In my quest to reach an undesirable level of cinema pretentiousness, I chose to buy seven tickets to the Virginia Film Festival, totaling around $135. Some people have asked me, “Sam, why are you spending so much money on movies? Don’t you have anything better to do?” My answer is a resounding no.
After school on Thursday, I rushed to my car to drive to UVA’s Culbreth Theater, eager to see “No Other Choice,” the latest from auteur Park Chan-Wook, director of masterpieces like “Oldboy” and “The Handmaiden.” The theater was sold out, and I found myself stuck between two young cinephiles doomscrolling Letterboxd while older patrons of the arts found their seats. “No Other Choice” tells the story of a man who loses his job, and in the process, loses his morals and sanity, taking control of the workforce with direct action. Park’s clever satire criticizes capitalism and the way it pits people against each other, and it’s coupled with a stellar performance by Lee Byung-hun. While not as violent as his previous works, “No Other Choice” goes to some dark places, cementing itself as one of the year’s most entertaining films, while containing deep commentary on modern issues. 5/5
I walked back into the Culbreth the next day to catch my most anticipated movie of the year. “Sentimental Value,” Joachim Trier’s follow up to the stellar “The Worst Person in the World,” follows a family as they unpack the intergenerational trauma that exists at their house. Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard deliver career best performances, carrying the subtlety and emotional baggage needed for these complexly written characters. Trier’s meta and stylish approach to cinematography and screenwriting are a delight to behold, illuminating him as one of the best contemporary filmmakers. “The Worst Person in the World” walked so “Sentimental Value” could run, marking it as one of the greatest films of the year and the decade. 5/5…