Over on Twitter, I run an account that gives movie reviews in twenty words or less. In a fast and moving world, attention spans can be short, especially on social media. I challenged myself to strip away the excess fat from reviews and post my succinct thoughts that get to the heart of how I feel. New releases, old classics, first-time viewings, and tenth time rewatches.
See below for a round-up of last month’s content.
The Strangers: Prey at Night – Serviceable horror that doesn’t try to push any boundaries but does include some good scares. And great masks.
Ghost World – A fascinating coming-of-age drama with just the right amount of quirk. Funny, but with plenty of psychological depth and sophistication.
Naked – Hardcore Mancunian accents, disturbing sex scenes, a wonderful score and zippy complex dialogue. Impossible to take your eyes off.
Freaks – Takes a little while to get going but eventually delivers great sci-fi action and makes the genre tropes feel fresh.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco – Beautiful framing, vivid colours and intense performances are all used to ramp up the emotion as the story progresses. Fantastic.
Ad Astra – Personal demons dominate the spectacle of outer space as Pitt gives a deeply intimate performance. I was completely absorbed throughout.
The Borderlands – Found footage horror that’s slow in parts, but when the scares come they are incredibly effective. Including a terrifying finale.
Juan of the Dead – Ridiculously silly, over the top nonsense. Just as a zombie comedy set in Cuba should be. Kept me smiling throughout.
Big Trouble in Little China – Action, comedy, horror and fantasy, with one of the greatest ever heroes in Jack Burton. So 80s. So damn good.
The Third Man – Inventive camera angles and lighting give a unique visual aesthetic that really stands the test of time. Classic film noir.
Top Secret! – An absurd variety of slick wit and immature childishness, with some of the best visual gags ever seen. Love it.
Have you seen any of these films and if so, what are your thoughts?
