A Glean movie guide
The Grand Aesthetic
For lovers of the living diorama.
Whimsical capers, symmetrical frames, and meticulously curated cinematic worlds.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The French Dispatch
An intricate anthology celebrating journalism through a series of highly stylized and symmetrical European vignettes.
The staff of an American magazine based in France puts out its last issue, with stories featuring an artist sentenced to life imprisonment, student riots, and a kidnapping resolved by a chef.
- 02
Moonrise Kingdom
A meticulously framed tale of young love and a local search party set on a colorful New England island.
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle.
- 03
See How They Run
A witty 1950s murder mystery that mirrors Wes Anderson’s signature visual language and deadpan comedic timing.
In the West End of 1950s London, plans for a movie version of a smash-hit play come to an abrupt halt after a pivotal member of the crew is murdered. When world-weary Inspector Stoppard and eager rookie Constable Stalker take on the case, the two find themselves thrown into a puzzling whodunit within the glamorously sordid theater underground, investigating the mysterious homicide at their own peril.
- 04
Amélie
A vibrant and whimsical journey through a fairy-tale version of Paris filled with eccentric, charming characters.
At a tiny Parisian café, the adorable yet painfully shy Amélie accidentally discovers a gift for helping others. Soon Amelie is spending her days as a matchmaker, guardian angel, and all-around do-gooder. But when she bumps into a handsome stranger, will she find the courage to become the star of her very own love story?
- 05
Asteroid City
A pastel-hued, meta-narrative exploration of cosmic events in a fictional 1950s American desert town.
In an American desert town circa 1955, the itinerary of a Junior Stargazer/Space Cadet convention is spectacularly disrupted by world-changing events.
- 06
Paddington 2
A visually stunning and heartwarming caper that feels like a living, breathing storybook come to life.
Paddington, now happily settled with the Browns, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy, but it is stolen.
- 07
The Royal Tenenbaums
A dryly funny and visually rich portrait of a dysfunctional family of former child prodigies in a curated New York.
Royal Tenenbaum and his wife Etheline had three children and then they separated. All three children are extraordinary --- all geniuses. Virtually all memory of the brilliance of the young Tenenbaums was subsequently erased by two decades of betrayal, failure, and disaster. Most of this was generally considered to be their father's fault. "The Royal Tenenbaums" is the story of the family's sudden, unexpected reunion one recent winter.
- 08
Fantastic Mr. Fox
A charming stop-motion heist film featuring a distinct autumnal palette and sharp, witty dialogue.
The Fantastic Mr. Fox, bored with his current life, plans a heist against the three local farmers. The farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with the sly fox, seek revenge against him and his family.
- 09
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
A quirky and adventurous manhunt through the New Zealand bush with a distinct, chapter-based comedic rhythm.
Ricky is a defiant young city kid who finds himself on the run with his cantankerous foster uncle in the wild New Zealand bush. A national manhunt ensues, and the two are forced to put aside their differences and work together to survive.
- 10
Knives Out
A modern, star-studded whodunit set in a sprawling estate packed with intricate production design and family secrets.
When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.
- 11
Submarine
A stylish coming-of-age story that uses bold cinematography and title cards to capture teenage angst with dry wit.
15-year-old deep-thinking Welsh schoolboy Oliver Tate struggles to initiate and maintain a relationship with Jordana, his devilish, dark-haired classmate at their Swansea high school. As his parents' marriage begins to fall apart, similar problems arise in his relationship with Jordana.
- 12
The Favourite
A sharp-tongued and visually opulent power struggle set within the grand, fish-eye-lensed halls of 18th-century England.
England, early 18th century. The close relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill is threatened by the arrival of Sarah's cousin, Abigail Hill, resulting in a bitter rivalry between the two cousins to be the Queen's favourite.