"What would you do?"

You're literally doing it now.

I just watched two #YouTube #video #essays on the #musical #Cabaret, its origin, and various incarnations, focused on the 1972 #film version #DirectedBy #BobFosse, starring #LizaMinnelli.

Like the final moments of the #WeimarRepublic in #Germany, purported #democracies around the world are facing our end of days and the rise of #fascism and #authoritarianism.

So, what are you doing?

#link: https://youtu.be/cPpwXUZNbNs?si=eal-DzooROAGitef

https://youtu.be/8xrGp3tzKgs?si=8Cs2D_qCQzNOAu8H

#France, 2021, #DirectedBy #BrunoDumont is good-looking, with shots throughout meant to remind us of that it's a #film, not reality (my favorite has France walking "through" the car to exit).

Unfortunately, it ends with her seeming to unite with her abuser (rapist?), and introduces threads that have no coherent relevance, they're just hints that ping pong us through her..enlightenment?..disillusion?

#sub: https://www.criterionchannel.com/videos/france

6.5 of 10 ⭐️

From: @ricardoharvin
https://mstdn.social/@ricardoharvin/112638760904217756

#Titane, the 2021 #Cannes #PalmDOr winning #film #DirectedBy #JuliaDucournau is a #movie I just watched.

I have no idea why it was so highly lauded, though it had great potential and some very interesting moments throughout.

However, none of it worked as a connected story for me.

Overall, it felt like a patchwork of ideas and themes, none fully explored, and could have easily been two or three different movies or segments: A #BodyHorror / #SerialKiller / #GenderIdentiy #anthology, maybe.

#TheFalling, 2014, written and #DirectedBy #CarolMorley turned out to be much darker and #erotic #film in ways I wasn't expecting.

#MaisieWilliams (#AryaStark, #GoT) does an excellent job holding together a sometimes meandering plot, and #FlorencePugh gives a strong performance in a limited role.

For something a bit different, though uneven, I recommend this #movie.

Playing now for free on #Kanopy in the #US with a free and valid #library card from a subscribed library system.

3.25 of 5 ⭐️

#AnatomyOfAFall, 2023, #DirectedBy #JustineTrier, is really good, a #MurderMystery/#CourtroomDrama that lets the viewer decide which version of events to believe, all while never being just the binary choice it presents itself to be on the surface, or its highly #feminist subtext.

It deserves the awards and praise it's received, and I love the way it shows, and never tells.

And #SandraHüller (also starring in #ZoneOfInterest, which is on my list to watch) is phenomenal.

#Hulu

#CriterionCollection upcoming releases include three #films I highly recommend, #BlueVelvet (#DirectedBy #DavidLynch), #Bound (#directed by #LanaWachowski and #LillyWachowski), and #PicnicAtHangingRock, the creepiest non-#horror #movie I've ever seen (directed by #PeterWeir).

#Dogfight, #ToDieFor, and #LynchOz are also worth considering.

I gotta save up for the next several 50% sales.

#link: https://www.criterion.com/shop/browse?popular=coming-soon

#QueensOfPain, a 2020 #documentary on #Hulu #DirectedBy #CassieHay and #AmyWinston is a good look at #RollerDerby in #NewYork focusing on three players from one team.

I used to enjoy watching the sport on tv back in the 60's, but have never watched it live, even though I lived walking distance to the #DC Armory for a bit where local matches were (are?) held in the #US capital. Partly because it's flat track now, and I grew up with banked tracks as standard.

And no, I don't understand scoring.

#TheCreator, 2023, #DirectedBy #GarethEdwards is wasted story potential with terrible dialogue and tired cliches of a super human hero (ironically) and default #ToxicMasculinity of a man who thoroughly betrays a woman yet still believes throughout that he has a right to her undeserved love and unearned forgiveness, and is ultimately granted that by the white male writer and director.

Absolute laziness from start to end, except for the excellent visuals and effects.

"C-", 1.9 ⭐️, at best. #Hulu

#Men, 2022, #DirectedBy #AlexGarland (of the far superior #ExMachina) and starring #JessieBuckley is a nightmare #BodyHorror that is beautifully filmed before devolving into a literal bloody mess, visually and in story.

The critique of the #MaleGaze and the toxicity of the entitled "good guy" in Ex Machina is what Garland seems to have wanted to expand upon here, but it's lost in its own elaborate trickery, imo, meant to portray Harper's unwarranted guilt and trauma caused by James' abuse.