Non-Fiction (2020) - Movie Review

After co-writing a film with Roman Polanski (what’s the French word for ‘oof’?), writer/director Olivier Assayas has returned to his French-language roots with a look at the modern-day publishing industry. Yes, this means that we’re still in ‘writer porn’ mode from the last review, although I’d argue that this makes for something far more substantive than Vita & Virginia. The reason why I specified ‘porn’ to describe it is that it functions in a similar fashion; art it may be, but substantial it is not. Where that film ultimately faffed around with flowery prose, making half-statements about the worth of such wording but never really getting to the heart of anything, this film goes beyond just the philosophy of writing: It’s also about the logistics of writing in the Internet age.

Personal Shopper (2017) - Movie Review

I wish this didn’t need to be reiterated, but the fact remains: Twilight is long since over and done with. Everyone attached to those films has long since moved on to (mostly) better things far removed from it. However, even with that said, I keep getting the feeling that people aren’t giving Kristen Stewart, the most memorable part of those films for all the wrong reasons, her fair due. Maybe it’s because, in the dungeons of comment sections and web forums, jokes about Bella’s utter uselessness and unintentionally malicious behaviour still ring out. That association is hard to break, even if you’re fortunate enough to unironically like those films.

 

The shame in that sentiment furthers once you realise that, since 2012, Stewart has not only kept fairly busy but also done some genuinely fantastic work like with American Ultra and Clouds Of Sils Maria. It’s hardly a surprise that this film, written and directed by the man behind Clouds and who got Stewart to give one of her best performances to date, would be on my radar. But does it continue her winning streak (ignoring that Billy Lynn ever happened) or does it add a chink to the chain?

Clouds Of Sils Maria (2015) - Movie Review

Back when I reviewed Still Alice, I found myself unable to remove the mental association about SWIMNOT’s involvement in the Twilight films. Looking back on it, I definitely ended up doing her a disservice and treated her largely as a punchline. Given her work as Bella Swan, that is probably to be expected to a certain degree as that is definitely the kind of film series that is custom-made to damage careers. However, after seeing her outright impressive turn in American Ultra, I think we’ve reached the point where she has earned her place as a legitimate actor. So, as we take another look into this indie Cinderella story, and if that sounds trite forgive me for picking the most appropriate phrase possible, I’m putting an official embargo on Twilight jokes.