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Every year we watch hundreds of films that contain thousands of scenes within them, and through it all, we come away with a handful of stand out moments. Whether it be a climatic revelation, a subtle moment of directorial brilliance, or a poignant punctuation to conclude a film, these scenes display a creative, technical, and thematic mastery that we simply can’t stop thinking about. As selected by our writing team, these are our favorite scenes of 2019.
Read MoreMartin Scorsese is right, it’s a perilous time for cinema. A single megacorporation dominates the box office with formulaic franchise installments while the space for the individual artist to create unique and subversive pieces of art shrinks. If cinema is to persist, we need uncompromising visionaries to guide us, to keep a mirror to our contemporary society, and to drive us out of our comfort zone. Thankfully in 2019, scores of talented filmmakers did just that…
Read MoreThis past year I saw 122 new releases, and admittedly, most weren’t worth my time. However, every year there are thirty or so films that make watching hours upon hours of film worth it. Finding a hidden gem, having your expectations blown away, seeing that long awaited film, experiencing that euphoric feeling only cinema can provide. It’s something special. And 2019 had no shortage of them. These are as good as it gets, so let’s begin.
Read MoreRight before the decade came to a close, 2019 went out with a particularly strong bevy of films. So much so that there are still many I have yet to watch, but from what I have seen, this year has been nothing short of remarkable. Compassion, joy, wonder, laughter, heartbreak. I believe you can find all these and more in the films from this year, and while there are so many I admire, here are the ones that stick out in my mind, providing a range of feelings that are particularly delightful to bask in for 2019.
Read MoreLooking back, 2019 was a great year for film, especially for women filmmakers. When I was thinking of which films to include in my list, I was struck by how many films I’ve seen this year that were directed by women. Now, I don’t know whether this is simply a cause of my own selective viewing habits or whether it is symptomatic of a wider positive change in the industry, but whatever it is, I’ve been happy to see increased representation. As always, it’s hard to make a definitive list, however, these are the films from the past year I’d personally encourage people to see. But with that aside, here are my favourite ten films of 2019…
Read MoreWe all go a little mad sometimes, and luckily for us, there are films to let us know that it could be a lot worse. For our first bi-monthly theme, we selected a theme where everything goes wrong, where the shit hits the fan and plans go awry, where protagonists are pushed to their mental limits, and where the line between sanity and madness starts to blur, ultimately delivering you to a place that is somewhere between reality and hell.
Read MoreThe small town of North Bend, Washington is not only home to Twin Peaks, cherry pie, and a damn fine cup of coffee, but it also houses the North Bend Film Festival. Taking the place over one weekend, North Bend programs some of the most interesting genre films you never heard of. We returned for our second year, and during that time, we saw some crazy shit.
Read MoreIn the midst of the three week long festival that is the Seattle International Film Festival, we took a few moments to talk to one cinema’s most promising new talents Philip Youmans. Along with his producer and school mate Mose Mayer, they sat down to talk about their film Burning Cane, what influences them, and where their careers will take after the success of their first outing.
Read MoreWay back in March, we saw the world premiere of The Art of Self-Defense at SXSW. Fast forward two months and the film made another appearance at SIFF, and along with it came writer director Riley Stearns. During the festival, we had the opportunity to speak with the director and discuss where the idea came from, the process of scripting such a tact-sharp comedy, and whether or not he himself knows karate.
Read MoreThe 2019 Seattle International Film Festival kicks off on May 16th and runs until June 9th and UW Film Club is covering as many films as possible so you know which films to see! Throughout the festival, this article will be regularly updated with capsule reviews for festival films with the newest additions at the top. Check back every couple days to see whats new!
Read MoreOver the last week we saw dozens of films at the South by South West Film Festival in Austin, Texas. There were highs and lows, but each one an experience onto itself. Over the next couple days we’ll be updating this article with capsule reviews and links to full reviews of films from the festival.
Read MoreIn a year with a multitude of great performances on display, the Best Acting Categories are especially contentious. Each of us here at Cinema As We Know It feel differently about who should have been nominated for an Oscar, and as such, we have selected some of the strongest and most memorable characters to celebrate for our best performances of 2018.
Read MoreAs we previously shone a light on our favorite performances of the year, I decided to also take a moment for my favorite scenes. These three picks are, in my opinion, the most memorable and well- executed sequences of some of the strongest films of 2018.
Read MoreFrom a wide variety of genres, directors, and studios, there was a film to be had for everyone in 2018. With such an embarrassment of riches to choose from, it was incredibly difficult selecting just ten, but as it stands, these are the best of the best, and to me, these are as good as it gets for 2018, so let’s begin.
Read MoreIn a year full of things going wrong, let us celebrate those films which go right, those that fulfill their individuals promises. Some of those below are thrilling, some searing, all are excellent.
Read MoreAs the year ends and I meditate on the huge amount of film I consumed, I have made the final tough decisions in organizing my ranked list of it all. I realized I had a very unconventional top 10, but I believe each piece has earned its place as what I would consider the most significant and extraordinary of the time and place that is 2018.
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