tributary stu

Movie micro-reviews and other stuff. A tributary to the big screen.

Because watching movies is cheaper than therapy.
Reviews & visual quotes — (almost) daily on all the socials.

Week In, Week Out

Weekly collections of five mini-reviews capturing a wide range of films—old and new, obscure and iconic. A personal film journal in snapshots, offering quick, insightful takes on whatever’s been on the screen lately.

  • Movies of the Week #12 (2020)

    Movies of the Week #12 (2020)

    Chained for Life (2018): Ironically, in a week full of familiar movies, familiar stories, familiar characters, Chained for Life is the exact opposite. It defies all expectations and brings to life a completely unusual tale, which you’ll find hard to forget. The plotline goes: “A beautiful actress struggles to connect with her disfigured co-star on… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #11 (2020)

    Movies of the Week #11 (2020)

    The Lost City of Z (2016): What better way to spend social isolation, than to watch a lush jungle adventure with Charlie Hunnam? The movie had been on my watchlist a long time before I realized it was the work of director James Gray (who recently helmed Ad Astra). It then suddenly became important to… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #10 (2020)

    Movies of the Week #10 (2020)

    Brooklyn (2015): One of my overdue movies from recent years (Carol is its 2015 twin), John Crowley’s period piece is a predictable, yet emotional coming-of-age-tale. Led by Hollywood’s newest sweetheart, Saoirse Ronan, it features a warm-hearted love story mixed with familial tragedy and its heavy anchors. Brooklyn peddles the idea of choice, in matters of… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #9 (2020)

    Emma. (2020): You know me by now, I’m a sucker for Jane Austen. Emma was the gap in my Austen cinematic resume, and thankfully I’ve waited until this latest re-imagining to enjoy it. It’s not the bravest adaptation you’ve ever seen, but it does everything exceptionally well. The lush visuals complement a strong cast, led… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #7-8 (2020)

    Uncut Gems (2019): The Safdie brothers are officially the directing duo to get excited about. Not everyone’s cup of tea though, that’s for sure. Similarly to Heaven Knows What and Good Time, their last two movies, Uncut Gems is a nerve-wrecking ride, that will bludgeon you emotionally. It takes no hostages and constantly defies your… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #6 (2020)

    Love, Antosha (2019): The death of Anton Yelchin was a real shock at the time, not only because a young person died at the age of 27, but also because of the absolutely bizarre manner of his death. Love, Antosha unveils an incredibly complex guy, who ultimately left an enduring legacy in spite of his… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #5 (2020)

    1917 (2019): It seems a lock by now, that 1917 is going to win big at the Oscars. I was weary about yet another war movie, but Sam Mendes’s latest proved a pleasant surprise. You’ve probably heard about the (fake) single-shot appearance the movie provides, an inspired artistic choice, that just swallows you up. Sure,… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #3 #4 (2020)

    Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling (2018):  In The Zen Diaries, the title really delivers, you get a portrait of someone as if reading their most intimate thoughts. Just a guy trying to put some order into his life, someone who literally learned how to be funny, for whom it didn’t all come easily. There’s a… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #1 #2 (2020)

    The Irishman (2019): It wasn’t easy to get 3.5 hours together to watch Scorsese’s latest in one sitting, but I guess that’s what the holidays are for. The captivating tale of Jimmy Hoffa’s demise is worth the runtime – that’s if it wasn’t enough for you to watch De Niro, Pacino and Pesci regardless of… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #52 (2019)

    Knives Out (2019): If you’re an Agatha Christie fan, this flick written and directed by Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper and Star Wars VIII) is an absolute treat. With a deliciously over-the-top performance from Daniel Craig as ingenue private detective Benoit Blanc, it’s a whodunit with a twist – the viewer finds out the would-be-murderer early… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #51 (2019)

    Shoplifters (2018): There are so many things to like about Hirokazu Koreeda’s 2018 family drama that I don’t even know where to begin. If you’ve seen any of Koreeda’s films, you’ll be familiar with the manner in which he dissects Japanese society and class with a focus on the family unit. In some way, Shoplifters… Read more

    —

    in

  • Movies of the Week #50 (2019)

    The Farewell (2019): There’s nothing like a good meal of family contrivances. In this much praised movie, a US-based Chinese family needs to return home in order to deal with the impending death of their grandmother/mother. The “trick” is that nobody plans to tell said grandmother that she only has a few weeks left to… Read more

    —

    in