Review: "Digger" is as Frustrating as it is Confounding

By Ben Miller

Alejandro G. Inarritu's Digger is sure to be divisive. While you might have an understanding of the film's tone and messaging early on, a sharp-left turn in the narrative reframes your entire comprehension of what transpires. It's a real mess.

It's going to be very difficult to talk in detail about this film without discussing spoilers, but if you are confused by reading my review, imagine how you would feel in the theater. When the "twist" happens, I stared at the screen incredulous about what I was watching. "This? This is what the film is doing?" You can't even get your bearings on the new reality of the film before it switches back to how it started. It's an insane way to make a film, and an even more insane way to present it...

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"Bardo" is a Gorgeously Shot Mixed Bag

by Eurocheese

Alejandro González Iñárritu’s latest film, Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, is a film overflowing with powerful images, half-told stories and vignettes that delve into very personal material. The film is not always coherent, and not everything works, but it is a mixed bag that offers enough rewards to make it worth a recommendation. The viewer’s mileage will vary, and as one might expect based on the early review, it will definitely not be for everyone. 

Bardo sets its tone right off the bat with multiple disorienting sequences out of context, letting the audience know that accessibility will not be a top priority. One consistent throughline  though, is its visual splendor. Netflix has been delivering some of the most beautiful imagery onscreens this year (Glass Onion and Pinocchio jump to mind), and this film bathes us in oceanic blues and city lights. It also highlights the beauty of Mexico while simultaneously focusing on its shortcomings, an internal struggle for the protagonist, whose national identity is among his many crises. If you’re going to have an emotional breakdown, why not do it while you’re surrounded by lush landscapes?

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Venice Diary #02 - BARDO and other self-reflecting movies

by Elisa Giudici

Two men focusing on their own identities. Two women speaking to their relationship with their husbands. For day two of the Venice film festival it was a quartet of movies featuring personal intimate stories...

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Venice at Home – Day 2: Dazzling Debuts

by Cláudio Alves

The 79th Venice Film Festival's second day was a busy one with two premieres by directors who've managed to seduce critics and the Academy alike. First, Alejandro González Iñárritu came to the Lido with his most ambitious project yet, the epic Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths, whose production history is embroiled in many controversies. Then, there was also Todd Field's long-awaited return to the big screen after a decade plus sabsence. TÁR is the director's third feature and feels poised to delight actressexuals in similar ways to his debut and sophomore efforts. So far, Cate Blanchett has received nothing but glowing reviews and might become the third Field leading lady to nab an Oscar nomination.

Let's remember both directors' debuts to celebrate these buzzy premieres. Frankly, as much as I may admire some of their following efforts, Amores Perros and In the Bedroom remain my favorite titles from their filmographies…

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Movie News x 5: Amsterdam, Avatar 2, Barbie, Bardo, and Fast X

by Nathaniel R

1. Hey look, it's the first image from David O. Russell's next film Amsterdam, which the internet has been calling either Canterbury Glass or Untitled David O. Russell Film for its entire production history. But now we know its true name so we've had to adjust all the Oscar charts accordingly, not that we've predicted it for much at this juncture. Though obviously predictions can and do change throughout the year...

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