The Little Mermaid (1989) – dir. Ron Clements & John Musker

Despite having more free time on my hands than I have in years, I didn't do as much with my quarantine as I would've liked. Stagnation in a small studio apartment made way for a steady depression, and every project I had been planning or working on since before March grinded to a halt by … Continue reading The Little Mermaid (1989) – dir. Ron Clements & John Musker

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) – dir. Céline Sciamma

“Do all lovers feel like they’re inventing something?” If Portrait of a Lady on Fire were to have any quote linger, maybe to the point of parody, one would be hard-pressed to find a sentiment as instantaneous as the one above. Take a look at Letterboxd right now; several user reviews bring up that line. But I'd … Continue reading Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019) – dir. Céline Sciamma

Margaret (2011) – dir. Kenneth Lonergan

(Note: "Extended Edition" watched for review.) When I include a prefacing paragraph in a film piece, I do so in an attempt to connect with whatever I'm reviewing. That's fairly self-evident, but I like to remind myself and others about the joy of art and criticism, which is that we each bring our own lives … Continue reading Margaret (2011) – dir. Kenneth Lonergan

Waves (2019) – dir. Trey Edward Shults

I, like many individuals curious about the phenomenon of emotion, think quite a lot about the nature of love. Why do we love what we love? What does being in love, or loving mean? Does an objective, unified idea of love exist? No matter the science, no matter the anecdotal evidence, love is wholly irrational … Continue reading Waves (2019) – dir. Trey Edward Shults

Jojo Rabbit (2019) – dir. Taika Waititi

I can't remember how old I was when I realized is a vehicle for ideas, rather than just as a means of entertainment or sensationalism. Maybe this became clear during my brief obsession with "concept albums" when I was 11 or 12. Specifically, Green Day's American Idiot and Pink Floyd's The Dark Side of the Moon, both of … Continue reading Jojo Rabbit (2019) – dir. Taika Waititi

Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) – dir. Hayao Miyazaki

There's this one truism about adulthood that I regularly struggle with, and that's the notion that everyone, on some level, is "faking it 'til they make it." Intellectually, I get this. No one has all the answers, and most people are making the best decisions they can, while hoping against hope that they don't ruin … Continue reading Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) – dir. Hayao Miyazaki