aprilzh Reviews

Withnail & I (1987)

The 20th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 14 June 2022]

I read that he writer of this film was hesitant to adapt his novel into a screenplay, as he felt that it was not cinematic. It did not remind him of other films he had seen. But the producer encouraged him, saying that that was exactly what was so great about it. How right he was! If ever a filmmaker's instinct paid off in spades, this is it. Withnail & I is incredibly original, incredibly funny and sad and totally believable. The narration, the story and the performances are all absolutely brilliant. Making such an "uncinematic" film may have been a risky move, but it has withstood the test of time. It is a true masterpiece of British cinema, and a wonderful piece of history.

The Dreamlife of Angels (1998)

The 19th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 17 May 2022]

This incredible movie gives us an extremely realistic and unmatched look at the lives of some very interesting and rare film characters, dealing with a very human emotion at a specific time and place that we've never seen before and will never see again. We've never met these people, and most of us have probably never gone through exactly what they are going through, but it is nonetheless a deeply human experience, and the film does an outstanding job of making us care and sympathize. Excellent writing, acting, directing and cinematography. This is an underrated masterpiece of 90s European cinema.

To Our Loves (1983)

The 18th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 28 April 2022]

Maurice Pialat is the French John Cassavetes, and this film is his masterpiece. It feels totally real from the very beginning all the way up until the end. Don't be fooled by the title; it pulls no punches, showing the harsh realities of adolescent life and what it meant to grow up in a certain time and place. We feel what the characters feel, and we see the unadulterated truth in what they are going through. It is my understanding that certain scenes were unscripted, and that really shows. This is a very powerful story, told in an extremely effective way that would not have worked if it had been made at a different time or place, or by a different director.

Empty Spaces (2019)

The 17th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 30 March 2022]

The beauty in this film lies in both its simplicity and its sheer realism. It tells a seemingly straightforward story about a man at a turning point in his life, his actions and feelings and how they affect those around him. The camera lingers on the actors long after most directors would have called "cut!" And the story is all the better for it. We see those in-between moments, and at times the angst and the emotion feels all too real. There are no metaphors in real life, and it's the same in this film. It feels almost like a documentary, and you start to wonder if the people on the screen are really even acting, or just living out their lives while we watch.

Sound of My Voice (2011)

The 16th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 24 February 2022]

The acting and directing in this film are extraordinarily good. The dialogue and performances and perfect and far beyond the realm of expectation. Surprisingly, some moviegoers seem not to care about or appreciate these aspects in films. But it is impossible to ignore the superb writing that makes this film truly brilliant. These young filmmakers show exceptional talent, taking common themes and carrying them out to lengths we've never seen before, and doing so in ways that can only be described as profound.

We Go Way Back (2006)

The 15th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 14 January 2022]

The story and the characters in this masterpiece create such a unique atmosphere that has rarely been accomplished on film. The whole thing is a mesmerizing journey into one woman's mind, which feels both familiar and wildly original at the same time. But it is not familiar in the sense that we've seen it before in other movies from the past. Instead, it is something many of us have felt in our real lives. It is nostalgia, but not quite. It is a longing for the past, perhaps. Trying to remember something that you'll never remember accurately. It is useless to try to explain it, yet it is accomplished brilliantly in this beautiful, poetic little film.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The 14th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 23 November 2021]

In this magical fairytale, Tim Burton succeeds in creating a dreamworld that is both bizarre and believable, haunting yet inviting. Other filmmakers have attempted the same feat with varying results. This is also the film that made Johnny Depp a superstar, in my opinion, and proved that he really was a force to be reckoned with on the screen. The acting, the story, the setting...all of these elements come together in such a way to create one of the most beautiful masterpieces of all time.

Annie Hall (1977)

The 13th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 21 July 2021]

For many of us, this is the film that first introduced us to Woody Allen and his unique humor and characterizations. So much happened with this movie. The style, the dialogue, the jokes, it has all entered mainstream consciousness to the point that referencing it is just second nature. It's become a part of the culture, and for good reason. Watching the film now, so many things feel very familiar and over-done in recent times, but we must remember that at the time it was really quite original and groundbreaking. Say what you will about Woody Allen, but the man is a comedic genius if he's anything at all.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

The 12th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 9 February 2020]

From the very opening of the film it's just one great moment after an other. So much of this masterpiece is so very original, from the quotable lines to the perfect scenes. The film is very well acted and very well cast. Stanley Kubrick famously stated that he preferred adapting novels and improving upon them, and he proves his theory here. The use of music is great as well, particularly in the ending scene as well as in the one with the prostitute, which might be one if the single greatest scenes in any film ever. And while I'm not normally crazy about narration in film, it is very well done here. I've seen it many times and it never gets old. Some people don't enjoy it the first time, possibly due to the unusual structure, but I think if you watch it again you'll really get to see it for what it is: a masterpiece.

Withdrawn (2017)

The 11th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 28 January 2020]

I've watched this movie several times and it gets better with every viewing. There is so much just below the surface. I've heard it said that films aren't always meant to entertain, that instead they're meant to make us think or to teach us something. I disagree. Despite the slow pace of this film, I found it wildly entertaining, even if I derived that entertainment from being made to think. Some will say nothing happens in the film, but there is actually so much happening, so much subtext and so much going on in the mind of the lead character that's left unsaid, left for the audience to figure out. You just have to look for it, and you don't even have to look that hard. This is sheer realism like it's never been done before, though this form should be obvious in hindsight. It's subtle and complex and genius. There is a lot going on that I'm sure the filmmakers didn't even intend, which makes it even better and adds more levels to the characters. Stylistically, it borrows heavily from Stranger Than Paradise, though this one has more truth to it. It deserves to be discovered and loved by a much wider audience, but part of me hopes that never happens; it's too good for that, and I want to keep it all to myself.

A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

The 10th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 27 January 2020]

First of all, this film is absolutely gorgeous from a visual standpoint. The story and the performances are amazing as well, and they all work brilliantly together to perform an absolutely beautiful film that works on so many levels. The length may be a problem for some people, but even at nearly four hours it doesn't feel a bit too long. The film is the perfect length and the story flows beautifully. Most of all, this film does things that we've never before seen in cinema. It is an absolute joy to watch.

Run Lola Run (1998)

The 9th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 8 January 2020]

This film is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It is stylish, it is fun, it is extremely well-made, and it is wildly original. It is fast-paced and it is perfectly paced. It never lets up for a second. And even though it freely borrows from countless other films, it branches out and does its own thing, taking those borrowed concepts to wholly new levels that no one had ever seen before. Every time I watch it I see something new. I watch it when I'm sad and it cheers me up. The world is a better place with this movie in it. Everyone should see it.

What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

The 8th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 6 January 2020]

This is a movie about people. It's about life's losers; those down-on-their-luck individuals who you might see shopping with coupons at a small town grocery store in the middle of America. It's a movie about the type of people that you don't normally see in movies. But that doesn't mean they don't lead interesting lives. We all have a story, every one of us. And this movie gives us a glimpse into those sad lives. And it does it so brilliantly and so beautifully. It's sad at times and funny at times, just like real life. The acting, directing, and production designs are all so very amazing.

City of God (2002)

The 7th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 5 January 2020]

City of God tells the semi-autobiographical story of one young man's experiences growing up alongside the gangs of one of Brazil's most natorious slums in the 1970's. It's stylish. It's groovy and hip. Those things in and of themselves don't make a great movie. But here they serve the story in a remarkable way. The music of the decade and the documentary-like camerawork and slick editing all enhance the experience. The way in which the lead character's everyday struggles are expertly and fluidly intertwined with the rise and fall of the neighborhood gangs is astounding as he brushes shoulders with various characters on both sides of the law. And the narration, which I don't normally enjoy in films, is some of the best I've come across. Very well done.

Schindler's List (1993)

The 6th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 5 January 2020]

Schindler's List is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It is a nearly perfect film. It is visually beautiful and very realistic. Shot in gorgeous black and white, it is absolutely stunning. The acting is some of the best I have seen. And the story, while sad and haunting, is extremely well told. Despite its long running time, it doesn't feel too long at all. It tells the story of the holocaust and one man's efforts to help the victims of a terrible atrocity. It is a story about the darkest of humanity and the ugliness of humankind, but it is also an uplifting story about the lengths people will go to to help each other and the power of one man. In telling it this way, the filmmakers did something truly amazing. It holds nothing back. It is violent and dirty and true, but Spielberg still somehow manages to maintain his trademark sentimental style, here more beautifully than ever.

Man Bites Dog (1992)

The 5th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 4 January 2020]

Man Bites Dog, as it is known to English-speaking audiences, is a wonderful little Belgian feature that brilliantly blends raw realism, absurdist black comedy, and over-the-top violence. The result is nothing short of perfection. And the aforementioned violence is not violence for violence's sake. In fact, perhaps here it serves more purpose than in nearly any other film. It makes a powerful point about society, the world we live in, and cultural apathy. Told in faux-documentary style, it uncovers truths left and right and puts something on screen that we've never seen there before. Indeed, the main character (who shares a name with the actor portraying him) has scenes with his real-life family who thought they were merely filming home movies. The fib paid off, as the re-contextualized footage ends up having quadruple the impact. Bravo.

Forrest Gump (1994)

The 4th Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 4 January 2020]

Forrest Gump teaches us something about ourselves. It teaches us about our world, our fellow man, and the beauty and heartache of life. It shows us how they can exist side by side. It teaches us all about hope and regrets and second chances. And it does it all so wonderfully, through a slightly quirky, often absurd, yet brilliantly crafted retelling of history. This film does so much in such a way that no other film has ever come close to matching. The actors' performances all lend strength and emotion to the wonderful story. It is a powerful drama about life which, if we allow it, can make us all better people.

Peppermint Candy (1999)

The 3rd Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 4 January 2020]

This film is haunting and beautiful. It deserves to be recognized as the brilliant work of art that it is. Told in reverse chronological order along the lines of such better-known films as Memento and Irreversible, Peppermint Candy outshines them both. As a matter of fact it outshines most films, almost every single one. It is the third greatest film in my opinion. It is a joy to watch despite its sadness. It is expertly told and beautifully acted. It is very sad and relatable. The ending is brilliant. Every frame is brilliant.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

The 2nd Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 3 January 2020]

Sunset Blvd. is a beautiful film and a masterpiece to behold. It is shot in the most gorgeous black and white which truly gives the silver screen its name. Everything about this film is gorgeous. The lighting and shadows are masterfully done. The acting is wonderful. And the story is absolutely brilliant. It may be true that it's the same thing we've seen a million times since this, but this was the first. This was the film that started it all. The story is so out of the box and the tone is perfect. It was written and directed by a true master. This is a wonderful classic that will live on for centuries to come.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

The 1st Greatest Film of All Time

[10/10 · 2 January 2020]

They say there are no perfect movies. Most of the time that holds true. But this is the one exception. I find no faults in The Shawshank Redemption. It is indeed a perfect film if ever there was one. It is wildly entertaining and extremely insightful. You won't want to blink for fear of missing something. You are able to identify and sympathize with the main character, and with his friend, who provides the greatest bits of narration of any film ever. This is not an exaggeration. Furthermore, we learn something about ourselves and our fellow human beings by watching this film. It is a work of art and a bit of real life. The production values are amazing. It should have won ten Oscars.