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Told through silence and sorrow, Grave of the Fireflies unfolds like a mournful lullaby, a delicate elegy to love and loss, tracing the fragile journey of two souls, adrift in the aftermath of devastation, bound by blood and by the persistence of hope that flickers ever fainter with each ing day. It is a film that offers itself with raw honesty and a profound stillness, allowing the gravity of what remains unspoken to settle deeply into the viewer’s chest, like a weight that cannot be shed. Its power lies not in grand gestures but in the hushed moments: the empty landscapes heavy with absence, the glances that speak volumes and the quiet ache of everything that can no longer be touched. The film understands, with heartbreaking clarity, that grief does not end with loss. It continues as an invisible burden, one we carry within us, shaping the contours of our days. That weight lingers in every frame, in every pause, in every desperate attempt to shield someone we love from a world that no longer offers shelter.

Grave of the Fireflies feels like a final letter never sent, composed in quiet sobs and phantom embraces, a whispered goodbye that arrives too late. A devastating masterpiece, it serves as both a tender tribute to the irrevocable beauty of innocence and a brutal reminder of its vulnerability in the face of unrelenting cruelty. Some goodbyes are not spoken aloud, they’re endured, ed, and borne silently for the rest of our lives.

Through a masterful fusion of gothic horror, intergenerational trauma, and the untamed power of music, Sinners unfolds not simply as a tale of survival, but as a searingly poetic confrontation with History itself. In Coogler’s boldest vision yet, vampires transcend their role as supernatural predators to become haunting metaphors for cultural appropriation, systemic oppression, and the parasitic forces that have long fed on Black creativity and spirit. At the core of Sinners lies a deeply resonant portrayal of cultural resilience and music becomes more than an art form here: it emerges as a language of defiance, a vessel through which ancestral sorrow, generational pride, and centuries of resistance are voiced and made tangible. Ryan Coogler directs with remarkable clarity and intention and his use of visual storytelling is nothing short of mesmerizing. Complementing this visual depth is Ludwig Göransson’s genre-defying composition that fuses the rawness of blues with spectral, otherworldly elements, producing a soundscape that feels both mournful and revolutionary.

Sinners is a triumph not only of style, but of profound substance. A cathartic and soulful reckoning that doesn’t ask for justice, it instead demands it.

2025 Ranked

Once again, Bong Joon Ho dives into the intricacies of capitalist structures, deftly navigating the tangled web of class disparity, environmental degradation and systemic corruption, all while pondering existential questions. The political undercurrents are not merely incidental but form the film’s intellectual and emotional spine, imbuing it with a sense of urgency and relevance. And while sharp and thematically ambitious, the screenplay occasionally leans too heavily into overt symbolism, making some of its critiques feel a touch heavy-handed. More significantly, the film struggles to maintain narrative clarity while juggling such a wide array of concepts, resulting in certain ideas being introduced with promise but explored only superficially.

One can’t help but feel that a less restrained version of Mickey 17 could have allowed it to fully embrace its most compelling instincts. As it stands, the film sometimes errs on the side of accessibility, diluting the depth of its commentary. Nevertheless, it’s a brisk and spiky story that brims with ambition and a magnetic Robert Pattinson performance filled with infectious energy. It may not possess the stamina to fully articulate every theme it introduces, but it offers more than enough substance and style to leave a lasting impression.

2025 Ranked

Watched on Sunday March 30, 2025.

Watched on Friday March 28, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday March 26, 2025.

Watched on Monday March 24, 2025.

Watched on Saturday March 22, 2025.

Watched on Thursday March 20, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday March 18, 2025.

Watched on Sunday March 16, 2025.

Watched on Friday March 14, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday March 12, 2025.

Watched on Monday March 10, 2025.

Watched on Saturday March 8, 2025.

Some films speak not through words, but through movement, light, and silence. Flow is an animated odyssey that transcends language, drawing the viewer into a world where meaning is felt rather than told. This hypnotic journey explores the delicate balance of existence, the impermanence of all things, and the quiet yet profound interconnection of life, communicating universal teuths through pure visual poetry. The animation, fluid and dreamlike, mirrors the ebb and flow of nature itself - sometimes gentle, sometimes chaotic, yet always in motion - and the subtle yet immersive sound design becomes a language of its own and guides us through an emotional landscape that words could only dilute.

At its core, Flow contemplates survival not as an isolated endeavor, but as a delicate interplay of opposing forces: harmony and discord, solitude and communion, adaptation and surrender. The absence of spoken language does not create distance, it rather invites a deeper engagement, an unfiltered connection between the film and the soul of its audience.

This is not a story to be ively consumed but to be experienced, reflected upon, and carried forward. It lingers like a fading dream, leaving behind an intangible yet undeniable shift in perspective. In a world oversaturated with noise, Flow is a quiet revelation, a reminder that the most profound truths often exist in the spaces between words.

2024 Ranked

Watched on Friday February 7, 2025.

Watched on Thursday February 6, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday February 5, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday February 4, 2025.

Watched on Monday February 3, 2025.

Watched on Sunday February 2, 2025.

Watched on Saturday February 1, 2025.

It is an incredibly strange and frustrating experience to witness a film that seemingly aspires to be untamed and provocative, yet consistently recoils from pushing any meaningful boundaries. Babygirl oscilates awkwardly between tepid, half-hearted attempts at eroticism and an unwillingness to fully commit to the raw, unfiltered desire that the narrative seems to gesture towards. Without a palpable sense of risk or genuine emotional investment, the power dynamics at play amount to little more than a series of vaguely suggestive interactions that never escalate beyond surface-level intrigue. There is no moment where it feels as if something truly irreversible might occur, no crescendo of ion or danger that makes the film’s existence feel justified.

Babygirl lacks the seductive intensity of a truly erotic drama, the psychological complexity of a power struggle, and the courage to be shocking or subversive in any real way. Instead, it languishes in an uncomfortable limbo, neither fully restrained nor completely unchained, too afraid to commit to its own themes. In the end, it is nothing but an empty promise, a work that flirts with the idea of something daring yet ultimately delivers nothing of consequence.

A Real Pain is a profoundly moving meditation on family and the inescapable echoes of history, masterfully weaving humor and introspection into a narrative filled with emotional depth. The ostensibly straightforward heritage trip ends up evolving into a profound reckoning, as the two protagonists, each burdened by personal demons and unresolved familiar tensions, are compelled to confront not only their shared history but also the enduring weight of generational trauma that has silently dictated the contours of their existence. Kieran Culkin delivers a mesmerizing performance, infusing his character with an erratic yet magnetic energy that oscillates between moments of sharp comedic wit and aching vulnerability. His outwardly irreverent and free-spirited persona serves as both a shield and a prison, and Culkin’s ability to navigate these emotional contradictions with effortless precision renders his performance not only compelling but human at its core.

In the end, this is a story about memory. Not just the kind we actively recall, but the kind that is imprinted onto us, carried forward in the way we love, in the way we fear, in the way we search for meaning. Not just something we inherit, something that shapes us long before we even have the words to articulate its presence.

2024 Ranked

Jordan Peele aims high, blending science fiction, horror, and social commentary into a bold and visually stunning package. While it showcases Peele’s unique voice and ambition, the film’s uneven pacing and thematic inconsistencies leave it feeling less cohesive than his earlier works. On a technical level, Nope is undeniably impressive. Hoyte van Hoytema’s cinematography captures vast, desolate landscapes with breathtaking precision, creating a palpable sense of isolation and unease that emphasizes the vastness of the unknown. The visual effects are also superb, with the otherworldly phenomenon at the film’s center rendered in a way that’s both awe-inspiring and unsettling. However, while Nope excels in moments, it struggles to tie its ideas together.

The film juggles numerous themes, from the spectacle of Hollywood to humanity’s fraught relationship with nature, but it never fully commits to exploring any of them in depth. As a result, the final product lacks the emotional weight of a satisfying payoff and feels scattered, filled with compelling sequences that, while engaging on their own, fail to coalesce into a wholly immersive or thematically unified experience.

At this point, it seems almost undeniable that Robert Eggers may be incapable of making a bad film. With Nosferatu, he once again delivers a masterclass in atmospheric tension and lingering dread. This retelling of the classic tale thrives in eerie shadows, weaving a chilling, hypnotic narrative filled with striking cinematic moments and deeply affecting performances. Bill Skarsgård fully embodies Count Orlok, his presence both nightmarish and sorrowful. He commands the screen with an unsettling intensity, transforming Orlok into a figure of looming terror - one whose predatory nature is as tragic as it is horrifying. Surrounding him, the film’s ensemble breathes life into this bleak, gothic world, each performance reinforcing the film’s overarching themes of decay, isolation, and the inevitability of death.

Eggers crafts a vision that is both grand and intimate, pulling us ever deeper into the film’s creeping dread. Every frame is drenched in haunting beauty, proving once again that he is a modern master of horror.

2024 Ranked

Walter Salles delivers a searingly poetic exploration of loss and resilience in I’m Still Here, crafting a narrative that transforms personal grief into a universal meditation on human strength. Through a profoundly moving lens, he weaves an atmosphere of haunting beauty, where each moment feels both deeply intimate and universally resonant. At the heart of this masterpiece lies a towering performance by Fernanda Torres, whose portrayal elevates the film to extraordinary heights.

Torres’ face becomes a canvas for the entire spectrum of human emotion, embodying both love and sorrow in ways that feel achingly profound. Her expressions, nuanced and alive, convey a depth that transcends words. Every flicker of her eyes, every subtle shift in her features, seems to carry the weight of untold truths, stirring a flood of emotions so raw and authentic it feels almost too intimate to witness. In her hands, fragility and strength coexist, colliding in a performance so breathtakingly honest that it becomes more than acting - it becomes truth.

By the film’s end, I’m Still Here is no longer just a story of loss but a testament to the unyielding power of the human spirit to endure, piece itself together and heal. It lingers, it haunts and it demands to be ed so that we never lose sight of the strength it takes to rebuild from the shards of what was lost.

Anora is a full Mikey Madison spectacle. She transforms this quick-witted and genuinely funny film into something that ultimately transcends its comedic roots, blossoming into something much deeper and more impactful. Together, she and Sean Baker craft a narrative that seamlessly weaves humor with increasingly somber and thought-provoking reflections, as Ani gradually begins to grasp the heartbreaking reality that her best chance at a better life is slowly disintegrating before her eyes. The film operates like a precision scalpel, cutting deeply into the harsh truths of a rigged system where the odds are perpetually stacked against those trying to rise above their circumstances. It lays bare the staggering weight of ambition and the crushing realization that sheer effort often isn’t enough to tip the scales. Anora isn’t a mere reflection of our collective struggles and aspirations, it's a reminder, with a lasting imprint, of how much we depend on ourselves in a world that rarely gives out second chances.

2024 Ranked

Watched on Tuesday December 31, 2024.

A masterful showcase of tragedy and resilience, Memoir of a Snail is a poignant odyssey through a series of misfortunes in the lives of characters who couldn’t have deserved them less, evoking a profound sense of empathy and heartbreak with each ing moment. The film’s narrative structure is uncompromising in its exploration of pain and suffering, yet it never feels gratuitous or manipulative. Instead, it confronts the fragility of human existence and the enduring complexity of our emotions, capturing the raw beauty of life even in its darkest moments. The film’s use of a cold and muted color palette serves as a visual representation of its somber themes, cloaking each scene in an atmospheric sense of gloom that lingers heavily on the screen. However, it is not unrelenting, as moments of levity and subtle humor are strategically woven into the narrative, providing a gentle counterpoint to the overwhelming sadness that permeates the story.

Each frame is painstakingly crafted to capture the melancholy of the story, and the meticulous attention to detail in the set designs, character models and lighting ensures that every moment resonates visually as much as it does emotionally. Each shot feels like a delicate painting, carefully composed to draw the viewer into its world of quiet suffering and profound introspection. Adam Elliot accomplishes this with a level of grace and sensitivity that is nothing short of extraordinary. In its heart, the film resonates with a timeless quality, drawing parallels to the universal experiences of loss and longing that define the human condition. Memoir of a Snail’s ability to convey such intricate emotions with such profound authenticity is only a testament to its deeply moving brilliance.

Watched on Sunday December 29, 2024.

Watched on Saturday December 28, 2024.

Watched on Monday December 30, 2024.

Watched on Sunday December 29, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday December 18, 2024.

Watched on Tuesday December 17, 2024.

Watched on Monday December 16, 2024.

Watched on Sunday December 15, 2024.

Watched on Friday December 13, 2024.

Watched on Thursday December 12, 2024.

Watched on Wednesday December 11, 2024.

Watched on Sunday December 8, 2024.

Watched on Saturday December 7, 2024.

Watched on Friday December 27, 2024.

Watched on Friday December 27, 2024.

Watched on Thursday December 26, 2024.

Watched on Thursday December 26, 2024.

Aftersun is a profoundly moving meditation on memory, the intricate dynamics of parenthood, and the quiet, unspoken struggles that so often shape our lives in ways we only come to understand in hindsight. Set against the backdrop of a shared vacation between a father and his young daughter, the film artfully delves into the emotional undercurrents of joy, sorrow and confusion, weaving them together in ways that reflect the fleeting and fragmented nature of human experience. The central father-daughter relationship is depicted with both tenderness and complexity, characterized by moments of warmth as well as an unshakable sense of emotional distance. Paul Mescal delivers an achingly vulnerable performance, embodying a father struggling with his own inner demons while working tirelessly to project an image of stability and happiness for his daughter.

In the end, Aftersun is less concerned with delivering a conventional plot and far more focused on capturing the ephemeral nature of memory as a narrative device, how we often fail to grasp the significance of moments until they have already slipped through our fingers. Watching the film again feels as daunting as it is enlightening, not because it lacks merit but because of the sheer emotional weight of its themes and the raw vulnerability it brings to the surface. It is an undeniably a masterpiece of rare intimacy and deep resonance, one that feels almost too personal to experience more than once. However, it has become my favorite Christmas tradition.

Watched on Friday December 6, 2024.

1. Sinners
2. Mickey 17
3. Companion
4. The Parenting

1. Anora
2. Flow
3. I'm Still Here
4. Dune: Part Two
5. Challengers
6. The Substance
7. Conclave
8. Memoir of a Snail
9. A Real Pain
10. Nosferatu

...plus 51 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• There Will Be Blood
• The Master
• Magnolia
• Phantom Thread
• Boogie Nights
• Punch-Drunk Love
• Inherent Vice
• Hard Eight

1. Poor Things
2. Monster
3. The Zone of Interest
4. Anatomy of a Fall
5. Killers of the Flower Moon
6. Oppenheimer
7. The Holdovers
8. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
9. John Wick: Chapter 4
10. Past Lives

...plus 50 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Avengers: Infinity War
2. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
3. Guardians of the Galaxy
4. Spider-Man: No Way Home
5. Black Panther
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
7. Iron Man
8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
9. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
10. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

...plus 23 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Aftersun
2. The Lighthouse
3. The Zone of Interest
4. Pearl
5. Hereditary
6. The Witch
7. The Killing of a Sacred Deer
8. Everything Everywhere All at Once
9. The Lobster
10. Past Lives

...plus 29 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Dune: Part Two
2. Blade Runner 2049
3. Arrival
4. Prisoners
5. Dune
6. Enemy

1. Poor Things
2. The Favourite
3. Kinds of Kindness
4. The Lobster
5. The Killing of a Sacred Deer
6. Dogtooth

1. Killers of the Flower Moon
2. The Departed
3. The King of Comedy
4. Shutter Island
5. Taxi Driver
6. The Wolf of Wall Street
7. The Irishman
8. GoodFellas
9. Hugo

1. Fight Club
2. Zodiac
3. Se7en
4. Gone Girl
5. The Killer
6. The Social Network
7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
8. The Game
9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

1. Aftersun
2. Babylon
3. The Banshees of Inisherin
4. Pearl
5. The Batman
6. The Northman
7. Everything Everywhere All at Once
8. The Fabelmans
9. Top Gun: Maverick
10. Bones and All

...plus 44 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The French Dispatch
2. The Grand Budapest Hotel
3. Fantastic Mr. Fox
4. Asteroid City
5. Moonrise Kingdom
6. Poison
7. The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
8. Isle of Dogs
9. The Rat Catcher
10. The Swan

1. Oppenheimer
2. Inception
3. The Dark Knight
4. Memento
5. Interstellar
6. Dunkirk
7. The Prestige
8. The Dark Knight Rises
9. Batman Begins
10. Following

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. La La Land
2. Arrival
3. A Silent Voice: The Movie
4. Jackie
5. Manchester by the Sea
6. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
7. Zootopia
8. Nocturnal Animals
9. Split
10. The Nice Guys

...plus 21 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Suicide Squad
2. Shazam!
3. Zack Snyder's Justice League
4. Wonder Woman
5. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
6. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
7. Aquaman
8. Black Adam
9. Wonder Woman 1984
10. Man of Steel

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
2. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
4. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
6. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
8. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
10. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Last Duel
2. The French Dispatch
3. Dune
4. Spencer
5. Last Night in Soho
6. Licorice Pizza
7. The Green Knight
8. Spider-Man: No Way Home
9. The Suicide Squad
10. The Eyes of Tammy Faye

...plus 52 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Call Me by Your Name
2. Blade Runner 2049
3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
4. Dunkirk
5. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
6. Baby Driver
7. Logan
8. Lady Bird
9. mother!
10. The Breadwinner

...plus 60 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Lighthouse
2. Parasite
3. Portrait of a Lady on Fire
4. Joker
5. Marriage Story
6. Uncut Gems
7. 1917
8. Knives Out
9. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
10. Jojo Rabbit

...plus 49 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Favourite
2. Shoplifters
3. Hereditary
4. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
5. Vox Lux
6. If Beale Street Could Talk
7. BlacKkKlansman
8. Avengers: Infinity War
9. The House That Jack Built
10. First Man

...plus 52 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Father
2. Sound of Metal
3. Nomadland
4. I Care a Lot
5. The Invisible Man
6. Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
7. All My Friends Are Dead
8. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
9. Palm Springs
10. Wonder Woman 1984

...plus 19 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Star Wars: The Last Jedi
2. Star Wars
3. The Empire Strikes Back
4. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
6. Return of the Jedi
7. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
8. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
9. Solo: A Star Wars Story
10. Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Black Mirror: White Bear
2. Black Mirror: Hang the DJ
3. Black Mirror: The Entire History of You
4. Black Mirror: Shut Up and Dance
5. Black Mirror: White Christmas
6. Black Mirror: Playtest
7. Black Mirror: Be Right Back
8. Black Mirror: Smithereens
9. Black Mirror: Nosedive
10. Black Mirror: Black Museum

...plus 13 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Pulp Fiction
2. The Hateful Eight
3. Inglourious Basterds
4. Kill Bill: Vol. 1
5. Reservoir Dogs
6. Django Unchained
7. Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
8. Kill Bill: Vol. 2
9. Jackie Brown
10. Death Proof