Ryan McNeil
As far as watching goes, what happened this week might be my definition of a perfect week:
Double-digit titles, multiple screenings, all first-timers.
The sheer quantity was aided in large part by the long weekend here in Canada, specifically in that I decided to spend the long weekend resting up from what turned into a busy few days leading in. It seems strange to say that I spent the better part of three beautiful summer days on my couch, but when you need the rest you need the rest.
The three-screening week was a total fluke. Two screenings are easy, since that just comes down to one screening on a Friday night and an additional matinee at some point over the weekend. Three is rarer, since it not only depends on there being that much out there one wants to see (not a problem in Toronto these days!), but finding the time to get to it. The advance showing of PACIFIC RIM just fell into my lap, otherwise I’d have been down at two like usual.
Then there’s the most unique part of this week’s tally: Every piece of watching being something watched for the first time.
Like many things I do, this started as an unintentional pattern, and soon turned into something I dared myself to do. As the long weekend began, I found myself drawn to the dvd’s piled in front of my TV and the titles stuck on my PVR and finally wanting to dedicate some time to them. By the time Monday night arrived, I realized I was already up at five first-timers and decided to see if I could go the rest of the week. watching only films that were new to me.
I’d like to say that in an ideal world, this would be more of the norm, but it comes with a few caveats.
For starters, there are lots of moments where I rewatch films for writing or podcasting in order to re-familiarize myself with various details. So were I to put the onus on new material, I’d have to stray from writing or podcasting (heaven forbid!). On the bright side, I can see that focusing on new material would likely mean buying far fewer blu-ray’s since my desire to reach for them and put on things I’ve seen before would be diminished.
However, the hardest thing about throwing the spotlight on the new is actually sourcing the new. I’m in the final throes of borrowing a friend’s Netflix account for access to Arrested Development, so one or two titles have come from there. However, as I’ve said before, lordy does Netflix Canada have a limited catalogue.
The other funny thing that happened was on Wednesday night, when I sat down after various chores and thought about how I had just enough time to get something watched. As Inspired by the book I’m reading, I went looking for various Sidney Lumet titles. After searching through both Netflix and my cable provider’s on-demand for various films I’d been meaning to see for what felt like forever, I finally settled on SERPICO…only to look at the clock and realize I no longer had enough time to watch it.
So yeah, fun times, and going forward the definition of “A Perfect Week”. Lord knows how often they’ll happen!
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Screenings
THE BLING RING – I enjoyed this one far more than I thought I would
PACIFIC RIM – Full review coming later this week
THE LONE RANGER – In some ways, I can see what it wanted to be. But damn…
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE – Holy hell is this ever dark!
THE STATION AGENT – I suddenly feel the urge to visit Newfoundlad…and ride trains.
HIS GIRL FRIDAY – Is Rosiland Russel amazing in this movie, or what?
THE MISFITS – Of all the Marilyn performances I’ve seen, this one feels very different.
MONKEY BUSINESS – Double Hawkes! This will be a candidate for my favorite first-timer of the year.
21 JUMP STREET – More amusing than I thought it’d be.
SERPICO – Inspired by my reading Sidney Lumet’s book.
LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON – Only ten Wilder films to go!
The Story of Film
Chapter Three and Chapter Four – My to-watch list is about to swell to unimaginable proportions, ain’t it?
Look at all those never before seen films! Kudos!
Also, the fact you haven’t seen His Girl Friday before now is just sad. Such a great film. Hopefully this will lead you into even more Hawks!
It wasn’t easy to stick to first-timers, believe me…especially since I’m not really a Netflix user.
There are a few more Hawks films I want to see (namely Bravo & Dorado), and considering how much I’ve enjoyed his others I’d wager I’m in for good times.
Fun to see your enthusiasm for a week of all first time films. I imagine next week you’ll binge on re-watches, though. 🙂
All first time for me too this week!
Underworld U.S.A. – this has to be one of the most underrated crime films of all time. Absolutely floored by it.
Bully (2001 Larry Clark film) – for the Lamb MOTM
Mission Impossible (1971 Shaw Bros film)
Petrified
The Last Stand – Arnold is back! Really enjoyed this one despite the flaws.
Next week will be more of a mix (as I type it sits at 2 new, 1 repeat).
I’m a fan of the director of THE LAST STAND, so I might give that one a flier just for yuks.
His Girl Friday is soooooooo good. I’ve watched it a bunch of times and love it more with each viewing.
My week was jam-packed with four movies. That’s actually a lot lately. All were first-time viewings.
Ace in the Hole – Doing a Billy Wilder marathon and starting here. This is such a bleak, cynical look at humanity. It’s also great.
Fast Five – It’s really stupid and doesn’t always make sense, but there’s also a sense of fun. The physical stunts are also a bonus.
Before Midnight – Tough at times, but also brilliant.
Kick-Ass – I have mixed feelings about it. I like the offbeat look at superheroes, and Cage and Moretz are strong. But it doesn’t completely work.
I’m still slowly working through the Wilder films. For what it’s worth, these would be my recommendations:
ONE, TWO, THREE – The film that broke Jimmy Cagney
STALAG 17 – You’ve already seen it, you just don’t know you have.
FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO – Such a great story
LOVE IN THE AFTERNOON – You can never go wrong with Audrey
THE APARTMENT – Which I’d wager you’ve already seen. If not, start with it.
I’ve seen THE APARTMENT, and it’s great. I enjoyed your episode where you talked about it. STALAG 17 is at home and next on my list to watch. I also have THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH to watch. I plan to check out a few more in the next few weeks.
OK, First Timers: Chicken with Plums, Radio Days, American Gigolo, September, and later tonight, Another Woman.
Re-Watches: Ran, Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban, Back to the Future, Blazing Saddles, and Kindergarten Cop.
Heh – I’ve seen none of your first-timers, all of your re-watches. Go figure!
Ah! The Misfits! See, this is why you need to write about older films! Did you like it?
That’s a film I’m oddly obsessed with. I don’t think it’s great, per se, very inconsistent, but I enjoy it almost purely as a sociological study. Marilyn, Gable, Clift, all broken down and nearing the end, one last hurrah…..
This comment makes me smile greatly because I’ve griped before that the one day a week I *do* write about older films (Thursdays) my traffic tends to dip.
But I digress…
“Like” is the wrong word. I never really latched on with the overall narrative, but I was never turned off either. I found it interesting to be sure, and as I said, it might be the most unique performance out of Marilyn I’ve ever seen, but I can;t put my finger on why.
You caught up on some very solid first time watches over the last few weeks (Whatever Happened to Baby Jane, His Girl Friday). Heck, I remember the joy I felt when I saw The Station Agent for the first time at TIFF.
It has been a modest week for me. Started in a new department at work and it has turned my film routine (watching/writing), not to mention life in general, upside down. Hopefully it will work itself out soon.
First time:
Judgment at Nuremberg – One of two Blind Spot films I am trying to tackle this month. I plan to have my thoughts posted early this week.
Man of Steel – It has its flaws but I liked what they were trying to do with it. The wife hated it.
The Thieves – Think a Korean Ocean’s Eleven but with the team trying to double cross both the mark and each other. It was a fun watch.
The Man from Nowhere – Keeping with Korean cinema I finally caught up with this film that many had been raving about. It is not as good as Oldboy, and runs a bit long, but it is worth a watch as long as you temper your expectations.
Solo Con tu Pareja – Alfonso Cauron doing zany comedy was surprisingly refreshing. I had a blast watching the film though I would rank it in the middle of his canon overall.
Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me – I had never heard of Big Star, or at least did not realize that they were the band behind certain songs, so I found the film to be informative.
Seen Before:
Six Degrees of Separation – Got to introduce my wife to one of my favourite films. She enjoyed it so I guess we can stay married. LOL
So that’s why you’ve been away from the scene somewhat. We miss ya man, hopefully things settle down long enough that we can meet up sometime soon.
And look! Even with the workplace craziness, you still got some great stuff scratched off the list!
WOW, what a great movie-watching weekend! Lucky you Ryan. I was out traveling in CA all weekend, hence I watched ZERO movie that weekend, ahah. Curious to hear what you think of Pac Rim, I ended up enjoying if FAR more than I thought I would. It’s interesting when that happens, though it doesn’t mean I want to watch every big-monster movie now, ahah.
11 films in 7 days really *is* a great movie-watching week, isn’t it? It was helped a great deal by the fact that it was a long weekend, and at that, it was one that I decided to spend mostly at home getting some rest.
I see you’re working through some of my posts, so you’ll get your answer about my PACIFIC RIM thoughts in a few moments!