Really enjoyed listening to your opinions throughout the year. I haven't seen Black Dog and I need to see 'I saw the TV glow', 'The Beast' and 'Only the river flows' again as a second viewing might make me appreciate them more. My list is The Taste of Things. La Chimera. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl. Challengers. The Teacher's Lounge. About Dry Grasses. Small things like these. Green Border. Girls will be girls. Promised Land. Hoard. Cadejo Blanco.

Well and thoroughly argued. -"Blink Twice" - what about Michael Apted´s "Blink"? -Still courageous is your rebuttal of "Dune 2" and rightfully so, "underutilizes the actors", yes, "really weak narrative structure", yes, rushing to the conclusion, neglecting Paul´s development and ridiculizing Stillgar´s character, preferring to "work out" the female characters like Chani, instead... -Hirokazu Koreeda´s "Monster"? "Slow"? "Overly earnest"? Oh. One reason more to watch it on DVD. Yes, your "Western expectation", and the neglect to the "Rashomon" leaning script which, by the way, won one of the palms in Cannes. Score by the late Ryuichi Sakamoto. Are you familiar with Koreeda´s work? -"Queer"? With Apichatpong Weerasethakul´s DP?

The Substance and Only the river flows, the Teachers Lounge, the Settlers and the Delinquents 😊

Great review, sir. I’m in Canada and watched on Mubi, I haven’t seen much talk about it so wasn’t sure if it was released yet in UK. Likewise I’m a fan of Arnold (and would say Fish Tank is amongst my all time favorites). I don’t really like the term “magical realism” which I first heard after watching Love Lies Bleeding. But I do think the way Arnold used the fantastical to highlight the spiritual growth, connection and freedom of Bailey and Bird was inspired. She’s also extraordinary at choosing her filming locations. A fascinating film for sure

Enjoyed it but for me the script lacked drama. Apparently the Jude Law character was a composite, which is fine but why did the composite have to be so boring. Just so tired of the cliched burnt out law officer who drinks too much and loses their family. In every movie the partner either nags or leaves. Agree with you it didn’t feel very arthouse, except I loved the music score by the director’s brother, really upped the tension. But if Kurzel wasn’t going to be his edgy arty self, I probably would have preferred this as a documentary. Like all “based on a true story” movies it left me on Wikipaedia all night.

Justin Kurzel sitting between the chairs - as an Aussie in the US (get other Aussies like Peter Weir, John Hillcoat, Fred Schepisi, Phillip Noyce) like the Canadian Villeneuve, like the Taiwanese Ang Lee - -

From all the reviews it sounded to me like a 3 out of 5. For me a 3 out of 5 will never get me on a bus to a cinema, but I will watch it streaming or on tv. I’m so intrigued to know what Robbie Collin wrote but I think he is still behind the Times paywall, a price I will not pay. I love a scathing review sometimes. I’m still unsure why you hated A Quiet Place so much, but I did enjoy the review.

I felt the same way. This did feel like a monster film, with easy scares. Orlok is a monster from the first inatant, while in the previous versions he was more of an unpleasant old man, that becomes creepier with each passing moment. I also find that making the film "scarier" makes it lose part of its eerie or unsettling feeling

Revisiting my favourite films in 2024 via Cliff’s reviews. I enjoyed this one more than Cliff. As a single woman of a certain age myself I really related to Mahin, she is warm and funny and opinionated and irl am sure we would be friends. But Mahin is lonely and must contrive a quite desperate plan to meet someone of the opposite sex for it is not allowed to happen unsupervised in her society. Whereas all I need to do is join a club or go to the movies and I can speak to whomever I like. When her plan actually works it is like a fairy tale, but it is a fairytale taking place within a nightmare. The tonal shift at the end of the film IS the point of the film in my view. There can be no fairytales in this place. It made me think of my favourite horror film Under the Shadow by Iranian born Babak Ansari. The real horror is much worse than any supernatural demon. I must see both these films again.

Great review Cliff, so glad you’ve seen this. A child basically losing the only mother she knows because “she has responsibilities elsewhere” is always a heartbreaking tale, but as you say I found no sentimentality in the telling. Initially, I felt something was missing, because I didn’t experience the catharsis of Aftersun (I sobbed on and off for a week) but this film really lingered in my mind and as you say,it addresses so much more than loss. As a lapsed Catholic myself I felt it really had something to say about the concept of original sin. Cleo is not just a cute, innocent child, but she is infected by jealousy, disobedience and even self-hatred caused by the loss of love in her life. And the nanny is not sentimentalised either. I found her real love was reserved for her flesh and blood, even when they did not return her love as fully as Cleo. It is a much harder memoir than Aftersun. I actually loved the animations and felt they represented the almost formless thoughts and memories of a pre verbal child. For me they had the same function as the music in Aftersun which was attached to the memories of a much older child. In both cases, those were the parts where emotion really got to me.

Ditto on Florida Project. Ditto on Tangerine. I was really looking forward to this one, particularly as Mikey Madison is a charismatic presence in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, I was not convinced to the extent that I did not enjoy it. The character of Anora has no more depth than the Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman. Poor Anora has fallen for the fairy tale, in some way a perverted variation on the American Dream. But her representation is so shallow, I failed to care. The shrieking became boring and repetitive for me, and the lengthy sex scenes felt voyeuristic. Maybe it’s my age, but I think Mikey Madison should be sure to choose her next role carefully, perhaps a Jane Austen novel, or she may be typecast for life. She will win awards no doubt, but I am uncomfortable at what they are recognising in the performance. Meanwhile I loved Yuri Borisov who did an awful lot with very few lines of script. He may be my favourite ever Russian and I urge anyone who likes Cliff’s reviews to see Compartment No 6 (2021).

I will make an effort to see this film on a large screen if possible. I am grateful for your warning, I have to be in the right mood for slow meditative films. Mostly it means I need to pay greater attention rather than expecting a film to jump out and grab me.

Thank you Cliff for this review and so relieved you liked it as much as I did. When it made very little appearance in awards season, and particularly no nominations for Willa Fitzgerald, I thought perhaps I was overheated in my recommendation. However, now I am determined to see it again, will it work without the suspense? Only hope it can get another theatrical release soon.

Just finished watching this film. Great review.

Hugh Grant is great. Hope he can play more roles like this. But the second half is disappointing as you mentioned. The atmosphere and mystery is great in the first half.

“The destructive nature of love”: you have hit upon the overarching theme of all Guadagnino’s films from Suspiria to Challengers. The film reminded me most of Jim Jarmusch’s Only Lovers Left Alive and that is the one I would choose to watch again. I love the first hour of every Guadagnino film, love the way he creates a palpable atmosphere and he captures the best performances from his actors. But I have not yet found the one that stays with me. Call Me By Your Name comes closest and he deserves the credit for creating the cult of Chalamet.

So glad you didn’t care for this one so I can give it a miss despite liking Guadagnino’s style. I just have an aversion to the Beat Generation’s stories, having once devoured that literature. Eventually I found all their work empty, hyped, tiresome and misogynistic. There, I got that off my chest. I would probably love the soundtrack though.

Tell it like it is Mr C 😁 Although you've basically caned it - you've actually sold it to me - sometimes I like a style of substance film

It seems most people miss the point of the movie. The guy was never real, he was injected in her memories to fill her darkness, and she discovers in the end he's a robot..

I love both this film and "Opening Night" as they are more direct than other of Cassavetes films. I saw both the extended and recut version of "Chinese Bookie" and found the original too meandering and dull something which promised a film noir set up but didn't deliver on that premis. The shorter recut version was more plot driven and direct but then I found myself missing all the meandering of the original. My mistake, I guess, was not treating it as a character study rather than as a genre film. It came over as a "Long Good Friday" with all of the conflicts removed He is a difficult director as he is deliberatly seeking to portray life as it actually is and he often spends some 20 minutes on a set up that isn't particularly interesting simply because its a slice of life being worked out. I think thats why he wasn't appreciated back then.

So glad to find your channel. 🩵

I thought it was a bit too clever for it's own good. Not quite as smart as it thinks it is. Seemed like a fake overdone European art house attempt by the USA.

Hi Cliff. This film is great isn't it 😀. It is one of my favourite 24 films watched in 2024 (from a list of 225(!) films I watched this year). Willa Fitzgerald in particular is superb right up until her last appearance in the film (I'm avoiding giving spoilers here 👍). I also recently watched Kyle Gallner in 2020's Dinner in America, in which he is equally excellent but also feels quite different. I recommend that one.

That’s exactly what I thought too ! Lovely film, but André’s character “development” in the end just bothered me too much. Maybe the last scene, in which she doesn’t keep up with him right before the screen turns black, means she will not endure her relationship any longer, but still, I just think she deserved another ending (and it would be more accurate with the point the movie itself was trying to make)

The director did not want to drive the film in the way that the audience would want him to. He wanted to make you feel uncomfortable. He is the rebellion here. He is smart.

I can usually deduce from a Cliff Review whether I will enjoy a film or not. It is not that we have the same taste, but he has tipped my interest on quite a few I was doubtful about, for instance Black Dog, Heretic, Sing Sing and even Conclave. I currently have very high hopes for On Becoming a Guinea Fowl which sounds like it is the sort of style I enjoy watching. Cliff is standing in front of my favourite London cinema which I particularly love for its documentary strand, also it is great for catching up on something I may have missed at Lewes Depot. Thank you Cliff for your many reviews this year which have added notably to the sum total of my happiness. Have a great holiday (do film reviewers ever take a holiday? ) and best wishes for 2025.🎉

May you don't understand friendly nature of people in Iran, that makes you think of a fairytale 😂

Hi Cliff. Good thoughtful review. No, I’m not really keen on being confused and dissatisfied 😂. It does highlight the issue of prominent reviewers praising very niche tastes. Thanks to you for your good honest reviews this year. Nice to see you reviewing outside. Have a great festive time 🎄 and here’s to lots of exciting and satisfying films in 2025 😀.

SOLD

Hi Cliff. Nice to find your channel after just searching to see if anyone I knew had spoken about this film (they hadn’t). I agree with much of what you say, it has been one of my surprise delights from this year.

Thank you Cliff. I really do appreciate the service you provide for your loyal followers. My remaining life is too short to give this the time and I have no wish to see an old man tarnish his legacy. Paul Mescal is a remarkable actor, I hope he pockets the money, stops the obsessive working out and returns to the kind of films that established him. Or at least do one for the money, then one for the true fans. I hate how Hollywood puts these young men into a meat grinder and turns them all out the same: muscle bound and characterless.

I found it all a bit too opaque. As you say the lead actress is perhaps too emotionless. The older woman isn't in the film very much and maybe it would have been better if her story was more fleshed out to contrast with the story of the other two women. I didn't really see why this film has been held in so high regard.

I generally don’t like musicals, and I don’t like over-produced theatrical music, BUT if you were never bored, I will give it a go. Nice to see you’ve escaped from your room!

I watched this film over the weekend and then saw your review. You said it’s not for everyone. It’s definitely not for me 😂.

Hi Cliff. There is an interesting recent citicism from Scott's cinematographer. It does sound like Scott no longer gives a sh*t and it does sound like there was no passion. My theory is/was Ridley Scott makes/made one great film per decade. I did like the special effects that made it look like you were outside, instead of in your usual setting 😂

I found it beautiful and heartbreaking. You described it very well!

i think Andree behaved the way he behave at the end of the film because he saw that Vera was sad again, the hypnosis effects were wearing thin. And it was an act of connecting with her, or cheering her on. A moment before, at the table, there was a scene where he was looking at Vera, and is seemed like he had some kind of epiphany. I may be wrong, only the creators could tell us why he rally did what he did. My friend had a theory where he did it for revenge, to embarrass Vera in front of her mom.. Thank you for the review.

The ending felt a bit rushed to me. One minute George was struggling under water trying to save people the next he was waking up the following day. Did they not have the budget to show what had happened? It just felt that bit was missing from the overall film. It would have been a better film to show at least a bit more of it. And the very final scene was also a bit rushed. We were a bit too quick to end the film. But overall I really enjoyed it. You make a very good point about the film being good for children to watch. Steve McQueen's earlier films have very adult themes and are definitely not for children but this one had a different tone to it.

Great video! Just watched the film and was looking for good analysis and this video pretty much touches on every thing I thought about it

I double-billed it with The American. Another existential lone wolf contract killer film

Art opens up unconsidered areas of life. The 'labyrinth' approach to narrative done cinematically here serves that, and is STARTLING, as Art is, if it's any good. Very rich. A good DVD to own.

This film is a masterpiece

Great movie and great review! I also got alot of christ-vibes!

Interesting conversation about this film. I watched it yesterday and unfortunately didn't gain much from it. I actually enjoyed the first half more than the second. However, after this video, I have a deeper appreciation of what the film may have been going for - from an acting perspective. Theres the scene there the two teachers are talking about their relationship - I'm m extrapolating here - but theres potential that the woman in the relationship is acting as if she's in love whereas the man is in love. I hadn't established that the film could be read as a take on acting within both art and reality. I dislike the use of Hamlet, for me, it feels like a forced "I need to make the film deeper, therefore Shakespeare" I may give this a second watch in a few years time and approach it differently.

This is the best film I have ever watched. A true story, based on real facts which have been backed up by those who were closest to her while and after the war. The PTSD this woman lived with from the things she saw. It’s real, it’s gritty and it’s factual. If any movie deserves an award it’s the film Lee. If your disappointed it may be because it’s not your man on top world war11 film.

Saw this documentary on a film festival in Johannesburg in June. It's really good and very eye-opening. Try to see it if you can.

I loved this film and another film of his "Husbands" with Ben Gazarra and Peter Falk.

Strap yourself in for this full on classic

I couldn't get through it at home. Maybe a cinema viewing is necessary

There's some excellent Chinese neo noir. Black coal thin ice, Ash is the purest white are 2 examples