilliance of the film because the whole film is an accumulation of “You Just Had To Be There” moments. Maren Ade’s father-daughter story provides some of the most iconic scenes in recent cinema that will have you simultaneously tearing up from ROFLing till you choke and sobbing your heart out. It’s a film that is as outrageously silly as it is profoundly moving and makes us question the important aspects of life like human connection and humor. It's a rollercoaster of a film that you must experience to understand why Toni Erdmann is one of the greatest films of 2016.

Arrival (Dir. Denis Villeneuve)

Based on the 1998 short story, "Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang, Denis Villeneuve does the impossible and creates the most artistically intelligent Hollywood film. Accompanied by a booming score by Johan Johannson, Villeneuve crafts this ultra smart story that dares to ask big questions about life and actually answers them with nuance and meticulousness. Profoundly intimate and epic, Arrival is what Interstellar tried to be and failed. It’s hard to believe that a film like this was even made, but it’s one that came at a time to remind us that we need to stand united now more than ever, with empathy and understanding, no matter how alien and fearful our world may be.

Runner-ups:

The Handmaiden
Moana
One More Time with Feeling

La La Land

Honorable Mentions:
Hunt for Wilderpeople
Evolution
Train to Busan
Rogue One
Embrace of the Serpent
Zootopia
The Junglebook
Star Trek Beyond
10 Cloverfield Lane
The Witch

Year: 2016

Director: Park Chan-wook

Writer: Seo-Kyung Chung & Park Chan-wook. Novel by Sarah Waters

Cinematography: Chung Chung-hoon

Cast: Kim Tae-ri, Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Jo Jin-woong

Country of Origin: South Korea

Rating: NR

Time: 144 Min.

Park Chan-wook is back and he's better than ever! The Handmaiden is a decadent dessert that is luscious, super kinky, and full of deceit! Adapted from Sarah Water's novel, Fingersmith, Park takes the essential elements and transports the setting to the 1930's Korea when it was under Japanese colonialism. A con man hires an orphaned pickpocket named Sook-hee played by fresh-faced, Kim Tae-ri, to become the maid to heiress Lady Hideko in attempt to steal her wealth. The plan goes array when Lady Hideko falls in love with Sook-hee. I'm getting all hot and bothers here just writing the premise!

After the divisive reception of Stoker (See Review), I'm glad Park Chan-wook went back to making a Korean-language film that not only tantalized native Koreans but everyone else as well. Park was shocked to discover that some of the Americans that watched the film were so taken back by its provocative display of lesbian sex, contrary to his belief that most Americans are more "liberal". The Handmaiden is classic Park Chan-wook but with a more dense structure and erotic storyline that aims to beguile as well as seduce you! Once again, Park never lets me down and let's hope he never does. :D

- Other Poster -

Just when I thought 2014 was an incredible year for film, 2015 rolls up and kills the game even further. There were a plethora of tremendously groundbreaking, forward-thinking, fresh films this year but I picked 10 films that truly resonated with me to my core, ones that transported me to another realm, and films that were made by the blood and soul of a cinephile. I've thought a tremendous amount about my top films so you already know that these 10 films are my ride or die babies and I will back them up 110%! So without further ado, here are my top 10 films of 2015!

Top 10

Mad Max: Fury Road (Dir. George Miller)

It’s been 30 years since the last Mad Max film was released and with the long wait and arrival of Mad Max: Fury Road, it surpassed even the wildest dreams of the most hardcore fans! George Miller returns with a bigger and badder vision of his previous films, embodying a visual spectacle so grandiose, he elevates the genre and shows us how action films could be just as poetic and exhilarating at the hands of a mastermind by telling his story solely through action. This adrenaline-pumped, feverish, and ferocious goose chase is revisioned with a modern-day feminist stance which breaths fire into this already technically flawless film. It’s one film where as soon as it ended, I wanted to experience it again and again! // Trailer Reaction

Mustang (Dir. Deniz Gamze Ergüven)

It seems like every year, there is that one film that is deemed as a “Feminist Film” and this year, it is the Turkish film, Mustang. And while I was able to check off everything that make the film that genre, it completely surpassed all my expectations and more. Gorgeously shot and brilliantly acted by unknown actresses, the film portrays the raw vibrancy of sisterhood even in its darkest moments. The showcase of their resilience over their constant struggle was refreshing to witness as they navigate and fight against their oppression. This is one hell of a first feature by Ergüven that is self-assured, irresistible, and ultimately a powerful film.

Tangerine (Dir. Sean Baker)

It's no wonder why Sean Baker's Tangerine is on all top-lists of 2015! He gives us an all access pass into the unseen world of Sunset Blvd where two transgender sex-workers are the centerpieces of this explosive revenge film. Riotously hilarious as it is poignantly tender, the film pulsates with authenticity through its vibrant cinematography and raw performances. Utilizing the iPhone 5s, trap music, and a refreshing story, Tangerine is one hell of a monster of a film that will chew you up and spit you back out! It's already become a Christmas classic that'll have you swerving down Santa Monica Blvd and screaming, Merry Christmas Bitch! // Full Review

45 Years (Dir. Andrew Haigh)

It's a special moment when a film with a simple narrative can leave a mark and marinate in the deepest corners of your soul, rendering it to be a gem to be cherished forever. That’s what 45 years did to me and now, I am weak at the knees just by it’s mention. It's incredible how a subject as foreign and vast as a 45-year marriage can seem so relatable especially in the quiet struggle of unexpected news that rocks one harmonious marriage. It's the radically quiet yet nuanced performance by Charlotte Rampling that shows the depths of the emotional complexity and struggle that is singularly translated through just her facial expressions.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Dir. Marielle Heller)

Adapted by Phoebe Gloekner autobiographical graphic novel, The Diary of a Teenage Girl tells a teenage girl's sexual odyssey with an acute and quirky observation that makes Minnie a quintessential voice to girls everywhere. Accompanied by an animated spirit of comic-book creator Aline Kominsky (via. animator Sara Gunnarsdottir), we bear witness to Minnie's journey through girlhood in all its awkward, embarrassing, and equally rewarding journey as she experiences the perils of first love and claiming her burgeoning sexuality. Marielle Heller's directorial debut is a powerful one that is crafted with precision and sincerity to truthfully represent the complexity that lies within a teenage girl's thoughts and emotion without judgement.

Magic Mike XXL (Dir. Gregory Jacobs)

Before you scoff at Magic Mike XXL, WATCH IT. Magic Mike XXL is one of the very few times the female gaze has been utilized and any use of it deserves praise and recognition! But even with that tremendous aspect, the film showed an honest and frank portrayal of brohood in all it's equally trivial and grandiose moments. Through the showcase of frank conversations of career aspirations, bromance, and female sexuality, the film exceeds all expectations and its predecessor. It’s one of the most fun cinematic experiences I’ve had in a while that had me hollering, wooing, and even in tears. It’s definitely one for the books. // Full Review

Victoria (Dir. Sebastian Schipper)

Victoria is an film that MUST be experienced. It's a tour-de-force of a film and not just because of it's technical achievement of the 2.5 hour film being told all in ONE shot but because the film truly encapsulates the human experience in all its serendipitous moments and human connection, no matter how tragic. Taking place in real time and on the streets of Berlin, the story unravels steadily, taking us through a roller coast of emotions, a tender character study and ultimately showcasing one of the most audacious and ballsy cinematic experience yet. This is a MUST-SEE! // Trailer

The Revenant (Dir. Alejandro González Iñárritu)

You would think that Alejandro González Iñárritu would rest after winning his freshly pressed Oscar for last year’s Birdman but he did just the opposite and delivered an uncompromising film that is literally a tour-de-force of will in front and behind the camera. Reuniting up with visionary cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki once again, The Revenant transports you to another world with stunning visuals that creates an immersive and visceral experience through the story's rigorous content that emotionally and physically demands just as much from the viewer as it does from the lead character Hugh Glass, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. He gives an astonishing 200% commitment which only further proves why he's one of the best actors of the 21st century.

Sicario (Dir. Denis Villeneuve)

Denis Villeneuve is a master when it comes to telling stories of the human experience especially in relation to violence and crime so it's no surprise that Sicario is one hell of a blistering drug war drama that will undoubtably leave you high and dry. It is ruthless in content, immaculate in form, and sweltering in bleakness from start to finish. The film is a piercing reality check as we witness the cyclical and political engine of the drug war in America stronger than ever in this ceaselessly soul-crushing thriller. Emily Blunt as Kate, an idealistic FBI agent, delivers a nuanced performance that will surely haunt you for days after. Guarantee. // Full Review

Carol (Dir. Todd Haynes)

Nobody can tell a 1950’s period piece quite like Todd Haynes can and Carol is proof of that. Adapted by Patricia Highsmith’s novel The Price of Salt, screenwriter Phyllis Nagy perfectly translates this love story with subtly and poise. Shooting on 16mm, every luscious shot by cinematographer Edward Lachman’s looks as if it should be framed and put up on The Louvre. It’s a love story as universal as it is realistic to the times. The performance by Rooney Mara shows the restrained and delicate nuances of the stirring and suppressed emotions of first love in a spectacular way. Every little detail down to the swoon worthy imagery to the sweeping music by Carter Burwell makes Carol one of the most decadent and moving love stories to date.

Honorable Mentions:

Runner Ups:

Heaven Knows What

Ex-Machina

It Follows
White God
The Look of Silence

Festival Favorites:

The Tribe and Girlhood were also on my list last year but considering it's been making their rounds, I am mentioning them once again because they are fantastic!

Evolution
Sworn Virgin
Crush the Skull
My Love, Don't Cross that River
Out of my Hand
Twinsters

Documentaries:

The Wolfpack

The Wolfpack

Amy

Best of Enemies

What Happened Miss Simone?

Dior and I

Fiction:

Goodnight Mommy

Goodnight Mommy
Son of Saul
Furious 7

Creed

Crimson Peak

99 Homes

Straight Outta Compton

The Martian

Inside Out

Felt

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

The Assassin
Spy
The Big Short

Year: 2015

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Writer: Guillermo del Toro & Matthew Robbins

Cinematographer: Dan Laustsen

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam

Country of Origin: USA

Rating: R

Time: 119 min.

Sal from Crome Yellow and I are really excited about Guillermo del Toro's Crimson Peak. Like REEAALLLLYYY excited! Forget what the trailer shows you, this film is truly a gorgeous gothic love story that is a feast for your eyes and soul. An aspiring writer Edith (Wasikowska) marries the charming and seductive Sir Thomas Sharpe (Hiddleston) and she finds herself swept away to his remote gothic mansion in the English Hills where him and his sister Lady Lucille (Chastain) resides. Able to communicate with the dead, Edith tries to decipher the mystery behind the ghostly hauntings in her new home.

As stated in my trailer reaction of the film, I was worried that the "ghosts" were going to be too cheesy but having seen the film, the imagery works seamlessly into the story. There are so many elements in this story from the intricate and exquisite production design to the sweeping soundtrack to the dazzling cinematography makes this "horror" story a truly opulent and extravagant film experience. But above all, it's the powerful performances by Hiddleston and Chastain that puts the cherry on top of this stunning tragic love story. I cannot express how much I adored Crimson Peak! I hope everyone loves it despite the film being marketed incorrectly because it really is a film worth feasting on!

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Year: 2015

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Writer: Taylor Sheridan

Cinematographer: Roger Deakins

Cast: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Daniel Kaluuya, Jon Bernthal, Victor Garber

Country of Origin: USA

Rating: R

Time: 121 min.

As you all know, my love for Denis Villeneuve is boundless! I always have total faith with every one of his films that my mind will be totally obliterated after its viewing. Villeneuve's latest film, Sicario follows the story of an idealistic FBI agent, Kate, who is enlisted in a government task force to aid them in the raging drug war that is happening at the border of Mexico and the U.S. With a strong cast consisting of Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Daniel Kaluuya, Jon Bernthal and others, all play a powerful role in this complex and hazy game of the drug war that's a lot bigger than they initially thought.

Emily Blunt gives a nuanced performance that will surely get her an Oscar nod. The suffocating atmosphere permeates at a steady pace throughout the film to truly show the increasingly suffocating and helpless reality we are all living it. It's ruthless in content, immaculate in form, and sweltering bleakness in atmosphere. The music by Jôhann Jôhannson's adds another level of moody sinisterism that's just on the verge of devouring you.

I did my Director Series of Denis Villeneuve a while back where I rank his films from best to the worst! (If that's even possible!) I came out of the theater just stunned at what I had just experienced. It wasn't what I had expected but immediately knew that after the numbness of my body faded and the full process of this film was felt that Sicario would be considered one of the best films of this year, if not the decade.

What a fucking awesome year 2014 was in cinema! There were so many thought-provoking, female-driven, visionary filmmaking showcased this year that I simply could not limit myself and why should I?! This list took me a considerable amount of time to really dissect and narrow down considering that I decided to combine U.S. and foreign films together, making the process literally impossible! But here it is! The best films I've seen this year were first and foremost, possessed impeccable and spellbinding form and naturally, commanding stories that demands the audience to confront their own notions on identity, success, and humanity.

Top 10

Under the Skin (Dir. Jonathan Glazer)

It's no surprise why Under the Skin is on everyone's top film lists and the Badass Femme of 2014. Loosely adapted from Michel Faber's 2000 novel of the same name, Glazer tells a story about an alien seductress who preys on men in Scotland with surprising depth and heart that examines what it means to be a human, specifically a female on this earth. With it's eerily gripping soundtrack and gorgeous cinematography of the vast landscape of Scotland, Under the Skin doesn't shy away from showing the absolute ugliness of humanity with powerful sincerity and heartbreaking realism. Under the Skin particularly touched my little heart and even inspired me to make a short film (coming soon) and name her the Badass Femme of 2014. If you're not convinced that I'm in love with this film, I don't know what else will. Full review // Badass Femmes: The Female

Birdman (Dir. Aléjandro Gonzalez Inárritu)

From the moment, I laid my eyes onto the glorious Birdman trailer that embodied everything I love about cinema (to name a few): long-takes, maniacal characters on the brink of madness, and surreal tones, I was instantly hooked and (im)patiently waited for the film. And boy, I was not disappointed! With the A-List cast and meta story, Inarritu brought powerhouse performances by every characters, delving within each character who are battling their worst demons that brought harsh truths about broken careers, the new generation, and our own projected egos. Full Review

Force Majeure (Dir. Ruben Östlund)

There are rare moments in your life when you watch a film and you are stuffed with sheer bliss from discovering the utter brilliance of a particular film that it's hard to believe it's utter existence! I got that feeling when I watched Yorgos Lanthimos' Dogtooth and now, Ruben Östlund's Force Majeure. It took the premise of trust within a relationship seen in The Loneliest Planet and delves neck deep in Force Majeure to explore perception and gender expectations in a family setting with piercing wit and humor. Photographed in a calculated and pristine manner, Östlund's fourth feature is will most likely be nominated for an Academy for the Best Foreign Language Film which I hope takes the gold! If there is only one film you watch in 2014, let it be this one.

Nightcrawler (Dir. Dan Gilroy)

Jake Gyllenhaal has recently been taking a dramatic career shift, distancing himself from his Blockbuster woes to pursue more risky projects like Denis Villenueve's Prisoners and Enemy where he played a tortured cop and mysterious dopplegangers, respectively. He elevates his status as a serious actor even further with Dan Gilroy's debut film, Nightcrawler. Filmed on the gritty streets of Los Angeles, Nightcrawler can be seen as today's modern day success story that touts a razor-sharp screenplay and a transformative performance by Gyllenhaal that'll get under your skin and stay with you. It'll be a dream if Hollywood recognized Gyllenhaal for his creepy and haunting turn as Lou Bloom with a tiny golden man. But one thing is for sure, after working in Hollywood for so long, Gilroy is bound to change the way "Hollywood" films are being made. Full review

We Are the Best! ( Dir. Lukas Moodysson)

Lukas Moodysson is one of the rare filmmakers that has the blessed gift of being able to translate the intimate aspects of life directly to screen without tainting the subject in the slightest. We Are the Best! is easily this year's best film that screams and celebrates the joys of being a young female, which is a film we all so desperately need. Adapted from the graphic novel Never Goodnight written by his wife Coco Moodysson, the film highlights the lives of three 13-year old girls who unabashedly share their love of punk music! It's ultra naturalistic performances by these young actresses brings uncanny chemistry that is belly-achingly hilarious, heart-warming, and exuberant. PUNK ROCK 4EVA!

Selma (Dir. Ava DuVernay)

This has got to be the only "Hollywood" film in the bunch and that's primarily due to Ava Duvernay's exceptionally poignant vision chronicling the three month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights. Selma could've been your typical biopic but in narrowing down and presenting the historical and most victorious period for the civil rights movement, gave more room for the story to show the little details behind King and the moments leading up to the monumental time that is as relevant today as it was then. David Oyelowo's uncanny portrayal as King from his round cheeks to the cadence of his voice is powerful and brilliant. Selma is a best history lesson that doesn't preach but shows the urgency of our racial injustice times with sensitivity as well as potency.

The Overnighters (Dir. Jesse Moss)

The Overnighters tells one of the most relevant and important story about our post-recession American times that is shows sobering reality of our country's dire situation with assured compassion and sensitivity. In the wake of one of the worst recessions in America, a pastor sparks controversy in his North Dakota town by opening the doors of his church to homeless workers seeking jobs at nearby oil fields. The story itself is sufficiently compelling but the third act shocker transforms the social commentary documentary into a completely different beast, giving rise to one of the best and important documentaries out there this year.

20,000 Days on Earth (Dir. Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard)

I am ashamed that I did not know who Nick Cave was prior to watching this magical film. Blending fiction and reality, 20,000 Days on Earth focuses on Nick Cave's 20,000th day on earth, showing the day in a life of the musician and international cultural icon. It's hyper-stylized form heightens the surreal experience as we witness Cave's most intimate creative process and reflection on his life that results in a breathtakingly emotional journey for Cave and the audience alike. Bursting with passion and vitality, Cave's energy is palpable and digs deep down to the microscopic particles of your soul which in turn, forces you to reflect on your own life.

The Babadook (Dir. Jennifer Kent)

Inspired by her short film Monster, Jennifer Kent's The Babadook is truly one of the best horror films of the decade! It utilizes conventional horror tropes of bad kids and supernatural beings to tell a deeply unsettling film that confronts not the demons lurking in the house but the one that lives within yourself. I was not able to sleep for a week after watching this film and personally, my fear of motherhood was only amplified by the monstrous performance by Noah Wiseman who embodies every parent's worst nightmare. The Babadook is a fierce debut film by the Australian writer-director whose cinematic voice is bold and refreshing. I can't wait to see what she does next! Even if that means, I'll lose some sleep. XP Full review

The Raid 2 (Dir. Gareth Evans)

The very coveted #10 spot goes to Gareth Evans' The Raid 2: Berendal, the sequel to what is already been claimed as the Godfather of martial art films. It's explosive, wall-to-wall, ballet of ultra-violence may run more than two hours but it's dramatic opera of undercover cops, family affairs, and new badass characters gives the film sufficient time to flesh out their action-filled storyline with nail-biting intensity and excessive violence, choreographed to perfection! Some may think it's too violent but it satisfies your ultimate action cravings especially in a industry where there are more lackluster and "fake" fight scenes than not. But be careful for what you ask for because this is one slice is pure action that just might detonate your head into flames! Full Review

Honorable Mentions

Festival Favorites:

The Tribe

Girlhood
Mommy
Stations of the Cross
Starred Up
The Tribe
Tokyo Tribe
Why Don't You Play in Hell
Two Days, One Night

Documentaries:

Citizenfour

Citizenfour
Finding Vivian Maier
Happy Valley
Life Itself

Others:

Only Lovers Left Alive

22 Jump Street
Boyhood
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Edge of Tomorrow
Frank
Fury
Guardians of the Galaxy
John Wick
Listen Up Philip
Obvious Child
Only Lovers Left Alive
Palo Alto
Snowpiercer
The Double
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The One I Love

AFI FEST has finally come and gone! AFI FEST has always been on top of their game when it comes to showcasing some of the finest and groundbreaking International and American cinema and this year, they outdid themselves. Highlighting the fest, they had an emotional and long-overdue tribute to the legendary Sophia Loren who has graced the Italian and American screens for generations. I had the privilege of being able to watch just a fraction of the films they had and I am even sad that I was not able to watch EVERYTHING! AFI FEST is a particularly great festival considering that all their tickets are FREE. Yeah, you heard that right, $FREE.99!

And with that, you have one of the best curated film festivals in Los Angeles that caters to the mainstream and the indiest of audiences! You betcha that I was able to film some stuff while I was there so make sure to check out my film vlog down below! And keep your eyes out for upcoming reviews this week and many more updates on these films because I loved them all so much and everyone must watch them!

Top Five Films:

Girlhood (Dir. Céline Sciamma) (See review)
Mommy (Dir. Xavier Dolan)
The Tribe (Dir. Miroslav Slaboshpitsky)
The Absent (Dir. Nicholás Pereda)
Felt (Dir. Jason Banker) (See review)

A Most Violent Year (Dir. J.C. Chandor) (See Review) B+
Eden (Mia Hansen-Løve) (See interview) A
The Midnight Swim (Dir. Sarah Adina Smith) B+
Two Days, One Night (Dir. Jean-Pierre Dardenne & Luc Dardenne) A
Merchants of Doubt (Dir. Robert Kenner) A
Inherent Vice (Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson) B+
Thou Wast Mild & Lovely (Dir. Josephine Decker) (See Review) A-
Stations of the Cross (Dir. Dietrich Brüggemann) A
Haemoo (Dir. Shim Sung-bo) (See Review) B+
Tales of the Grim Sleeper (Dir. Nick Broomfield) A
Happy Valley (Dir. Amir Bar-Lev) A
What We Do in the Shadows (Dir. Jemaine Clement & Taika Waititi) A
Fish & Cat (Dir. Shahram Mokri) A

(See Photos)

Even if you're not into documentaries, this is a MUST SEE kind of film. The Look of Silence is the follow-up documentary to Joshua Oppenheimer's shocking and profound film, The Act of Killing (see review). The Act of Killing confronts the murderers behind the Indonesian killings of 1965-66 where more than a million people were slaughtered. In The Look of Silence, Oppenheimer focuses on an optometrist who confronts the men that killed one of his brothers. It's a chilling companion piece that is surely to instill fear just at the sheer tenacity of the premise.

I got chills just at the first glance of the Executive Producer names who are documentary gods aka Werner Herzog and Errol Morris. Just having their stamp of approval means it's a worthwhile and powerful film. Already the tone of the film is heavy but it's also complemented by such serene and beautiful cinematography.

It's always been said that sometimes silence speaks more volumes than words ever could. And it seems like in this case, it's almost an inevitable act considering the fear that confrontations like these bring. We see people in moments of solitude, contemplating their troubling situation especially one that requires lengthy introspection because they know that an act like this will have reverberating consequences once the camera is turned off considering it is the killers who are in position of power.

These are the very reasons why I love documentaries because they have the capacity to capture the hidden reality in brutal and unflinching honesty. The Look of Silence is not going to be an easy ride but it's one that must be experienced and felt. Drafthouse Films is bringing the film early 2015.