Filmrecensies van Garry Arnot

Despite its flaws, it remains a refreshing, entertaining antidote to the more mainstream efforts of this ilk, and the Daniels are an absolute credit to original, independent filmmaking. Recensie

A bold and accomplished sophomore picture that signals its writer and director Nathalie Biancheri as one to watch, Wolf is a visceral character drama that intensifies her cinematic voice to a howl. Recensie

Splashing his well-earned creative currency on a grandiose pagan pagger, Robert Eggers is visibly growing in confidence and The Northman only strengthens his stature. With just the right amount of weird, it’s an ambitious, almighty feat of filmmaking that sacrifices none of the visionary director’s mythical madness. Recensie

Off the back of an often stuffy and serious awards season, popcorn flick The Lost City is a fantastic antidote to this; mindless but very entertaining. It heavily relies upon the screen presence and winning spark of Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, but they definitely deliver the goods, reminding us why they’re both class acts in this field of cinema. Recensie

A striking sophomore effort from director Audrey Diwan, Happening is an incredibly challenging yet vital piece of work that presents itself as a timely social-issue thriller. Not for the faint-hearted but well worth watching through your hands in horror. Recensie

A subtle study of romance within the complicated confines of modern city life, Jacques Audiard’s Paris, 13th District is a beautifully devised monochrome masterpiece, and introduces the exciting new talent of Lucie Zhang to the big screen. Recensie

Presenting a refreshing modern-day slant on the genre, The Worst Person in the World is a romance dramedy that should have universal appeal. Trier has completed his triptych of Nordic tales with a flourish, and a winning portrayal from Renate Reinsve turns ordinary problems into extraordinary cinema. Recensie

Leaning into the farcical nature of its story, Howard J. Ford’s The Ledge makes the very most of the platform it gets to play on by crafting some gripping set pieces. As the villains become almost pantomime-esque in their portrayals, it makes it fun and easy to root for Brittany Ashworth in this amusingly far-fetched thriller. Recensie

At the beating heart of the piece is an emotionally charged central turn from Arcelia Ramirez. The social-realist style and sensitivity of the skilful director helps to draw out a very natural, moving performance, elevating La Civil from the expectations of the premise. Recensie

At the dark heart of it all is, of course, Robert Pattinson, who consistently makes interesting choices in the parts he takes on. He’s perfect for Matt Reeves’ emotionally twisted, brooding incarnation of The Batman, or simply ‘vengeance’ as he identifies himself as to his hapless victims. If the writing improves for the chapters that will undoubtedly follow, it may well become his greatest role to date. Recensie

Disappointingly flat but certainly not without its merits, Nanni Moretti’s Three Floors is a mixed bag of misery-porn. Recensie

Let True Things wash over you but take another shower immediately afterwards; it’s a deeply unpleasant but completely intoxicating experience that masterfully captures the ugly insecurities and uncertainties of a toxic love affair. Recensie

While the script’s wry sense of humour might not always stick the landing with international audiences, the material is elevated by Donutil’s dedicated and vital performance as the no-nonsense protagonist. Recensie

The execution of its themes may be a little on the nose, but Ross McCall introduces himself as a visually inventive director with a flair for presenting vicious brutality. Recensie

Proving that he can be just as impactful as a director as he is an on-screen presence, Flag Day is a compelling father-daughter drama from Sean Penn. Leaning into his own experience, he injects genuine emotion into this rugged adaptation’s pivotal relationship. Recensie

More of a big screen art-installation than a movie, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s Memoria is a challenging, bamboozling experience but when immersed in its oddities, it can also be thought-provoking and bizarrely rewarding. Recensie

A sweet and sweaty tribute to aimless adolescence, Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza serves up a satisfying slice of 70s nostalgia and introduces two future stars of cinema to our screens. Recensie

Affectionately crafted and beautifully portrayed by its formidable cast, Belfast brilliantly illustrates the closeness of community, then proceeds to show how quickly it can be ravaged by terrible conflict. However, by telling the troublesome tale through the bright eyes of an imaginative child, it’s a poignant, comical reflection of Branagh’s boyhood. Recensie

C’mon C’mon marks another kind-hearted hit from Mike Mills, his affectionate writing and direction providing a platform that showcases the acting talents of Phoenix and Norman. This effort has a little less to say for itself than his previous films, but it’s a pleasant experience to eavesdrop on its conversations. Recensie

King Richard is a bloated spectacle of self-righteousness made tolerable only by a handful of well measured performances. Recensie

Paul Schrader doubles down on his career-defining themes of moral responsibility with The Card Counter, dealing us an intense and absorbing exploration of fear and self-loathing through the lens of a brilliant, no-limits gambling film. Recensie

A cinematic spectacle of grandiose sound and scale, director Denis Villeneuve delivers a thought-provoking, immersive experience that slowly but assertively sets the scene for the next chapter of the adventure. Recensie

As films set on muddy country retreats go, Pablo Larraín’s Spencer has more in common with The Shining than The Princess Bride and it’s all the better for it. Suspenseful, experimental, and a hell of a lot funnier than you might expect, it’s a nightmarish vision of a fairytale gone horribly awry. Recensie

A viscerally intense vision of frenetic anxiety with a top-of-his-game Stephen Graham at the forefront of the turmoil, Philip Barantini’s Boiling Point is a compelling one-shot wonder. Recensie