A few years back I decided, “Hey, I really like Tom Hiddleston, how ’bout I go through his filmography and talk about how he’s so suave while being so damn depressed all the time?” And I did. And that meant sweeping through the work of one Joanna Hogg, who at the time I knew nothing about and who today I consider one of the best filmmakers in the world.
Also today: Her new movie is out (and expanding on Friday; Bostonians, that’s your cue), and everyone’s raving about it. Including me. I should be thrilled more critics (and hopefully more audiences) are discovering Hogg’s filmography. I mean, I am thrilled, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not under the impression all that people flipped for The Souvenir at Sundance and more under the impression that now that people are flipping over it closer to release. Which is good. But she’s always been great! For years! I guess I wish it didn’t take this long for her to make a movie that’s caught the attentions of my fellow Americans. Maybe if we’d all caught on sooner, she’d have made more movies between now and 2013 (when she made The Exhibition).
Anyway: The Souvenir is a masterful film, and I strongly, strongly recommend checking it out if it’s opening near you anytime soon.
You can read my full review at Paste Magazine.
A Constant Visual Feast 