Mike Goes To Movies

Spring Breakers (2012) TLDR: A hypnotic dramedy and Black Mirror-esque tale of a group of millennials seeking to voyage and take part in their hedonistic Mecca, called Spring Break in Florida. This film can easily be interpreted to be something it is not, but for those who 'get it', Spring Breakers is a fitting and compelling continuation of Harmony Korine's ellucidating saga of outlandish contemporary Americana. Harmony Korine is one of the most fascinating auteuristic filmmakers today. His films frequently tackle segments of American society - often teenage and adult debauchery - through a lens that looks to have dropped more than a few tabs of LSD and a cocktail of assorted booze. Bizarre characters are tantamount, as are his neon colour palettes and great musical choices. And yet, like an expose on a walk of life you had never been aware of, there is always something to be taken away from Korine's stories and subject matter.  Spring Breakers taps into the oft-deprav...

Under the Silver Lake (2019) Part of A24's great success has been its ability to market its wide-ranging genre of films to very specific markets - illustrating why each of this indie gems may be the perfect film for you. With Under the Silver Lake however, upon its mediocre reception at Cannes, A24 became a bit stumped, unsure of how exactly to market this enigmatic film, leading to a semi-bout between the production company/distributor and the film's writer/director, David Robert Mitchell, over a possible re-cut for the film. In the end, the director won out and the film remained intact leading to its concurrent theatrical and VOD release. It is a testament to Mitchell's integrity as an artist that he used his new industry clout following the massive success of It Follows to make such a heady and ambitious film for his follow-up. Under the Silver Lake is a large film; it is a subversive noir that both pays homage to the classic genre while also consistently poking ...