By http://www.impawards.com/2021/power_..._dog_ver2.html, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=68573148
The Power of the Dog - (2021)
I was pleased with this, probably because many reviews I've read didn't give it the acclaim I was expecting - perhaps my expectations were lowered, and other people's expectations were high. Kodi Smit-McPhee was awesome, and if I'd seen this before the Oscars I would have been hoping he won Best Supporting Actor (without having seen three out of the five performances though.) I'm interested in the novel now, the story dealing with a delicate interplay between four main characters had me wanting to know more about them, their hidden desires and motivations - not to say the film was unclear in conveying them. Any scene involved with the interplay between Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch - great here) and Peter (Smit-McPhee) was great to watch. Enthralling, low-key story set in 1925 Montana was very enjoyable. I'm glad it at least won Best Director, but to see it lose in so many other categories was deflating - that's the way the Academy cookie crumbles I guess.
8.5/10
By Internet Movie Database, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70054353
Attica - (2021)
I never knew the true story behind what is mostly known as something Al Pacino's Sonny mentions in Dog Day Afternoon - and yet everybody should. The completely shocking story of how a prison riot was resolved in a brutal slaughter of inmates (plus hostages), and savage, uncalled for, revenge through the torture of those who survived. How could something this horrifying happen in 1971 New York, and yet remain this obscure? The documentary (Oscar nominated) is really first-class, and although some have pointedly complained that it doesn't give both sides of the story, a documentary doesn't need to do that in many cases. What happened happened, and I don't think it's open to too much debate, considering the evidence presented. A must-see documentary.
8/10
By Internet Movie Database, Fair use, [url]https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70054353
Four Hours at the Capitol - (2021)
Very basic, 'talking heads'-type documentary about the attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building (something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime.) There's some great footage which gives a sense of how well historical events are going to be recorded in this day and age of body cameras, phones and security footage - but having to sit and listen to crackpots talk about politicians torturing babies and Trump being ordained by God is pretty unpleasant.
4/10
By The poster art can or could be obtained from Netflix., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67714003
Fear Street Part One: 1994 - (2021)
Something a little different from what I expected, which actually improves during it's second half, taking what initially felt like an average slasher film into supernatural territory. A variety of monstrous killing entities are resurrected in the fictional Shadyside (as opposed to neigbouring Sunnyvale, which had me pondering how much people like R.L. Stine make from their young readers) and go on the hunt for Sam, who has disturbed the bones of a witch. We're not given first-rate performers, and I'm uncertain about director Leigh Janiak, but it has potential, so I'll keep going and have a go at Part Two sometime in the future.
6/10
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We miss you Takoma
We miss you Takoma
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