Ryan McNeil
A little bit of everything this week as you can see. Well, almost everything.
Here we are eleven days into the new year and I am yet to set foot in a theatre. Yeah, I know – “sound the alarm”, right? I’d agree with you if it wasn’t for the fact that by this time last year I’d already gone to three screenings. Yep – I’m already three behind! (Jokes of course)
This year, besides the work schedule being different than it was last year, there just hasn’t been as much early on that’s grabbed my attention. Everything in theatres is either something I’ve already seen (HER, NEBRASKA, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET), something I have very little interest in (PARANORMAL ACTIVITY), or something I’ve been sent a screener DVD of (LONE SURVIVOR).
Then again, considering how cold it’s been, maybe there are other forces at work that are keeping me nestled on my couch.
Oh well. Two screenings scheduled for the week coming up, so at least by the time we reconvene, I’ll have broken up the shutout.
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER – My long look at Lubitsch begins.
THE PIANO – For a long time, I thought I’d seen this movie. In truth, I think I only ever watched the first half.
DREW: THE MAN BEHIND THE POSTER – I’m hard-pressed to think of a duller, more self-serving, pointless documentary misfire. Run. Don’t walk.
UNDEFEATED – What. A. Movie.
AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY – Thoughts on this piece of Oscar Bait coming soon.
LOVE AFFAIR – Guess who didn’t realize this was the source of a remake?
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS – I always feel like reading after watching this.
STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS – Odds are I like this film more than you.
GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS – Coffee is for closers.
SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE – It seemed like a fitting follow-up to LOVE AFFAIR.
How’d you like Shop Around the Corner? It’s rather charming, I’d say! I also agree that Star Trek Into Darkness is better than most people give it credit for. It’s such a fun ride.
As for me, if I keep my current pace I’ll end the year at a solid 52. I watched the Shaw Brothers film Pursuit, first time. Fantastic film.
I really loved Shop – so much so that I couldn’t believe I’d never seen it before. Really got me stoked for the remaining Lubitsch to come.
Y’know, I don’t think I’ve seen a single Shaw Brothers film?
Ah man, Shaw Brothers films are great fun. They have their own flavor so not everyone likes them, but if you care at all about martial arts films their roots basically all start with the Shaw films. They essentially created the martial arts action genre. I’m a big fan… obviously. 🙂
My first film of theirs was 36th Chamber of Shaolin, perhaps their best known and most popular film. It would make a great blind spot!
I’ll add ’em to the list and give ’em a go – thanks for the suggestion!
In First-Timers, I saw: The Weight of Water, Shoot the Piano Player, Sunnyside, The Kid, The Loveless, and The Soft Skin.
Re-Watches: Strange Days, The Rocketeer, and Tootsie.
You’re working your way through Kathryn Bigelow’s filmography, ain’t ya?
For this month’s Auteurs profile as I only have one more film of hers to re-watch in K-19: The Widowmaker as I’m 2/3s done w/ the piece. Then I’m going to do Jason Reitman for next month.
I have a few gaps in her filmography myself – mostly her pre-POINT BREAK titles. One of these days I’ll get to the remaining ones, but I’m not sure I’m missing much…though BLUE STEEL looks pretty cool.
Buckle up for K19…it’s a bit of a slog.
As for Reitman, I’ll be curious to read your post on him. Make sure you wait until you can lay eyes on LABOR DAY, since I think it’s an interesting piece of his filmography.
I haven’t watched that many movies since we’ve rolled through Orange is the New Black during the past few weeks. Just three viewings, and two were re-watches.
Elysium – Just painful; makes me feel a little better about my mixed feelings about District 9. This is so much worse, though.
The Right Stuff – Such a great epic film; it does so much and doesn’t drag at all in more than three hours. I’m also a big space program fan, so this is an easy one.
Timecop – Watched this again for a podcast, and it’s very dumb. Even so, I also enjoy it quite a bit.
I have a few television distractions of my own that are taking time away from film – namely the new season of Sherlock, and my forray into Friday Night Lights.
Good God that podcast has you watching some dumb-ass shit.
This one’s basically my own fault with the podcasts. I do see your point, though, and will be pulling back a bit to really focus on catching some great stuff for a while. I have a stack of DVDs from the library, plus others I want to check out on Netflix and Amazon.
I’ve been catching up on 2013 releases.
Firsts: About Time– In spite the science behind it being deeply flawed, the film had its heart and humour in the right place.
Blue Jasmine– I actually found it hilarious. Cate deserves that Oscar.
Short Term 12– So fantastic. Really blown away by this one.
Aint Them Bodies Saints– I got pretty bored in it but it was a very nice looking film and Ben Foster is one amazing actor.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty– Very sweet.
The Wolf of Wall Street– SO FUCKING AMAZING GIVE LEO ALL THE OSCARS OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dallas Buyers Club– I liked it. Yeah…
Pain and Gain– Though it got too much, I found the first half really funny and I respect Bay for attempting this.
Her– So beautiful. Made me happy and sad. Love it when a film does that.
August: Osage County– Batshit. I liked all the acting a lot.
Enough Said– So sweet and funny and wonderfully normal.
Rewatched: Beautiful Creatures– Pretty sure no one loves this film as much as I do. This year’s Bachelorette.
The Wolf of Wall Street– Uncensored version. LEO IS THE BESTEST EVER OMGOGMGOGMGOGMOGMGOGMG!
Listen to the WOWS Matineecast yet?
You’ve actually just reminded me of a few titles I still need to catch up with, namely SHORT TERM 12 and AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS. Lordy was 2013 ever a good year for film!
Back to WOLF – I cannot imagine how much of it must have been shredded by your censors! You must have been left with something the length of a TV ad.
I did. I’ve commented on the post.
They only censored about 6 minutes in India, just the actual nudity. They cut out 45 minutes in Dubai :/
Wow, only losing six minutes is a win! I can’t imagine what the film plays like with 45 minutes dropped.
I saw ‘Inside Llweyn Davis’, and while I admire it, it’s not one of my favourite Coen’s (check out my review). On DVD I watched ‘The To Do List’ which was a refreshing female perspective on the teen/coming of age sex comedy and ‘White House Down’ which was actually stupid fun. ‘Pain & Gain’ made me want to vomit.
I was a little cold on LLEWYN too, but the more I think back on it, and the more reviews I read, the more I am beginning to like it. It’s definitely one of the Coens most Coen-y movies.
Thanks for the warning on PAIN & GAIN – I was actually starting to get curious about it, but now I’ll spare myself the headache.
I’m a little behind. I saw The Butler and Philomena. Both really good.
(Sorry – this comment got past me somehow)
I was “okay” with both of those films. They both did interseting things, but didn’t land with me the way some other films did this year. That said, anytime The Butler turned its attention towards Louis and his experiences with The Freedom Writers, I was fascinated.