All posts by Alex Brannan

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

The Villainess (2017) Movie Review

The opening scene to The Villainess employs the same video game POV styling of Hardcore Henry, although here director Byung-gil Jung doesn’t mince any words.

While directed flashy, this opening scene benefits from its frenetic whip pans which hide some shoddy CG blood effects. Five minutes into the film, when the camera pulls back to reveal our protagonist for the evening—the almost mechanically ferocious Sook-hee (Ok-bin Kim)—the camera captures stunt choreography more successfully. Still, the whole scene remains overly frantic and shaky.

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Why spend so much time discussing the film’s opening scene? It is Continue reading The Villainess (2017) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Animation, Like It

Loving Vincent (2017) Movie Review

The novelty of the animated film Loving Vincent is well-known at this point. Over a hundred artists were tasked with replicating Vincent van Gogh’s works as a backdrop for a rotoscoped story exploring van Gogh’s mental health in his final days.

The animation in the film is at first transfixing. The world that is created with the textures and brush strokes is Continue reading Loving Vincent (2017) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Long Reviews (>400 Words), Love It, Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) (SPOILER) Movie Review

Note: Yep, spoilers. I’m not bothering to attempt this review without actually talking about the film.

From the first sequence of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, it is clear that what you are watching is going to be a different take on the Star Wars universe. It is a dogfight in the skies of space, with the roguish Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) quipping as he leads a squadron of bombers toward the First Order fleet.

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This sequence engages with the formulaic conceit of a Star Wars dogfight, and it even replicates Continue reading Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) (SPOILER) Movie Review →

2018 Golden Globes

2018 Golden Globes Predictions – Best Picture

It is obligatory to acknowledge the continual absurdity of the Golden Globe taxonomy vis a vis what constitutes a “Drama” and what constitutes a “Musical or Comedy,” but I don’t want to dwell on the point. It is getting exhausting.

If Get Out and Lady Bird are comedies, so is Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Why bother separating the two categories at all? Yeah, it gives comedies a chance to compete, because the dramas often nudge out the comedies. But most other awards outlets have expanded beyond five nominees. Why wouldn’t the Golden Globes just go to one category of 10 films? Who knows!

Whatever. Let’s talk about movies, I guess…

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The Nominees:

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Continue reading 2018 Golden Globes Predictions – Best Picture →

2018 Golden Globes

2018 Golden Globes Predictions – Best Actor

The two Best Actor categories this year both have good narratives to them. They are arguably the most exciting, as it is difficult to see exactly who is on top.

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The Nominees:

Best Actor – Drama

Continue reading 2018 Golden Globes Predictions – Best Actor →

2018 Golden Globes

2018 Golden Globes Predictions – Best Actress

The crop of actresses in the two Best Actress Golden Globe categories is strong this year. Each category has its front-runners, but there is plenty of upset potential. Then again, I guess that’s how it always goes…

Whelp, let’s talk about it.

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The Nominees:

Best Actress – Drama

Continue reading 2018 Golden Globes Predictions – Best Actress →

2018 Golden Globes

2018 Golden Globes Predictions – Best Supporting Actor

Someone tell me, is this the first time an actor has received a major award nomination for only doing reshoots? This is the easiest award nomination Christopher Plummer has ever received!

 

Anyway, let’s talk predictions.

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The Nominees – Best Supporting Actor

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2018 Golden Globes

2018 Golden Globes Predictions – Best Supporting Actress

This year, the two supporting acting categories are steeped with talent. Thankfully, both categories also have a few clear favorites that will rise to the surface and make my job a little easier. In my mind, Best Supporting Actress is already in the books. Then again, apparent certainty can blind one to other variables, so maybe take a grain of salt or two on this one.
2018 Golden Globes

2018 Golden Globes Predictions – Best Director

The narrative of the Golden Globes director category may end up being more about who was not included over who was. It was a deep well this year, with a lot of strong films coming from new and veteran directors. Yes, it is sad not to see newcomers Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele in the mix. Yes, it is surprising, yet wholly explainable, to see Ridley Scott here. Yes, Luca Guadagnino should have wound up in the top five.

 

But we live with the cards we’re dealt. If anything, the snubs make the prediction easier in the Best Director category.

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The Nominees – Best Director

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2018 Golden Globes

2018 Golden Globes Film Predictions – Who Will Win

Note: As award campaign trajectories are subject to change, so will these predictions. They will be updated as necessary to reflect the most likely candidates as decided by one lone critic.

The 2018 Golden Globes ceremony will be held on January 7, 2018 at 8 p.m. ET.

Continue reading 2018 Golden Globes Film Predictions – Who Will Win →