Luke Hollingshead

Names in One Battle After Another ranked by amount of enjoyment I derive from them: ◦ Jim Kringle ◦ Junglepussy ◦ Colonel Steven J Lockjaw ◦ Sensei Sergio St Carlos ◦ Perfidia Beverly Hills ◦ Virgil Throckmorton ◦ Bluto ◦ Comrade Josh ◦ Bob Ferguson/Ghetto Pat/The Rocketman ◦ Talleyrand  ◦ Howard Summerville/Billy Goat ◦ Bobo Just the best man. Police or tacos? Which do you choose?

Super interesting movie — really awesome first act that unravels and ends up hitting the same notes thru the end, but with a killer final line. Is it possible to achieve anything in our world without manipulation? I’ve been guilty of browsing a social media page before, tryna figure out tastes and interests — which is creepy, and weird that that info is out there — but also, why do we post it? For that very reason, for people to know more about us. What’s the line on using that as a tool? Some of the best texting shit in this, feels like only Eddington and this have hit on what it actually feels like to scroll or panically text. Looks fantastic, and has two great central performances from Pellerin (an alien here) and Madekwu (convincing as a pop star and the music is lowk good).  I really wish that the main character’s early behavior switching and body language shifts were kept up, that he was more able to fake charisma and pick up on social cues, cuz it’s a little unbelievable where it’s at right now. Also means that a lot of the movie is extremely awkward dead spaces, which is intentionally uncomfortable but maybe a little too successful at that. I lose some tension with how much I dislike the character. Kinda deprives you of any catharsis too, which is cool and mirrors the story but still left me wanting. Went from really really digging it (first 30 mins) to kinda slogging through the home stretch. People should see this though, well-made and intriguing stuff. Great debut, excited to see what Russell does next!

What a blast. I admire how much Obayashi is constantly throwing at the wall, even if it doesn’t all stick. The movie is completely committed to being batshit insane, and that’s awesome. Post-war scarring and nuclear trauma erupt in a scary-ass house during a fairy tale Japanese locale girl’s trip. Killer shit. Fun horror, so campy but also awesome, kinda Raimi-esque? Thought of Drag Me to Hell watching this — it’s got that tonality a bit, but even more experimental/avant-garde. Looks beautiful when it’s not doing wack shit and that’s all cool asf too. Would be a great party movie, this deserves a bunch of people to be watching it going “what the fuck?! Holy shit!” Big fan.

This is to Fallen Angels what Bottle Rocket is to The Grand Budapest Hotel. Gorgeous and oozing with Wong Kar-Wai’s developing style. Okay gangster story spiced up with some incest. Little long in the tooth for what it is, but always has something interesting to look at or think about. Basically everything that he perfects later in his career is in this, just a smidge more rudimentary. The “Take My Breath Away” cue is magical. A great debut.