Friday, May 29, 2020

Exit (2019)

Nice! A few bits' pacing may be a slightly off, but overall, very enjoyable with characters that you root for. Appreciated that the lead is an everyday kind of guy instead of an idealized alpha male. Female character is kind of generic, but I still rooted for her. Love the chemistry between the two. As far as disaster movies go, this was a fun, wild ride.

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Loev (2015)

Slice of life drama that I kind of like, and which I suspect may appeal to a niche audience only. Production values lean more towards the low budget side, with direction and sturdy performances driving the narrative. May not be for everyone as it doesn't bother to lay things out neatly. Appears more interested in presenting the relationship between the two main characters, rather than to nail down a definitive path for them or provide the kinds of explanations found in most pics. Reminds me a little of those Before Sunrise kind of films, sort of.

Monday, May 25, 2020

Dangal (2016)

Very much by the numbers. But not too bad.

Gripping fight scenes, IMHO.

Lady Bird (2017)

This flick has spark!

Loved it. Love the performances, the pacing. Lois Smith was such a delight in all the scenes she appeared in. The performances by Ronan and Metcalf were top notch. Love the screenplay, the direction. There's really a lot about this film that I was delighted by.

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Mad World《一念無明》(2016)

Nice!

"Not everything can be outsourced."

Very good performances across the board. There was not one bit of fat in this emotionally engaging story.

The Lovebirds (2020)

Plot is pretty shallow but the bickering between the two leads is what keeps this fun to watch.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

The Half of It (2020)

It was almost perfect. Love the script. Performances by the two leads was generally strong in this coming-of-age drama.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

A Secret Love (2020)

Nice and touching docu.

Circus of Books (2019)

This docu comes across as a few things - gay history, the incredible story of how a couple sent their kids through college with a gay bookstore business that their children did not know about until later in life, parent-child relationships. Personal and lite, this docu was directed by the couple's own daughter.

Thursday, May 7, 2020

I Dream of Singapore (2019)

Somewhat uneven, as there are bits that dwell away from the main character and his situation, but this is mostly focused on Feroz, a migrant worker who was injured and is accompanied by the GM of TWC2 as he travels home.

I won't say this is necessarily an engaging documentary - the style is very much just to show without making any overt statements.

There are poignant moments that capture human behaviours and interactions beautifully, but I think each audience member will take away something different depending on her or his own social and economic position in life.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Dear Ex《誰先愛上他的》(2018)

IMHO, love the performances and the general storytelling and sly bits of humor. Love the poker face that the teenager carried throughout most of the film. Love the overly dramatic mother character. Love the direction. Thought the father's performance and casting (although just a supporting role) was a weak link (though I can't really elaborate why exactly - maybe in comparison to the other 3 characters who all seem much better developed and had more screen time). Otherwise, I did find this a pretty engaging and heartfelt film, especially on the depiction of mother and son relationships.