Year: 2017

Director: Sofia Coppola

Writer: Sofia Coppola

Cinematography: Philippe Le Sourd

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst,  Colin Farrell, Elle Fanning, Oona Laurence, Angourie Rice, Addison Riecke

Country of Origin: USA

Rating: R

Time: 93 mins.

I never thought I would see the day when Sofia Coppola would direct a thriller but here we are with The Beguiled! This southern gothic story is set during the Civil War at a southern girl's boarding school. When one of the girls find a wounded soldier (Colin Farrell), they take him in and sexual tension starts brewing. Sofia Coppola crafts a razor sharp thriller that explores gender dynamics through the female gaze. The film is filled with atmospheric tension from start to finish especially with the music provided by Laura Karpman and Phoenix. The stunning cinematography by Philippe Le Sourd will leave you breathless and wanting more!

The Beguiled is a remake of the 1971 film starring Clint Eastwood and based on the novel by Thomas P. Cullinan. Sofia has been getting a lot of heat for removing a Black slave that was in the original film to focus on the gender dynamics instead of the race relations. But I don't see why it wouldn't have worked if it did so well in the original film but that's Sofia Coppola for you. Regardless of everything, I quite enjoyed it and I'm sure it will get some Oscar nominations! After all, she did win the Best Director award at Cannes this year!

- Trailer Reaction -

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Year: 2017

Director: Patty Jenkins

Writer: Allan Heinberg

Cinematography: Matthew Jensen

Cast: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, David Thewlis, Elena Anaya, Danny Huston, Said Taghmaoui, Ewen Bremner, Eugene Brave Rock

Country of Origin: USA

Rating: PG-13

Time: 141 mins.

Wonder Woman is not only the best DC film ever (because that doesn't say much) but a great Superhero film! As this is the first Wonder Woman film to ever exist so naturally the film focuses on her origin story. Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, Princess of the Amazons and trained warrior. When a pilot (Pine) crashes offshore of the Amazon island of Themyscira and tells Diana about the war in the outside world, she leaves home to fight a war to end all wars, discovering her full powers and destiny. 

Director Patty Jenkins did a magnificent job at crafting unforgettable action sequences, three-dimensional characters, and a powerful story about hope. Even though it's a superhero film, it feels very different than the ones we're used to seeing, it's better. There is more compassion, humanity, and love in this story which is why Wonder Woman is exactly the kind of film we need to see in the world right now. I'm so beyond proud to finally see a female superhero in her own film, kicking ass and taking names! Wonder Woman 2 can't come out soon enough! 

- Trailer Reaction -

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It's finally here and it's happening! Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot is coming out this week and I couldn't be more excited! Is this the first ever Wonder Woman film to ever exist?! It's about damn time! The film has already been getting rave reviews and it only solidifies my love for this mystical woman who is Wonder Woman. Did not realize how big of a fan I was till I realized I was her for Halloween and own a Barbie-version of her. If I still have my costume, I will dress up as Wonder Woman to watch the film. If not, I'll still try to rock a gold headband! Stay tuned for my review!

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OoOo I'm loving the character poster design of Ana Lily Amirpour sophomore feature, The Bad Batch! It looks almost grim only showcasing the bodies of the characters with their heads chopped off but that basically sums up the vibe of this film. It's a brutal, psychedelic, and transcendental ride through an apocalyptic wasteland. I thought this film was so utterly fantastic that I filmed both a review and a trailer reaction for it! I can't wait to hear what you all think of this cannibal love story when it comes out June 23rd. *Cue Yeah Yeah Yeah's Head Will Roll 

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Sarah Adina Smith's sophomore feature, Buster's Mal Heart will not only quench Mr. Robot fan's thirst but give you most rewarding and retrospective movie experience of your life. Smith's previous film, The Midnight Swim had a haunting and refreshing spin on the tired "found footage" genre that solidified her as one of the freshest voice in American cinema. Buster's Mal Heart is an introspective, philosophical ride that'll leave you awestruck from beginning to end. As always, Malek delivers a hauntingly powerful performance as a man who starts questioning his own sanity after encountering a conspiracy theorist. The film comes out April 28th!

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It feels like forever since I saw Ana Lily Amirpour's The Bad Batch at Beyond Fest last year! The trailer for it finally came out and it's always a delightful surprise to see how they edited the trailer. Safe to say, there is no misleading or spoilers shown, it is just as eccentric and transcendental as you think it would be. Sal from Crome Yellow and I did a review for it and we were completely enthralled and entranced by the whole cinematic experience. We especially were fond of Keanu Reeves and Jim Carrey like always! Catch The Bad Batch when it comes out in theaters June 23rd! 

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Sofia Coppola's latest film The Beguiled, is just the kind of thriller we didn't know we needed! Adapted from Thomas Cullinan's novel, A Painted Devil and the 1971 film adaptation starring Clint Eastwood, the film stars an incredible line of women: Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Angourie Rice and of course Colin Farrell.  Think the Virgin Suicides with less teen angst and more sexual tension! O la la! The Beguiled comes out on June 23rd by Focus Features. This is gonna be a good one!

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I took one look at a still of Eliza Hittman's sophomore film, Beach Rats and have never felt more compelled to watch a film about a half-naked white boy than in this moment. Written and Directed by Hittman, Beach Rats follows Frankie, a teen struggling to escape his bleak home life in Brooklyn while trying to come to terms with his sexual orientation. He spends his summer with his delinquent boy gang, girlfriend and older men he meets online. It sure sounds like we're in for a wiiiiild summer!

Beach Rats premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, received raving reviews and went on to win the festival's Directing Award for U.S. Drama. I haven't watched Hittman's previous film, It Felt Like Love but I know that she is one of this generation's freshest and boldest cinematic voice.  This teaser trailer is undeniably seductive and leaves me salivating for more! It's unclear when the film will come out but knowing that Neon acquired the film, I know it's in good hands so let the waiting game begin!

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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

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The trailer for one of the best films has arrived and it's Julia Ducournau's cannibalism film, Raw. This French-Belgian horror film stars Garance Marillier as a vegetarian college student who, following a hazing ritual, becomes a cannibalism. Crome Yellow and I did a full review for it after we saw it last year at Beyond Fest and we were completely floored by this tantalizing coming-of-age story (See Review).  Now, we get not only one but two spanking new trailers for Raw! Be prepared, you're not ready for this!

The two trailer gives off very different vibes but nonetheless, it's an intense story that touches on everything I love: sisterhood, female sexuality, and of course, cannibalism! And despite how jarring the trailer is, Raw is one bloody brilliant film with incredible performances and unforgettable scenes that truly re-invent the cannibalism genre. You cannot miss this when it comes out, March 10th!

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There's nothing more exciting than hearing the words "All-Female Directed Horror Anthology". As much as some of the best horror films have been directed by men, the truly horrifying stories seem to come from female perspectives (The Babadook, Goodnight Mommy). So you can imagine my trauma after watching the latest trailer for the all-female directed horror anthology film, XX.

Four deadly tales from four killer directors consisting of Karyn Kusama (The Invitation), Annie Clark aka St. Vincent who makes her directorial debut, Roxanne Benjamin (Southbound), and Jovanka Vuckovic (The Captured Bird) in addition to award-winning animator, Sofia Carrillo (La Casa Triste) help weave the stories all together to create one ultra suspenseful tale of terror! Also, I'm loving the poster design! The film premieres at Sundance Film Festival on January 22th before slaying the rest of us all when it hits theaters and VOD on February 17th.

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It's a difficult art to translate interpersonal intimacy onto the big screen for any filmmaker but So Yong Kim does it so masterfully, she takes it to another level. Her latest film, Lovesong, follows a relationship between two friends whose bonds deepen during an impromptu road trip. The premise sounds vague and even the trailer only shows a glimpse of the breathtaking transcendental beauty that lies within the film. I got to catch the film at Sundance's NEXT Fest and the film completely broke me with it's delicate portrait of the ebbs and flows of female friendship. I can't wait for everyone to see the film when it comes out February 17th!

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October and November is undoubtedly always my busiest months out of the year as it is Beyond Fest and AFI FEST! I had the honor of being chosen to be on the Jury for the San Diego Asian Film Festival so, I went to the Gala where I went on stage and helped present the winners! And of course, my ultimate favorite film festival, AFI FEST went down in the heart of Hollywood! I saw numerous spellbinding, heart-wrenching, and masterfully made films but my favorites were Sarah Adina Smith's Buster's Mal Heart starring Rami Malek, the absurdly comical Toni Erdmann, and Pedro Almodovar's sultry and deeply touching, Julieta. And how can I forget, The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (review)!

October Film Favorites // September Film Favorites

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Year: 2016

Director: Ana Lily Amirpour

Writer: Ana Lily Amirpour

Cinematography: Lyle Vincent

Cast: Suki Waterhouse, Jason Momoa, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carrey, Diego Luna

Country of Origin: USA

Rating: R

Time: 118 mins.

Sal from Crome Yellow and I had the privilege of attending Beyond Fest--LA's best and baddest genre film festival--where we got to watch the another cannibalism film, this time directed by Ana Lily Amirpour called The Bad Batch! Arlen (Waterhouse) is thrown into a fenced-off desert wasteland past the Texas border where all the "bad batch" of society now live. After getting her leg and arm chopped off by local cannibals, she ends up finding hope and love. Trust me when I say, you have never seen a film like this. Like Amirpour's previous hit film, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, I enjoy and appreciate her work immensely as an experience rather just a film. With it's incredible cast of new and old school actors and a banging soundtrack, psychedelic vibe, The Bad Batch surely is not to be missed!

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Year: 2016

Director: Julia Ducournau

Writer: Julia Ducournau

Cinematography: Ruben Impens

Cast: Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf, Rabah Nait Oufella

Country of Origin: France | Belgium

Rating: R

Time: 99 Min.

Sal from Crome Yellow and I had the privilege of attending Beyond Fest--LA's best and baddest genre film festival--where we got to watch the best cannibalism movie of this year, Julie Ducournau's Raw. Following a veterinary college initiation ritual where she has to eat a rabbit kidney, vegetarian Justine becomes consumed with cannibalism tendencies. This film has everything I love: sisterly love, exploration of female sexuality, and a refreshing spin on the cannibalism genre! This is Ducournau's directorial debut feature and it's an absolute stunner that is crafted with confidence and innovativeness.

Raw took the FIPRESCI prize at Cannes Film Festival and even made grown men faint when they saw it at Toronto International Film Festival! Sal and I are not sure EXACTLY which scene they fainted because there isn't anything outrightly grotesque that warrants a fainting spell so for those with weak stomachs, this film is A-OK! It's all around intensely engrossing film with a brutal coming-of-age story that will give you sweat-inducing flashbacks of your college years and an in-depth look at a girl's transition to womanhood, blood and all. 

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Year: 2016

Director: Andrea Arnold

Writer: Andrea Arnold

Cinematography: Robbie Ryan

Cast: Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf, Riley Keough, Arielle Holmes, 

Country of Origin: UK / USA

Rating: R

Time: 163 Mins.

Andrea Arnold's American Honey has been my most anticipated films of 2016 and let me say, it is one of the most finest films of this year! American Honey follows a free spirited teenage girl, Star, who leaves her troubled home in the midwest and hits the road with the mag crew--a group of outcasts who sell magazines door to door. They work hard and play even harder! Star meets the hardworking and charismatic Jake, played by Shia LaBeouf and falls madly in love with him. As expected, it's an audacious and bold social realism film that'll have you pin to the screen and grooving in your seat!

Andrea Arnold is one of my favorite filmmakers because her films portray life in all its beautiful chaos showcasing raw intimacy and electrifying performances. Sasha Lane and Shia LaBeouf's undeniable chemistry is an indulgence of pure ecstasy and dangerous passion. With a streamline of the hottest hip-hop songs from start to finish, American Honey not only shows a daring portrait about the socioeconomic landscape of America but also focuses the various people occupying it. It's no wonder Arnold won her third Jury Prize Award at Cannes this year with the film. It's explosive and engrossing, you HAVE to go see this film!

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Last summer, I shot something on the fly with a group of impassioned girlfriends with no money & no plan. The result is Wildest Dreams which features my friend Michelle and I playing two teenagers who spend a night in Koreatown, talking about our dreams & shit.

Out of many shorts I’ve made and despite the lack of resources and preparation that went into this, this short film has got to be one of my favorites as it embodies my filmic style, themes, and story. I never intended on showing it publicly considering it's conditions but this short film is truly a labor of love that's 1000% coming from our hearts. Thanks Jennifer for producing it, Jacqueline for DPing, Andrew for Camera oping, & Chris Hahn for sound editing & Michelle for always being so down to collaborate with me. I hope you watch & enjoy, I would really appreciate it. Much love. XOXO

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My beautiful actress, Kristine Gerolaga of my Yomyomf Interpretations 2.0 short film, Blue Paradise, is also a filmmaker and made her own short film called Hit or Miss. Hit or Miss made it to the top 15 and I could not be happier! Hit or Miss is about an amateur fighter who grieves over the loss of her mother while sparring with her new instructor. With only 4 lines of dialogue and capping at 3 minutes, Hit or Miss is a beautifully immersive experience that touches on the universal and poignant struggle of losing a loved one. It's so well done in terms of cinematography, sound design and acting. Voting is still in progress so give Kristine is a big thumbs up so she can possibly direct her next short film with Justin Lin! Vote here.

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If you know anything about me, you would know that my #1 babe is Andrea Arnold. Fish Tank was the audacious, in-your-face, social realism film that I didn't know I so desperately needed in my life! And once I heard that she was going to make her American film debut with American Honey, starring Shia LaBeouf and newcomer Sasha Lane, I knew I was in for a wiiiiiiiild ride. The story is an epic roadtrip that follows a teenager girl who joins a travelling magazine sales crew and gets consumed in the whirlwind of hard partying, law breaking, and young love as she blazes through the Midwest.

American Honey premiered at this year's Cannes Film Festival where it went to win the Jury Prize which is Arnold's third time winning the award. As expected, the trailer possesses the best of what Arnold has to offer and more. Entailing #1 hit tunes, a collection of unruly first-time & seasoned actors and raw intimacy, American Honey will surely be the most explosive and daring portrait of millennial youth to date. Arnold is one of the few filmmakers that continues to push the bar and tackle subjects and people that are rarely shown on screen. She is still and will always be my biggest inspiration as a Filmmaker and Critic. Thanks always to A24 for distributing the film. Surely, it will come out at the end of 2016. 

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Year: 2016

Director: Karyn Kusama
Writer: Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi

Cinematographer: Bobby Shore

Cast: Logan Marshall-Green, Emayatzy Corinealdi, John Carroll Lynch, Michiel Huisman, Tammy Blanchard

Country of Origin: USA

Time: 100 min.

Crome Yellow and I went to Beyond Fest and one of our favorite films was Karyn Kusama's The Invitation! While attending a dinner party and his former home, Will (Marshall-Green) thinks his ex-wife Eden (Blanchard) and her new husband (Huisman) have other sinister intentions for him and the guests. I have been a huge fan of Kusama's earlier works like Girlfight and Jennifer's Body but The Invitation is by far her most masterful work yet! She crafts this suffocatingly tense thriller with such precision and  artistry, the results will make you completely rethink dinner parties for good! Drafthouse Films is releasing the film next April which cannot come soon enough! 

- Trailer & Poster -

This post was originally posted 12/9/15

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