Tag: Kristen Stewart

Horror, Reviews, World Cinema

Review: Crimes of the Future

Runtime: 107 minutes Director: David Cronenberg Writer: David Cronenberg Actors: Lea Seydoux, Viggo Mortensen, Kristen Stewart, Scott Speedman, Don McKellar, Welket Bungue By Joan Amenn David Cronenberg is back, which is either a cause to celebrate or cringe depending on your sensitivity to his special brand of horror. If “Hannibal” (2013-2015) or “Penny Dreadful” (2014-2016) were not your cup of arsenic, this film will certainly … Continue reading Review: Crimes of the Future

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Female Characters, Film Festivals, Film Reviews, Reviews, Uncategorized

Spencer: LFF2021 Review

Year: 2021 Runtime: 111 minutes Director: Pablo Larrain Writer: Steven Knight Stars: Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Jack Farthing, Sean Harris, Sally Hawkins By Calum Cooper Pablo Larrain’s “Spencer” (2021) is so much more than just another biopic. In fact it feels a lot closer to something like Oliver Assayas’s “Personal Shopper” (2016) or even Kubrick’s “The Shining” (1980). Utilising elements of psychological thrillers as well … Continue reading Spencer: LFF2021 Review

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Female Filmmaker, Personal Essays

“Twilight” Is Pretty Great Actually

We are in something of an era of revisiting “Twilight” in more neutral-to-positive terms, as we come to understand that much of the backlash against the series was built on a general societal hatred for teenage girls and the media made for them. I’m embarrassed to say I was a part of that backlash, poking fun at my sister and mum for their enjoyment of the series despite never reading any of the books or watching the films. Though I had absolutely zero taste in media as a teen so I don’t know why I thought I could judge. Continue reading “Twilight” Is Pretty Great Actually

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Film Reviews, Reviews, Women in Film

Review: Seberg

Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless” made her the star of the French New Wave; this star, however, was an image that its actress, Jean Seberg (Kristen Stewart) wanted to escape from. ‘Seberg’ is a tale of how she attempted to do precisely that. In her efforts to distance herself from the frivolity of the movie industry, she was punished. She was tormented and harassed by the hands of a paranoid government and their propagandist media counterparts; sound familiar?

Stewart is an interesting choice: She isn’t particularly known for the sweetness and perkiness that Seberg is, however, like Seberg, has made a name for herself in French cinema (with some help from Oliver Assayas, she has been given the chance to act alongside and demonstrate her talents with Juliette Binoche). Continue reading Review: Seberg

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Female Characters, Female Filmmaker, Film Reviews, Retrospect Reviews, Women in Film

Retrospective Review: The Runaways

It’s been ten years since we saw “Twilight” (2008) cast-mates Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning graze the screen in the music biopic “The Runaways.” While the Floria Sigismondi written/directed film has its fair share of follies, by the end it’s worthy of a collective fist to the air, celebrating – at the very least- the spotlight on these talented women and the impact they had on the rock and roll world.

At a time when bands entirely made up of women weren’t a prevalent nor seemingly lucrative notion, The Runaways was formed, primarily because of the persistent ambition of Joan Jett (Stewart) and her collaboration with Kim Fowley (played with an on-spot eccentricity here by Michael Shannon). Soon they bring in Cherie Currie (Fanning) to be the lead singer, along with Sandy West (Stella Maeve), Lita Ford (Scout Taylor-Compton) and Robin (Alia Shawkat). Then we’ve got the pop-punk legendary group: The Runaways. Continue reading Retrospective Review: The Runaways

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Female Characters, Valentines, Women in Film

A Sampling Of Toxic Relationships In Film

Over time we’ve been blessed with a lot of many amazing couples on screen. Sometimes, the film is incredible, but the relationship? Not so much. Depending on the film, the toxicity of the coupling can accentuate some of its intentions, other times, it’s not even recognized as such. I think the sense of awareness for the subjects makes a real difference. There are a lot of ways to look at toxic relationships in films, and these are several that should get attention, but as you’ll see, it’s for differing reasons. Continue reading A Sampling Of Toxic Relationships In Film

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Film Reviews, Reviews

Review: Underwater

“When you’re underwater for months at a time, you lose all sense of day and night.” Kristen Stewart laments in voice-over as the film opens up; a hint at the potentially Lovecraftian elements to follow. Lovecraftian horror, (a subgenre of fictional horror which *checks notes* places an emphasis of cosmic horror of the unknown or unknowable–with big, giant creatures!), certainly puts the vampires and werewolves  Stewart faced in “Twilight” to shame.

Admittedly, the thought of Stewart going face-to-face with an enormous aquatic monster–while ruminating on loneliness, the unknowable, the concept of nature getting revenge on man–is ripe for potential. However, all this potential is completely wasted. Continue reading Review: Underwater

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Uncategorized

ITOL Top 50 Films of the Decade, Entry No. 45: Certain Women

Year: 2016 Runtime: 107 Minutes Director: Kelly Reichardt Writer: Kelly Reichardt Stars: Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart, Laura Dern, Lily Gladstone Certain Women: A Woman’s Lonely and Honest Landscape By Ariana Martinez Films that progress slowly and with gentle telling are not something most audiences are accustomed to but must allow themselves to experience. “Certain Women” (2016) is one such film, as it subverts predisposed expectations … Continue reading ITOL Top 50 Films of the Decade, Entry No. 45: Certain Women

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