Letterboxd 4v3r4n SeanHampsey

Paint Drying 4t416k 2016

Sun, 8 Jun 2025 16:56:54 +1200

6u532b

Ego Death / Dark night of the soul sucks, primarily because you never see it coming & you have zero warning. If this is something you've never experienced or are currently going through, I suggest you do research on how this can be beneficial.

For me: this involves my first time going to church in over 6 years.

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Magazine Dreams 322i1p 2023 - ★★½

Sun, 8 Jun 2025 12:33:38 +1200

Watched on Sunday June 8, 2025.

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The French Connection 2r4oi 1971 - ★★★★

Sun, 8 Jun 2025 04:22:12 +1200

Watched on Saturday June 7, 2025.

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Bambi 72n63 1942 - ★★★

Fri, 6 Jun 2025 13:06:50 +1200

Not much to say, really. It’s adorable, especially when the mum died :)

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Thief 1k1x5b 1981 - ★★★★★

Fri, 6 Jun 2025 07:38:31 +1200

Am I crazy for saying this might actually be Michael Mann’s magnum opus? Maybe, but I don’t care.

This thing fucked!

I’ve always thought Heat was my favourite Michael Mann film - its sleek LA aesthetic and complex character dynamics had me hooked, but Thief feels like the raw blueprint for everything that makes Mann’s style so magnetic. Frank is one of the coolest, most emotionally layered criminals I’ve ever seen on screen. He’s not just some regular bank robber; he’s a guy who’s built this entire myth of independence around himself, and watching it all start to unravel is intense (Oh, and James Caan’s performance just makes it even better). The score? Pure atmospheric perfection. It pulses like the city’s own heartbeat in a way, and it adds this haunted & futuristic feel that makes even the quietest moments feel charged.

Speaking of the city - in my opinion, it’s more than just a backdrop. Mann shoots it like he loves every gritty corner of Chicago, especially at night, when the neon signs seem to stretch out forever. As someone who’s learning how to use environment as a storytelling tool, it was incredible to see how the city actually reflects Frank’s internal world. The steel, the shadows, and the overall vibe all echo his methodical, repressed life. It’s like Chicago is a character itself: tough and really unforgiving. Thief doesn’t just take place there; it lives there. Watching it made me realise how much power a location has to elevate everything else in a film.

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Layer Cake 3q4c4a 2004 - ★★★½

Thu, 5 Jun 2025 04:58:33 +1200

A Guy Ritchie movie that's better than every Guy Ritchie movie, that's not even directed by Guy Ritchie. So therefore - it's not a Guy Ritchie movie

Now take 4 shots :)

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Sorcerer 45n1z 1977 - ★★★½

Tue, 3 Jun 2025 13:06:35 +1200

Watched on Tuesday June 3, 2025.

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Taste of Cherry 5j4z4n 1997 - ★★★★★

Mon, 2 Jun 2025 14:44:49 +1200

First Criterion DVD

You’re right @Toby, this truly is tremendous. I can see why this film is a significant influence for one of your future shorts.

Kiarostami’s Taste of Cherry is a quiet marvel - spare in dialogue but rich in philosophical weight. The film’s restrained approach forces you to sit with the questions it poses about life, death, and the space in between. What struck me most is how the barren landscapes mirror the protagonist’s internal desolation, yet the encounters he has are subtly life-affirming, each offering a different lens on the value of existence. It’s a film that doesn’t preach but instead invites contemplation, and I can see why it would leave such a strong impression on so many people (including myself). There’s a raw intimacy in its ambiguity that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant, and that is conveyed even more beautifully by its exquisite presentation - the shot composition, lighting, and colours further immerse you in this really emotional character study. It’s a perfect inspiration for a short that aims to say much with very little.

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Lady Ballers 1c205c 2023 - ½

Sat, 31 May 2025 12:17:53 +1200

Watched on Saturday May 31, 2025.

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Coco 3ba1b 2017 - ★★★½

Sat, 31 May 2025 02:06:36 +1200

Watched on Friday May 30, 2025.

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Queer 2c1u41 2024 - ★★★★

Thu, 29 May 2025 05:02:03 +1200

this

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Paint Drying 4t416k 2016

Wed, 28 May 2025 03:53:09 +1200

I got my first Criterion & BFI DVD’s today :)

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After Yang n5m3u 2021 - ★★★★

Tue, 27 May 2025 08:49:51 +1200

I want Kogonada to direct my life 😭

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Road to Perdition 5y2963 2002 - ★★★½

Mon, 26 May 2025 13:19:41 +1200

Watched on Monday May 26, 2025.

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Petite Maman 2bv36 2021 - ★★★★½

Mon, 26 May 2025 01:10:39 +1200

Watched on Sunday May 25, 2025.

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Midnight Run 1z3ft 1988 - ★★★★

Sun, 25 May 2025 12:30:17 +1200

Watched on Sunday May 25, 2025.

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Mission 71384a Impossible, 1996 - ★★★½

Sat, 24 May 2025 09:29:10 +1200