‘The Only Girl in the Orchestra’ is a short documentary directed by Molly O’Brien that chronicles the life and career of Orin O’Brien, who made history in 1966 as the first woman to be hired by the New York Philharmonic under Leonard Bernstein. The film highlights her journey as a double bassist and her reflections…
Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’ (2024) takes a minimalist yet immersive approach to cinematography, enhancing its psychological horror elements through clever framing, lighting, and camera movement. I liked how the movie is viewed through the ghost’s perspective. The unsettling camera work represents the spirit, moving smoothly through the house, watching the family unseen. There are subtle distortions,…
‘The Most Precious of Cargoes’ ( La Plus Précieuse des marchandises), directed by Michel Hazanavicius and adapted from Jean-Claude Grumberg’s novella, is a French animated film that intertwines the innocence of a fairy tale with the harrowing realities of the Holocaust. This film is an ambitious film that attempts to blend the innocence of animation with…
‘Magpie’ was an interesting psychological thriller. The film is a true slow burn: in the beginning it is cold and frigid, then warm and bubbling, then it had an explosive climax in its final act. It’s gripping and suspenseful throughout. It’s anchored by a fantastic performance by Daisy Ridley. There are some symbolic scenes that…
‘Apartment 7A’ is a prequel to the 1968 horror classic ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ starring Mia Farrow. ‘Apartment 7A’ is a stunning visual display with a psychologically deeper look into the background story on how young women were drawn into the Bramford building. In ‘Rosemary’s Baby’, Terry briefly meets Rosemary in the laundry room. The dialogue follows:…
Pablo Larraín’s ‘Maria’ is simply triumphant and is a captivating exploration of Maria Callas. Director Pablo Larraín’s direction in ‘Maria’ truly stands out, reflecting his signature style of creating deeply emotional and intimate portrayals of iconic figures like in ‘Spencer’ and ‘Jackie’. In ‘Spencer’, Diana’s delusions are a symbolic representation of her fractured reality, a coping…
Disney+ has released a new season of Goosebumps (adapted from R.L. Stine’s book series) titled “The Vanishing,” which incorporates elements from various original stories, including ‘Stay Out of the Basement.’ This season follows twins Devin and Cece in 2024 as they uncover the mystery of their uncle Matty’s disappearance in 1994. The narrative intertwines supernatural…
‘The Brutalist,’ directed by Brady Corbet, is a period drama that chronicles the life of László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor who emigrates to the USA in pursuit of the American Dream. Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce were all great. Brody’s portrayal of László Tóth was nuanced and compelling as a…
‘Ponyo’ is a very magical and charming film directed by animation legend, Hayao Miyazaki. A five-year-old boy, Sosuke, finds a pet goldfish named Ponyo but he has no idea that she is really a magical entity! Ponyo is taken back to the sea by her father, who tries to discourage her from returning to land…
‘Smile 2’ is a brilliant horror sequel with elevated horror that blends elements of psychological thriller and supernatural fright. I highly encourage viewers to watch the prequel before seeing ‘Smile 2’. The film builds upon the foundation laid by the first film but this movie delves deeper into the psychological torture by those who are…
