Jarrett the Cinephile

Jeff Nichols' latest feature took as many twists and turns since its 2023 Telluride premiere till its recent release akin to those a roaring motorcycle would have taken. Thanks to Focus Features (and Universal), the film finally meets global audiences after some ten months approx. Still of Austin Butler ("Benny") in The Bikeriders (Credits: Universal Pictures and Focus Features) Nichols owed it to Danny Lyon's book of the same title (and in it, Lyon's interviewed accounts) of the American Midwestern motorcycle community in the mid-1960's through to the early 1970's for his inspired screenplay, which to me is mediocre at best. A community and their history much relegated to the margins of mainstream attention and discussion, it was interesting to learn a thing or two about this somewhat forgotten part of American culture and history through this film. A fine ensemble of performers salvaged this lackluster inspiration/adaptation. Still of Jodie Comer ("

Impartiality shall make this film review the most difficult one for me just yet. On a personal level, I dig Challengers and would gladly do a spontaneous watch just about anywhere, anytime (especially after it goes on video and stream). Technically, I am also fully aware it has noticeable flaws, even one or two rather fundamental slips if I may say so. Allow me to put on permanent record first, of what I said about Luca Guadagnino on social media before, in particular regarding this film - this filmmaker is for sure going to hell for the lust he both commits and brings out in us. Challengers spells tension: tension on the tennis court of course, but just as intense, if not more so, was the sexual tension throughout the film. Sure, this movie is no Basic Instinct (1992), but a lot is going on beyond the highly anticipated intimate scene in the first act, and Reznor and Ross's score is responsible for 50% of that easily. Still of Zendaya in Challengers  (2024) (Credits: Amazon MGM

Usually, I'm not particularly happy to see the vast majority of audiences (beyond critics and cinephiles) divided on a movie, but I am with Alex Garland's latest feature. I can also confidently put that he probably intended it anyway. Still of Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Stephen McKinley Henderson and Nelson Lee in Civil War . (Credit: A24) For me, I had a positive cinematic experience coming out of the film. In hindsight, I realized it's inappropriate to say I "enjoyed" it, since much of the film was stressful and offered a terrifying "what-if" of the United States in the foreseeable future. Unlike most reviews I've seen or heard, Civil War was my first Garland film. Having also continued my habit of not watching the trailer and voluntarily avoiding spoilers everywhere, I must say I was impressed by the film's technical excellence. I will and can only revisit this remark after I watch Ex Machina and Annihilation (looks like I can get by witho

Dev Patel just "springboard-ed" his own career. What an electrifying filmmaker debut. It's hard to imagine an intense action-thriller like this with SO much passion, perseverance and personal touch to it was almost shelved onto Netflix directly. Jordan Peele deserves even more respect professionally for bringing this killer (literally) debut by Patel from the depths of Netflix's catalog and having it screened worldwide, deservingly, for moviegoers to witness the sheer potential, and hardwork, of Dev Patel. Still of Dev Patel in Monkey Man (Credits: Universal Pictures, Bron Studios, Thunder Road Films and Monkeypaw Productions) Monkey Man (2024)  is not a perfect film, both objectively and subjectively. By setting this straight, I think we can all appreciate Patel's efforts better. The story he tells here is one probably seen by cinephiles at least fifty times throughout their lives - the underdog-revenge tale. What Patel does, however, that sets both him and this

After a two-year long wait, it's finally here. Scorsese's latest film premiered at Cannes 2023 but did not participate in the main competition. Some say if it did, Anatomy of a Fall (2023) might not have taken that top prize. Still of Lily Gladstone (left) and Leonardo DiCaprio in Killers of the Flower Moon (2023) Credit: Apple, and Paramount Pictures Starring Scorsese-usuals Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro and first-time collaborating, Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon (KOTFM) tells the story of the Osage murders in the 1920's from the perspectives of the Burkhart family. You might not believe it, but this is the first time which saw Scorsese, DiCaprio and De Niro all three together in the same film even though both the actors have worked with Scorsese for decades now. First thought as I walked out of the cinema was quite simply, Scorsese did it again. At the age of 81, he remains fully current in the art of filmmaking and may just still be the greatest li