DreamTinder

This is exactly my kind of film, so I went into The Brutalist with high expectations. I was genuinely excited to finally see it, but what a colossal disappointment. I know it's not a popular opinion, but I think time will show how incredibly overrated this film is, when ten years from now everyone will ask themselves why it was even considered a good movie, let alone a great one.

It starts off promising enough, but it quickly spirals into a directionless mess. The film is overloaded with heavy themes, seemingly to compensate for its lack of coherent structure, yet it never digs deep into any of them. It's so desperate to feel profound that it forgets to be engaging or even remotely entertaining. What we're left with is a flimsy narrative propped up by random bouts of trauma porn, masquerading as something meaningful.

At a grueling 3 hours and 34 minutes, the movie feels like a test of endurance, daring you to care even for a second. I had to force myself to sit through it, enduring some of the most gratuitous and awkward sex scenes I've ever seen, alongside dialogue that clings to false profundity like a lifeline.

If it were based on a true story, there might have been at least some emotional anchor, but since it's entirely fictional, I'm left wondering what the point of it all is-other than obvious Oscar bait.

That said, there are two redeeming qualities: Alessandro Nivola's sensitive performance, and the solid cinematography.

Anora stands as one of the most authentic and incisive American films of the decade, a searing exploration of when oligarchy meets democracy.

At its heart is the exotic dancer Anora, powerfully portrayed by Mikey Madison, who embodies the fractured soul of contemporary America. She is a symbol of democratic ideals under siege, fighting not just for her own freedom but for the very principles that define a free society.

Anora's journey is a microcosm of America's broader struggle against the encroaching forces of oligarchy and authoritarianism. Her story mirrors the nation's own naive flirtation with these dangerous ideologies - a seduction that begins with the promise of renewal but ultimately ends in the erosion of freedom and justice if we don't fight back hard enough. She is a woman let down first by systemic failures, and then by wealthy people who treat her as a toy. But she refuses to be defeated and is determined to put on a fight as a free individual against some of the wealthiest people in the world.

The film's brilliance lies in its unflinching honesty. It refuses to shy away from both the most intimate and the most uncomfortable moments. Mikey Madison delivers a great performance, and the supporting cast is equally believable, each character serving as a convincing reflection of the various forces - both internal and external - that shape our world (not least American politics) today.

The cinematography captures the stark contrasts of modern America, from the crumbling edges of forgotten communities to the glittering facades of wealth, power and corruption.

Anora is a wake-up call. It challenges viewers to confront the uncomfortable realities of our time and to question the choices that have led us here. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that the fight for democracy is never truly over.

In many ways this is the quintessential '80s comedy. Movie critics hated it from the start, but it became a global smash hit for a reason. Despite being Hugh Wilson's feature film directorial debut and full of sophomoric humor, 'Police Academy' is competently executed and therefore never feels cheap.

Even the bits that haven't aged well are pretty endearing and seem to come from a good place. Modern viewers will (or should) find some of its elements problematic; there's plenty of sexism, racism and homophobia to be found here. But this movie was quite bold in the way it handled taboo topics at the time. I believe that's what good comedy should do: make us laugh at topics we aren't comfortable talking about yet, to help progress public dialogue.

If you focus on the empowering side of the jokes you'll see that there's still something to this movie. In the end, the main takeaway from 'Police Academy' is that a diversified police force is more competent than a homogeneous one.

Well crafted comedy has a timeless quality to it, and this movie still made me laugh out loud as I rewatched it forty one years later. I hope more people will discover (or rediscover) this cult classic.