Foreign Indie Romance

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire”

By Brett_G on

8.6

I haven’t had my heart ripped out like this in a LONG time… This was a “Somewhere in Time” level gut punch.

Telling the story through the eyes of a painter was such an interesting, yet perfect creative choice. Marianne’s attention to even the most subtle of details about Heloise sold the kindling of a soon to be burning love between them with each passing frame. An excellently executed twist on the “forbidden love” story, told through the lens of the Greek classical myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The theme of long remembering the details of a former lover felt like the film was way to in my head and the heart that I admittedly tend to wear on my sleeve. The final minutes of the film are nothing but heart-wrenchingly beautiful, making and then living with the poet’s choice. The attention to detail in the performances of Adele Haenel and Noemie Merlant was awe-inspiring to witness.

Also similar to my all-time favorite “Somewhere in Time” turning me on to the works of Gustav Mahler and Sergei Rachmaninoff, this film gave me the works of Antonio Vivaldi to dive head first into and expand my musical horizons anew.

No comments
Horror/Thriller Indie

“Lovely, Dark, and Deep”

By Brett_G on

7.2

Just like my love life *rim shot*

All jokes aside, this movie is terrifying. The beauty of nature intertwined with the real-life creepiness of disappearances in the national parks woven into an intricate web of interdimensional intrigue the likes of which I haven’t seen pulled off in a hot second. I can honestly say that this one kept me guessing until the very end, and bravely left me hanging with a gut punch of an ending that is unlike most Hollywood fare of late. The darkness doesn’t just help you see the stars better…

No comments
Drama Indie

“Perfect Days”

By Brett_G on

7.4

I never thought I could feel so comforted by a film… Watching this man clean public toilets, read paperback novels, and take pictures of trees was the most calming presence imaginable for two hours. An incredibly powerful portrayal of the beauty of simplicity and the calm found in routine. This is a tough one to put into words. I found the initial explanation of Komorebi to be the best, tying everything together as “soothing sunlight through trees.” This was soothing light on a screen.

Komorebi (木漏れ日): Sunshine filtering through the trees.
No comments
Horror/Thriller

“Imaginary”

By Brett_G on

7.5

Blumhouse doing what Blumhouse does best!

The third act madness of this one was such a fun ride that I couldn’t help but be won over. The fake outs, the world building of the alternate universe. I loved it. You can’t help but be creeped out and a little “well, no shit!” when an imaginary friend turns out to be imaginary foe. A really well developed premise put to screen by the best in the business. We’re off to a strong start in the horror genre this year!

No comments
Documentary Drama

“Bob Marley: One Love”

By Brett_G on

6.1

The music’s great… The film? Not so much. It fell into the trap of the biopic overseen by the subject’s family. A middle of the road, safe, uninteresting tale that doesn’t portray the messiness that makes the subject interesting in the first place. And for some odd reason, the story skips huge chunks of Marley’s life and skips back and forth on the timeline like a Christopher Nolan film, but without the narrative clarity. Without a lot of Bob Marley background knowledge, it left me feeling like I barely knew anything more by the time the credits rolled, which left me feeling like a great deal of wasted potential was left on the cutting room floor on this one.

No comments