Panning out Films

As a film enthusiast, I've seen a fair amount of films oscar-nominated and independent films over the past few months, where I've begun to think more critically about form and style. Here I'd like to give some appraisements, criticisms and general opinions on the films. These are some I thought about during the start of the year (and long overdue to post) as well as the ones I would recommend watching.

(Caution: Spoiler alert-- perhaps no longer relevant in this time of release)

Key: + = positives
- = criticisms

+

• Gut-wrentching and mentally-bending action in, as the title suggests, the battle of Dunkirk (WWII.)
• A scattered narrative of scenarios that leaves the spectator feeling anxious and curious for more - to also connect the pieces for themselves and perhaps to view the pointlessness of war. 
• Very little dialogue, which helps to emphasise the power of feeling nostalgic and horrified through the sound effects and backtrack. 
• The pacing placement of loud sounds, which manage to both startle and entice the viewer.
• Overall Nolan presents an emotive rawness in his distinct narration of war. 

-

• Not much to fault in my opinion.

+

• The witty dialogue clearly distinguishes itself as a film that is supposed to be different from the first two. In trying to establish individualise itself... 
• Cate Blanchett - remarkable performance as a villain who grapples the complexity of anger and the act of restoring personal justice. 

-

• Too closely imitating Deadpool in its opening scene, which diminishes the serious, galactic portrayal in the prior two films. 
• That case in point would be setting up of the reverence of galactic figures and atmosphere. 

+

• Eloquent on the surface, but twisted in the subconscious - what's underneath. The script fluidly interweaves the human routines and desires and the direction portrays these actions in an unconventional fashion (to say the least). 
• You'll feel eased, as well as be teased and bombarded, which is exactly what a gripping story should cease to do.

-

• The bombarding of an unexpected response from Daniel Day Lewis and Vicky Krieps may have hindered the finessed flow of the entire film. 

+

• Graceful and other-wordly as we are simultaneously drawn in and out of a reality we assume to know.  
• Playful in theatricality and style that elevates the sense of Epic Theatre and Brechtian verfremdungseffekt techniques (meaning closely of an effect of estrangement, for those who might not know) through song narrative, stark white lighting. 
• Providing a sense of magic with a 1950s background, a time post-Cold War where escapism as a theme is strengthened and believable. 
• Here, the glass is definitely more than half full.