Ryan McNeil
Now that’s more like it!
It’s funny, I’m only up three screenings from last week, but it might as well be a dozen. It actually could have been even higher if I didn’t take time yesterday to start doing Hot Docs homework and choose a three-hour Scorsese joint to make for the night’s entertainment.
I actually haven’t had a day in a while where I just stayed on the couched and watched a glut of titles. New Year’s Day was the last time I can remember doing so, and that was the occasion I chose to watch the complete Indiana Jones series. Perhaps in a few weeks when I get my recovery day from younger brother’s wedding I’ll treat myself to that.
Maybe I should start planning what I want to watch! Any suggestions for a low-effort project?
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Screenings
SHORTS NOT PANTS Spring Programme – This series is definitely starting to attract some new blood, so good on James!
OCULUS – Wonderfully creepy. More on this tomorrow.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
ART AND CRAFT – (Hot Docs Screener)It should show as a double feature with AMERICAN HUSTLE.
NARC – Not quite what I was expecting.
THE COOK, THE THIEF, HIS WIFE, HIS WIFE, & HER LOVER – Why did it take me so long to watch this?
BRIGADOON – FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL just got that much funnier.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
THE BASKETBALL DIARIES – I wanted to get in a “playoff mood” – this was the best I could do.
BLADE RUNNER – Just cuz.
THE WOLF OF WALL STREET – Guess whose wife didn’t like it?
THE PRODUCERS (2006) – I have discovered that “assume away” will always make me laugh.
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover has been on my watchlist for the longest time.
Firsts: Noah– Liked it loads, most surprisingly.
Warrior– Pretty good.
My Blueberry Nights– Blehhhhh.
Goliyon Ki Rassleela Ram-Leela– The Indian take on West Side Story… sort of. Anyways, it was my in-flight movie. Not too bad.
What’s Your Number– It’s amazing how much I can end up liking a film that has Chris Evans stripping in it.
Love and Death– Woody was kinda trying too much.
Cabaret– Pretty effing awesome.
Rewatched:This is Spinal Tap– Guess whose brother didn’t like it? I’m going to try again tonight with Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
I would pay good money to hear an ATU episode dedicated to Cook-Thief-Wife-Lover.
As for Cabaret, it’s usually one of my go-to answers for the question “What is the best musical movie of all time”. There are so many amazing things happening in that flick.
Brigadoon! I love that movie. I saw it about a million times when I was a kid because my dad was somewhat obsessed with it.
First time:
The Fugitive (1972)
Zarkorr! The Invader – good/bad enough to be on the midnite circuit along with Troll 2, Samurai Cop, et al.
And I re-watched:
The Raid – and now I can hopefully see the sequel sometime soon!
Lindsay’s on something of a quest to start watching more classic musicals – both with and without me. Brigadoon she’d seen before so it was a good place for us to start.
First Timers: The Raid 2, Day for Night, Man of Steel, Young & Beautiful, and earlier today, Daisies.
Re-Watches: Batman, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and later tonight, The Ten Commandments.
How have I never made The Ten Commandments a blind spot selection? Could it be because I know the story?
All documentaries this week for me. I’m writing a few pieces for Courtney’s site on Hot Docs.
PINK HELMET POSSE: Watched this short film for Hot Docs about three young girls who love skateboarding. Cute little (in more ways than one) movie.
PINE RIDGE: Also checked this out for Hot Docs. It looks at the current life on the reservation in South Dakota, and it’s not very positive. It is a really interesting film, though.
THE PUNK SINGER: Caught this on DVD and enjoyed looking back to Kathleen Hanna’s time in Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, and today.
Damn – Courtney’s going all hands on deck for Hot Docs! Thanks for the tip, I’ll definitely keep an eye out for both Posse and Ridge.
As for The Punk Singer, I think I noticed that on Netflix this weekend, and immediately made mental note of it. Marya Gates called it her top film of 2013, so I’m definitely curious.
I liked The Punk Singer and found it very interesting. Part of it depends on your interest in Kathleen Hanna. I was in high school and then college across the ’90s, so it was the right timing for me.
Saw some great stuff this week. For the moment I am sick of movies over 2 hours.
Boogie Nights – The same response as everybody else. Brilliant. I expected a dark ending. PT Anderson has more hope than I do.
Missing – Drama starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, two actors I love. I also am fascinated of stories about disappeared people so I had to see this film. Chile at that time was hell on earth. Not even my parents experienced such brutality and control this during communism. And I don’t understand why they didn’t just leave.
Cloud Atlas – Extremely ambitious. It worked but none of the stories stood out for me. If I had to choose one that I liked more it would be the Neo Seoul part. Thank God for subtitles because I wouldn’t have understood a word Halle Berry and Tom Hanks said in the Big Isle segment. Also the Jim Broadbent in a nursing home segment was really funny but it put me out of the film. At least the whole concept didn’t go to waste.
Marie Antoinette – Last Sofia Coppola film remained to be seen. Loved the combination of 18th century fashion and 80’s new wave. Loved the soundtrack in general. Very original idea. Not your type of biopic which is what I appreciate the most about this film. After seeing it I read more about Marie Antoinette. A lot of injustices happened to this woman and her friends.
Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind – Basically a rewatch, but it was such a long time ago. Usually I remember most of films I rewatch but with this one more than half was like a first time watch. Saw it with different eyes. Remarkable film.
Last Temptation of Christ – Very interesting idea. A Christian myself I tried to stay away from judging the story. Seeing such a different portrayal of Jesus is certainly thought provoking. After the Crucifixion scene it got strange. I don’t know what would’ve been my response if it weren’t for the ending. Dafoe is wonderful, the music and the cinematography are extraordinary. So far the most interesting and, frankly, most accomplished adaptation of Jesus’ story.
Apocalypse Now Redux – First time watching this. Time went faster than I thought. Is there a documentary about the making of this film because I am very interested in seeing how they got away with all that…chaos. The acclaim is understandable. The fact that it won over Kramer vs. Kramer which I think is just OK is a crime.
Geez – with that many epics in one week, I’d be tired of films over two hours as well! Ya gotta pace yourself better, brother.
Not to toot my own horn, but if you have a second, dig up my review of Cloud Atlas – I’d be curious to hear your response to my take on its themes.
As for Apocalypse Now, am I reading correct that this was your first time watching it at all? If so, you’re a brave soul because as someone who loves the movie deeply, I usually recommend people begin with the theatrical cut. The Redux – while glorious – is so audacious and sprawling that I usually see it as “too much” for a newbie.
To your question though, there absolutely is a doc on the film’s making of – it’s called “Hearts of Darkness”, and it’s a must-watch. You won’t believe what went into the filming of that movie and how close it came to complete catastrophe. If you have a few coins to spare, look for Apocalypse on blu-ray since it includes both edits of the film and Hearts of Darkness.
I will surely read your thoughts on Cloud Atlas.
Honestly, time passed pretty fast with this one. The other 2h+ films I watched last week were more difficult to finish. Also, I didn’t know anything about the story of this film, just that it’s Vietnam and that it was a horrible production and that Martin Sheen almost died. It was a fascinating watch. Really was, but I don’t see myself watching it in the near future. As for the documentary I will check that out someday. I like stories about filmmaking and I’m sure this one has a lot of crazy interesting stuff to show. Thanks for the recommendation.