Filmrecensies van Garry Arnot

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

Bold and unapologetic in its ridiculousness, Cop Secret is an entertaining sign of what might be still to come from first-timer Hannes Þór Halldórsson. As a goalkeeper, he made headlines by saving a penalty from Lionel Messi at the World Cup in 2018 and with a flair for capturing action, he’s proving to be a safe pair of hands as a film director too. Recensie

Fukunaga’s No Time to Die brings Daniel Craig’s mixed bag of an era to a close in disappointingly lacklustre fashion, buckling under the weight of its own anticipation. We’ve been expecting you Mr Bond, but we expected a lot better than this. Recensie

The Green Knight marks another outlandish outing for the David Lowery, who continues to flex the muscles of his artistic mind in the most creative and thought-provoking ways. This foray into folklore won’t be to everyone’s taste, but it’s encouraging to see another ambitious piece from one of most fascinating filmmakers around. Recensie

Screenwriter David Chase proves to be a master string-puller on the big screen as well as the small, and with an epic new vision stylishly brought to fruition by director Alan Taylor, The Many Saints of Newark serves as a hugely satisfying side dish to the veritable feast that is The Sopranos. Recensie

Yngvild Sve Flikke’s Ninjababy is an inventive and entertaining indie gem packed with humour and pathos, heightened by Thorp’s refreshingly candid portrayal of a young woman who simply doesn’t want to be a mother. Recensie

Clashing with the cutthroat nature of the power-hungry Rory O’Hara, this sublime picture proves that patience is a virtue as Sean Durkin’s work is well worth the wait. A thrillingly dramatic depiction of 80s entrepreneurialism with two of the best performances you’ll see all year, The Nest is the real deal. Recensie

Annette feels like a feature-length SNL skit where only the performers themselves are in on the joke. It’s an abysmally boring, ridiculous, slog of a film and if Leos Carax’s work is indeed the marmite of cinema, I really wish I hadn’t opened the jar. Recensie

Furthering Bruckner’s reputation as one of the best contemporary horror directors in the business, The Night House is a stylish and suspenseful piece, elevated by Rebecca Hall’s excellent performance. Recensie

Bailey-Bond’s Censor is a technically accomplished homage to home-video horror with an intriguing performance at its dark heart, but it falls victim to ponderous pacing and a poor execution of plot. Recensie