[FILM REVIEW] SENSE8

Before Sense8 premiered, I waited patiently everyday for 5th Jun for the newest creation from my favourite filmmakers: The Wakowski Brothers. I have to say that the wait did pay off. I was not expecting for a perfect TV show or something extraordinary, all I wanted was for Sense8 to be an entertaining roller coaster ride into the rabbit hole. So has it met my expectations? Absolutely. 

Sense8 is a TV series that follows 8 different individuals from 8 different countries who slowly begin to realise that they have a weird and unique mental connection with one another. The show has a diverse cast from numerous nationalities and races that play characters from their respective countries, which makes the show seems a lot less fake.   The show does not shy away from discussing any social matter ranging from violence, gender inequality, poverty, economic inequality, homophobia, transphobia and so on, even though many so-called non-homophobes have been put off by the gay sex scenes. The explicitness is what I admire most about the show, as it has made full use of it, by guiding the audience to places where most shows on TV can’t or are too afraid to go. 

The show has comedy, action and adventure. It is the perfect escape for those who wish to disappear from their reality for awhile. I just wish the cinematography was as good as Orphan Black’s. Plot-wise, the fun only starts after the first 4 episodes. It sets itself apart from other shows by not squeezing everything into the first episode. It takes its time to tell the audience its story, so I will not recommend you watching it if you’re the kind of viewer that wants to know everything all at once. Give it time, be patient, and before you know it, everything makes sense. 

9/10

[FILM REVIEW] FRUITVALE STATION

I am personally not a big fan of biopics but Fruitvale Station is such a well made film that it has instilled the kind of emotions in me that is too hard to ignore.

The film does not fail to provoke frustrations and sadness for the Oscar Grant III even though we know too well how the film is going to end. Though I am not completely familiar with the actual event that this biopic is based on, the actors’ performances are wonderfully authentic, in terms of how the characters go about their daily life and their dialogues.The film is well paced and edited. Director Ryan Coogler has done a fantastic job at keeping the audience focused on every second and minute of the last day of Oscar’s life by applying shooting techniques such as handheld and point-of-view, especially the last moment of his life, it is so well done that I feel like I am one of the witnesses of that tragic incident, and I feel exactly how the witnesses that were there on the actual day felt: furious.

As a filmmaker, Fruitvale Station reignites my already fervent passion for filmmaking – to give people a voice, to raise questions and inspire discussions through the powerful art of storytelling.

9/10

[FILM REVIEW] Ex Machina

Ex Machina is not your typical sci-fi film. It is bold in questioning complex philosophical ideas. Personally, I feel that the pace of the film is not too slow nor is it too fast, it’s simply perfect. Unlike other sci-fi films where they often kind of explicitly show off their cool CGI and VFX, which in my opinion, is a rather boring and meaningless way to do so, Ex Machina, on the other hand, slowly and quietly guides the audience’s attention in such a subtle way that it creates a totally natural ambience for the audience, making them feel as if they are actually in it with the characters in the film.

The film keeps its audience entertained by posing scenes with intellectually interesting dialogues between the characters that always provoke contemplations and explorations on what these ideas mean to the audience themselves, making it so mesmerising and stand out from all the other sci-fi shows that only please the eyes and not the mind.

However, I feel that the ending is rather weak, a  wild ending, which contrasts with quiet atmosphere of the film, would make the movie ends it on a more impactful note and would have made it even more memorable.

I am overall very satisfied with the technical side of the film. The cinematography is deliciously captivating. The cast’s performance was simply wonderful. Alex Garland has done a fantastic job.

10/10.