the musical number is an intensely powerful form of expression that combines the greatest joys and arts of life ("music, dance, story, photography") to create something impossible, something that feels greater than anything that has ever been felt. therefore, it makes sense that it can only exist in two places here: our dreams and the movies.
-
-
Les Vampires: Episode Four - The Spectre 1916
my favourite episode yet, but that’s not saying much when each has topped the last. everything feuillade is doing with deception & identity and how they converge within any one space (that reveal at the bank!!) makes my heart beam. officially obsessed.
-
Mortal Engines 2018
man, idk! what can i say? the cool shit outweighs the bad. sometimes it’s that simple.
-
-
-
Main Hoon Na 2004
the most dazzling directorial debut in cinema history. this is not up for debate. srk's sweaters now and forever <3
-
Drunken Master 1978
watching jackie chan move leaves me in the same state of awe i was in watching sutton foster perform anything goes for the first time. fight choreography may differ rhythmically from tap, but each possess a specific sonic effect that revels in the corporeal, regardless of whether or not the sounds themselves are “real”. this is all to say that i'm forever entranced by both and drunken master made me reflect on this in a way i hadn't before.
-
Lupin III: The First 2019
:(
will rewatch with subs before writing this off, bc yeesh, but (tired narrative aside) this wasn’t the energetic romp i was hoping for. CG animation has worked in the past, clearly, but the way it’s used here feels remarkably uninspired; losing so much of the heart and soul found in the castle of cagliostro's rich, free-flowing design. there are some stunning visual cues scattered throughout, and this naturally peaks during the action set pieces, but otherwise, a major disappointment. s/o to my brother and the empty cinema we were in, which meant i still had fun despite everything.
-
-
-
Roman Holiday 1953
adore how much of this film uses up every second possible. sure, there are montages here and there, and scenes that are relatively faster-paced, but all the important bits—like the meet-cute, pyjama incident, and fateful goodbye—hold their ground, often without music, for as long as they can. when ann is greeting the press, one by one, and joe is standing there, watching her gradually move closer to him, it's both heartbreaking and beautiful. heartbreaking due to the little time they…
-
Pas de Deux 1968
out of fear of projecting too much, all i’m gonna say is that this tapped into every single feeling i’ve had about myself over the past year. as restorative as it is hypnotic. one of the greatest works on identity and expression ever made.