I. Simon’s review published on Letterboxd:
One of those very rare cases where I’ve seen a film so beautiful, exquisite, soulful and unique that I have so much I want to say, yet I cannot write coherent thoughts at this time, but hope to do so in the future. However, I will say that Roma is one of the absolute best films of 2018. The filmmaking and writing here are impeccable, full of prowess yet subtle and restrained. Without a doubt the best cinematography of the year, Cuarón is almost guaranteed to win a Best Cinematography Oscar. The dialogue and character relationships are full of naturalism and authenticity, the sound design and editing are flawless, and the sets and costumes are authentic to the time period.
However, what Roma all comes down to is Yalitza Aparicio, who gives a performance that is wonderful, natural, and overall beautiful, and it’s a shame that Aparicio doesn’t seem to be getting the recognition that she deserves, with the chances of her landing an Oscar nomination being ridiculously low. Either way, it’s one hell of a performance that is so subtle yet heartbreaking that the more I think about it, the more effective it is. Truly a phenomenal performance.
Overall, Roma is not only Alfonso Cuarón’s best film since Children of Men, but his best film altogether. It’s a masterpiece that is what films should be: raw and empathetic. One day, I’ll hopefully write a more in-depth and coherent review, but that said, I absolutely loved Roma, and I cannot recommend it strongly enough. Not only is it one of the greatest films I have ever seen, but one of the most soulful films I have ever seen. Definitely the best thing that Netflix has ever released, and they’ll probably never top it.
