Willow | Black Adam | Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery | Top Gun: Maverick | The Banshees of Inisherin | Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio | RRR | Elvis | Fire of Love | All Quiet on the Western Front | Shortcomings | Fancy Dance
Showing posts with label festivals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label festivals. Show all posts
31 January 2023
Miscellaneous Movie Moments LXXXVIII (January 2023)
The time has come, y'all! OSCAR WATCHING SEASON. I do like January as a movie-watching month--it's a good mix of genre stuff and awards bait stuff, and sometimes those two things even overlap.
01 January 2023
Media Consumed 2022
What things have I kept count of this year?
316 Books | 21 Cities Visited | 27 Comics | Two Concerts (ish) | 6 Conferences and Festivals | 77 Movies | 21 Museums and Cultural/Historic Sites | 15 Readings and Talks | 1 Sports Match | 6 Theatre Productions | 801 TV Episodes
31 January 2022
Miscellaneous Movie Moments LXXXI (January 2022)
It's Oscars season, y'all!
Venom: Let There Be Carnage | No Time to Die | Respect | | The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love | Flee | The Worst Person in the World | Encanto | The Power of the Dog | Passing | Simple as Water | The Eyes of Tammy Faye | The Lost Daughter | Procession | Don't Look Up | Faya Dayi | Being the Ricardos | tick, tick...BOOM! | Swan Song | 892 AKA Breaking
01 March 2021
Miscellaneous Movie Moments LVII (February 2021)
The Cinderella project took up so much time!
Sundance Film Festival Shorts, 01-03 February 2021, streamed via Sundance
So most of the film passes were sold out once I realized they, y’know, existed. I snagged an “Explorer Pass,” though, which meant I could watch the shorts, the indie series, and New Frontier, which is basically the performance art category. Ish. Anyway, I can’t write full blurbs for all fifty of the short films I watched (yikes). And I only saw half of the program! So here’s, uh, very quick reactions to what I managed.
Sundance Film Festival Shorts, 01-03 February 2021, streamed via Sundance
So most of the film passes were sold out once I realized they, y’know, existed. I snagged an “Explorer Pass,” though, which meant I could watch the shorts, the indie series, and New Frontier, which is basically the performance art category. Ish. Anyway, I can’t write full blurbs for all fifty of the short films I watched (yikes). And I only saw half of the program! So here’s, uh, very quick reactions to what I managed.
01 November 2020
Movie Moments L (aka 50): Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival (aka October)
The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival was this past month, October 9-17! As things were mostly virtual (they had three drive-in movie events, I think), I was all documentaries, all the time for a couple of weeks. I MAY HAVE LEARNED SO MANY THINGS. It’s not quite the same as sitting in a banquet room on a semi-comfortable chair in the dark, surrounded by retirees eating cheap popcorn, but it’s still quite a bit of fun.
29 December 2019
Movie Moments XIX: July-November 2019
Yeah, I feel way behind.
Spider-man: Far From Home, 03 July 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
NIGHT MONKEY FOREVER, y’all. This entire movie was delightful. The high school shenanigans were pretty much perfect, and Tom Holland STOP BEING SO ADORABLE.
Alita, Battle Angel, 05 July 2019, ANA Airlines
This ended up being less Uncanny Valley than I thought it would be. The commentary on body modification/cyborgification is pretty interesting, though, and late-stage capitalism makes for a realistic apocalypse.
Mission: Impossible, 07 July 2019, Paramount Channel
Y’all, remember when Ethan Hunt was capable of smiling sincerely? It used to be a thing!
Batman Returns, 08 July 2019, WB TV
It turns out I've never seen this movie! It is cheeeeesetastic. But "I want to play an integral part of his degredation" is a killer line. Anyway. This is not my favorite Catwoman, but I salute the attempt.
25th Hour, 09 July 2019, True Film
What...the hell? Was that? It’s like, dude has one day before he goes to jail, so how about we film everything as if the audience has mushroom-induced paranoia?
Spider-man: Far From Home, 10 July 2019, Siam Paragon Cineplex
Still delightful. Fun note: The audience in Thailand did not laugh at any of Fury’s scenes. Apparently Samuel L Jackson’s brand of incredulity doesn’t translate as humor in some cultures!
Grave of the Fireflies, 11 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
I am so glad I watched this, and also, I will have nightmares forever. War and children subject to starvation? I...I was not prepared.
The Best of Enemies, 11 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
Do you think Ed Norton gets tired of being cast as a white supremacist all the time?
Fantastic Four, 11 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
Okay, this was bad, but not as horrific as rumor described it. It does feel very 80s B-movie, though. (Also, Chris Evans as NOT Captain America is disconcerting.)
Ratatouille, 12 July 2019, Hong Kong Airline
I have a lot of questions about how Remy became such a snob. Like, he has a defective nose! Rats are omnivorous! His scent sensitivity means he’s possibly depriving himself of vital nutrients!
Dreamgirls, 12 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
Beyonce just walked away with this movie, didn’t she? Jennifer Hudson 100% deserved her accolades, obvs. But for real, y’all.
Little Woods, 12 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
I am not entirely sure of what the point of this movie was, but it starred Tessa Thompson and Lily James, so I watched it.
Toy Story 4, 15 July 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
This movie had no real reason to exist, but it was also really excellent. I think my major point of conflict is that the third movie was such a PERFECT ending to the narrative, and the fourth seemed like a nonsense addition. And then the fourth movie was a PERFECT ending to the narrative, but only if the third movie didn’t exist. I have so many feelings, guys.
Men In Black: International, 20 July 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
This was much better than I expected, mostly because I was just involved in spending a couple of hours with Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth Wear Suits. (The plot “twist” was pretty predictable.) I kind of like the idea of the MiB franchise having an extended universe, really--the one portrait of J and K in the hall of fame was really lovely.
Yesterday, 24 July 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
I have so many questions about this universe. So, like, the Beatles doesn’t exist in that world BUT how does that correlate to cigarettes not existing? HOW ARE THESE THINGS RELATED.
The Farewell, 06 August 2019, AMC Town Center 20
This movie was so, so gorgeous. I really appreciated, for one thing, that a hefty chunk of the movie was in different languages/dialects, and dealt with so any intricacies of immigrant families, cultural traditions, and alienation. And so much about saving face! The cast overall was fantastic, but special kudos to Awkwafina for pulling off a pretty complex but non-showy dramatic role.
Always Be My Maybe, 10 August 2019, streamed via Netflix
The scenes of Randall Park and Ali Wong as teenagers were straight nonsense, but this entire movie was very much nonsense, so there is that. Plus, Keanu Reeves just throws himself into it, and it’s breathtaking.
Tolkien, 20 August 2019, DVD via Redbox
This movie is 100% what you would expect of a movie about young literary men in Oxbridge during the middle of the twentieth century. So if that’s your thing...
The Sun is Also a Star, 22 August 2019, DVD via Redbox
The entire premise of the “falling in love in less than a day” thing is so offensive to me, but the stars of this YA romance are pretty darn charming.
The Hustle, 22 August 2019, DVD via Redbox
I really dislike Rebel Wilson’s whole schtick, but I dig Anne Hathaway. And who doesn’t love a story about con artists? So this movie broke even, basically.
Crazy Rich Asians, 24 August 2019, streamed via HBO Now
How is this movie such a delightful romantic comedy? This rewatch was because I made the movie one of the texts in my lit class; I still think it’s got some problems, but it’s an exemplar of the genre.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters, 30 August 2019, Blu-ray via Redbox
How much would I love this series from Godzilla’s point of view? Lots of hibernation, some tiny human pets, and then an intense staredown with Ken Watanabe.
Rocketman, 31 August 2019, Blu-ray via Redbox
I mean, who needs a storyline when you’ve got some excellent music to share?
Booksmart, 05 September 2019, DVD via Redbox
I know I'm supposed to be charmed by #Booksmart, but...I just, just could not stand Molly at all, folks. Not at all. It’s a legit good movie, though. I mean, baby lesbians are never not adorable.
Amazing Grace (2019), 06 September 2019, DVD via Redbox
This isn’t so much a documentary as it is two consecutive days of Aretha Franklin singing at a church. But who wouldn’t watch two consecutive days of Aretha Franklin singing at a church?
The Biggest Little Farm, 06 September 2019, DVD via Redbox
A couple decides to try doing “traditional” farming--AKA small farming without a focus on monoculturey stuff--and it feels like it clicks together too well to be entirely true. But it’s a nice fantasy! With enough nitty-gritty farming detail to satisfy one’s curiosity.
Dark Phoenix, 20 September 2019, Blu-ray via Redbox
Hustlers, 21 September 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
#Hustlers: An excellent indictment of late-stage capitalism, with lapdances. (It's a great movie about friendship, too.)
Ad Astra, 21 September 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
#AdAstra: Stoic man with father issues goes to space and returns, stoicly. (Also: MOON PIRATES.)
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, 22 September 2019, Hot Springs VIP Cinema
#HobbsAndShaw delivers what every entry into this franchise must: A parody of hyper-masculinity, the ability of anything with an engine to graze the other side of physics, and a heart-warming obsession with family. (Also: HAKA.)
Shaft (2019), 25 September 2019, Blu-ray via Redbox
Every actor in this movie is acting in an entirely different movie. It’s legit fun, but also, wow.
Downton Abbey, 28 September 2019, UA Breckenridge Stadium 12
I only watched the first season of the show, so some nuances were lost on me. It’s pretty on brand, though, as far as I can tell. And we’re all in it for Maggie Smith being haughtily sarcastic, anyway.
Judy, 05 October 2019, UA Breckenridge Stadium 12
These fictionalized biography films are so much more intense when you don’t know very much about the subject involved. (I was legit like, “Is Judy Garland dead?”) Renee Zellweger played the hell out of this.
China Love, 20 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
This documentary, an examination of the craaaaazy elaborate and expensive wedding photo industry in China. While there is great fun in the spectacle, there are also some sweet asides--including couples who have been married 50+ years getting to do photoshoots for marriages that government austerity kept plain.
Varda by Agnes, 20 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
This was a neato meta-movie: Filmmaker and artist Agnes Varda filming a documentary about her career, completing (most of it) before she passed away. I wasn’t familiar with her work at all, so this was a lovely little education.
Well Groomed, 20 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
I did not know this intensely decorative dog-grooming was a thing, but it is? And seems like a pretty expensive hobby. And who thought it was a good idea to make their dog into a mural in the first place? Anyway, this was a fun slice-of-life-in-an-unusual-subculture documentary, and as treat, some of the subjects--including the dogs!--were in attendance.
Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops, 20 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
This was pretty cool! Two cops in...somewhere...formed a mental health special task force--focusing on de-escalation instead of more aggressive policing. And it seems to be incredibly effective, except that nobody has the budget or the time to do as much work as is needed. Ernie and Joe were also in attendance, which made for an excellent Q&A.
Nothing Fancy, 21 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Diane Kennedy, the Grand Dame of Mexican cooking! She is a sparker, even now, cussing out traffic and wrinkling her nose while she says you should never make guacamole for people who don’t like cilantro. This documentary was SPLENDID, as well as a great biopic set in the evolution of the cookbook “scene.”
Meeting Gorbachev, 24 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Werner Herzog talks about his relationship with Gorbachev. I feel like you need no more information than that.
Pizza, A Love Story, 24 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
There is some serious pizza rivalry happening in New Haven, Connecticut. I am not convinced about the superiority of Yale-local pizza, it was super-fun to watch an intensely local history. But also: I would really love some pizza now.
Made in Boise, 24 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Apparently the surrogate birthing industry is hoppin’ in Boise! This entire scene is alien to me, but I appreciated how much they dug into the psychological complexity of all the parties involved. Plus, babies are cute.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, 29 October 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
#MaleficentMistressOfEvil : Wherein Maleficent discovers one cannot trust the work of inclusion to the goodwill of rich white women.
Terminator: Dark Fate, 02 November 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
#TerminatorDarkFate is extremely good, y all. Like, good enough that I am tempted to see it again tomorrow. It delivers on the franchise aesthetic, the action set-pieces are legible, and there’s complex emotional stakes involved. (Also, not for nothing, but I love a narrative wherein white men are largely incidental.)
Harriet, 09 November 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
I watched this entire thing feeling a tiny bit skeptical about historical accuracy, but it was really well done overall, I thought. Great acting all around, gorgeous music, and a tense (and occasionally extremely funny) narrative.
Avengers: Endgame, 13 November 2019, streamed via Google Play
Cry for two hours straight again, even though I know what’s going to happen? Sure, that sounds great. (But it’s really worth it, if only for those two minutes of Scarlet Witch, world-breaker.)
Brian Banks, 17 November 2019, DVD via Redbox
Aldis Hodge, baby. Two whole hours of Aldis Hodge. Also, the prison system is awful and the justice system is rigged. Send some money towards the Innocence Project if you can.
Charlie's Angels, 23 November 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
Between Kristin Stewart being the Kristin Stewartist, nods towards the historical and infrastructural layers of what an Angels organization would require, and an utter disregard for the usefulness of dudes in general, I LOVE THIS MOVIE A LOT.
Ford v Ferrari, 26 November 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
This was a rollicking good story about cars that go really, really fast, and while it isn’t the type of movie you’d think I would enjoy, I do count the Fast/Furious franchise as the soundtrack of my heart.
Queen & Slim, 29 November 2019, Alamo Drafthouse Lubbock
Scholarly blurb ahoy:
#QueenAndSlim is an elegiac modern-day fable that draws you into a Green World where it's possible to escape the carceral state, temporarily, through the sacrifice of your own identity. (Or: It is pretty and sad; go see it.)
See you in a couple of days for the December tally!
Spider-man: Far From Home, 03 July 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
NIGHT MONKEY FOREVER, y’all. This entire movie was delightful. The high school shenanigans were pretty much perfect, and Tom Holland STOP BEING SO ADORABLE.
Alita, Battle Angel, 05 July 2019, ANA Airlines
This ended up being less Uncanny Valley than I thought it would be. The commentary on body modification/cyborgification is pretty interesting, though, and late-stage capitalism makes for a realistic apocalypse.
Mission: Impossible, 07 July 2019, Paramount Channel
Y’all, remember when Ethan Hunt was capable of smiling sincerely? It used to be a thing!
Batman Returns, 08 July 2019, WB TV
It turns out I've never seen this movie! It is cheeeeesetastic. But "I want to play an integral part of his degredation" is a killer line. Anyway. This is not my favorite Catwoman, but I salute the attempt.
25th Hour, 09 July 2019, True Film
What...the hell? Was that? It’s like, dude has one day before he goes to jail, so how about we film everything as if the audience has mushroom-induced paranoia?
Spider-man: Far From Home, 10 July 2019, Siam Paragon Cineplex
Still delightful. Fun note: The audience in Thailand did not laugh at any of Fury’s scenes. Apparently Samuel L Jackson’s brand of incredulity doesn’t translate as humor in some cultures!
Grave of the Fireflies, 11 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
I am so glad I watched this, and also, I will have nightmares forever. War and children subject to starvation? I...I was not prepared.
The Best of Enemies, 11 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
Do you think Ed Norton gets tired of being cast as a white supremacist all the time?
Fantastic Four, 11 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
Okay, this was bad, but not as horrific as rumor described it. It does feel very 80s B-movie, though. (Also, Chris Evans as NOT Captain America is disconcerting.)
Ratatouille, 12 July 2019, Hong Kong Airline
I have a lot of questions about how Remy became such a snob. Like, he has a defective nose! Rats are omnivorous! His scent sensitivity means he’s possibly depriving himself of vital nutrients!
Dreamgirls, 12 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
Beyonce just walked away with this movie, didn’t she? Jennifer Hudson 100% deserved her accolades, obvs. But for real, y’all.
Little Woods, 12 July 2019, Hong Kong Airlines
I am not entirely sure of what the point of this movie was, but it starred Tessa Thompson and Lily James, so I watched it.
Toy Story 4, 15 July 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
This movie had no real reason to exist, but it was also really excellent. I think my major point of conflict is that the third movie was such a PERFECT ending to the narrative, and the fourth seemed like a nonsense addition. And then the fourth movie was a PERFECT ending to the narrative, but only if the third movie didn’t exist. I have so many feelings, guys.
Men In Black: International, 20 July 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
This was much better than I expected, mostly because I was just involved in spending a couple of hours with Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth Wear Suits. (The plot “twist” was pretty predictable.) I kind of like the idea of the MiB franchise having an extended universe, really--the one portrait of J and K in the hall of fame was really lovely.
Yesterday, 24 July 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
I have so many questions about this universe. So, like, the Beatles doesn’t exist in that world BUT how does that correlate to cigarettes not existing? HOW ARE THESE THINGS RELATED.
This movie was so, so gorgeous. I really appreciated, for one thing, that a hefty chunk of the movie was in different languages/dialects, and dealt with so any intricacies of immigrant families, cultural traditions, and alienation. And so much about saving face! The cast overall was fantastic, but special kudos to Awkwafina for pulling off a pretty complex but non-showy dramatic role.
Always Be My Maybe, 10 August 2019, streamed via Netflix
The scenes of Randall Park and Ali Wong as teenagers were straight nonsense, but this entire movie was very much nonsense, so there is that. Plus, Keanu Reeves just throws himself into it, and it’s breathtaking.
Tolkien, 20 August 2019, DVD via Redbox
This movie is 100% what you would expect of a movie about young literary men in Oxbridge during the middle of the twentieth century. So if that’s your thing...
The Sun is Also a Star, 22 August 2019, DVD via Redbox
The entire premise of the “falling in love in less than a day” thing is so offensive to me, but the stars of this YA romance are pretty darn charming.
The Hustle, 22 August 2019, DVD via Redbox
I really dislike Rebel Wilson’s whole schtick, but I dig Anne Hathaway. And who doesn’t love a story about con artists? So this movie broke even, basically.
Crazy Rich Asians, 24 August 2019, streamed via HBO Now
How is this movie such a delightful romantic comedy? This rewatch was because I made the movie one of the texts in my lit class; I still think it’s got some problems, but it’s an exemplar of the genre.
Godzilla: King of the Monsters, 30 August 2019, Blu-ray via Redbox
How much would I love this series from Godzilla’s point of view? Lots of hibernation, some tiny human pets, and then an intense staredown with Ken Watanabe.
Rocketman, 31 August 2019, Blu-ray via Redbox
I mean, who needs a storyline when you’ve got some excellent music to share?
Booksmart, 05 September 2019, DVD via Redbox
I know I'm supposed to be charmed by #Booksmart, but...I just, just could not stand Molly at all, folks. Not at all. It’s a legit good movie, though. I mean, baby lesbians are never not adorable.
Amazing Grace (2019), 06 September 2019, DVD via Redbox
This isn’t so much a documentary as it is two consecutive days of Aretha Franklin singing at a church. But who wouldn’t watch two consecutive days of Aretha Franklin singing at a church?
The Biggest Little Farm, 06 September 2019, DVD via Redbox
A couple decides to try doing “traditional” farming--AKA small farming without a focus on monoculturey stuff--and it feels like it clicks together too well to be entirely true. But it’s a nice fantasy! With enough nitty-gritty farming detail to satisfy one’s curiosity.
Dark Phoenix, 20 September 2019, Blu-ray via Redbox
- I mean, it’s better than the previous Dark Phoenix movie?
- They sped into full Dark Phoenix waaaaay too quickly--if you’re going to do a horror movie, do it proper, yo.
- RAVEN DARKHOLME DON’T GO DOWN LIKE THAT.
- I really enjoy that the moral of the story for pretty much every session of this X-iteration is, "Charles, you dumbass."
- (Also, it's FASCINATING that none of the X- or Bat-movies stand up to the storytelling from the 90s cartoons.)
Hustlers, 21 September 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
#Hustlers: An excellent indictment of late-stage capitalism, with lapdances. (It's a great movie about friendship, too.)
Ad Astra, 21 September 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
#AdAstra: Stoic man with father issues goes to space and returns, stoicly. (Also: MOON PIRATES.)
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, 22 September 2019, Hot Springs VIP Cinema
#HobbsAndShaw delivers what every entry into this franchise must: A parody of hyper-masculinity, the ability of anything with an engine to graze the other side of physics, and a heart-warming obsession with family. (Also: HAKA.)
Shaft (2019), 25 September 2019, Blu-ray via Redbox
Every actor in this movie is acting in an entirely different movie. It’s legit fun, but also, wow.
Downton Abbey, 28 September 2019, UA Breckenridge Stadium 12
I only watched the first season of the show, so some nuances were lost on me. It’s pretty on brand, though, as far as I can tell. And we’re all in it for Maggie Smith being haughtily sarcastic, anyway.
Judy, 05 October 2019, UA Breckenridge Stadium 12
These fictionalized biography films are so much more intense when you don’t know very much about the subject involved. (I was legit like, “Is Judy Garland dead?”) Renee Zellweger played the hell out of this.
China Love, 20 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
This documentary, an examination of the craaaaazy elaborate and expensive wedding photo industry in China. While there is great fun in the spectacle, there are also some sweet asides--including couples who have been married 50+ years getting to do photoshoots for marriages that government austerity kept plain.
Varda by Agnes, 20 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
This was a neato meta-movie: Filmmaker and artist Agnes Varda filming a documentary about her career, completing (most of it) before she passed away. I wasn’t familiar with her work at all, so this was a lovely little education.
Well Groomed, 20 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
I did not know this intensely decorative dog-grooming was a thing, but it is? And seems like a pretty expensive hobby. And who thought it was a good idea to make their dog into a mural in the first place? Anyway, this was a fun slice-of-life-in-an-unusual-subculture documentary, and as treat, some of the subjects--including the dogs!--were in attendance.
Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops, 20 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
This was pretty cool! Two cops in...somewhere...formed a mental health special task force--focusing on de-escalation instead of more aggressive policing. And it seems to be incredibly effective, except that nobody has the budget or the time to do as much work as is needed. Ernie and Joe were also in attendance, which made for an excellent Q&A.
Nothing Fancy, 21 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Diane Kennedy, the Grand Dame of Mexican cooking! She is a sparker, even now, cussing out traffic and wrinkling her nose while she says you should never make guacamole for people who don’t like cilantro. This documentary was SPLENDID, as well as a great biopic set in the evolution of the cookbook “scene.”
Meeting Gorbachev, 24 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Werner Herzog talks about his relationship with Gorbachev. I feel like you need no more information than that.
Pizza, A Love Story, 24 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
There is some serious pizza rivalry happening in New Haven, Connecticut. I am not convinced about the superiority of Yale-local pizza, it was super-fun to watch an intensely local history. But also: I would really love some pizza now.
Made in Boise, 24 October 2019, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
Apparently the surrogate birthing industry is hoppin’ in Boise! This entire scene is alien to me, but I appreciated how much they dug into the psychological complexity of all the parties involved. Plus, babies are cute.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, 29 October 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
#MaleficentMistressOfEvil : Wherein Maleficent discovers one cannot trust the work of inclusion to the goodwill of rich white women.
Terminator: Dark Fate, 02 November 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
#TerminatorDarkFate is extremely good, y all. Like, good enough that I am tempted to see it again tomorrow. It delivers on the franchise aesthetic, the action set-pieces are legible, and there’s complex emotional stakes involved. (Also, not for nothing, but I love a narrative wherein white men are largely incidental.)
Harriet, 09 November 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
I watched this entire thing feeling a tiny bit skeptical about historical accuracy, but it was really well done overall, I thought. Great acting all around, gorgeous music, and a tense (and occasionally extremely funny) narrative.
Avengers: Endgame, 13 November 2019, streamed via Google Play
Cry for two hours straight again, even though I know what’s going to happen? Sure, that sounds great. (But it’s really worth it, if only for those two minutes of Scarlet Witch, world-breaker.)
Brian Banks, 17 November 2019, DVD via Redbox
Aldis Hodge, baby. Two whole hours of Aldis Hodge. Also, the prison system is awful and the justice system is rigged. Send some money towards the Innocence Project if you can.
Charlie's Angels, 23 November 2019, Riverdale 10 VIP Cinema
Between Kristin Stewart being the Kristin Stewartist, nods towards the historical and infrastructural layers of what an Angels organization would require, and an utter disregard for the usefulness of dudes in general, I LOVE THIS MOVIE A LOT.
Ford v Ferrari, 26 November 2019, Cinemark Colonel Glenn 18
This was a rollicking good story about cars that go really, really fast, and while it isn’t the type of movie you’d think I would enjoy, I do count the Fast/Furious franchise as the soundtrack of my heart.
Queen & Slim, 29 November 2019, Alamo Drafthouse Lubbock
Scholarly blurb ahoy:
#QueenAndSlim is an elegiac modern-day fable that draws you into a Green World where it's possible to escape the carceral state, temporarily, through the sacrifice of your own identity. (Or: It is pretty and sad; go see it.)
See you in a couple of days for the December tally!
31 December 2018
Movie Moments XIV: September to December 2018
I need to keep up with my movie reviews, yeesh. But in four months: 35 movies. And 135 for 2018 in total! Not bad.
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.
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.
05 November 2017
Movie Moments VIII: October
So this October was the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. I didn't get to attend as much as I'd have liked (apparently work continues even when film festivals are happening), but this is possibly more documentaries in the span of two weeks than I've seen in the rest of my life altogether. In any case, this puts me at twenty-two movies for the month. Egads.
Given, 07 October 2017, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
A documentary about a surfing family that goes on walkabout to surf from six different continents, Given is narrated by a young child, whose name, it turns out, is Given. Things going overly twee at points--the framing narrative of hunting “the big fish” is leaned on too heavily, but it does end up with the kid’s father catching a six-foot fish, so apparently it wasn't supposed to be solely metaphorical? In any case, Given’s script is generally lovely--it seems clear the producers took a lot of Given's kid-chatter and wove it into lovely coherence. And given the number of locales (e.g. Iceland, Senegal, Thailand, Peru, Fiji), and some portraits straight out of National Geographic, anyone with a travel bug would dig this, and hard.
Grizzly Man, 07 October 2017, HSDFF
That was...absurd. And tragic. And that scene of Jewel’s face as Herzog listens to that audio, “You must never listen to this...I think you should destroy this.” That's going to stick with me for a long, long time.
Oh, and Werner Herzog and producer Erik Nelson had a quick Q&A after the screening. In regards to that scene, Herzog said, “There are certain borderlines that you do not trespass,” when one must respect the “privacy and dignity of a human being’s death.”
Beasts of the Southern Wild, 07 October 2017, DVD via public library
“We’s who the earth was for.” This is a movie that makes you want to cuddle the youngsters in your life.
Wasted!, 08 October 2017, HSDFF
I changed my entire teaching plan for next semester so I could use this in class. It's SO GOOD. And hits right at the sweet spot between my foodie, environmentalist, and cultural critic identities. <3
Magic Mike XXL, 08 October 2017, DVD via Netflix
I MEAN, SERIOUSLY.
The Mummy (2017), 11 October 2017, Blu-ray via RedBox
Despite the dire reviews, I have long known I pretty much enjoy the hell out of any Tom Cruise action movie. (I'm 50/50 on his drama and romance work.) I suspect the structure of the movie was to its detriment--rather than capitalizing on Cruise’s “competent rake” schtick, they started off with a lengthy prelude narrated by Russell Crowe. Switching things around would have worked so, so, so much better. Like, start with tomb robbers in Iraq and then do the exposition as the tomb’s contents are unearthed. Basically, they structured it like the titular monster was the draw and, like, nobody cares about mummies as a thing? Also, they kept using ravens as harbingers, and does Egypt have ravens? I was legit distracted by this insignificant detail.
In any case, things kicked into gear once the Prodigium appeared on the scene--secret monster-fighting societies are a rock-solid genre and aesthetic--and they had a dab hand with Cruise's “flustered coward” mode (think the first third of Edge of Tomorrow). And Sofia Boutella got saddled with some epic nonsense, but goddamn if she didn't get throw herself into the physicality of the role.
So yeah. Not a great movie, but I’d be curious to see the next installment in the franchise.
The Cinema Travellers, 12 October 2017, HSDFF
This was a lovely and sad movie, about a handful of folks in India who traveled around rural areas showing movies on film. Most heartbreaking was one film camera repairman, who cheerfully engineered a number of workarounds for machinery quickly being replaced by digital films.
Waiting for the Sun, 12 October 2017, HSDFF
Sun Villages, in China, are a collection of homes for children whose parents are incarcerated. I cried a lot.
Waiting for the Sun - International Trailer from KASPARWORKS on Vimeo. Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer, 12 October 2017, HSDFF
This was a really entrancing memoir (kind of) of Marcelo Gomes, a ballet dancer at the height of his work, growing more cognizant of how close he is to moving onto the next stage of his career. Also, it is impossible not to stare at his butt. I swear I tried my best, all for naught.
Liyana, 12 October 2017, HSDFF
This one was more of a heart-warming tearjerker: a number of children, orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, gathered into a storytelling workshop, tasked to write a story of a girl like them. It's gorgeous. And magical--we get snippets of all the kids narrating the story, as well as an animated presentation of different pieces of their tale.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 12 October 2017, DVD via public library
It's like they cast this movie by having a BAFTA after-party for weak-chinned but compelling white dudes.
Score: A Film Music Documentary, 13 October 2017, HSDFF
Most hilarious was an opening scene when Hans Zimmer vocalized being nervous about a gig. “I think you’d better call John Williams; I have no idea what to do here.” LOL.
No Man's Land, 13 October 2017, HSDFF
Remember the nonsense of the Bundy family forming a militia and taking over that wildlife reserve? While the filmmaker didn't go out of their way to demonize the group, it becomes very, very clear that none of them actually had a plan aside from seizing the chance to go out in a blaze of glory. And then one of them did.
The Last Animals, 13 October 2017, HSDFF
I remember being very young and becoming very invested in saving endangered animals. This film puts a zoom towards rhinos and elephants, specifically, and how the trade in horn and ivory continues unabated. Most poignant was the attrition through the film, as the last of the northern white rhinos died: we started the movie with five, and ended with three. In the world, mind you. Three left in the world. (I just looked it up: there are now only two Northern white rhinos left in the world.)
Quest, 14 October 2017, HSDFF
What starts out as a close-up on a poor Black family in Detroit ends up with a striking arc, as PJ, a pre-teen girl, gets shot in a drive-by and loses her eye. In one scene, her father recounts the aftermath, a little heartbroken at how she apologized for getting shot.
The Workers Cup, 14 October 2017, HSDFF
The work to prepare Qatar for FIFA’s world cup is ongoing, and it's well- and horrifyingly-known that the workers--almost entirely immigrant labor from Africa and South Asia--are exploited, with steady reporting of illness, injury, and death. As a way to manage the unrest (implied but not explicitly), the corporations involved form a football/soccer intramural, basically. It's fun to follow one of the teams as they compete, but we never get to forget the context surrounding their breaks.
Tell Them We Are Rising, 14 October 2017, HSDFF
The film is a fairly in-depth accounting of the formation of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). While some of the history should seem familiar--”An educated (black) population could not be an enslaved population,” K. Crenshaw notes--but other things, like Booker T Washington's work against the education of African-Americans, were both surprising and unsettling.
In a fun turn, Stanley Nelson, the filmmaker, was also on hand, as he received a lifetime achievement award at the festival’s close. He actually walked down the line of folks waiting to get in, and it was really lovely to hear folks tell him, each time he stopped, which HBCU they had attended.
White House Down, 14 October 2017, DVD via public library
I'm slowly making my way through Channing Tatum’s filmography, but I won't lie, seeing Jamie Foxx’s faux-Obama hit me where it hurts. This is a silly, fun, straightforward action flick, which is exactly what I wanted from it.
Blade Runner 2049, 22 October 2017, UA Breckenridge Stadium 12
#BladeRunner2049: All the Asians must have gone off-world because they sure as hell aren't in this movie. The entire film is breathtakingly gorgeous--to the point that I’d buy it to just stare at some of the shots--but given that I largely enjoyed the original because it portrayed a slew of Asian folks, I was hugely disappointed here.
The King’s Speech, 26 October 2017, DVD via university library
I was a bit worried this would be grand melodrama, and was pleased to discover it was more like a quiet, matter-of-fact story with a little bit of pomp.
The Martian, 30 October 2017, DVD via university library
“I’m gonna have to science the shit out of this.” At least one critic called this “competence porn,” and yeah. I dig it 100%. I also had the weird experience of thinking this was based on a true story, then shaking myself out of it, over and over again. Go figure.
The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, 31 October 2017, DVD via public library
I think this is what I wanted National Treasure to be. Based on the first 20 minutes, I’m solidly convinced none of the writers have met any grad students. Nor, possibly, any librarians. Also, for a hot second I thought they were running with Kelly Hu/Sonya Walger, and I am just going to pretend that's what happened.
Given, 07 October 2017, Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
A documentary about a surfing family that goes on walkabout to surf from six different continents, Given is narrated by a young child, whose name, it turns out, is Given. Things going overly twee at points--the framing narrative of hunting “the big fish” is leaned on too heavily, but it does end up with the kid’s father catching a six-foot fish, so apparently it wasn't supposed to be solely metaphorical? In any case, Given’s script is generally lovely--it seems clear the producers took a lot of Given's kid-chatter and wove it into lovely coherence. And given the number of locales (e.g. Iceland, Senegal, Thailand, Peru, Fiji), and some portraits straight out of National Geographic, anyone with a travel bug would dig this, and hard.
Grizzly Man, 07 October 2017, HSDFF
That was...absurd. And tragic. And that scene of Jewel’s face as Herzog listens to that audio, “You must never listen to this...I think you should destroy this.” That's going to stick with me for a long, long time.
Oh, and Werner Herzog and producer Erik Nelson had a quick Q&A after the screening. In regards to that scene, Herzog said, “There are certain borderlines that you do not trespass,” when one must respect the “privacy and dignity of a human being’s death.”
Beasts of the Southern Wild, 07 October 2017, DVD via public library
“We’s who the earth was for.” This is a movie that makes you want to cuddle the youngsters in your life.
Wasted!, 08 October 2017, HSDFF
I changed my entire teaching plan for next semester so I could use this in class. It's SO GOOD. And hits right at the sweet spot between my foodie, environmentalist, and cultural critic identities. <3
Magic Mike XXL, 08 October 2017, DVD via Netflix
- That “Pony” scene on its own is all the reason this movie needs to exist. IT IS THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE TO "PONY."
- What a gift Channing Tatum is to the universe.
- HOW IS THAT BACKSTREET BOYS SCENE SO GOOD.
- This is like some crazy Odyssey-level plot, y'all, and Channing Tatum is apparently Odysseus.
- "It's not bro time, it's show time." "One, two, three, MALE ENTERTAINERS."
- I’mma need some Rome/Effie Trinket fic, like, IMMEDIATELY, y’all.
- Not even joking, this might be one of my favorite movies now. It's like Bring It On crossed with a stripper version of The Odyssey.
I MEAN, SERIOUSLY.The Mummy (2017), 11 October 2017, Blu-ray via RedBox
Despite the dire reviews, I have long known I pretty much enjoy the hell out of any Tom Cruise action movie. (I'm 50/50 on his drama and romance work.) I suspect the structure of the movie was to its detriment--rather than capitalizing on Cruise’s “competent rake” schtick, they started off with a lengthy prelude narrated by Russell Crowe. Switching things around would have worked so, so, so much better. Like, start with tomb robbers in Iraq and then do the exposition as the tomb’s contents are unearthed. Basically, they structured it like the titular monster was the draw and, like, nobody cares about mummies as a thing? Also, they kept using ravens as harbingers, and does Egypt have ravens? I was legit distracted by this insignificant detail.
In any case, things kicked into gear once the Prodigium appeared on the scene--secret monster-fighting societies are a rock-solid genre and aesthetic--and they had a dab hand with Cruise's “flustered coward” mode (think the first third of Edge of Tomorrow). And Sofia Boutella got saddled with some epic nonsense, but goddamn if she didn't get throw herself into the physicality of the role.
So yeah. Not a great movie, but I’d be curious to see the next installment in the franchise.
The Cinema Travellers, 12 October 2017, HSDFF
This was a lovely and sad movie, about a handful of folks in India who traveled around rural areas showing movies on film. Most heartbreaking was one film camera repairman, who cheerfully engineered a number of workarounds for machinery quickly being replaced by digital films.
Waiting for the Sun, 12 October 2017, HSDFF
Sun Villages, in China, are a collection of homes for children whose parents are incarcerated. I cried a lot.
Waiting for the Sun - International Trailer from KASPARWORKS on Vimeo. Anatomy of a Male Ballet Dancer, 12 October 2017, HSDFF
This was a really entrancing memoir (kind of) of Marcelo Gomes, a ballet dancer at the height of his work, growing more cognizant of how close he is to moving onto the next stage of his career. Also, it is impossible not to stare at his butt. I swear I tried my best, all for naught.
Liyana, 12 October 2017, HSDFF
This one was more of a heart-warming tearjerker: a number of children, orphaned by the AIDS epidemic, gathered into a storytelling workshop, tasked to write a story of a girl like them. It's gorgeous. And magical--we get snippets of all the kids narrating the story, as well as an animated presentation of different pieces of their tale.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 12 October 2017, DVD via public library
It's like they cast this movie by having a BAFTA after-party for weak-chinned but compelling white dudes.
Score: A Film Music Documentary, 13 October 2017, HSDFF
Most hilarious was an opening scene when Hans Zimmer vocalized being nervous about a gig. “I think you’d better call John Williams; I have no idea what to do here.” LOL.
No Man's Land, 13 October 2017, HSDFF
Remember the nonsense of the Bundy family forming a militia and taking over that wildlife reserve? While the filmmaker didn't go out of their way to demonize the group, it becomes very, very clear that none of them actually had a plan aside from seizing the chance to go out in a blaze of glory. And then one of them did.
The Last Animals, 13 October 2017, HSDFF
I remember being very young and becoming very invested in saving endangered animals. This film puts a zoom towards rhinos and elephants, specifically, and how the trade in horn and ivory continues unabated. Most poignant was the attrition through the film, as the last of the northern white rhinos died: we started the movie with five, and ended with three. In the world, mind you. Three left in the world. (I just looked it up: there are now only two Northern white rhinos left in the world.)
Quest, 14 October 2017, HSDFF
What starts out as a close-up on a poor Black family in Detroit ends up with a striking arc, as PJ, a pre-teen girl, gets shot in a drive-by and loses her eye. In one scene, her father recounts the aftermath, a little heartbroken at how she apologized for getting shot.
The Workers Cup, 14 October 2017, HSDFF
The work to prepare Qatar for FIFA’s world cup is ongoing, and it's well- and horrifyingly-known that the workers--almost entirely immigrant labor from Africa and South Asia--are exploited, with steady reporting of illness, injury, and death. As a way to manage the unrest (implied but not explicitly), the corporations involved form a football/soccer intramural, basically. It's fun to follow one of the teams as they compete, but we never get to forget the context surrounding their breaks.
Tell Them We Are Rising, 14 October 2017, HSDFF
The film is a fairly in-depth accounting of the formation of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). While some of the history should seem familiar--”An educated (black) population could not be an enslaved population,” K. Crenshaw notes--but other things, like Booker T Washington's work against the education of African-Americans, were both surprising and unsettling.
In a fun turn, Stanley Nelson, the filmmaker, was also on hand, as he received a lifetime achievement award at the festival’s close. He actually walked down the line of folks waiting to get in, and it was really lovely to hear folks tell him, each time he stopped, which HBCU they had attended.
White House Down, 14 October 2017, DVD via public library
I'm slowly making my way through Channing Tatum’s filmography, but I won't lie, seeing Jamie Foxx’s faux-Obama hit me where it hurts. This is a silly, fun, straightforward action flick, which is exactly what I wanted from it.
Blade Runner 2049, 22 October 2017, UA Breckenridge Stadium 12
#BladeRunner2049: All the Asians must have gone off-world because they sure as hell aren't in this movie. The entire film is breathtakingly gorgeous--to the point that I’d buy it to just stare at some of the shots--but given that I largely enjoyed the original because it portrayed a slew of Asian folks, I was hugely disappointed here.
The King’s Speech, 26 October 2017, DVD via university library
I was a bit worried this would be grand melodrama, and was pleased to discover it was more like a quiet, matter-of-fact story with a little bit of pomp.
The Martian, 30 October 2017, DVD via university library
“I’m gonna have to science the shit out of this.” At least one critic called this “competence porn,” and yeah. I dig it 100%. I also had the weird experience of thinking this was based on a true story, then shaking myself out of it, over and over again. Go figure.
The Librarian: Quest for the Spear, 31 October 2017, DVD via public library
I think this is what I wanted National Treasure to be. Based on the first 20 minutes, I’m solidly convinced none of the writers have met any grad students. Nor, possibly, any librarians. Also, for a hot second I thought they were running with Kelly Hu/Sonya Walger, and I am just going to pretend that's what happened.
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