What I Watched: October 2023

Poison

The first of three Wes Anderson shorts this month. These 17-minute shorts are such a unique take on the art for of cinema. Anderson brings a completely new method of storytelling to film, so much so that these are more audiobooks with a visual aid, rather than short films. The stage like backdrops frame the narrator’s tale and keep the story engaging. Anderson keeps the visuals interesting and dynamic enough to justify the visuals and the narrator’s involvement in the scene creates an atmosphere unlike anything I have seen before. This is perhaps the most typical of the three efforts, but the tense story and excellent performances from the three actors created an entertaining and humorous viewing experience.

4/5

The Rat Catcher

Following the same formula, but dialling up the humour, Wes Anderson delivers another fantastic short. The most different, and perhaps tame, of the three, Richard Adeyode serves as the perfect narrator, with his dead pan delivery fitting right in with Wes Wacky world. Ralph Feinnes does a fantastic job at playing a revolting character and his performances is allowed to be the star in this one. This is a lot of fun and is allowed to just be silly, showing the variety possible with this storytelling method. This is perhaps weakest of the short films. This is not to say it is a bad film, the other two are just so good this one pales in comparison slightly. Each of these brings an interesting vibe, however this lacks the emotional core the others have. This feels harsh as it never tries to convey that, but I just cannot get past the strength of the others.

3.5/5

The Swan

I have saved the best for last here, this one left me speechless as the final note came up on the screen. If the other showed the fun of this style of film, this one hammered home the power it possesses. Rupert Friend delivers a captivating performance, with all dialogue being delivered through him. The stage design creates a claustrophobic environment that supports the story fantastically, really drawing you in to the narration. I particularly liked the young Peter Watson, following in tail, acting out the words of the narration. His silent actions convey the suffering of the character and highlight the brilliance of the medium.

This is without a doubt the darkest and most harrowing piece of Anderson’s work. Although portrayed as a light and whimsical director, Anderson’s works often carry deep emotions and deal with heavy themes such as grief and loss, suicide, and loneliness. The big difference here is the lack of humour completely. The direct adaption of the words really focuses the viewer in on the disturbing story and the short, punchy run time allows no break from the horror. The visual accompaniment is perhaps strongest here. The train sequence is breathtaking, and the final scene left me with my heart in my mouth. I a in awe at how Wes Anderson continues to develop his craft and constantly present such interesting and groundbreaking pieces of work.

5/5

District 9

A fantastic take on xenophobia, oppression and prejudice packed in an engaging and entertaining sci- fi film. An obvious allegory of apartheid South Africa, the film is wonderful in its commentary on prejudice, forcing the viewer to see the horrible views and treatment of the aliens through the eyes of the main character and his actions is a smart option as the film’s message grows with his mutations. The slow build of the film is necessary here as we see Wikus’ attitude shift. As he slowly starts to turn into an alien, we see his exposure to the harsh reality of the treatment of the alien settlers and his rejection of his old attitude. Wikus is a complicated character as it is hard to tell if his attitude shift is selfish in search of a cure, or a true rejection of his old ways. It is an excellent film, only hampered slightly by the found footage direction style feeling a bit gimmicky at times.

4/5

Man on the Moon

Oh, how I hate lazy biopics. They are lazy, self-serving, out of touch, formulaic works of cinema that offer no more than a Wikipedia article. Andy Kaufman is an interesting man with an interesting and groundbreaking take on comedy. Jim Carrey is an arrogant, lazy, self-serving, out of touch actor that can do a good Andy Kaufman impression. This is such obvious Oscar bait and one of the rare times it has failed. Admittedly, my opinion on this has probably been clouded by the accompanying documentary ‘Jim and Andy’, but after seeing that, I cannot in good faith support this film. Carrey’s method acting methods are nothing short of despicable. His arrogance and self-importance cloud the entire production and an in no way justify his performance. It does not help that this film follows all the tropes and cliches of a biopic and is generally, not very entertaining. Go watch Jim and Andy and avoid this.

1/5

Nope

Kicked off Halloween month with one of the best horrors in recent years. Peele was back at his best here, breathing life back into the alien invasion genre. His understanding of storytelling is up there with anyone currently in cinema, and I eagerly await is next creation. Check out my full thoughts on this film here: https://www.threeactstructure.com/post/nope-jordan-peele-and-the-necessity-of-challenge

4/5

Evil Dead Rise

The Evil Dead is a franchise that I have never felt as big a connection to as others. I do need to rewatch the original and its sequel, but in the meantime, here are my thoughts on the latest instalment. This film does a good job of adapting the soul of the original franchise, revamping it for a modern time but keeping it in line with the feel of the original. Moving the seeing out of the cabin in the woods and into an inner-city apartment is a smart move and gives the film its own identity and stops the comparisons to the original. The gore is fundamental to this franchise, and this sure delivers on that. Some of the violence is cringe worthy levels of pain and keeps the viewing experience tense. This film in no way reinvents the wheel and I probably will not go out of my way to check out further instalments like I would with Scream’s reinvention. However, I still had fun watching this.

3/5

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies

Man, I love this film. It is just so fun and such a good adaption and development of the slasher film. I truly think this is a future cult classic that has the potential to have a Scream style lasting cultural impact. Check out my full thoughts on this film here: https://www.threeactstructure.com/post/bodie-bodies-bodies-fun-fun-fun

4/5

Barbarian

One of the biggest surprise packages for me last year, I thought I would check it out again to see if I felt the same way. I am pleased to announce that this film has not lost any of its magic. The unique pacing and storytelling in this film are no less impactful on second viewing and the visuals are just as engaging. Check out my full thoughts here:

https://www.threeactstructure.com/post/barbarian-finding-beauty-in-horror

3.5/5

The Strange Thing About the Johnsons

Ari Aster, are you ok? Aster is known for his films’ unsettling approach to family dynamics and often make for purposefully unsettling viewing experiences. This might take the cake. This is one of the most uncomfortable films I have watched; I am so glad it was only a short because I do not think I could sit through a feature length production. I do not want to spoil the plot, but it is undeniably wicked. Ari’s unique approach to horror and suspense is highlighted here and it is one to watch if you have enjoyed any of his other works.

3.5/5

Oldboy

From one messed up film to another, a rough few days for my psyche here! I had heard so much about the shocking nature of this film but thankfully, I managed to avoid spoilers. I will do you the courtesy of not talking about the plot here because I think this is an essential viewing for movie fans. If you are looking to watch more foreign films but are unsure where to start, this is a great place to. This film is visually incredible and more than stylistically engaging enough to circumvent the language barrier. Hyper stylised violence is the backbone of this film, but the plot incorporates it in such a way that does not feel gimmicky, it feels perfectly at home in the world Park Chan-Wook has created. The corridor fight scene is one of the best choreographed action sequences in cinema, truly iconic. A must watch but prepare yourself before going into this, it is not easy viewing!

5/5

The Exorcist

Potentially the most influential horror movie of all time and certainly the standard bearer for all possession films. Despite its age, this film maintains its fear factor to the fullest. I had full body chills at points watching this. The film has an extra layer I was unaware of before heading in, with a deeper examination of religion and the maintaining of belief in times of difficulty, both supernatural and natural. It is a slow burn, but a necessary one, with each small flicker of fear, character development and sequence ramping up the tension until it reaches a spectacular conclusion. The visuals remain beautifully unnerving, and the practical effects ensure this film stands the test of time. A must watch for movie and horror fans alike!

4.5/5

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Halloween gave me the perfect excuse to rewatch one of my favourite films. This is a magical movie, that brings so much joy to me. It is a spectacular film, particularly visually, stop motion animation is the perfect way to display this story and brings so much life to the world. This is the definition of a spectacle and I have so much fun every time I watch it. The jokes, the songs, the visuals, they are just wonderful, and I will never tire of watching this.

4.5/5

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Potentially the scariest film I watched this month; I hate that murderous man-toon and his high pitched, blood curdling laugh. In all seriousness, this film is a technical marvel. The toons feel so alive in the real world and the effects are genuinely impressive by todays standards, let alone the 80s. The toons have shadows, interactions with real people feels real and the toon town finale is such a treat. A delightfully silly story, we need more films like this that push the boundaries of what is possible in a visual story telling medium. I am so glad this film was made and encourage everyone to check it out, the first silly mystery, Knives Out owes this a lot of credit!

4/5

Pearl

The Maxine/Pearl cinematic universe is a fantastic addition to the horror world, all held together by a fantastic Mia Goth performance. My anticipation for Maxxxine continues to grow and I cannot wait to see how they develop this story. Check out my full views on Pearl in this article here: https://www.threeactstructure.com/post/top-10-films-of-2022

3.5/5