Monthly Film Roundup: November 2021

Films Watched: 16

How Many Were First-Time Watches: 13

Best Films: Dune (2021), The French Dispatch (2021), Last Night in Soho (2021)

Worst Film: Eternals (2021)

New Releases: The French Dispatch (2021), Dune (2021), Last Night in Soho (2021), King Richard (2021), Eternals (2021), Spencer (2021), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), Pirates (2021), House of Gucci (2021)

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FULL LIST AND REVIEWS

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The French Dispatch (2021)
Wes Anderson’s first Anthology movie, ‘The French Dispatch’ rises and falls on the quality of its individual vignettes. Despite this, Anderson’s usual wit, combined with exquisitely detailed production design and camerawork, mean it remains an absolute delight
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Dune (2021)
Denis Villeneuve’s expansive vision once again triumphs in a hypnotic and entrancing sci-fi. Hans Zimmer’s booming score and a truly breathtaking scale make for epic blockbuster storytelling
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Last Night in Soho (2021)
Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller feels more mature than his other flicks, but with that comes a loss of the childish energy that make his other movies so delicious to watch. Great performances and an intriguing mystery just about maintain the runtime, and the film benefits from beautiful production design and a stylish aesthetic
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Following the success of Strictly Ballroom and Romeo & Juliet, Baz Luhrmann’s third film became his musical masterpiece. Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman shine in this frenetic absinthe-fuelled romantic tragedy set in turn of the century Paris. A truly Spectacular Spectacular film
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

King Richard (2021)
A sweet and uplifting biopic about the father of Venus & Serena Williams. Will Smith gives his best performance in years, but the real star is young Saniyya Sidney, who plays 14-year old Venus with incredible emotion and intensity
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eternals (2021)
This year’s Oscar Winning Director Chloe Zhao once again proves that nobody can handle a Marvel film that is doomed with a drawn out story, a meddling producer, and a universe as expansive as it’s cast list . Eternals is the latest in a period of bland Marvel films, but is made worse by its ridiculous runtime.
⭐️⭐️

Spencer (2021)
Despite some repetitive elements, Spencer is a brilliantly executed film who’s greatest strength is presenting Diana’s plight as a psychological drama, rather than a ‘Crown-style’ period piece. Kristen Stewart disappears effortlessly into her performance as the People’s Princess, and is sure to have award nominations thrown at her
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
Hypnotic and disorienting, this is a period film that revels in the creation of mystery rather than the solving of it. However, despite some interesting technical skills, the film can’t help but feel slightly unsatisfactory as it ends
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jungle Fever (1991)
Spike Lee’s 5th feature is an impressive balance of race politics and drama, and though it treads some similar ground to ‘Do The Right Thing’, Lee’s script and a fantastic cast help to deliver another vital and important film
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
It’s 2 hours of forced “oh look, that thing from 1984’s Ghostbusters” references, and there’s little plot deviation from the original film either. But thankfully it still shares the same sense of silly fun
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pirates (2021)
Reggie Yates’s directorial debut is a fun and lightweight way to pass 80minutes, but lacks any real threat and narrative, relying heavily on it’s garage soundtrack to provide most of its energy
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Room 237 (2012)
Stanley Kubrick’s enigmatic masterpiece has long baffled and excited audiences with its obscure and often uninterpretable messages. In this well presented visual essay, 5 of the wildest fan theories about the film are explained, from proof of Nazi-ism, to evidence of Kubrick faking the moon landing.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Matrix (1999)
Rewatching this in anticipation of the new film reminds me just how impressive it was: fascinating story combined with a fun style and mind-boggling effects, it’s a real winner
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Square (2017)
An ambitious, if not entirely successful satire about the Swedish art world. While it is well performed by its cast, the narrative embodies its own message about modern art a bit too closely; intriguing to observe, but little self indulgent
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bad Times at the El Royale (2018)
Brilliantly performed and exquisitely shot, Drew Goddard’s second directorial feature delivers a stylish and entertaining punch, even if it does begin to loose its way by the third act
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

House of Gucci (2021)
Super stylish and eccentric to a fault, House of Gucci is overlong and overacted. And yet, there’s something so giddily entertaining about it that you can’t quite look away from. It’s almost like a car crash, but it just about works
⭐️⭐️⭐️