- Sensibility: Parts of Freddie's recovery and the sustainability and growth of the movement seem impossible, but otherwise the narrative is communicated excellently.
- Cinematography: Visual masterpiece. Everything clicks perfectly. The camera work, the shot making, the soundtrack and score, the production design, and the hair and costuming are all incredible and add significantly to the energy of the film.
- Energy: The film takes you on a journey much like Freddie. There are moments of insane tension followed by moments of bliss and beauty that don't lag or drag the film down. There is constantly so much to take in visually and narratively that there's never a dull moment.
- Narrative: A masterful story about illness and control. The dialogue is rich and moving and the characters are thorough and intruiging. Beyond all the power dynamics is a subtle story about self-discovery and independence that is brilliant.
- T-Points: The film received five bonus points: one for a great shot running out of a dark room onto a field, one for an amazing processing scene, one for a scene around an argumentative dissenter, one for a brilliant performance by Joaquin Phoenix, and one for a masterful performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Is this one of the all-time great films? I think it probably should be and it is almost certainly my favorite film from PTA. It's so rare to have everything work so well. It almost feels criminal to only give this film five bonus points, when there are so many note-worthy elements that I left un-rewarded: Amy Adam's performance and the score come to mind.
Number of Watches: 2
