Reviews by:
@augustkellerwrites
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Empire of Light's polish misses some key blemishes. The writing has concise exposition, thematic dialogue, real friendships, a defined protagonist, solid setup, impactful climaxes, and honorable messages. However, it's overambitious, touching on loneliness, prejudice, neglect, nurturing, mental illness, shame, fear, integration, and the unity of art. This means some subjects are underdeveloped and might have viewers bored or unclear of the main point. Still, Empire of Light packs emotional punches through its acting. There's nuance, layers, explosiveness, affection, chemistry, range, conflict, evolution, and vulnerability. Ultimately, Empire of Light's drama might meander, but it still strikes.
Conversely, Empire of Light has unquestionable craft. Its artistic visuals aren't flashy but use precise lighting, composition, focus, framing, colors, movement, and spacing. The music is elegant, atmospheric, trans-diegetic, intense, and narratively significant. Its production design reflects the era, mood, and characters. The sound is mostly subdued and diegetic, but uses key symbolism, split cuts, and voiceovers. Meanwhile, the minimal effects are impactful, the editing is restrained, the cast is skilled, and the direction has a strong tone despite imperfect themes. Overall, Empire of Light isn't peak cinema or entertainment, but it has clear strengths.
Writing: 7/10
Direction: 8/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Acting: 10/10
Editing: 7/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 7/10
Effects: 7/10
Overall Score: 8.0/10
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