The Convert (2023)

Nice!

Strong performance from Pearce. Liked it cos it's pretty gripping and touched on bits like the ugly sides of human nature, and the attempts to find peace while the rest of the world is just filled with thoughts of conquest. Can't help but think of comparisons to modern times. Most of the characters were nicely fleshed out, even the captain of the ship who only appeared bits.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

 Nice!

Hit Man (2023)

I wanted to like this. How many movies do you get where you have a character like this? But the way the story wrapped left me unsatisfied and shortchanged.
 

Thelma (2024)

After watching this, I think I get why independence is so important for some seniors. And that line: "We're old, we're diminished and we're a liability to the ones we love" hits hard. Yet, despite some heavy poignant moments and recreations, I really enjoyed this lighthearted mainstream pic, which screams like a love letter by the director to his grandma. Can't help but leave the theatre with a smile after watching this.

And it was great catching this with the short, Of the Last Reel in Front of You (2023) by Ge Yang at the State Theatre during the Sydney Film Festival. 

Việt and Nam (2024)

Hypnotic, immersive mesmerizing and also sad. Beautifully filmed, and poignantly controlled and slow paced in the unraveling of its narrative. Also, the sound design greatly enhanced my engagement with the narrative.

All Shall Be Well《從今以後》(2024)

Lovely insight into themes of home, family and moving on after one's partner passes. Love what the director said about how the situation was dramatic enough, and so he took a more restrained approach with the narrative. While I love the focus on the main and supporting family characters, I also love the friends who played a smaller role in the film. One particular scene with a lawyer friend had me tickled. Most of all, I love that this story zeroed in on characters whose stories are usually not told a lot currently amongst popular culture. Those who caught the director's last film Suk Suk《叔。叔》will find a similar style here.

Late Night with the Devil (2023)

Not really my cup of tea, but I thought this was a simple premise but very nicely executed.