Days of The Week (Films Watched June 23 – June 29)

29 Replies to “Days of The Week (Films Watched June 23 – June 29)”

1. I don’t like The Prestige. I hated Batman Begins when I first saw it but that was because the cinema hall was shite and all I could see were hands fighting each other.

   Firsts: Sleeping Beauty– I hate it. I want Merida to kill Aurora. Maleficient was cool though.
   Pinocchio– This was really good until the last act, which was gorgeous to look at but the rest of the film felt way too important and clever and the whale was just random.
   The Amazing Spider-Man– Hate. Hate hate hateeeeee. And anger. Like why was this necessary and why was Emma Stone wasted and just ughh!
   Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs– This was actually not that bad at all. Sure Snow White was a bimbo, but it was rather cute.

   Rewatched: Before Sunrise– It’s flawless, flawless I tell ya!
   Crazy, Stupid, Love– For all my constant declarations of love for Ryan Gosling, this was only my second watch. It’s so much fun. He’s so hot. Gah I wish I was Emma Stone!!
   Boogie Nights– It was PTA’s birthday so I had to my favourite of his. He wrote this at 22 bloody! Wtf?
   When Harry Met Sally– Nora Ephron was a really wonderful writer. I love this film.

   1. Interesting – what don’t you like about THE PRESTIGE?
      As for SLEEPING BEAUTY, didn’t you at least like the art of it? For a while it actually held the record for the most colours used in a Disney animated film.

      As I mentioned on the last “In Between Days” podcast, I’m a big fan of Ryan Gosling now. I’ll see anything he’s in “just because” and how awesome he was in CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE is a big part of that.

   2. The fact that it made me *hate* two actors I usually love. Also that when Newton was inventing lightbulbs, Tesla was inventing cloning machines- lolwut?

      I did like the animation in Sleeping Beauty, especially towards the end. I liked the animation, Maleficient and the three fairies. But the character of Aurora just drove me up the wall.

      Oh I love Gosling. Just ask my friends 😛

2. I’ve given up on including INSOMNIA in my pre-DARK KNIGHT RISES Nolan retrospective. I’d be more willing to quickly buy the blu-ray if most stores were selling it about $10 cheaper.

   Anyways, I’ve seen a LOT more films compared to last week.

   Screenings:
   Brave – I liked it, though it gets haggis wrong. 😛
   The Island President – Excellent climate change doc
   Clearcut – People who saw “In Conversation with…Graham Greene” at the Lightbox were invited to see this film free with their ticket stub (presumably because it was undersold). Glad I stayed, since Greene plays an absolute lunatic in it (and was fun to watch).
   Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter – Decent action scenes, though the pacing is a little off (since the film’s essentially a historical drama that just happens to have vampires).
   Juan of the Dead – A great Cuban zombie comedy
   The Pact – A so-so haunted house film
   Jaws – Well, you know this one.

   Netflix First Time:
   Louis C.K.: Chewed Up – I laughed a few times, but I don’t think he’s my kind of comedy.

   Blu-Ray Rewatch
   The Simpsons Movie – Still good five years later.
   Trainspotting – I watched this for the Kelly MacDonald Brave connection, then released that there’s ANOTHER cast member from this film who does a voice (Kevin McKidd).
   The Artist – The blu-ray retains the square aspect-ratio (and even has a disclaimer)
   Rambo (2008) – The story is so-so, but that hyper-violent climax is AWESOME.

   1. You could always rent INSOMNIA, couldn’t you?

      I still haven’t got around to Lincoln just yet, but am beginning to believe that I’m one of the few who will see the film already having read the book.

      Next paycheque Ill have to go buy myself a copy of THE ARTIST, if only to piss off Corey Atad.

   2. It would only piss me off if you were buying it with my money. I think if somebody gave me The Artist as a gift I’d keep it and even watch it once or twice. It’s a fine enough bit of trivial fluff.

   3. I could rent it…..but that would involve a subway ride to Bay Street Video. 😛

3. I actually squeezed in a fair bit this week which is surprising.

   First time:

   Safe House – I thought it was alright. Felt like a Tony Scott picture despite Tony Scott having nothing to do with the film.

   Number Seventeen – Hitchcock! I do not think I was in the right mood for this one. I could barely remember anything about the film the next day.

   The Interrupters – Liked the film. It reminded me of a film I saw at Hot Docs this year called G-Dog but far less optimistic.

   Piranha 3DD – This actually made Piranha 3D look like a good film. I think it is one of the worst films of the year but my co-workers seem to think Project X (which I still need to see) takes that award.

   Jeff, Who Lives at Home – Still torn on this one. There were parts that I absolutely loved and there were parts that were just too formulaic.

   Headhunters – Loved this film. This may be on my top ten at the end of the year. I had a blast watching this film.

   Obsession – Hitchcock…err…Brian De Palma doing Hitchcock (some would argue that this statement applies to all of De Palma’s films but I digress). I watched this mainly because it was supposed to be heavily influenced by Hitchcock’s Marnie. I can see the Marnie influences in the film but De Palma never quite reaches the heights that Hitchcock achieved. This is middle of the road De Palma…

   Re-watch:

   Passenger 57 – The film is seems horribly dated but it is still a guilty pleasure for me.

   1. Dude – you have some great selections on this list!

      I was knocked out by THE INTERRUPTERS, and think its omission from last years Oscar race for Best Documentary slants the whole category. Steve james was on-hand at The Lightbox to introduce it last year, and not only was it my favorite doc of 2011, but it was one of my favorite movies of the year period.

      As for JEFF, I was hoping to revisit it after seeing during last year’s festival. In a small way, I thought it took The Duplass brothers’ films to the next step – whether or not people like taking that step is a different story. Of course, for the cast in this film alone, I’d recommend it highly.

4. I think we are the same Spiderman screening, I thought it’s better than Raimi’s first Spiderman film, but still can’t beat Spiderman 2 as my favorite Spiderman. Stone and Garfield have good chemistry together, the 3D is fine, action scenes are good, but I still feel a little indifferent about it, can’t quite figure out why…

   Other First time:

   Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World: Some parts are wonderful, but Keira Knightly’s Manic Pixie Dream Girl character strikes all the wrong note. I like Don McKellar’s Last Night better, handle similar subject matter better.

   Abraham Lincoln the Vampire Hunter: I am waiting for George W Bush the WMD Chaser as a sequel.

   Brave: Good Pixar film

   A Little Bit of Heaven: The worst film I have seen in the last 3 years or so. Offensive and insulting to watch, and it’s a rom-com, that’s an accomplishment.

   Red Lights: Good start, bad 2nd act, non-sensical ending.

   Declaration of War: Splendid. It’s creative and yet moving. Don’t know how it didn’t make the cut for the final cut for Best Foreign Film this year. I think it’s better than 4 of the films that were nominated.

   1. We keep finding ourselves in the same places, but not actually knowing so. I have to actually step up my efforts to finally track you down.

      You are the second person to tell me that SEEKING is messy. That’s a real shame since it look very sweet. I might catch up with it, but all of the thumbs’ down that it has taken have dropped it down my pecking order.

5. New to me:
   Blow Out
   Broadcast News
   Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

   Rewatched
   Forgetting Sarah Marshall

   1. What did you think of EXOTIC? Looked like it might be good for a laugh or two.

   2. Well done piece of fluff. Nighy is entertaining.

      The Prestige, by the way, is far and away my favorite of Nolan’s. Of course I’ve been told that no one else sees the “question of God’s existence” angle.

   3. It’s funny though – it seems to be one of Nolan’s most divisive films (if nit his MOST divisive). I wonder what stokes the hatred for some people?

6. I’d love to see “Jaws” on the big screen! I’m envious.

   Re-watched Wilder’s “Witness for the Prosecution”. Last saw it 20 or so years ago when I was just getting into classics so it was close to a first viewing. Easy to see why the play was a sensation on the stage when it was first produced and Laughton, Power and Dietrich are all terrific.

   1. You should make the drive up to Toronto sometime! We get fun events like JAWS almost weekly.

      I’ve never seen PROSECUTION, but given my growing fascination with Wilder, I’d suggest that it won’t take me long to catch up with it.

   2. It’s 9 hours… but I’m still tempted. 🙂

   3. Organizing a Friday night meet-up before a showing of ROBOCOP in Chicago next week. That’s closer to you, isn’t it? Wanna come have a drink with some movie geeks and/or stay for a midnight show?

7. Not only is THE PRESTIGE his best, it’s really the only one that holds up in any way. Well, INSOMNIA’s a fun romp too.

   First-time

   -THE KID: Not nearly as stunning as the features Chaplin would make with his incredible learning curve, but certainly his rawest full-length.
   -BRAVE: My favorite Pixar animation ever, married to a story that can’t successfully join its fantastical plot twist with its themes. Disappointing.
   -WHILE THE CITY SLEEPS: Deliciously stripped-down journo noir from Lang.
   -CRACKING UP: Jerry Lewis is a genius and Americans should stop feeling superior for not getting him.
   -PUNISHER: WAR ZONE: I’ve seen so many clips of this on YouTube I felt it was high time to see the whole thing at once. And it’s brilliant. At this point I’d take this and Hellboy II over the two major, unwieldy 2008 superhero films.
   -THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES: A genuine Oscar-bait masterpiece. Practically sets the standard for feel-good liberalism, but it’s never been equalled, much less topped.
   -LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION: Joe Dante is the only person to actually use the Looney Tunes well since the original gold run. He doesn’t retread those shorts, but he does incorporate what made them great into his own meta, satirical story.
   -THE SEA HAWK: Swashbuckling Curtiz>>>>Casablanca Curtiz
   -POSSESSION: HOLY SHIT. Sam Neill has a monopoly on good Lovecraftian movies (see also: Event Horizon and In the Mouth of Madness). Co-starring Isabelle Adjani as Cthulu’s smokin’ hot mom.
   -MATINEE: After Small Soldiers, my new favorite Dante. You can get his whole thematic and stylistic approach in this one film.
   -BEZHIN MEADOW: Only 30 minutes of still images survive from Eisenstein’s aborted project; the censors took the rest. But those images are so beautiful and charges that this glorified slideshow still has a clear narrative focus complete with incredible flow.
   -¡QUE VIVA MÉXICO!: Eisenstein, like Buñuel, takes a break from fascism to chill in Mexico. Unlike Buñuel, who made his most savage work, the Russian fell in love. A wonderful historiographical travelogue.
   -THE BIG TRAIL: Raoul Walsh invents widescreen. (Well, Abel Gance kind of did, but not the way we know it now). Not only that, he shows an instant understanding and control of the bigger frame. What a shame that the Depression halted this bold new filmmaking almost instantly.
   -THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE ACHMED: I’ve seen chunks of Reiniger’s work and love her style, only now watched the full length of her masterpiece. Obviously, it’s great.
   -STELLA DAYS: Ooooof this is some weak sauce about Irish guilt. President Bartlett plays Stephen Dedalus.
   -FRANKENSTEIN (1931): So good. James Whale was perfect for the Pre-Code and fresh Post-Code era.
   -SCARFACE (1932): I think I would call at least six Hawks films masterpieces. And now it’s seven.

   1. Damn man – that’s a lot of watching for one week!

      Sorry to see that you didn’t like BRAVE, it’s been wild reading the divided reactions to that film. It’s like it’s Pixar’s PROMETHEUS or somethin’.

8. I’m totally with Nikhat on disliking The Prestige. My least favorite Nolan by a huge margin.

   Anyway, no rewatches this week. All new to me:
   Around the World in 80 Days: This was evidently the best picture of its year, which makes that a sad year.
   Cyclo: Strange and beautiful, but sad.
   Trainspotting: I heard it was funny. That’s a lie, but it’s still worth seeing.
   La Strada: I’m ambivalent toward Fellini, and this is part of the reason why.
   In Bruges: Profane, but worth seeing.
   Jezebel: Didn’t expect much, but wow.
   Babel: I like Inarritu, and this is part of the reason.
   Revenge of a Kabuki Actor: Strange, but strangely compelling.

   1. “Funny” with TRAINSPOTTING isn’t quite the adjective I’d choose. There are funny things in it, but I’d never call it a “funny movie”.

      What was it about LA STRADA that you weren’t fussed about?

   2. I don’t like clowns. I don’t fear them, I just don’t like them or care about them. I also don’t like or care about characters with no basic life skills or survival instincts.

9. I should really get into looking back at all of Nolan’s films, but I’m probably not going to have time between all the movies coming out on DVD these holidays. And all the work I have to do. Eh.

   New to me:
   Jack and Jill – AWFUUUUUUUUUUUUUL.
   Happy Feet Two – Eh. Neither here nor there on it.
   Shame – Yup, this is my favourite film of 2011 by a long shot.
   Jules and Jim – Didn’t really take to it as much as everyone else, but still liked it.
   My Neighbour Totoro – The first film in my anime month. Really enjoyed it. Totoro and Mei were so cute.

   Rewatch:
   Shame – My friend brought this around for me the day after I watched it the first time. We both really loved it, and it has been a talking point at school since.

   1. Your love for SHAME intrigues me to no end, especially since around thee parts it was very much a love-it-or-hate-it title. Even for as much as I dug it, I had a hard time grabbing hold of it for how emotionally cold it plays.

      You should actually give a listen to my appearance on the Outside The Envelope podcast where we had a great discussion about the film.

10. I never know how to answer these because I’m not sure what I watched from the 23rd through the 29th. I’m just going to give you my last seven days.

    -Prometheus
    It’s flawed, but it aims high so the flaws are forgivable.

    -Keyhole
    Not my favorite Guy Maddin but still solid.

    -Monsters, Inc.
    A very sweet kids movie.

    -We Need to Talk About Kevin
    This may be, IMO, the best movie from last year.

    -Rango
    It was a re-watch for me. I love the hell out of it.

    -This Man Must Die
    From Claude Chabrol. Better than Les Biches, not as good as Le Boucher.

    -Village of the Damned
    I can’t believe I waited this long to watch Village of the Damned.

    -Trois Couleurs: Rouge
    I’m apparently the only person on earth who liked the other two Trois Couleurs films more than Rouge. I should probably give it another look later down the line.

    1. Yeah, I do sort of choose the time frame oddly, don’t I? It’s what you watched the week before, but with the posts going up on Saturdays, I also include the previous weekend…but anything you watched “lately” is what I’m interested in.

       Man do I ever need to get off my ass and watch the three colours trilogy. You’d have thought I’d make it part of my blindspot series for the year, but n-o-o-o-o-o-o…I had to go and choose LA DOLCE VITA.

       As for KEYHOLE, that might have been my biggest “wtf” moment during all of last year’s TIFF.

       Thanks for stopping by sir.

11. Man, I envy you! How do you find the time so many movies? And great ones, I might add. Lately I feel that I need more than 24 hours to do everything that I have to do. Whenever I have free time, I’m too tired and just want to sleep! hehe

    While Batman Begins is a good movie it is miles apart from the glorious Dark Knight.

    Memento is a new classic but, at the same time, underrated (as you say). And about The Prestige, I don’t know if it’s Nolan best but it’s certainly my favorite!

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