Toby Dammit’s Film Reviews

22 Films have been rated or reviewed by Toby Dammit.

Immaculate Conception of Little Dizzle, The (2009): One of the best indie "weirdo" films of recent memory.
Repo Man (1984): Indie 80s cult film heaven.
Cleo from 5 to 7 (1962): So many ideas in one short movie.
Operation Avalanche (2016): Pretty great period reconstruction for a budget indie film – & check out the POV car chase! But it spends a lot of time getting to where it was obviously going. Matt Johnson's performance is delightful.
Class of 1984 (1982): Meh. I love this kind of trash, but this one takes itself too seriously. Plus its clumsy, slow & nasty. Timothy Van Patten is great as the villain though.
Bling Ring, The (2013): Very slick film about vapid, pampered LA kids – the rich stealing from the richer. Probably fascinating if yr into fashion or celebrity culture. If not, there's kind of a Bret Easton Ellis vibe which you might enjoy.
Long Goodbye, The (1973): I loved this film. Funny, stylish, smart and jagged, it's a template for (& better than) films like Big Lebowski, Inherent Vice, etc. Keep an eye out for Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Son of Saul (2015): Unusual, harrowing film has its protagonist in near–continual close up while the events of Auschwitz happen behind & around him – out of focus or unseen, half–heard, etc. The intricate plotting of a crime film, but with a careful emotional emphasis.
First Monday in May, The (2016): Lovable curator Andrew Bolton clomps about in a race against time to stage the Met Gala (& a huge fashion exhibit). Highlights include: great dresses, huge egos, Zoolander–style absurdity, cultural appropriation, Galliano, Gaultier & Wong Kar Wai.
Kiss of the Damned (2012): A stand–out vampire flick mixing romance, eroticism & glamour with occasional queasy thrills. It's too bad Only Lovers Left Alive came out two years later & did it better. Still, this one's worth a watch.

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Toby Dammit’s Film Reviews