Film Critic
The Trip to Spain
To review this installment of The Trip franchise, I first looked to see how it’s continuing or deviating from the story arcs and themes previously established. Noticing an existential angst overshadowing the epicurean revelry, I followed that thread to examine how the characters have changed. Illustrating the mood with a few of the film’s best quips, I put the reader inside of the story without revealing too much of the plot.
The Death of Stalin
In reviewing this political satire, I looked at not just how the humor lands but what Armando Iannucci is trying to say. Observing how fear acts as both a punchline and catalyst in the film, I analysed how the jokes land and why they get stepped on by violent outbursts. Zooming out, I connected his caution against blind loyalty to the current political climate.
Have a Nice Day
In reviewing this adult animation feature that plays with both genre and form, I identified the conventions and how Liu Jian subverts them. Signaling out the film’s meditative pace as a key part of its soul, I explored how this enhances the film’s beauty and vibe but at the expense of dramatic tension. In the end, I decided it’s a worthy swap reminiscent in tone of the weary philosophizing of Richard Linklater’s Waking Life.