Ryan McNeil
This week the watching was down a little bit for a few reasons. For starters, this post has one day’s less viewings given that Saturday was covered in the year-end wrap-up. In addition, I’ve been soaking up some TV on dvd, which of course can kill off several hours worth of movie time.
The good news is that I did get some viewing in, both at home and in a theatre, and happily some of that included some new material…including a classic I should have seen ages ago! Of course, by this time last year, I was already ten titles into the yearly total. Guess I’ll have some catching up to do for next week, eh? For now, baby steps.
Cripes. What’s become of my life when seven movies in six days is “baby steps”?
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Screenings
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN – I think I dipped my expectations too low. there was a lot about this film I enjoyed.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
HEAD – What better way to start the new year than with 60’s phsychadelia?
SABRINA – I felt like an idiot for not having seen this classic sooner.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
SUNSET BOULEVARD – Hey Rachel, why don’t you like this?
BATMAN BEGINS – I’m already wishing it was July.
THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS – Oddly, this is the Wes I’m least familiar with. Weird, eh?
BRICK – That dialogue! I must remember to transfer this to my iPod
How’s about you – seen anything good?
This week, the first-timers I watched are Bloody Sunday, Made in Dagenham, the original 1954 TV episode of Casino Royale, and just a few hours ago, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp.
The Re-watches are Trading Places and Europa (the latter I’m watching are for the DVD extras from the Criterion Collection).
MELANHOLIA has me in the mood to go down the LVT path. Too bad I didn’t feel that way earlier as The Lightbox played Europa back before Christmas!
Fantastic selection of films.
As for me, and it’s terrible, I haven’t wacthed movies for a week. Neither at home nor at the theater. However, I’m inclined to catch on Sherlock Holmes, Mission Impossible (maybe), Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Hugo very soon. The latter was released only a couple of days ago, yay, finally.
This time of year isn’t always the greatest for trying to get movies watched, so believe me I feel your pain.
As for the ones you have lined up to see soon, I look forward to hearing your thoughts on them. For what it’s worth, I enjoyed them all!
Startin’ things off right:
New to me:
The Postman Always Rings Twice–an excellent noir.
Force of Evil–another excellent noir, but too short.
Sansho the Baliff–fantastic and sad and great.
Rosetta–the best unpleasant film I’ve seen in awhile.
A Man Escaped–gripping and brilliant.
Withnail and I–Fear and Loathing in the West Country.
Splice–for podcast.
Rewatches:
The Blob–the Steve McQueen original. Watched it for fun, and it was fun.
Moon–showed it to a class, who seemed a bit puzzled by it.
The Evil Dead–for podcast.
I the fact that I like SPLICE puts me in the minority. What was the podcast homework assignment that had you watching it?
First show of the new Demented Podcast season. More than that I cannot say.
“Divisive Films by Canadian Directors”?
That reminds me…I need to see Hugo! It comes out while I’m on holiday and also on the same day as War Horse. I don’t know how I’m going to see it!
Anyway, first-timers:
Chinatown – Will have to watch again before I send it back, but I don’t think anyone could be capable of making a film like this nowadays.
Colombiana – Had enough of these sorts of movies.
I Love You Phillip Morris – Surprisingly quite good. Loved the performances from Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor
The Muppets – I’m going to learn Tex Richman’s rap.
The Adventures of Tintin – So much fun.
Rosemary’s Baby – Wasn’t quite what I was expecting…
Rewatches:
Senna – Goodness, I love this film.
The Social Network – I think I can honestly say that this is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. That dialogue is amazing.
Marie Antoinette – Well, it isn’t really a ‘rewatch’. I watched it when I was 11 and I don’t think I understood it. As a 16 year old and a huge fan of Sofia Coppola, I can say that this is her weakest film, but lord is it pretty.
If you can work in a showing of HUGO do do…it’s actually an argument in favour of 3-D. And now that you’ve watched CHINATOWN, I vote you give RANGO a re-watch. It will play just *that* much better.
The Royal Tenenbaums is my least favourite Wes Anderson film from the ones I have seen, though Margot Tenenbaum is somewhat of a role model.
Slow week on account of TV watching-
Firsts: Giant– It was too long and, forgive the phrase, too American.
Young Adult– Mavis Gray is definitely becoming a role model. It was funny.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy– Amazing to look at and very good performances, but left me feeling cold.
Rewatched: Ratatouille– My favourite Pixar film… it’s so simple and awesome.
Hugo– Your podcast inspired me to see it again in 3D this time, and it really is one of the best films I have ever seen in that format. I’m so in love with this film.
I’m Canadian. You can use the phrase “too American” as much as you like.
Aw shucks, my podcast inspired someone? Never realized I had such klout! And if Mavis has begun to influence you, does that mean that you’ve started drinking Diet Coke for breakfast?
The Royal Tenenbaums is brilliant… I’m just waiting for it to get a Criterion Blu Ray rerelease… best of Anderson to be honest. Only film that comes close is Fantastic Mr Fox.
I’m a huge Rushmore fan. Fantastic Mr. Fox is my second favourite. But I know how much everyone else loves Tenenbaums.
I’ve never entirely understood why TENENBAUMS is everyone’s favorite either. As for MR. FOX, I’m beginning to think my mission to patiently wait for a Criterion version is in vain and that i chould just cave and buy it already…
I’ve mostly been catching up on what was on my DVR, as well as the occasional DVD.
Talk to Her – I immediately take back anything I said about not being into foreign films.
The Magnificent Seven – I’m not big on Westerns (with the exception of Rio Bravo), but I liked this.
The Lusty Men – I’m going through a Nicholas Ray phase at the moment. Pretty good.
Dangerous Liaisons – Glenn Close doesn’t have an Oscar because…?
The Fortune Cookie – Can’t go wrong with Billy Wilder.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Still mulling this one over. My review will be up on the blog later today.
TALK TO HER was pretty much the drug that got me into foreign films too. If you had a good time with THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN and have been bitten by the foreign film bug, go back and give SEVEN SAMURAI a look.
Just posted my version… off to a cracker of a start for me; 4 first timers and 5 rewatches (signed up for Netflix which has attributed to this).
I guess the biggest of my list this week has to be THE THIN RED LINE which was a Christmas present from my brother and it didn’t disappoint. Now I’ve seen all of Malick’s films and while I still hold Badlands in high regard he doesn’t waver much from project to project…
Will we be getting a full TUMP on THE THIN RED LINE? I love that film dearly now, but didn’t quite take to it when I saw it in theatres. Yet another instance of #ryanwaswrong
Rewatched Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
I Saw the Devil
The Professional
Jeez, it’s been *way* too long since I watched THE PROFESSIONAL! Thanks for the tip – that might be this evening’s watch!
“Casablanca”- Never tire of it. Even though I’ve watched it many times, there are always a lot of great lines I’ve forgotten since the last viewing, and Curtiz’s mobile camera is fantastic.
“I here for the waters”
“What waters, we’re in the middle of the desert?”
“I was misinformed”
I usually toss that one on once a year ‘just because’. Great selection!
Wow, great selections this week, nice variety. I haven’t seen Sabrina either… heh I should quit rewatching Roman Holiday and get on that 🙂
LOVE Batman Begins, I love it more than TDK (yes I know, I get flak from some for saying that). Yeah, July feels sooo darn far away, darn it Nolan!
I’m a big fan of ROMAN HOLIDAY (I should watch that next!), and with that in mind I think you’d really dig SABRINA. Give it a look and thank me later.
I actually know quite a few people who prefer BATMAN BEGINS to THE DARK KNIGHT, so you wouldn’t get flak from me for such a declaration.
I’m still on a post-EOY sabbatical (plus I just started my internship so I’m getting settled into work), but I’m just popping in to throw my support behind you watching HEAD. My second favorite movie in the BBS set after Last Picture Show, even edging out the excellent Five Easy Pieces.
Of that entire boix set (which I’m now finished watching), HEAD was the one that had me the most curious, and perhaps brought me the most amount of joy. I watched a lot of episodes of The Monkees as a kid, so I didn’t know if it was going to be that sort of zaniness or what. It ended up being a great workout for the new surround-sound system!
Oh, and for what it’s worth my favorite in the box is a coin toss between PICTURE SHOW and EASY RIDER.