In 2017, one of the most idiotic, racist, misogynistic jerks ever to run for public office became the President of the United States.
Donald Trump rose through the cult of personality, combined with a fractured and evolving media landscape, plus the ugliest aspects of populism by pandering to the crudest aspects of racial resentment. What films helped us make sense of this chaos?
The defining cinema of the Trump era is still yet to be decided, but SWITCH has collected its reviews for films that provide some indication as to how movies have processed this grim period of North American history.
‘Get Out’ is an absolutely exemplary, wickedly funny, genuinely unnerving and often flat-out terrifying instant horror classic, so delectable that you almost wish it wouldn’t end.
As Donald Trump is wont to say, "America does not like losers," and Walker mines comedy gold with ‘PACmen’ by illustrating why Ben Carson was exactly that.
There’s a brazen sort of electricity pulsing through the film that is hard to disregard; a boldness that is so intrinsic to its very nature that it becomes impossible to disentangle it from the film.
This is arguably one of the most necessary films of 2018. The world is currently on fire, so why not make a film on this subject that acknowledges that?
For cinema with great impact, this is an impressive experience. With the dedication shown by Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried, it's an ominous contemplation on faith far beyond the realm of religion.
For a film that proves unrelentingly misguided, ‘Our New President’ offers very few redeeming qualities. It is a miscellany of disinteresting acclamations devoid of any insight.
Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer share great chemistry and do great justice to their real-life counterparts, and you can shed a tear over and be grateful for the path forged by those before us.
An engrossing, stylish and near-perfect movie. Though he often juggles a mosaic of characters, themes and social issues, Bong Joon-ho never eschews his anarchic impulses and dark humour.
Mystery fans rejoice: this is an impeccable cinematic achievement, laced with sardonic wit, division and conflict, and of course a perplexing puzzle. This is easily one of the most fun films of 2019.
A remarkable and uncompromising film, 'A Hidden Life' is a work of hope and sorrow and belief in the human spirit. It's another step in the evolution and exploration in Terrence Malick's filmmaking.
Despite some stumbles with the script, 'Richard Jewell' is a well-acted and admirably low-key piece from Clint Eastwood that raises a lot of questions.
An absolute revelation, a blockbuster of a documentary, a rollercoaster ride of endless shocks and surprises, and easily one of the best films of the year.
This atmospheric thriller touches on some current themes, but leans too heavily on both its cinematic influences and cheap "boo" scares.
The story at the centre of this documentary is not one of mistakes and misfortune, but of a known danger being alerted and then wilfully ignored. It's certainly a film that feels necessary right now.
Arthur Jones tells an absorbing story about how something as simple as a cartoon frog can be easily co-opted and corrupted to become a symbol of pure malevolence.
