Mike Cheslik’s “Hundreds of Beavers” comes riding with an abundance of praise, hailing it as one of the best comedies in years. My expectations had been cranked up as high as they get, which arguably may have affected my viewing experience in deeper ways than I can admit. A great comedy relies on a subsistence of gags that hurl themselves huge and softly at the viewer yet don’t feel too pronounced and heavy in the path of its direction. A certain lightness is essential, not just in the delivery of tone but also in the way characters traverse spaces that could be predictable but nevertheless continue to yield a rich feast of pleasures.

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How does one depict a love story bumbling with contradictions? When the two have already gone through several clashes over the respective individual construction of the self within the marriage, does it invest the relationship with newfound strength and vitality, or does it focalize its limitations further? If one cannot escape the intense love for the other despite finding the relationship too overbearing, how do they keep going? At what point do they make the decision of sticking through and once made, how do they assess the space they have within the relationship?

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There is something elusively compelling about the movies that make dialogue dramatically engaging throughout the runtime. Despite their shoestring budget, some films envelop you with raw and unadulterated emotions with pure use of dialogue and a minimalist setting. Usually, I judge movies based on three distinct parameters: art, influence, and entertainment. However, there are some films that, despite being devoid of entertainment, offer you so much to chew on emotionally that you feel for them instantly, and “Not Today” is one such film.

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The best films are those that don’t fully reveal themselves initially. Rather, they slowly and meticulously hook themselves onto your mind and don’t let go for days or weeks. Ilker Çatak’s 2023 German-language film “The Teacher’s Lounge,” deservedly nominated for best international feature at the Oscars, is a perfect example. Much like other films of a similar vein, “Uncut Gems” or “The Hunt,” to name just a couple, tension seeps out of every moment when watching, but it is the solid ideas and moral quandaries that arise from the piece that really linger, and make it an exceptional viewing experience.

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In many ways, a half-decent critic’s job is antithetical to a half-decent filmmaker’s. The former has to – concisely, directly, and definitively – extract the essential meaning from a filmic text usually overflowing with meaning; they have to “explain” something that, in the best-case scenario, will always remain thrillingly unexplainable. But when filmmakers themselves resort to summarizing, clarifying, and, worst of all, sermonizing, there’s little left for the critic (or any enthusiastic audience member) to do.

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Do you want to win, even if only for once? Yes. Of course. This is such an obvious question, even a commercial one—the slogan of a boxing gym flier. Winning, which implies having beaten someone, is the tacit knowledge of having been better at something—a feeling that everyone appreciates—or almost everyone. There are also those who have never won anything. For example, there is Le Ying; she indeed has never won anything. Le Ying (played by Jia Ling, actress and director) is the protagonist of the Chinese super hit “YOLO,” which premiered in theaters in February 2024.

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Uberto Pasolini’s “Nowhere Special” has a premise that can immediately wring your sentiments. John (James Norton), 34, is perhaps the loveliest father imaginable and his kid, Michael (Daniel Lamont) an exceptionally polite boy. John is a single parent. He is a window cleaner who regards himself as absolutely useless. His self-esteem is always low. When he scrubs the windows of a house, we watch him eagerly peer into the room of a young boy. He keeps returning in anticipation of seeing that boy play around in his room. We come to learn that John is dying and, therefore, planning to find adoption for Michael.

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Adapted from Clive Barker’s 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart, the iconic British horror film “Hellraiser” (1987), directed by Mr. Barker himself, cracks open the gates of Hell for cinephiles. Barker’s exploration of the extremes of sadomasochism has spawned eleven screen adaptations thus far, with rumors circulating about the development of a TV adaptation with HBO Max. Despite numerous attempts within the franchise, none of the films have managed to eclipse the monumental success achieved by the original “Hellraiser,” whose triumph is also vividly mirrored in its box office performance, reaching a lifetime gross of more than $14 million.

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Where do you go once you are suddenly confronted with the sudden, brutal threat of standing to lose your home? This is the question that haunts those that Felix Hergert and Dominik Zietlow’s “Brunaupark” bring to the fore. It’s a question inhabitants of the eponymous district in Zurich had never imagined they’d have to factor in. However, residents of the tenements don’t take the eviction threats without doling out a firm, vocal, and proactive opposition. What’s immediately focalized is the existing flats are in great condition, with many having undergone recent renovation. Then why are efforts being made to tear them down? What was the point of doing the renovation in the first place?

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One of the most heart-numbing films on grief and death would be Michael Haneke’s “Amour” (2012). “Amour” remains firmly entrenched on my list of evergreen films, and I recall watching it without spoilers. The outstanding portrayal of an older woman with dementia by the late Emmanuelle Riva and the breadth of emotion displayed by the late Jean-Louis Trintignant was priceless. With modest inspiration from “Amour” and featuring an Asian twist, filmmakers Tzu-Hui Peng and Ping-Wen Wang craft a tale in A Journey in Spring (Chun xing) that gives viewers an alternative viewpoint on what it means to lose a loved one.

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Behold the life of a man in torment. Billy Poulin has been filming his thoughts for 20 years, and without knowing it, he recorded the chronicles of a schizophrenic in the most detailed way possible. His material is the backbone of the documentary, technically directed by Lawrence Cote-Collins, a Canadian filmmaker with a keen and empathetic eye on contemporary emotional destruction. Billy apparently has a natural way of telling stories and an original passion for deploying props (wigs, puppets, and costumes). Although he stopped his endeavors for a career in filmmaking early on, he found solace in placing his creativity in front of the camera.

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As far as filmmaking dynasties go, the Cronenbergs aren’t exactly the Canadian Coppolas, but that isn’t to say that the Father of Body Horror hasn’t also fathered some accomplished artists to carve out their own legacies. Brandon Cronenberg has already proven himself a worthy successor to occupy his old man’s specific lane of high-concept, low-scale gruesomeness, while his daughter Caitlin has solidified a strong career in photography. Alas, the call of the moving image was simply too irresistible, and so with “Humane,” Caitlin Cronenberg takes her first opportunity behind a moving-image camera to unpack some familial success stories of her own.

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I have often heard the expression “guilty pleasure.” but I’ve never been fortunate enough to have it happen to me. The closest I’ve come to that feeling about a film was “Alice in Wonderland” (2010), but it was a feeling born out of excitement and foggy viewing. I already had my own idea of what I was in for, with a solid optimism so bright that it did not reflect Lisa Frankenstein’s (2024) actual merits. It was instead focused on my own personal enjoyment. For the first time then, I was enthralled by the very fact that I was watching a film I had long anticipated, regardless of the actual end product.

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“On the Line,” a film shot inside a single room with multiple wires around, might feel claustrophobic after a point. All it shows is one woman in that room, connecting calls on the island of Alderney in 1964. It was a time when people could not get connected to each other without another human being, an operator working as the glue to connect the calls through literal wires. We meet our protagonist, Agnes, through whose eyes the whole film unfolds.

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Almost anyone, from the most qualified anthropologist to the sleaziest R&B singer, will assert to you that the human body is a work of art. Film directors are no exception, but while a fair share of them have made it their artistic mission to capture curved neckbones and dripping kneecaps with the same ferocity as an exploding mineshaft, few have earned quite as much sexual tension from the mere insinuation of bodies touching as Luca Guadagnino. “Challengers”—a film dedicated entirely to bodies in constant motion with nowhere concrete to take them—may just be the director’s most aggressive work in that respect, if only for the sheer vigor in how those sweaty bodies charge the empty spaces between them.

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Don’t let the title fool you; “The Exploding Boy” (2023) does not deal with any kind of explosions, or at least not literal ones. If we talk about metaphorical ones, then yes, the title is pretty apt and self-explanatory. The film is about Alex Silver (Parris Bates), an angsty teenager who dreams of becoming the next Jim Henson. However, like most teenagers, life is not in his favor. He is bullied in his class, he does not have friends, his father is a prick, and his neighbors bother him for no real reason. All these together are certainly enough to make him explode, but fortunately, he doesn’t, and why or how he stops himself from exploding forms the crux of the story.

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Yi-Shan Lo’s “After the Snowmelt” captures a devastating journey, both geographical and emotional. It encapsulates a climb out of grief and inching towards healing. But the road it takes to pass through is tough and cruel, calling forth memories of the past and rendering the slowly soldering grief fresh and anew. It twists the gut yet remains an undeniably vital part of the process of fully coming to terms with sudden, enormous loss.

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Mexico’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature, “Tótem,” is utterly gripping on every level. Director Lila Avilés’ narrative command instantaneously draws you in via the intimate access it grants to the life of a seemingly ordinary Mexican family during a birthday celebration. Through carefully constructed, economic dialogue and an ensemble of superbly naturalistic performances, this delightfully tender yet powerfully emotive film touches on many complex ideas without ever breaking our immersion in the perspective of its seven-year-old protagonist, Sol (Naíma Sentíes).

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There’s a real thrill and joy in watching artists navigate their way around any form of imposition or restriction. The victory lies in whether they are able to turn the hovering mandate almost inconsequential with the sheer conviction in their telling. Among the bunch of five films selected for the 2024 MAMI Select-Filmed on iPhone Programme, these three shine the brightest, brilliantly interweaving the personal and the political with their context and setting.

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Despite the absolute unanimous praise, Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut Lady Bird received, I hated what I thought was an unlikable film that was enamored with its unlikable lead character. Gerwig’s sophomore film, Little Women (2019) is, conversely, a tremendously likable film – all the praise for her first film should’ve been reserved for her second. Little Women is brimming with life (perhaps even overflowing), so that the astonishing performances from all involved, their peculiar, yet very life-like dialogue with each other, and the transformative set-design and cinematography all work entirely together to bring me right into its world, reacting to the joys and sorrows of these women as if I were right beside them.

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Russian Marxist feminist Alexandra Kollontai’s philosophy glues together the various parallel strands in Dora Garcia’s (“Revolution, Fulfil Your Promise”) “Red Love.” Her fiery ideas are the discursive engine driving debates and discussions decades after her death. The film is a paean to her ideology that dared to step out of the currents of mainstream political thought. However, the film emphasizes that she wasn’t someone who acquired the reputation she went on to have as early as one might believe. As one of the subjects critically informs, Kollontai wasn’t known at all beyond communist circles. Women or feminists barely had an inkling of her work. It was only after Marcela Lagarde began to teach Kollontai’s texts to her students in university that her ideas gradually caught fire.

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It seems as though it would be a hard life for a vampire child, especially one whose father is Count Dracula. In addition to a lack of warmth and paternal affection and a constant surrounding by violence, there is the pressure of living up to a centuries-old reputation. When your parent is one of the greatest of all time, and you have been forced into the same line of work, how do you not judge your actions against your parent’s success?

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Nelson Makengo’s “Rising Up At Night” (Tongo Saa) throws us into a world swathed in sheer darkness. Across several neighborhoods in Kinshasa, the electricity is snapped for as long as four months or even more as a result of flooding. When we first enter one of the flooded houses, the sight is so shocking it can take a while to even be able to grapple with the enormity. People move around in their houses, where the water is practically waist-deep. One such house belongs to Davido, a drifting youngster. The family ferrets through disposable items in the water that has swirled into the house. The image is bleakly accentuated further by the knowledge that this has been the situation for several months.

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Back in 2010, when “LSD: Love Sex Aur Dhoka” hit the theaters, the concerns revolving around mass surveillance were still in their dormant stage. In the decade that’s followed, reports regarding similar concerns have raised remarkable questions regarding the ethics of the same. In that regard, making a spiritual sequel to the film came with the hefty challenge of recontextualizing the experimental essence of that movie while also addressing the fundamental watering down of privacy at large. The operative device of “LSD 2”, then, becomes the discerning eye with which we perceive the world. The fact that the discern comes as deep fakes and trolls through metaverses and virtual godmen forms the narrative push. There are no MMS scandals or sting operations serving as conflicts. The conflict is in the act itself, where everyone is a character.

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Ali Ahmadzadeh’s “Critical Zone” opens with a banger of a sequence. What starts out as a seemingly harmless ambulance drive takes on several shady layers of orchestration as the furiously charged, breathlessly kinetic sequence, zipping through tunnels and highways, forces you to sit up. Once it is off the table, the film slows down, setting us on the back of its protagonist, Amir (Amir Pousti), a drug dealer who makes nightly delivery expeditions to his clients all over the city somewhere in Iran.

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Alina Maksimenko’s film opens in the Ukrainian city of Irpin in 2022. At the height of the Russian aggression on her country, she moves in with her old parents, who live in a village that’s relatively tucked out of the line of direct fire. She isn’t sure that remaining home is a wise and safe idea, but her parents, especially her father, Tolya, are adamant about not leaving. When she pops the news of a green corridor that’s been built for evacuation in extreme crisis, neither of them warms up to it. Her mother, Tetiana, is almost relieved when she is able to confirm her doubts that the living facilities in the corridor are unpleasant in their cooping up hordes of people in a tight space.

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On 20th February, while addressing a rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed Aditya Suhas Jambhale’s “Article 370” as the movie to get ‘correct information’ about the government’s stance on the complex geopolitical scenario of Kashmir. Namely the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which previously allowed Kashmir autonomy. One of the film’s producers is filmmaker Aditya Dhar, who also co-wrote the film. Remember Dhar’s directorial debut was “Uri: The Surgical Strike” (2019), based on the 2016 Uri Attack and its retaliation. “Uri” worked wonders at the box office, and it also worked wonders for the ruling party’s (Narendra Modi-led BJP) chances in the 2019 election.

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After reading enough film criticism from varied sources-–or simply talking to many people about the subject—you may, now and again, come across a particular disclaimer for certain movies: “You have to be in the right mindset to fully appreciate this one.” Fair enough; sometimes a bad breakup or even an empty stomach can skew your perspective and make you less receptive to something challenging than you would be on another, more ideal occasion.

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A deep-sunk trauma hangs over Anas Zawahri’s documentary, “My Memory is Full of Ghosts.” The shadow of the Syrian civil war, which locked the city of Homs in a deadly siege between 2011 and 2014, is long and inescapable, bursting to the fore through the several anecdotes and recollections the film focuses on. These are harrowing and unforgiving memories the people burrow through. Every single one of them is still grappling with the severe effects of nightmarish situations they’d been hurled into. Loss and longing are fused into a peculiar, emotionally ambivalent mix, going back and forth between the hurt the city has inflicted and the strong pull towards it.

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Judging a film based on its first half seems unfair, so I was awaiting the second part of Martin Bourboulon’s The Three Musketeers (2023). Despite solid performances from Pio Marmaï as Porthos and Vincent Cassel as Athos, the first film, subtitled D’Artagnan (2023), had a messy narrative and a disappointing take on Milady de Winter, played by Eva Green. The sequel, Milady, was released in December and now in the U.S., centers on the schemes of the eponymous villainess while still following the musketeers. They now have to defend the kingdom of France against a rebellion from the Protestants, which threatens the King himself. As for the youngest recruit, D’Artagnan (François Civil), is ready to risk anything to save his lover, Constance Bonacieux (Lydia Khoudri), who was captured at the end of the first film.

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“Sweet Dreams” is another example of a well-intentioned film that doesn’t live up to its premise. It tells the story of recovering alcoholics and addicts trying to improve their lives and head on a better path. So, it’s a story that we all can empathize with. However, the film’s shoddy direction ruins any sort of potential in the script. Essentially,”‘Sweet Dreams” is a sports drama that revolves around team-building, sobriety, and self-improvement. The dialogue deals heavily with flawed people trying to make amends for their imperfect past. At times, their stories are devastating. But their heartfelt confessions are spread so unevenly without a strong emotional connection between the scenes, making it hard to see them grow as a family.

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The acting, especially from Sofia Boutella, who has to be the key ingredient here, is only serviceable. Even the slow-mo and action sequences that have been a trademark of Snyder’s personality feel labored and distant, not allowing the viewers to engage with either its emotional stakes or its grander themes of loss and a need for stability in life.

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Kamay is premised on a few of the oldest and most fundamental questions. Who gets the right to pursue justice? At what point does this right become mired in the ceaselessly complicating matrix of access and privilege? How do we then make sense of justice if it is spiked with so many determinants that securely skew it towards the historically advantaged? Ilyas Yourish and Shahrokh Bikaran’s film is a trenchant examination of historical deprivation and oppression narrated in a mournful register. There’s such a well of sadness here it can genuinely freeze your heart.

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How do we address memories when they have been long buried? Does the window of time that’s passed alleviate or soften their impact? When do they regain their significance in relation to the present? Does the person with whom these memories are associated shift in their perception and take on a new, unrecognizable form? At what point do we make the decision to call forth this primal connection with our past? How do we even fathom and judge that such an endeavor was worth it in all its inevitable pain? Such questions and many more bubble up in Laurence Lévesque’s documentary, “Okurimono.”

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Continue reading this on High on Films

Why is love so complicated? Every single person who has ever experienced love has asked themselves this one fundamental question. Some see it as a passing phase, while others see it as a crucial time for personal growth. With that comes the “happily ever after” fantasy of a perfect match and soulmate. So how do we know when the right moment is or who is suitable for us? That is a journey for everyone to face. Within this realm of romantic relationships comes a tale by Prabhu Ram Vyas, which centers exactly on the painful phase of learning the art of love. “Lover” (2024) follows a young couple as they navigate the complexities of their relationship after being together for six years. Filmmaker Vyas lets the audience in on a deep dive into the personalities of Arun and Divya, the film’s main characters.

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“Mother Vera” is hued in moody, spectral shades. It is daubed in a deep melancholy that drips off the edges of several scenes. An emotional, inner violence gnaws at the protagonist, Vera. At the very outset, she states she didn’t want to be a nun. Her twenty years’ worth of monastic service came about through an assortment of various factors, many of which weren’t to her liking or volition but whose repercussions she was left to grapple with in the absence of alternatives. She had thought once her boyfriend got out of prison, she would leave the monastery. However, evolving circumstances turn out to be entirely different, extending her stay beyond what she could have possibly imagined. There’s heartbreak and rejection as her life skids off to an unexpected tangent.

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Essayistic films can be tricky to navigate. How much space should the filmmaker leave to the audience in constructing impressions of a world they seek to foreground? At what point does the possibility of alienating the viewer widen, and the director’s control seems to frustratingly tighten? As experientially dense as it is stunningly unfettered, Nicole Vögele’s film The Landscape and the Fury resists easy viewing.

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Among the aspirations for progress in life is the discovery of an ideal residence. Whether it has been a long-term goal or not, we all want a house that is uniquely ours and meets all our requirements. Nevertheless, financial commitment plays a role in maintaining a stable lifestyle. A rental home may be a good option in light of this. However, many people find it difficult to even identify rental properties, let alone negotiate the rental price, due to the gradual growth in inflation. Bringing a psychological edge to the story, director Yoon Eun-kyung tackles the challenges of rental homes ingeniously through “The Tenants.”

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The one and only flashback of the film, which is intercut in such a way that both Jake and Silva reminisce the exact same memory simultaneously while being separated miles away from each other, is a really tidy subversion. Let me explain – the scene feature young versions of our main characters and three women with a plan to shoot holes into a tall wine basket and drink out from that. Now here are two handsome men and three beautiful women about to get drunk – the perfect setup for some young blooded fooling around. But the moment wine starts oozing out, Silva and Jake savour not only its taste but that of each others’ lips, completely ignoring the wine-drenched women, something which straight guys would consider a sin. While I chuckled at the groaning expressions of the ignored ladies, what stayed with me was the scene’s sweet sensuality.

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The only critical curveball that I would throw towards Jithu Madhavan’s ‘Aavesham’ is about just how thinly plotted it is. Beyond three young boys who get into a fight with their seniors at their Engineering College in Banglore and then befriend a ‘local support’ to get revenge, there’s not much to it. However, it would be incredibly reductive of me to corner it for being just that, especially when the experience the film provides goes beyond that.

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Maria Stoianova’s parents worked with the Ukrainian Ensemble Ballet on Ice. Her documentary Fragments of Ice turns to their past living in a country teetering on the precipice, amongst spaces they would rather remove themselves from. The film is essentially culled into shape from a series of VHS tapes shot on a camcorder by her father between 1986 and 1994. As soon as he gets the camera from someone in the troupe, he grows besotted with it, placing almost everything and everyone under its gaze.

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“Disappear Completely” (Original Title: Desaparecer Por Completo) is a slow-burn, atmospheric horror film directed by Luis Javier Henaine. The film had been selected at FIC Morelia 2023. With its lead actor, Harold Torres, present in almost every scene, it pivots around a photographer who gets struck by a curse and finds his life swiftly shattering. Certain slivers of hope and solutions emerge, but everything turns out to be in vain as he cannot outdo the fierce, destructive power of the curse that has been set on him.

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Imtiaz Ali’s Amar Singh Chamkila is flanked by an instantly compelling subject. Chamkila, the most ragingly famous singer-lyricist to have come out of Punjab, is at the forefront of this biopic that unfolds in a linear manner, barring a few supposedly experimental techniques used to recall the myth of the man. Opening with the shock of the assassination of him (Diljit Dosanjh, sincere and gentle) and his wife, Amarjot (Parineeti Chopra), in 1988 before a performance at an akhara, the film proceeds to reveal a troubled history and society that had a conflicted, contradictory relationship and attitude towards Chamkila.

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Netflix’s Filipino drama “A Journey” (2024), directed by RC Delos Reyes, is a pathos-filled sentimental tearjerker with a familiar premise. The age-old “Terminal illness upping life’s value” trope sets the film on its ‘journey’ to explore friendship, love, and, of course, death. The lack of novelty prompts a lack of appeal, initially. However, to its credit, “A Journey” includes a few more turns that help the film reach its tender finishing line with significant brevity and poignancy. Even with cynicism, one cannot help but appreciate the feeling “A Journey” tries to evoke when the credit starts to roll.

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“Love, Divided” (Original title: Pared con pared) is a Spanish romantic comedy film streaming on Netflix. Written by Marta Sanchez & directed by Patricia Font, it is a feel-good romance. It revolves around the life of a young pianist who gets a chance to start over her life. But she has to make peace with her new neighbor, who hates noise in any shape or form. Yet, as it always happens, they eventually fall in love with each other. Starring Aitana Ocaña and Fernando Guallar in the lead roles, it is a remake of the 2015 French film “Blind Date” (Original title: Un peu, beaucoup, aveuglément!) based on an original story by Lilou Fogli.

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A mystery thriller can stand out for a couple of reasons. In most cases, the investigative aspect of the script needs to be invigorating enough to keep us glued to the screen. The stylistic elements, be it the type of compositions, color grading, or sound design, need to immerse us in the film’s environment. The characters need to be compelling, and the themes need to be explored to the best of their potential. David Fincher’s “Zodiac” is an excellent example of all these elements done right. Sadly, the same cannot be said of Terry McDonough’s “Damaged,” which feels like an amateur crime thriller at best.

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One can go on two ways when writing about a sports biopic. One would be based on how they perceive a biopic that often tends to checklist key historical events while painting a sprawling look at the legacies of the people involved. The other would be based on how they want the film to upend the conventional template of the genre to showcase its themes in a more customized way. It’s not that these two couldn’t be streamlined from a filmmaker’s individual perspective. However, the anticipation behind boxing in the way such films are perceived is perhaps secondary to how one-noted the genre tends to be most of the time. With the latter approach, however, one inadvertently negates the sensibilities of what avenue the film is functioning at.

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From the beginning, when Wenders’ camera lingers on the monumental sculptures and installations of the German painter and sculptor Anselm Kiefer, we are meant to deduce that something monumental will also be part of this film. Yet Wim Wenders, who proved to be a very meditative observer in his Oscar-nominated & “Perfect Days” (2023), flips the coin in his recent doc (also premiered at Cannes 2023 Film Festival as a special screening). “Anselm” is an almost religiously handled, capable, but rather flimsy presentation of an artist who thought big and executed big.

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...plus 15 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

...plus 40 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Brainstorm
• Bedlam
• Don Juan DeMarco
• Session 9
• Girl, Interrupted
• I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK
• Dogra Magra
• Angels of the Universe
• The Ninth Configuration
• Lunacy

...plus 15 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

...plus 14 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

...plus 602 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Home
• Babygirl
• Dustland
• Crossing
• Bella Ciao
• Bahadur the Brave
• Art College 1994
• Fly On
• Achilles
• 20,000 Species of Bees

...plus 121 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

• Anatomy of a Fall
• Monster
• Afire
• Art College 1994
• Daaaaaalí!
• Evil Does Not Exist
• Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World
• Earth Mama
• Fallen Leaves
• Four Daughters

...plus 15 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

...plus 15 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

This list is for anyone who wishes to become a Jury member for the 6th High on Films Awards.

Watch as many films as possible from this list (and any other 2022 film we forgot to add) before shortlisting them for the High on Films Awards, 2023.

If/when you think you are ready, become a Jury at HOF Awards by following the link: forms.gle/imrPc6urGPZgSNei6

Important Dates to Remember

a) 10th of March 2023: The last date for submission of shortlists. (Watch everything essential before that)

b) 18th of March 2023: Based on the films you shortlist for different categories, we will come up with the Official High on Films Awards 2023: Nominations. It will, then, be a public form open for voting.

c) Sunday, 9th of April, 2023: Result Day. We will announce the result on our Facebook Page, Instagram, Twitter Handle, and the High on Films Website.

Note: The titles are arranged alphabetically!

• Aftersun
• Aavasavyuham: The Arbit Documentation of an Amphibian Hunt
• After Yang
• All Quiet on the Western Front
• Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood
• Argentina, 1985
• Armageddon Time
• Avatar: The Way of Water
• Babylon
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

...plus 55 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf2X5yf14ZeefN4x47LgZ7UedMfxlFJYBDdlg6HI0n2F-0UfQ/viewform

• The Worst Person in the World
• Drive My Car
• The Power of the Dog
• C'mon C'mon
• A Hero
• Memoria
• Licorice Pizza
• Petite Maman
• Sardar Udham
• Spencer

...plus 27 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScC7Da24R-_0K4yg8LcRoBfgwfNQvB71d4eLs4OG11gTHVRmg/viewform

What else, every jury member will get a HOF T-Shirt, as a return gift basically. ;)

• A Hero
• Annette
• Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn
• Belfast
• Bergman Island
• C'mon C'mon
• CODA
• Cryptozoo
• Don't Look Up
• Drive My Car

...plus 55 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

Read the complete list here:
www.highonfilms.com/the-best-korean-movies/

1. Poetry
2. Memories of Murder
3. Peppermint Candy
4. The Wailing
5. King and the Clown
6. Secret Sunshine
7. Treeless Mountain
8. Burning
9. The Handmaiden
10. Moonlit Winter

...plus 25 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Kes
2. Sorry We Missed You
3. I, Daniel Blake
4. Land and Freedom
5. Raining Stones
6. The Wind That Shakes the Barley
7. Sweet Sixteen
8. My Name Is Joe
9. The Angels' Share
10. Riff-Raff

1. Anatomy of a Murder
2. Laura
3. Advise & Consent
4. Where the Sidewalk Ends
5. The Man with the Golden Arm

1. The Tree of Life
2. Badlands
3. The New World
4. The Thin Red Line
5. Knight of Cups
6. Days of Heaven
7. To the Wonder

1. Mädchen in Uniform
2. Song of Love
3. Some Like It Hot
4. The Children's Hour
5. Victim
6. The Killing of Sister George
7. Death in Venice
8. The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
9. Pink Flamingos
10. Je, Tu, Il, Elle

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Rain
2. Rashomon
3. Andrei Rublev
4. Withnail & I
5. Blade Runner
6. Damnation
7. Glengarry Glen Ross
8. Memories of Murder
9. Raincoat
10. Sin City

...plus 5 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. The Face of Another
2. Eyes Without a Face
3. Seconds
4. Phoenix
5. Open Your Eyes
6. Time
7. Goodnight Mommy
8. The Skin I Live In
9. Dark Passage
10. A Woman's Face

1. Memento
2. The Prestige
3. Following
4. The Dark Knight
5. Inception
6. Dunkirk
7. Batman Begins
8. Interstellar
9. Insomnia
10. The Dark Knight Rises

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

1. Children of Men
2. Roma
3. Y Tu Mamá También
4. Gravity
5. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
6. A Little Princess
7. Great Expectations
8. Sólo con tu pareja

1. A Trip to the Moon
2. The Impossible Voyage
3. The Diabolic Tenant
4. The Black Imp
5. Bluebeard

1. Adaptation.
2. Being John Malkovich
3. Her
4. Where the Wild Things Are

1. The Spectacular Now
2. The End of the Tour
3. Smashed
4. Off the Black
5. The Circle

• The Yellow Handkerchief
• The Runaways
• On the Road
• Still Alice
• Camp X-Ray
• Clouds of Sils Maria
• Personal Shopper

1. Fight Club
2. The Social Network
3. Zodiac
4. Gone Girl
5. Se7en
6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
8. The Game
9. Panic Room

Arguably, no other leading lady has done a more praiseworthy job of choosing projects in the modern era than Cate Blanchett. Since gaining international recognition with Elizabeth (1998), the Australian actress has proven she can express any accent, nationality, and emotion. Her remarkable range shines in films like Carol (2015), where she delivers a subtle yet powerful performance, and in The Aviator (2004), where she portrays the enigmatic Katharine Hepburn with authenticity. Even in lesser-known works like The Life Aquatic of Steve Zissou (2004), Blanchett's talent elevates the material, leaving a lasting impression. Most recently, audiences were captivated by her performance as Lydia Tár in Tár (2022), demonstrating once again her ability to command the screen with grace and intensity.

Here's the complete list:
www.highonfilms.com/best-cate-blanchett-movies/

Fantasy is often listed as merely swords and sorcery. This is not to say it isn’t considered a serious cinematic force in the world. Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, as well as Game of Thrones, have helped catapult fantasy into the popular imagination, certainly, but often to a detriment. There seems to be a growing divide between what we call Fantasy and the Fantastical, although, of course, they are the same thing. What we do see is a rigid definition of what we call a work of fantasy, though. Swords and Sorcery, political intrigue, sweeping epics, trilogies, shows, and so forth. I wish to propose an alternative to this. Instead, let us look at another way to view fantasy and the fantastical that doesn’t involve something necessarily rooted in Middle Earth. Think of the surreal landscapes and imaginative storytelling of Howl's Moving Castle (2004), or the nightmarish vision of David Lynch's Eraserhead (1977). Satoshi Kon's Paprika (2006) takes us on a mind-bending journey through dreams and reality, while Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Holy Mountain (1973) challenges our perceptions with its psychedelic odyssey.

Here's the complete list:
www.highonfilms.com/overlooked-fantasy-films/

The beauty of Japanese horror movies lies in their subtlety. Instead of becoming CGI fests, these films solely depend on powerful storylines, elegant framing, and unnerving soundtrack effects. These ace filmmakers’ minimalist approach strikes us with raw, rampant scares. Among these selections are classics like "House (1977)", known for its surreal and nightmarish atmosphere, and Takashi Miike's unsettling "Audition (1999)", which slowly unravels into a horrifying descent into madness. Kiyoshi Kurosawa's haunting "Cure (1997)" delves into the depths of the human psyche, while the iconic "Ringu (1998)" redefined horror with its chilling tale of a cursed videotape. Get ready for a trip full of terror, twists, and some totally riveting experiences. I have handpicked some of the best horror movies in Japan, ranging from psychological horror/thrillers to sinister, gory mystery movies.

Checkout the complete list below:
www.highonfilms.com/best-japanese-horror-films/

The relationship between a father and his kids is strangely beautiful. Unlike the relationship you share with your mother, this is a pretty complex one. In one lifetime, the dynamics between you and your father keep changing. Sometimes, he plays an Authoritarian Teacher; on other days, he is a pal who is throwing balls at you. When you grow up, you two start behaving like acquaintances with little exchange of words until, one day, you see the wrinkles on your old man's face and realize that now is the time for role reversals. The Child becomes the father, and the father becomes the child. In this list, we mention Interstellar, Call Me By Your Name, Prisoners, Finding Nemo, and Oldboy, among others.

Here's the complete list:

www.highonfilms.com/25-memorable-movie-fathers-21st-century/

Death, as the ultimate existential certainty, has captivated humanity for millennia and has long been a central theme in literature, art, and philosophy. It has simultaneously served as a deep source of fear, fascination, as well as critical inquiry. From ancient myths exploring the afterlife to modern scientific explorations of consciousness, we continue to grapple with death’s finality and its impact on the living. Cinema, as a powerful storytelling medium, has naturally become a mirror reflecting our complex relationship with mortality. Films like Coco, celebrating the vibrancy of the afterlife; A Ghost Story, delving into the lingering presence beyond death; The Seventh Seal, a meditation on life and the shadow of death; Ikiru, a poignant tale of finding meaning at life’s end; and Taste of Cherry, questioning the very nature of existence, have explored death in a multitude of ways. Some narratives confront the raw grief and emotional turmoil associated with loss, while others question the nature of existence and the potential for an afterlife. Death can be a catalyst for self-discovery, prompting characters to reassess their priorities and appreciate the preciousness of life. It can also be a tool for social commentary, highlighting societal anxieties about aging, illness, or medical ethics.

Here's the full list of 15 Great Movies About Death:
www.highonfilms.com/great-movies-about-death/

This list includes films with female protagonists who have left an impact on me, moved me to tears, given me sleepless nights, and made me rethink the world around me. It includes timeless characters portrayed by women being real and raw, embracing themselves, and not merely playing out male fantasies. Films like Lady Bird, with its authentic depiction of adolescence; Arrival, showcasing intelligent communication beyond words Incredibles 2 and Frozen, redefining heroism and sisterhood; Birds of Prey, celebrating the emancipation of Harley Quinn; and Frances Ha, capturing the essence of modern womanhood, feature such powerful portrayals. Some of them are directed by women directors who are consciously subverting the male gaze and bending stereotypes and gender norms. To me, this list symbolizes girl power, it envisions a world run by women, gives hope and strength, and represents an alternative way of being. Some of these films would also pass the Bechdel test, i.e., at least two women conversing about literally anything and everything else under the sun but a man.

Here's the full list of 25 Great Feminist Films That You Should Watch:
www.highonfilms.com/great-feminist-films-to-watch/

From refusing to wear clothes that weren’t accessible to his character in the year the film was set in, like in Lincoln, and contracting pneumonia, to demanding crew to wheel him around on set because his character can’t walk, as in My Left Foot, Daniel Day-Lewis will do anything for his character. In his character, rather. The English actor, son of Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis and son-in-law of the great Arthur Miller, is currently retired by his own admission. In a career spanning almost four decades, featuring powerful performances in films like  There Will Be Blood, Gangs of New York, and the meticulous craftsmanship of  Phantom Thread, Day-Lewis has hardly focused on volume. His complete and stout devotion to method acting has seen his career defined by the characters he’s played, not by repute or status as a global star, although it would be imprudent not to call him one. His co-stars claim to have met the real Day-Lewis not until after the shoot gets over.

Here's the full list of 10 Best Daniel Day-Lewis Performances:
www.highonfilms.com/daniel-day-lewis-performances/

Lars von Trier is one of those directors whose name evokes extreme responses. People seem to love him or hate him. What can be said for sure is that von Trier is an iconoclast who has questioned, defined, and redefined cinematic trends. From the haunting despair of Melancholia, the raw emotion of The House That Jack Built and Dancer in the Dark, to the controversial narrative of Antichrist, his work is not just with respect to visual style but also his approach to writing, sound, narration, and working with actors. As we advance through his filmmaking career, we see the evolution of the von Trier camera from tripods and rigs to handheld and free of mechanical shackles. Von Trier’s films, including the stark and challenging Dogville, are very fascinating to examine because of his casting approach and the ability for set energies to transcend and reflect in his films.

Here's the full list of All Lars von Trier Films, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/all-lars-von-trier-movies-ranked/

2014 marked a memorable year in cinema, brimming with iconic films that defied traditional genres. Yet, amidst these well-celebrated works, films like Enemy and Under the Skin left audiences pondering with their enigmatic narratives, while Locke and Frank offered unique cinematic experiences. Meanwhile, The Skeleton Twins and The Rover provided deep emotional journeys and gritty realism, respectively. As we reflect on the films that captivated audiences, it’s evident that numerous powerful works did not receive their due recognition. In tribute to these hidden treasures.

We present a curated list of 20 criminally underrated films from 2014 that demand attention:
www.highonfilms.com/underrated-films-of-2014/

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have never been (radio) silent in their citation of the horror classics that have shaped their work, and “Abigail” marks no exception in that respect. Some might call that approach derivative of those much better films, but there is at least a certain energy to films like “Abigail” that makes them watchable while they remind you of horror films that are probably more worth your time. Once more, you can consider this list less as “8 Movies to Watch If You Liked Abigail” and more as “8 Movies That Do What Abigail Does Better” (maybe it’s time I pick different titles…), but regardless, the films chosen here all reflect a certain aspect of Radio Silence’s approach to offer you a different angle on their chosen ideas. Whether it’s the psychological warfare in ‘Black Swan’, the subversive scares of ‘Scream’, or the unsettling tension of ‘Barbarian’.

Here is the full list of 8 movies to watch if you liked “Abigail”:
www.highonfilms.com/movies-to-watch-if-you-liked-abigail-2024/

Zack Snyder is one of the most polarising filmmakers working today. While film critics often do not like his works, his fans shower him with praise, no matter what. Recently, Christopher Nolan spoke about Snyder’s influence on Superhero films. He also praised “Watchmen” and called it to be ‘ahead of its time.’ That’s why many movie lovers across the globe were excited to check out Snyder’s latest project for Netflix.
With the release of ‘Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver‘ after the great response to, ‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire’ we can confirm that Synder’s latest work is polarising viewers yet again. Snyder’s ardent fans do not want to dismiss his talent and understanding of visually captivating storytelling. While not dismissing “Rebel Moon” like film critics, they are holding on to their hope for the ultimate ‘Snyder cut.’ For viewers who like Snyder cuts and want to meanwhile wait for something to check out after watching the second part, here are a few suggestions: ‘Dune’, an epic tale of power, betrayal, and destiny; ‘Star Wars’, the classic saga of rebellion and heroism in a galaxy far, far away; and ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, a high-octane journey through a dystopian wasteland. These films embody the spirit of adventure and defiance that fans of Snyder’s work are sure to appreciate.

Here is the full list of 8 Movies to Watch If You Like the ‘Rebel Moon’ Movies on Netflix:
www.highonfilms.com/movies-to-watch-if-you-like-rebel-moon-on-netflix/

Luca Guadagnino is a treasured specimen in the current landscape of arthouse cinema. He is one of the increasingly rare filmmakers capable of distilling the very essence of unconsummated desire into a palpable tension before bodies have even touched, as seen in his evocative film ‘Call Me by Your Name’. Even rarer, though—and arguably more valuable—is the auteur’s penchant for energetic expression behind the camera that complements, rather than superseding, the subtleties of his chosen material, a trait exemplified in the hauntingly beautiful ‘Suspiria’. Uncommon is the Guadagnino film in which he’s actually taken part in shaping the screenplay, and yet his fingerprints lie on every single one of his projects, for better or worse, including the poignant ‘Bones and All’. At a moment when Italian cinema has relinquished its dominant grip on the art cinema scene, Guadagnino remains a bastion of his nation’s great storytellers. He wholeheartedly embraces the transnational realities of Western cinema today rather than pretending they don’t exist. From Milan to Maryland, Guadagnino’s footprint has touched many corners of the Western world, and his films all reflect this diversity of vision.

In honor of the release of “Challengers,” here are all of Luca Guadagnino’s films, ranked from worst to best:
www.highonfilms.com/all-luca-guadagnino-movies-ranked/

“Sometimes I dread the truth of the lines I say. But the dread must never show.”

These words, pronounced by Vivien Leigh, flawlessly describe her unmatched acting career. Among the best-known actresses in history, Vivien has voiced some of the greatest performances for film and stage. British-born, she began stage acting at only three years old, along with her mother’s amateur theater company, which profoundly influenced the artist’s future career. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, her very first screen appearance was in the 1934 musical comedy Things Are Looking Up. Her overt talent, as much as her determination to partake in the industry’s most ambitious projects, would lead her to land the world-renowned role of Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind, for which she won the first of two Best Actor Oscars. Her remarkable performances in A Streetcar Named Desire, Gone with the Wind, Waterloo Bridge and That Hamilton Woman further cemented her legacy as a cinematic icon.

Here is the full list of Vivien Leigh’s 10 Best Performances, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/vivien-leighs-best-performances-ranked/

British filmmaker Kenneth Charles Loach, better known as Ken Loach, has been crafting films for nearly six decades, curating a diverse portfolio of cinematic masterpieces that vividly depict the political and social experiences of working-class people. His early BBC plays and Palme d’Or award-winning films like The Wind That Shakes the Barley and I, Daniel Blake, as well as impactful works such as Kes and The Old Oak, persistently challenge the political status quo, often sparking controversy. Mr. Loach’s persistence to challenge the political status quo had provoked numerous controversies. While the right-wing media dubs him a ‘madcap, raging filmmaker’ and his works as ‘Marxist sermons,’ he is truly a filmmaker of conscience. Inducing furious political debates has been part of his 50-year plus filmmaking career.

Here is the full list of The 10 Best Ken Loach Films:
www.highonfilms.com/best-ken-loach-movies/

Few actors’ screen presence reverberates with such genuine intensity as Benicio del Toro. Like Gary Oldman, Denzel Washington, Toshiro Mifune, Mads Mikkelsen, and so on. I feel Benicio del Toro is almost always good, irrespective of the quality of the film built around his character. From his Oscar-winning performance in Traffic to his compelling portrayal in Sicario and the iconic role in The Usual Suspects and Snatch, his versatility shines through. Born in Puerto Rico on February 19, 1967, to lawyer parents, Benicio del Toro was a basketball player in school. He studied business at the University of California, but his interest in acting soon made him drop out and study acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory with Arthur Mendoza. In the late 1980s, Benicio del Toro started appearing in TV shows like Miami Vice and Private Eye.

Here's the full list of 10 Best Benicio del Toro Performances, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/best-benicio-del-toro-performances-ranked/

In the broadest terms possible, you can divide the history of American cinema into two periods: before and after John Cassavetes. The actor-turned-director revolutionized the form and content of post-war film with his highly personal, character-driven dramas such as ‘Opening Night’ and ‘A Woman Under the Influence,’ shot on a shoestring budget and assembled in his own home. For decades, and especially after he shunned the studio system altogether in the late ‘60s, he developed his own cottage industry, which has served as an empowering example to countless filmmakers ever since. With films like ‘Husbands’ and
‘The Killing of a Chinese Bookie,’ Cassavetes crafted an incisive read of the human experience, particularly how those around us condition our behavior. His heady mix of handheld camera, intense performances, and largely improvised dialogue reached such a universal poignancy that he was equally adept at telling stories at either side of the class divide, sometimes simultaneously.

Here's the full list of All John Cassavetes Movies, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/all-john-cassavetes-movies-ranked/

Few actors can both exemplify the artistry of acting and the glamour of celebrity superstardom as Jack Nicholson. Having started his career in various Roger Corman films, he was known as a B-movie actor for many years until his breakout role in Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider (1969). An immaculate series of roles followed, including his Oscar-winning performance in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), which earned him comparisons with Marlon Brando and James Dean in his depiction of male outsiders through naturalistic Method acting. His portrayal of the tormented writer in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining (1980) further cemented his legendary status. In the 2000s, Nicholson continued to deliver powerful performances, notably as the cunning crime boss in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed (2006) and the desperate private investigator in Roman Polanski’s Chinatown (1974), showcasing his exceptional range and enduring appeal.

Here's the full list of 10 Best Jack Nicholson Performances:
www.highonfilms.com/jack-nicholson-movie-performances/

Over the last thirty years, Hayao Miyazaki (and his company Studio Ghibli) have given us some of the greatest movies that the world of animation has seen. The Japanese animator and storyteller started his journey as a television director back in 1971 and since then has transitioned into one of the best animated filmmakers the world has ever seen. Over the years, his imaginative, vibrant, and other-worldly cinema has been a treat for audiences and cinephiles alike. Films like ‘Spirited Away’, with its enchanting narrative; ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, a whimsical tale of magic and transformation; ‘My Neighbor Totoro’, a heartwarming story of sisters discovering the wonders of nature; and ‘Princess Mononoke’, an epic depiction of the clash between the natural world and human industry, stand as testaments to his genius. Scroll through his filmography on Rotten Tomatoes, and you’ll not find any of his films that have been rated below 80%. It is a small sign of his worldwide stardom and how his movies have deeply impacted people around the world.

Here's the full list of The 10 Best Hayao Miyazaki Movies:
www.highonfilms.com/best-hayao-miyazaki-movies/

It’s common knowledge that “Argylle” was heavily panned upon its release. After baiting viewers with the sultry photos of Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa, the film didn’t do justice to its promise, even if it meant subverting the tropes of conventionally attractive spies. The script introduces multiple twists and turns throughout its duration that collectively make it incredibly shoddy. After a point, it becomes mind-numbing to experience its progress as a spy thriller, which becomes needlessly messy. Despite its evident flaws, some viewers enjoyed “Argylle” as a silly, light-hearted spy drama featuring Bryce Dallas Howard and Sam Rockwell as charming leads. Its unorthodox, whimsical nature, paired with Matthew Vaughn’s colorful, vibrant vision, appealed to a portion of viewers. Overall, though a mixed bag, “Argylle” must have left some viewers wanting more in the similar lane. For those craving a signature Vaughn-style film with a better narrative, ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’ offers a fresh take on the genre with a vibrant color palette and an underdog story. If you’re in the mood for a cerebral twist on the spy genre, ‘Adaptation.’ provides a unique narrative experience. And for a dose of high-octane action and espionage, ‘Atomic Blonde’ delivers a stylish and gritty portrayal of a spy on a mission. So, we’ve listed these titles among others that would likely satisfy fans of the genre.”

Here's the full list of 7 Movies to Watch if you like ‘Argylle’:
www.highonfilms.com/movies-to-watch-if-you-like-argylle/

Embark on a chilling journey through the saga of “The Omen,” where the battle between good and evil unfolds in the most unexpected of ways. From the eerie calm before the storm in “Omen IV: The Awakening” to the harrowing origins revealed in “The First Omen,” each film weaves a tale of prophecy and peril. As we rank these iconic films from worst to best, we delve into the darkness that lurks within Damien, the child who was never meant to be. The original “The Omen” stands as a testament to the power of horror, setting the stage for a legacy of terror that has captivated audiences for nearly half a century. Join us as we explore the depths of this diabolical series, where each installment is a piece of the puzzle in the grand design of destiny. Witness the evolution of fear, from the subtle dread of “Damien: Omen II” to the apocalyptic crescendo of “Omen III: The Final Conflict.” This is not just a ranking; it’s a revelation of the sinister forces that shape our world, seen through the lens of one of cinema’s most enduring franchises. Dare to discover where each chapter falls in the grand scheme of malevolence and marvel at the mastery of suspense that has kept “The Omen” a staple in the realm of horror.

Here's the full list of All Omen Movies Ranked, Worst to Best!:
www.highonfilms.com/all-omen-movies-ranked-worst-to-best/

It is a general idea that the Japanese cinema’s downfall started in the 1980s, and the 90s economic stagnation knocked the film industry down until its revival through J-horror (in the late 1990s). But since cinema history is often written from a Western perspective, we need to deeply examine such a one-dimensional outlook directed against any home-grown national cinema. It’s true that the spread of television reduced the number of theater-going audiences in Japan in the 1970s and 1980s. At the same time, Hollywood movies garnered more popularity than Japanese ones. Moreover, the biggest Japanese film studios like Shochiku, Toho, and Nikkatsu were in deep financial trouble from the start of the 1970s, and they hardly made the kind of movies that found an international audience. However, the 21st century brought forth masterpieces like ‘Spirited Away’ (2001),  ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ (2004), ‘Your Name’ (2016), ‘Drive My Car’ (2021), ‘Paprika’ (2006), and ‘Shoplifters’ (2018), which not only revived but also enriched the cinematic landscape. Finally, we should take in the fact that around the 1980s & 1990s, Mainland Chinese, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese cinema became the face of Asian cinema in the European and American markets. Yet, the resilience of Japanese cinema is evident as it continues to produce films that resonate globally, reflecting its undying spirit and creativity.

Here's the full list of 50 Best Japanese Movies of the 21st Century:
www.highonfilms.com/best-japanese-movies/

Hollywood heartthrob, academy darling, fashion icon, et cetera. If you have seen a famous film in the past ten years, it probably starred Timothée Chalamet. From the windswept dunes of Arrakis in Dune: Part One and Two to the romantic streets of Northern Italy in Call Me by Your Name, his performances captivate audiences worldwide. As he steps into the whimsical shoes of Wonka, Chalamet continues to find a secure home for himself in the Hollywood media cycle promoting his next high-profile blockbuster or Indie Letterboxd favorite. However, what many might not be aware of is that despite only being 28 years old, Timothee has already had an illustrious career in Hollywood, boasting an eclectic back-catalog of films and characters, each instilled with Chalamet’s once-in-a-generation charisma.

Here's the full list of The 10 Best Timothée Chalamet Performances, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/the-best-timothee-chalamet-performances-ranked/

While following a coming-of-age tale of an immigrant child, ‘“Música” explores the themes of race, culture clash, love, and ambition. Although a musical, it doesn’t follow the usual song-and-dance routine formula. Instead, it takes us through the creative process of this budding artist, who picks up the sounds around him and builds compositions. If you’re specifically interested in that manner of music creation, you can check out the works of British rapper M.I.A. or Indian composer Sneha Khanwalkar, who used sound recordings for their experimental compositions. Similarly, “(500) Days of Summer” offers a realistic and nuanced portrayal of love and relationships, “tick, tick…BOOM!” captures the passion and struggle of an artist committed to musical theater, and “Yesterday” delves into themes of love, friendship, and the opportunity for second chances.

Here's the full list of 8 Movies to watch if you like ‘Música’:

www.highonfilms.com/movies-to-watch-if-you-like-musica/

McKay’s gradual transition to social satirist in the mid-2010s has been even more impressive, as he has since been able to gleefully and unabashedly criticize some of the worst elements of American culture, and some of the worst people, through films like "The Big Short" and "Vice", while maintaining a signature sense of self-enjoyment and satisfaction. His sharp commentary continued with the apocalyptic satire "Don’t Look Up". Add to that his helming of the popular Internet site, Funny Or Die, and his return to television as executive producer of acclaimed series like Eastbound & Down and Succession, and it’s clear that McKay has no intention of limiting himself or slowing down.

Here's the full list of All Adam McKay Movies Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/all-adam-mckay-movies-ranked/

Whether it's Baby Driver, Last Night in Soho, or Hot Fuzz, in the space of seven feature films, Edgar Wright has become one of the most popular and influential British directors at work today. With his distinctive kinetic directorial style, quirky humor, playful homages, and classic soundtrack needle drops, his films are a burst of escapist joy in an uncertain world.

He earned a cult following for his sitcom Spaced, where he evolved his signature techniques and teamed up with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. He then seized the attention of everyone from George A. Romero to Quentin Tarantino with his breakthrough sleeper hit, Shaun of the Dead. Built around the loveable comic duo of Pegg and Frost, two more (Hot Fuzz and The World End) of the so-called “Three Flavours Cornetto” trilogy followed.

Here are all Edgar Wright, who just turned 50, movies ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/all-edgar-wright-movies-ranked/

Taiwanese auteur Tsai Ming-liang was born in present-day Kuching, Malaysia, on October 27, 1957. Voted 18th by The Guardian among the world’s 40 best directors, Tsai has been a regular presence at major international film festivals for more than two decades and a poster figure of the Second New Wave of Taiwanese cinema.

In the course of his career, Tsai shot 11 feature films, including the evocative “The River” (1997), the haunting “Goodbye, Dragon Inn” (2003), the intimate “Vive L’Amour” (1994), and the surreal “The Wayward Cloud” (2005). He also directed three documentaries, and many shorts. Currently, he is active in exhibition films, among which is worth citing the Walker series, whose last installation, “Abiding Nowhere”, was presented at the 2024 Berlinale.

Here's the full list of 10 Best Films of Tsai Ming-liang, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/best-films-of-tsai-ming-liang-ranked/

The Alien movies hold a fascinating place in cultural history. They are stacked with iconic imagery, and the series is certified classic in two genres simultaneously (horror and science fiction). Yet these genres are often viewed as intrinsically inferior, and most of the iconicity is concentrated in its earliest entries like “Alien” (1979), “Aliens” (1986), and “Alien³” (1992), leaving it as a well-known franchise that is rarely discussed. It has endured over forty years across entries including “Alien: Resurrection” (1997) and the prequels “Prometheus” (2012) and “Alien: Covenant” (2017)1. With a ninth installment, “Alien: Romulus,” on its way later this year, the series continues to evolve, each film bringing its distinct vision to the enduring legacy.

Here's the full list of All Alien Movies Ranked, From Worst to Best:
www.highonfilms.com/all-alien-movies-ranked-from-worst-to-best/

It would be an understatement to say that “The Notebook,” released in 2004, directed by Nick Cassavetes and based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name, has secured a special place in the hearts of audiences worldwide.

If you have been in awe of “The Notebook” and want to know movies like it that you can put on when you are somewhat bored of rewatching it, this list is for you, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004), exploring the complexities of memories and relationships; “One Day” (2011), capturing the nuances of time and love; “P.S. I Love You” (2007), a poignant tale of love beyond loss; and “The Lake House” (2006), a unique narrative on love’s endurance across time.

Here's the full list of 10 Movies to Watch if you like ‘The Notebook’:
www.highonfilms.com/movies-like-the-notebook-2004/

Alex Garland’s “Civil War” was anything but a glowing endorsement (to put it mildly), the film does offer a distinctly modern examination of how we view the unforgiving carnage of warfare. Part of its distinction admittedly comes from how Garland consciously chooses an apolitical stance that results in a rather ineffective overall film. However, from this point of origin, we can trace more than enough points of similarity and influence that achieve what “Civil War” fails to do. Films like “Full Metal Jacket” (1985) and "Blow Up (1966)" which meticulously crafts a portrait of human chaos, or “The Salt of the Earth” (2014), which examines the power of photography, take similar ideas and run with them more adequately.

Here's the full list of 8 Movies to Watch If You Liked ‘Civil War’ (2024):
www.highonfilms.com/movies-like-civil-war-2024/

For over 30 years, Texan auteur Richard Linklater has been crafting experiments in time, much like the surrealist master Luis Buñuel. While Linklater's works like 'Before Sunrise', 'Before Sunset', and 'Before Midnight' explore the passage of time in intimate relationships and his breakthrough Slacker, an unorthodox portrait of a lazy day-in-the-life. Each of these works, along with 'Dazed and Confused', and Everybody Wants Some!!, stands as an epoch moment in American independent cinema.

Here is the full list of 10 Best Films of Richard Linklater, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/best-films-of-richard-linklater-ranked/

The Spanish-born director found fame through his star-crossed collaborations with Salvador Dali and spent the subsequent five decades refining and reshaping his surrealist instincts. His greatest works encompass sexuality, pathology, religion, and politics. He went globe-trotting to Mexico for a prolific period in the 1950s before his vaunted return to the continent in the 1960s. It would be then, in the autumn of his career, that he would create many of his most enduring masterpieces, films whose names continue to lace the tapestry of cinema history. Among his iconic works are 'Un Chien Andalou', 'The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie', 'The Exterminating Angel', and 'Belle de Jour'.

Here's the full list of Top 10 Films of Luis Buñuel:
www.highonfilms.com/best-films-of-luis-bunuel/

"It is this unique propensity within film to bring itself within its field of vision, to break the fourth wall, to address itself and make explicit its own construction, that has led to so many attempts across film history to represent and reflect upon the phenomenon of cinema itself. In this article, we explore a diverse range of such attempts across 30 great films about films, instances when cinema mirrored itself – encountering everything between the poles of fiction and documentary, and even going beyond such constructs and into uncharted terrain, where film exposes the dialectic of fact and fabrication propping up its reality, as fragile and fleeting as the celluloid image itself. From groundbreaking 'Cinema Paradiso' to the meta-cinematic wonders of 'The Disaster Artist,' 'Mulholland Drive,' 'Singing in the Rain,' and 'Babylon,' we delve into the intricate layers of self-reflection within the medium. Enjoy.

Here's the full list of Cinema on Cinema: 30 Great Films About Films:
www.highonfilms.com/cinema-on-cinema-great-films-about-films/

From Hollywood to Hong Kong and everywhere in between, the film’s forebears and brothers can be found scattered across the globe. Whether the similarities come in genre, story, or visual style, Patel’s film offers no shortage of sturdy branches to trace back to those even sturdier roots.
So here we are recommending "Drive," "Oldboy" and "The Raid" along with others.

Let us take a look at this list of 8 Movies to Watch If You Liked ‘Monkey Man’ (2024):
www.highonfilms.com/movies-to-watch-if-you-liked-monkey-man-2024/

Sriram Raghavan is a filmmaker India needs, and a filmmaker India deserves. Raghavan’s work has defined a cinematic aesthetic, a style, almost a genre, in the sense of the cultural imprint it leaves behind. While genre filmmaking is usually talked about synonymously with thematic filmmaking, there are multiple instances where a filmmaker’s body of work has stylistic elements which give shape to that filmmaker’s form of storytelling. It is this definition which finds relevance here. The impact here is the result of such a constructed language of storytelling, akin to those defined by the likes of Hitchcock, Truffaut, and Chabrol amongst others. Each of their filmographies are a grand cultural monument in themselves, which creates and defines markers for a generational milieu. Raghavan's masterpieces like 'Andhadhun', 'Badlapur', 'Johnny Gaddaar', 'Merry Christmas', and 'Ek Hasina Thi' contribute significantly to this cinematic legacy.

Here's the full list of Every Sriram Raghavan Film Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/sriram-raghavan-films-ranked/

Powerful female characters, awkward coming-of-age antics, deconstructions of sexual desire, and Mark Ruffalo, there are plenty of reasons for many to absolutely adore what “Poor Things” has to offer. A distinctive concept, to say the least, but one primed for exploring a vast array of fascinating ideas regarding the female experience and everything that comes with it. If you are someone who appreciates this lavishly charming film and wants to spend more time soaking up a world both abnormal and familiar, here are ten more to check out as brilliant companion pieces to this fine work.

Here we are recommending "Frances Ha," "13 Going on 30," "Shiva Baby," "Dogtooth" and "Bram Stoker’s Dracula" along with others.

Here's the full list of 10 Movies to Watch if you like “Poor Things”: 
www.highonfilms.com/movies-like-poor-things-2023/

The rigidity of emphasizing the narratives, character development, and steady linearity of the story is reflective of the quintessential methods associated with filmmaking and storytelling. Its resultant dissemination to the people associates ‘films’ with a mode of entertainment whose primary component in gathering an audience and enhancing viewership includes inspiring interests and thrill in the audience. In this view, Andrei Tarkovsky owes his position as an influential, often imitated, and renowned Soviet director to his very practice of deviating from these norms and engaging the viewers with the myriad subjects that could be incorporated into the broader philosophical themes concerning human experiences and existence such as the conundrums created by desire, the significance of religion as well as human experiences shaped and impacted by nostalgia, ideologies, politics, ravages of war and remnants of wars. His masterpieces like 'Stalker', 'Solaris', 'Andrei Rublev', and 'Mirror' exemplify his unique approach to cinema, inviting viewers into profound explorations of the human condition.

Here's the full list of All Andrei Tarkovsky Films Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/all-andrei-tarkovsky-films-ranked/

Javier Bardem emerged in Spain in the 1990s as a different kind of movie star. Scion of a notable acting family, his privilege and experience manifested in supremely confident leading roles in crossover hit “Jamon, Jamon” (1992) and Almodóvar’s “Live Flesh” (1997). With his appealing features and compelling screen presence, there was little doubt Hollywood came calling, and indeed, in the new millennium, he has joined Antonio Banderas and his equally talented wife, Penélope Cruz, as the industry’s most prominent Latin imports. He was daring in “Before Night Falls” (2000), for which he received his first Oscar nomination and appeared in films by Michael Mann and Miloš Forman. He would eventually rise to superstardom as the embodiment of calculating evil in “No Country for Old Men” (2007); he won the Oscar this time for one of the most chilling depictions of villainy in recent memory. Bardem's diverse performances also include memorable roles in films such as “Dune: Part Two,” “Dune,” and “mother!,” showcasing his versatility and talent.

Here's the full list of 15 Best Javier Bardem Performances, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/best-javier-bardem-performances-ranked/

The conceit of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Is This What You Wanted’ is to self-deprecate at the cost of showing his soon-to-be ex-wife’s superiority. In one line, he says ‘You were Marlon Brando, I was Steve McQueen.’ This witty comparison upholds an indisputable idea – that McQueen, then Hollywood’s biggest box-office star (or any ‘star’), could never hold a candle to the finesse and brilliance of Marlon Brando. Indeed, perhaps no one in American cinema’s history can, to a man whose monumental ability and revolutionary methodology could never be put into words because of how natural it all was to him. From his iconic performances in 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' 'The Godfather,' 'On the Waterfront,' to 'Apocalypse Now,' Brando's presence on screen remains unparalleled.

Here's the full list of 10 Best Marlon Brando Performances:
www.highonfilms.com/best-marlon-brando-performances/

For the last few years, the Malayalam film industry has given us one gem after another. Ever since the Malayalam new wave films started hitting theaters, the industry has seen a shift in the way stories are told. Malayalam films today have this strange power to narrate the most complicated and controversial stories with a style that feels simple yet fascinating. Stories of everyday life, the struggles of regular people, the oppression of the weak, caste, and gender violence – the new age Malayalam films can talk about it all without getting overly dramatic. Vital subject matters are dealt with here with a light yet profound touch, and the results bloom beautifully on the screen. Now, here’s a list of the ten best Malayalam movies that are streaming on Netflix, including masterpieces like 'Minnal Murali', 'Angamaly Diaries', and 'Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam', directed by the visionary filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery.

Here's the full list of 10 Best Malayalam Movies Streaming on Netflix Now:
www.highonfilms.com/best-malayalam-movies-streaming-on-netflix-now/

Jesse Plemmons’ star has risen upwards ever since he appeared in PTA’s ‘The Master’. Although a television star before the film, the performance firmly established his acting credentials. Most of Plemmons’ roles are oddball characters that have some or the other kind of perversity purists just love. He brings a peculiar calmness and meditative energy to the parts he plays. While deviating from the equilibrium is not his signature, Plemmons packs a powerful punch when required. He is now getting the recognition he deserves, most notably an Academy nomination for his force of nature turn in ‘The Power of the Dog‘. Other notable films in his repertoire include 'The Irishman', 'Game Night', and 'Killers of the Flower Moon.'

Here's the full list of 10 Best Jesse Plemons Films You Must Watch:
www.highonfilms.com/10-best-jesse-plemons-films-you-must-watch/

Lee Chang-dong rose to popularity among the mainstream audience after the release of his psychological thriller “Burning,” but he is not new to the festival circuit. He is a revered filmmaker in International film festivals known for exploring the social and political climate of South Korea in his films. In some of his grimmest movies of the past few decades, he’s tackled such themes as his country’s oppressive recent history (Peppermint Candy), the sexual victimization of women (Oasis and Poetry), questioning the religious belief and faith (Secret Sunshine), and the hopelessness that young people feel in an increasingly inscrutable world (Burning).

Here's the full list of All Lee Chang-dong Movies, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/all-lee-chang-dong-movies-ranked/

Sofia Coppola comes from a family of successful filmmakers, most notably her father Francis Ford Coppola. However, Sofia Coppola has been able to break away from her father’s shadow and secure herself firmly within the film industry’s esteemed directors. Her repertoire consists of Priscilla, The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette, and the critically acclaimed Lost in Translation. Many of Coppola’s films deliver a distinct art-house feel, as many of her movies rely on compelling visual aesthetics to explore various themes and emotions within her characters.

Here's the full list of All Sofia Coppola Movies, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/all-sofia-coppola-movies-ranked/

In 1984, the late Wes Craven’s low-budget brainchild “A Nightmare on Elm Street” was released into the world, and the horror genre has never been the same since. Making shockwaves in the industry as what would become later known, essentially, as the innovator of supernatural slashers, with a killer concept and some gruesome effects, the overnight sensation would go on to spawn one of the most well-beloved, wildly unique franchises in all of film. Centered around the irresistible premise of a vengeful boogeyman who haunts kids in their dreams, the series quickly became a juggernaut of ‘80s horror, producing some of the decade’s finest efforts…and, unfortunately, some of its worst.

Here's the full list of All ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ Films Ranked, From Worst to Best:
www.highonfilms.com/a-nightmare-on-elm-street-films-ranked/

The New Zealand director, writer, and actor is known for his comedic chops and playful personality, which is evident throughout his films. From the whimsical "Hunt for the Wilderpeople" to the uproarious "What We Do in the Shadows" and the heartwarming "Jojo Rabbit," along with the sports comedy "Next Goal Wins" (2023) and his Marvel blockbusters "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017) and "Thor: Love and Thunder" (2022), his work captivates audiences with humor while subtly exploring deeper themes and character complexities. The celebration of his New Zealand identity and the heavy use of ‘outsiders’ amongst his characters also contribute to Waititi’s unique style. Yet, ultimately, it’s his natural flair and witty creativity that differentiates him from other filmmakers. Here is a look at his 7 current feature films, hopefully we will see more from this director in the future.

Here's the full list of All Taika Waititi Movies, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/taika-waititi-movies-ranked/

Heath Ledger passed away 16 years ago at the prime age of 28, leaving behind a rich body of work countless actors would try to achieve. In all his performances, there is an effortless ease in embodying a character that somehow rings compelling and true. Among his notable feature film performances, ranked, are unforgettable roles in '10 Things I hate About You,' 'The Dark Knight,' 'Brokeback Mountain,' and 'A Knight's Tale.'

Here's the full list of All Heath Ledger Performances, Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/heath-ledger-performance-ranked/

He is an incessant talker, a man-child who has seen all the cinema in the world and one who truly loves to bring back what made his favorite movies great in the first place. Quentin Tarantino is Pastiche personified. Quentin Tarantino, in his own way, mixes the most commonly known ingredients of film culture and prepares a truly original dish every single time. From the iconic dialogue of 'Pulp Fiction' to the stylish violence of 'Kill Bill', the revisionist history of 'Inglourious Basterds', and the Western homage of 'Django Unchained', Tarantino's films are a testament to his unique cinematic vision.

Here's the full list of All Quentin Tarantino Movies Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/all-quentin-tarantino-movies-ranked/

Irish director Martin McDonagh made the jump from acclaimed playwright to celebrated director seemingly with ease. After the critically acclaimed The Banshees of Inisherin, this feels like the perfect time to look back on McDonagh’s impressive career. Whether it’s the ghoulish humour of In Bruges or the meditative and thoughtful Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, McDonagh is an expert in capturing all the nuance and complexity of life. Whilst he is never afraid to tackle serious topics and big issues, he does so with a playfulness and humour that has become his calling card – often delivered by his fellow countrymen Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson.

Here's the full list of All Martin McDonagh Movies Ranked:
www.highonfilms.com/all-martin-mcdonagh-movies-ranked/

Jessica Michelle Chastain was named by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 Most Influential People in the world in 2012. She has bagged accolades for numerous roles, including two Academy Award nominations and two British Academy Film Award nominations. She has also won a Golden Globe Award for her role as a CIA analyst in the film Zero Dark Thirty. With an impressive number of movies in her bag, she has starred in acclaimed films like Interstellar (2014), The Martian (2015), It Chapter Two (2019) and The Help (2011).

Here's the full list 10 Best Jessica Chastain Performances:
www.highonfilms.com/best-jessica-chastain-performances/

Juliette Binoche has deservingly carved out her place as perhaps her generation’s most recognizable French performer. Godard, Denis, Haneke, Kiarostami, Carax, Malle, Kieslowski, Cronenberg, Kore-eda, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Akerman, and Ferrara – just a few of global cinema’s titans who have lined up to work with this indomitable performer over the last four decades. Her face has a potency that traverses genres and borders, her vivid features capturing the burning empathy that defines her greatest roles. From her mesmerizing performance in 'The English Patient' to her poignant portrayal in 'Three Colors: Blue', her captivating role in 'Chocolat', the sci-fi epic 'Godzilla (2014)', and her recent work in 'The Taste of Things (2023)', Binoche's filmography is a testament to her extraordinary talent.

Here's the full list of 10 Best Juliette Binoche Performances:
www.highonfilms.com/best-juliette-binoche-performances/

The list is diverse, covering over nine decades, hundred directors, various languages, and various film genres and movements. From German Expressionist cinema to Italian Neo-Realism, from French New Wave to classic Japanese cinema, and more recent Iranian Poetic Realism, the list has films from all the most significant movements: it is not a list but a crash course in film history.
If that sounds heavy, there are also classic Hollywood films that would entertain on the dreariest of days, and it is a list for all days recommended by none other than Akira Kurosawa. Among his favorites are 'The Third Man', 'Godzilla', 'Breathless', 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest ', 'My Voyage to Italy', 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari', and 'The Fall of the House of Usher'.

Here's the full list of 100 Films Recommended By Japanese Master Filmmaker Akira Kurosawa:
www.highonfilms.com/movies-recommended-by-akira-kurosawa/