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kirstenroper
Reviews
Instant Family (2018)
Beautifully life-affirming
Like many people, I watched this movie simply expecting a feel-good comedy. I did not anticipate the emotional journey it would take me on! There are some very challenging themes and it doesn't shy away from the realities, but there are still plenty of laughs along the way too. The kids steal the show, but the cast as a whole are excellent. Yes, the ending is a bit cheesily predictable but it's a Hollywood movie, not a fostering documentary. I'd highly recommend that everyone sees this at least once.
Shame (2011)
Mesmerising, brutal, perfection
Sat here crying my eyes out after watching this stunningly crafted piece of cinema.
This is not a feel-good film. It doesn't have a cheery score or cheeky humour. It's not light-hearted or an easy watch.
Addiction, self-harm, desire and destruction abound and it is brutal... yet it is beautiful.
The dialogue is often minimal, but Michael Fassbender gives the performance of his life. The emotions, the anguish, the nuance... it's all there, written all over his face.
An uncomfortable but real, honest portrayal of the trauma that comes from sex addiction, something so often falsely glamorised in the media.
The Full Monty (1997)
A true classic
I've watched this film so many times and I never, ever get tired of it.
On the face of it, the premise is comedic and it certainly has plenty of laughs, but there's a much deeper story of pride, redemption and masculinity buried within.
Parkland: Inside Building 12 (2018)
Heartbreaking
A very real, raw, emotional exploration of the entirely avoidable tragedy that unfolded on Valentines Day 2018.
Unfortunately the director is at various points grossly insensitive and intrusive in his questioning of survivors in a way that is very uncomfortable to watch.
Soul (2020)
Pixar's best film yet!
I wasn't really sure what to expect from "Soul" but can honestly say it's one of the most moving, insightful, life-affirming films I've ever seen. It's just beautifully written, the voice cast are perfect for the characters they portray and I know it's one I'll be watching again and again.
Phantom Thread (2017)
Simply exquisite
Everything about this film is beautiful. The sets, the costumes, the music... it's all stunning. The cast are fantastic, Daniel Day-Lewis gives the performance of his life as the mercurial Reynolds Woodcock. The story is complex with different layers and a lot of insinuation rather than explicitness. It had me hooked from start to finish. A masterpiece.
Ariana Grande: Excuse Me, I Love You (2020)
Meh!
I was underwhelmed by this. The concert footage is good, she's a great performer, but marketing it as a documentary is one heck of a stretch. A few disjointed, shallow backstage clips and very random anecdotes is all you get.