Films like The Art of Negative Thinking.

The Art of Negative Thinking (2006) reads as Sombre, steady, measured comedy / drama, inventive in texture. Ambivalent, intimate, measured. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

The Man Next Door (2009) poster
1. The Man Next Door2009

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

The Weather Man (2005) poster
2. The Weather Man2005

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

101 Reykjavík (2000) poster
3. 101 Reykjavík2000

Keeps the heightened unreality and the intimate, personal stakes; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Sleeping Dogs Lie (2006) poster
4. Sleeping Dogs Lie2006

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Submarine (2011) poster
5. Submarine2011

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Fatso (2008) poster
6. Fatso2008

Keeps the heightened unreality and the intimate, personal stakes; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

The Misfortunates (2009) poster
7. The Misfortunates2009

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace; trades toward a deep human warmth.

The Magic Gloves (2003) poster
8. The Magic Gloves2003

Keeps the patient, unhurried pace and the heightened unreality; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Don Verdean (2015) (2015) poster
9. Don Verdean2015

Keeps the heightened unreality and the intimate, personal stakes; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Ghost World (2001) poster
10. Ghost World2001

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the patient, unhurried pace — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

A Somewhat Gentle Man (2010) poster
11. A Somewhat Gentle Man2010

Keeps the cold, bleak undertow and the heightened unreality; trades toward a patient, unhurried pace.

Melinda and Melinda (2004) poster
12. Melinda and Melinda2004

Keeps the heightened unreality and the intimate, personal stakes; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

These are The Art of Negative Thinking’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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