Searching, 01 September 2018, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
This movie is so FASCINATING. Putting aside that John Cho is excellent, the idea of having all the action taking place through mediated screens (seeing characters via webcam, via Facetime, or watching their online activity) is incredibly cool.
Frost/Nixon, 03 September 2018, DVD via university library
This feels weird to say, but #goals. This is a lovely old-fashioned sort of piece, and I thought it was cool to see all these seasoned reporters reckon with Nixon as a charismatic force.
Now You See Me 2, 03 September 2018, Blu-ray via Redbox
I mean. Mark Ruffalo.
Logan Lucky, 03 September 2018, Blu-ray via Redbox
I mean. Channing Tatum.
A Wrinkle in Time, 05 September 2018, DVD
Another watch of the movie for class--my students really enjoy it, or pretend that they do.
Avengers: Infinity War, 05 September 2018, Blu-ray
This movie is so comforting if you’re a comics reader. Like, if you aren’t familiar with comic book conventions, it’s horrifying--as was obvious by the audience the first time I saw it. Meanwhile, the comics readers were marked by their acceptance that the Snap is a totally normal and non-traumatizing way to end a movie.
Searching, 15 September 2018, AMC Classic Central City 10
I think my favorite thing about the movie is, both times I saw it, when one big clue pops up, more than one person in the audience audibly responded to it. That’s kind of magical.
ET the Extra-Terrestrial, 20 September 2018, DVD
Another watch for my class--this movie never gets less heartwarming. It’s the one the students respond to the most. Spielberg, man.
Independence Day, 28 September 2018, DVD
Another watch for my class--this movie never gets less ridiculous, but the actors are so dang solid in their work.
Colette, 13 October 2018, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
Keira Knightley does not give a good goddamn about her dignity whilst having numerous love scenes with folks of all genders. Bless her.
Venom, 20 October 2018, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
This was definitely not the movie that was advertised, but works really well as a buddy cop narrative. Kind of.
Rodents of Unusual Size, 21 October 2018, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
GIANT RATS ARE EATING LOUISIANA’S COASTLINE, WTF.
Whispering Truth to Power, 21 October 2018, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
I really enjoyed this--it was about Thuli Mandonsela, a super high-profile public defender (essentially) in South Africa. It’s a great look at how one person worked to serve the people through the justice system after apartheid.
The Heat: A Kitchen (R)evolution, 21 October 2018, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Obviously I was going to go to a screening where Edward Lee and Anita Lo would be doing a Q&A. BUT ALSO, the documentary focused on the career aspirations and tracks of several women who wanted to work in the chef business--a field that’s become pretty notorious for being pretty sexist. It was really interesting to see how the subjects coped and addressed the obstacles they faced.
Man on Fire, 22 October 2018, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
I made a special effort to see this one--a colleague in my network was one of the producers. That said, this is a look at the embedded racism in a small town in Texas, through the lens of a disillusioned preacher who committed suicide by setting himself on fire in order to draw attention to the issue. It’s thoughtful and kind of heart-breaking. (Also streaming for free via PBS.)
Call Her Ganda, 24 October 2018, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
This is an incredibly moving film about the murder of a trans woman in the Philippines by (allegedly) an American military member, and how her family, journalists, and activists fought and continued to fight to get the guy tried in a Filipino court.
Ask the Sexpert, 24 October 2018, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
This is an ADORABLE movie about Dr. Mahinder Watsa, a 90-plus-year-old sexologist who writes an advice column in India.
A Star is Born, 27 October 2018, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
This movie is so extra and I loved every minute of it. Great music, and feelings everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Lady Gaga is brilliant, and hats off to Bradley Cooper for killing it as a director in addition to the usual acting excellence.
Men in Black, 27 October 2018, streamed via Amazon
So I showed the opening scenes of this for my literature class, and then was like, okay, I’m going to watch the rest of it. Will Smith is so goddamn charming, y’all.
Night School, 03 November 2018, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
This was not the laugh riot I was expecting, but it was a reliable chuckler with a surprisingly heartwarming message. I really really dug the character work we got in the end.
First Man, 10 November 2018, UA Breckenridge Stadium 12
Everything about this movie was beautifully done, but it felt so long that I literally fell asleep during the frickin’ moon landing.
Arrival, 12 November 2018, DVD
Another movie for my lit class (yes, it was as fun as it might sound). Only two of my students had seen it previously, so it was SO FUN to hear the rest of them freak out when the twist was revealed.
Mr. Holmes, 18 November 2018, DVD from public library
Ian McKellen as Cranky Old Holmes was a delight. I don’t quite buy the reasoning for why he stopped detecting in the first place--it relies too heavily on Holmes not understanding human emotions--but otherwise it was a neat glimpse into the character.
Widows, 01 December 2018, Riverdale VIP Cinema
Lots of reviews called this a grittier Ocean’s 8, and I’m not mad about that. This movie is glorious and kind of mean, which actually made it more glorious.
Bohemian Rhapsody, 08 December 2018, Riverdale VIP Cinema
Just as extra as A Star is Born, but with songs that mostly made me want to watch a lot of actually Queen on YouTube. Is that mission accomplished?
BlacKkKlansman, 09 December 2018, DVD via Redbox
Okay, this is way funnier than I expected it to be, which is totally unfair. Great work by Washington and Driver. The use of actual footage of recent events was a sharp touch, and also felt horrible (intentionally).
Kin, 09 December 2018, DVD via Redbox
This is a 100% “oh, okay, cool” sort of movie, and then at the very end, BOOM, surprise Michael B Jordan. Apparently he was one of the producers on this movie, which is adorable and makes me like the movie about 3% more in hindsight. (It wasn’t a bad movie by any means--it just wasn’t filled with anything particularly note-worthy. Interesting plot, solid acting, good character work.)
First Reformed, 09 December 2018, DVD via Redbox
WHAT. WAS. THAT. ENDING.
Men in Black II, 11 December 2018, DVD via public library
Had I watched this before? No idea, but everything felt nicely familiar. Will Smith continues to be Will Smith, Rosario Dawson isn’t quite Rosario Dawson yet but almost, and this must have been fairly satisfying to folks who loved the first movie.
Men in Black III, 11 December 2018, DVD via public library
I had absolutely not seen this movie yet, and WOOOOOO it was a fun one. I mean, time travel paradoxes are generally a joy to untangle, so I dug it.
The Favourite, 12 December 2018, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
This movie is vicious and vulgar and gorgeous and absurd, and I loved it, and I have no idea to whom I would recommend it.
The Age of Adaline, 20 December 2018, streamed via Amazon
Or, rich white dude doesn’t understand that some ladies have boundaries. Like, I think this was supposed to be romantic? But instead I spent most of it like, GET AWAY FROM BLAKE LIVELY, YOU CREEP.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 22 December 2018, streamed via Amazon
I hadn’t watched this in YEARS and it is just as achey and heartbreaking as I remembered.
Creed II, 28 December 2018, Jurupa Stadium 14
"This is why she left us."
I mean, daaaaaaaang.
A Simple Favor, 29 December 2018, Blu-ray via Redbox
I love this movie so much. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively are acting in completely different genres. It’s so weird. I mean, how else can you describe “murder mystery starring Anna Kendrick set to French pop music”? Also, what is up with Stephanie and inappropriate hook-ups after funerals? Girrrrrrl.
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