3 Movies I Watched in February
I watched so many fascinating films this month that it was quite difficult to narrow it down to just three. I’m still developing a criteria to help decide which specific films to recommend, but for February, my absolute favorite films all had an aspect of relevance to modern society that I really appreciated. Each of these films is remarkable in its own right, and I can’t recommend them enough!
*See below for my recommendations!
1. Ex Machina (2015)
Ex Machina is now one of my favorite films of all time. The way the film explores artificial intelligence was absolutely fascinating to me. The small cast, the central filming location, and the highly relevant theme of the dangers of AI all contributed to a near-perfect viewing experience.
The film follows Caleb, an expert coder, who is invited to visit the isolated house of the CEO of the billion-dollar internet company he works for after winning a competition. There, the CEO, Nathan, introduces Caleb to a whole new world of artificial intelligence, particularly a robot named Ava. As Caleb participates in a dangerous experiment, he uncovers the true nature and intentions of Nathan, as well as the future of AI.
The standout performance in Ex Machina was undoubtedly Alicia Vikander, who portrayed the AI robot, Ava. Her voice cadence and sharp physical movements perfectly captured the essence of a robot, and that was ultimately the selling point of the film for me. Domhall Gleeson and Oscar Isaac were also phenomenal in their roles. After doing some research, I learned that Isaac portrayed his character through the lens of Stanley Kubrick, making the attention to detail in every aspect of the film truly admirable.
Given AI's increasing presence in all aspects of the modern world, I found the film refreshing in its honest and realistic portrayal of how both detrimental and inevitable the expansion of artificial intelligence may be in the near future. Now more than ever, I would highly recommend viewing this film!
“Ex Machina is an allegory, and a reminder that if, one day, we work out how to endow a machine with general intelligence, we need to be very careful.” - Murray Shanahan
My ratings:
Cast: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Cinematography: 4/5
My Overall Rating: 5/5
2. Moonlight (2016)
I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to see a special IMAX screening of Moonlight at AMC Theaters this month! It had been on my watchlist for so long, and seeing it on the big screen made the experience exponentially better and incredibly memorable. I can't remember the last time I was in a theater so packed, which can only be attributed to how well-received and loved this film remains by its audience, even nine years after its release.
Adapted from Tarell Alvin McCraney’s play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue, Moonlight is a transformative story about a boy named Chiron, told in three segments that show his growth from childhood to teenager to adult. Chiron struggles with finding his inner self and true identity throughout his youth and adulthood, but he finds solace in the people around him, particularly a non-biological father figure named Juan, played by Mahershala Ali (in an Oscar-winning performance). Emotions are a key tool in this film, which truly showcases the human experience in an individualized way.
The cinematography is absolutely stunning, and the filming style is particularly unique. It felt so lifelike that I felt as though I was watching the dialogue unfold in real-time. Each and every actor in this film holds an immense amount of talent.
For me, Moonlight served as a reminder of how powerful film can be when risks are taken to highlight realities and experiences that are often shielded from mainstream media.
My ratings:
Cast: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Cinematography: 5/5
My Overall Rating: 5/5
3. Annihilation (2018)
I still don’t think I have the right words to fully express my thoughts on Annihilation, because even after watching it twice, it still feels like a prolonged dream sequence. I also want to note that I’m not typically a fan of sci-fi films, but this one completely changed my perception of the genre.
Lena, a biologist and former soldier played by Natalie Portman, sets out with a group of scientists to explore “The Shimmer”, an ominous area where all known laws of nature seem to have been altered. She is driven by the death of her husband, Kane (played by Oscar Isaac), who was part of a previous expedition to “The Shimmer” and mysteriously returns altered. Full of secrets and surprises, “The Shimmer” represents a kind of parallel universe—one that the scientists are determined to understand, despite the many hardships and traumas they face.
Aesthetically, Annihilation has mastered the craft. The visuals of this film are so captivating that you almost regret every time you blink. The minor yet impactful details of “The Shimmer” add an intense amount of beauty to such a mysterious place.
The ambiguity of the film’s conclusion leaves room for various open-ended interpretations of what exactly happened to the characters and their discoveries—an artistic choice by Garland that I truly appreciated. I found it to be the perfect ending to a fever dream of a film.
My ratings:
Cast: 3.5/5
Pacing: 4/5
Cinematography: 5/5 - I would rate even higher if I could
My Overall Rating: 4/5
+ A few extras (also first-time watches)!
Paddington in Peru (2024)
Saturday Night (2024)
Bottoms (2023)
The Letter Room (2020)
Shutter Island (2010)
*All images belong to respected owners - utilized for recreational and informational intent.
Thank you for reading!
- Lily