The Souvenir

The Souvenir

A24 etc.

2019 January 27

Drama

DVD
D

I don't find watching a young woman exploited and gaslighted by her partner entertaining, unless it's, well, Gaslight.  Joanna Hogg wrote and directed.

Never Goin' Back

Never Goin' Back

A24 etc.

August 3, 2018

Dramedy

DVD
C-

I know this is supposed to be a "stoner comedy" but I found it a bit bleak, although I could see how it might be funny to some people, hence dramedy and C-.  Augustine Frizzell wrote and directed.

Minari

Minari

A24

January 26, 2020

Historical Drama

DVD
C+

While there were elements of this I liked, including of course the touches of humor, and I did watch it to the end, it was just too downbeat for me, and I think even more than it had to be.  Lee Isaac Chung wrote and directed.

Mid90s

Mid90s

A24 etc.

October 26, 2018

Historical Drama

DVD
D-

With that title and Jonah Hill writing and directing, you might think this would be a nostalgic comedy but it's actually quite depressing on multiple levels.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse

A24 etc.

7 September 2019

Historical Drama

DVD
D

Atmospheric is not a compliment.  Robert Eggers directed and co-wrote with his brother Max.

Lady Bird

Lady Bird

A24 etc.

September 1, 2017

Historical Comedy (because it's set in 2002)
DVD
C-

I like Saoirse Ronan, but I just couldn't get involved with her character, or any of the others.  Greta Gerwig wrote and directed.

It Comes at Night

It Comes at Night

A24

June 9, 2017

Horror

DVD
D-

Atmospheric and boring.  Trey Edward Shults wrote and directed.

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

A24

21 May 2017

Historical Comedy, Musical?

DVD
D+

Three young punks in 1977, but I guess it also becomes sci-fi later.  This is based on the Neil Gaiman short story, which director John Cameron Mitchell co-adapted.

High Life

High Life

A24

October 2, 2018

Sci-Fi

DVD
D-

Creepy.  Claire Denis directed and co-wrote, about a year after Un Beau Soleil Intérieur, which was almost as unpleasant.

Hereditary

Hereditary

A24

June 8, 2018

Drama

DVD
D+

I know that this turns into a horror movie at some point, but at the quarter-hour mark it was just a kind of creepy family drama.  Ari Aster wrote and directed.

Good Time

Good Time

A24

August 25, 2017

Crime Drama

DVD
D

Two brothers, one of them developmentally disabled (played by co-writer and, with his brother Benny, co-director Josh Safdie) and the other Robert Pattinson with facial hair, rob a bank.

A Ghost Story (2017)

A Ghost Story (2017)

A24

July 7, 2017

Romance

DVD
D

So slow-moving that there was a point (what felt like a few minutes) during a love scene when I thought either the characters had fallen asleep or the DVD had frozen.  David Lowery wrote and directed.

 

The Florida Project

The Florida Project

A24

October 6, 2017

Drama

DVD
D

I didn't like any of the characters in this, especially the bratty kids, but the vintage motels were kind of cool.  Sean Baker directed and co-wrote.

First Reformed

First Reformed

A24

May 18, 2018

Drama

DVD
D+

Paul Schrader wrote and directed this slow-moving tale of a pastor who keeps a diary.

Equals

Equals
A24
May 26, 2016
Sci-Fi
DVD
D+

It's hard to get emotionally invested in a dystopia that suppresses emotions, although the look of the movie is well-done (if deliberately bland).  Drake Doremus directed and co-wrote.

The Children Act

The Children Act
A24
24 August 2018
Drama
DVD
C-

Depressing tale of a judge (Thompson) whose marriage is breaking up as she takes on challenging cases.  Ian McEwan based the screenplay on his novel.  Richard Eyre directed.

This is the 100th C- I've given on this blog, so a high percentage of the movies I check out aren't terrible but I don't really want to continue beyond the quarter-hour mark.

The Adderall Diaries

The Adderall Diaries

A24

March 10, 2016

Drama

DVD
D+

A writer becomes interested in a murder trial, and the only "good father" in the first quarter-hour makes pancakes for his kids, pancakes that look like his genitals.  Pamela Romanowsky directed and  based the script on a book by Stephen Elliott.