Haunter

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IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Jordan, Michael

Vincenzo Natali tries his hand at the haunted house genre and true to from, manages to twist things up quite a bit. Using a familiar twist as his starting point he develops his story from another perspective and  still manages to create some spookiness and surprises from the limitations of his single setting. It's not the scariest haunted house film but it's one of the most fun I've had watching one in a long time. Definitely one to seek out.

The Uninvited

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IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: No
Watched With: Jordan, Michael

It's getting harder to find good haunted house movies, but there's still plenty of classics to go through. I'd heard a little about this one although nothing much about the specifics of the plot. It's a really great classic set up and must be some very early examples of classic haunted house staple.

It also has a very odd set of relationships. A very close brother and sister, and a romance between a young girl and a much older man. Just comes off as a bit suspicious today I guess. Also very odd by todays standard is the shifts in tone. There's some really great spooky stuff going down but they always feel the need to make a really goofy terrible joke every 10 minutes, which really kills it.

A curious film but I'm glad to have seen it, I think it's a great story that could use an update.

Cloud Atlas

IMDB
First time viewed: No
Current Release: No
Watched With: Leith

Write Up.

Her

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IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

Spike Jones has made a beautiful sci-fi romance that speaks so well about our current social interactions and hypothesises what the next steps could be. This is a film so brimming with ideas that it'll probably take more than one viewing to really appreciate. Even so, it's left me thinking about it for days after.

But on top of all these great ideas is a great drama with wonderful characters. Add to that a beautiful soundtrack and cinematography and you've got one of the best films of the year. Can't wait to see this one again.

Inside Llewyn Davis

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes

The Coen Brothers' latest is an ode to folk music and perfectly captures that rambling poetic melancholy you associate with the form. I have to admit, I really don't like folk music and while I can appreciate the tone they were going for, it's not really my cup of tea. However there's a really great cast and plenty of great dialogue exchanges and humor. And seeing Adam Driver sing that ridiculous bass line is a real delight.

Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel has given the film a rather extreme colour grade. I've never been a fan of that overly diffused look. But I guess it suits the setting and tone.

Don Jon

IMDB
First time viewed: Yes
Current Release: Yes
Watched With: Tyler

Joseph Gordon-Levitt's feature directing debut is a fun little character drama with a great cast and pleasant sensibilities, given the subject matter. Scarlett Johansson sinks her teeth into the New Jersey character, which is great fun to watch. Julianne Moore is reliable as ever and I'm glad Brie Larson eventually had lines. Good stuff.

A.C.O.D.

IMDB

First time viewed: Yes

Current Release: Yes

Watched With: Tyler

Great cast and a good premise that was kind of wasted on a mediocre film. While it was enjoyable enough there were a few too many missed opportunities. A shame because I really love the cast. It's an alright flick mainly because of them but the writing doesn't do them many favours.