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 Monster - 2023's Finest Film Introduction Amidst the blockbuster giants in cinemas, Monster silently enters the fray and manages to stand strong. Layers and layers are peeled back slowly and ever so gracefully by director Hirokazu Kore-eda, as he explores how different perspectives can warp our opinions. Featuring incredibly strong performances from the cast, and a subtly powerful score from Ryuichi Sakamoto, Monster manages to stick the landing wonderfully after asking for the trust of the audience. If there's one film so far this year that I would have to choose as my "cannot be missed" film, it would be this. Layered Narrative I went into Monster almost completely blind, so I was pretty blown away by just how complex and layered this film is. The film makes you think it’s going in a certain direction, but it keeps you guessing with its tight and ever-winding screenplay, making sure that you’re kept on your toes constantly. From the beginning of the film, Kore-eda ...

 Tokyo Godfathers Introduction A tale that is as ridiculously hilarious as it is heartwarming, Satoshi Kon’s Tokyo Godfathers hits all the right beats and manages to make this rather absurd story realistically moving. Intricately Written Characters I have seen tons of feel-good films, and Tokyo Godfathers has to be among the top of the bunch. Satoshi Kon so effortlessly brings us into the world of our three homeless protagonists, and makes us uncontrollably care for them, more and more as the film progresses. The characters are so well-written and their distinct characteristics, backstories and beliefs make for very interesting conversations between them, as well as incredibly satisfying character arcs. Throughout the film, Kon manages to deal with sensitive subject matter in a respectful way, and that is thanks to how our characters are written and how they interact with each other. Our protagonists - Gin, Miyuki, and Hana Kon's Twisting, Turning Plot Ever heard of a Christmas mir...

Aftersun - Charlotte Wells' Beautifully Tragic Elegy Introduction When I got home after watching this film, I went into my parents' room and saw my dad sleeping. I stared at him for a while afterwards. You may think it's weird, but you'll probably do the same if you had just seen Aftersun. The amount of stress that he tolerated for 19 years trying to provide for me is something that I'll never fully understand, not in the near future at least. The physical and mental burdens of adulthood and parenthood are things that I don't relate to yet, but perhaps I had gotten at least a sliver of an idea from Charlotte Wells’ directorial debut. Charlotte Wells' Aftersun introduces us to the father-daughter pair Calum and Sophie so perfectly brought to life by Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio, and follow their holiday in Turkey through the eyes, and mind, of Sophie. Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio in Aftersun Post-viewing Thoughts This film took me some time to appreciate. T...