Ryan McNeil
As you may or may not recall, last week I started a stretch of ten whole days where I got the run of my home. With Lindsay travelling to work on a project, there is no “what do you want to watch tonight?” conversations being had. The only person I need to have that conversation with is myself!
So with only myself to appease, the focus this week – as I mentioned last week – was digging deep into my to-watch list of blu-rays bought but not yet played, and movies recorded off TCM clogging up my PVR. Considering five of this week’s eight titles came from those lists, I’d say I did pretty well for myself!
And not a moment too soon…
The other event that marked this week, is that studios have begun to send me screener DVD’s as a member of OFCS. So along with that list I posted last week, I now also have titles like BLACKFISH, THE HUNT, A HIJACKING, A PLACE BEYOND THE PINES, and DALLAS BUYER’S CLUB sitting waiting to be watched. Pretty sure this is the very definition of First World Problems.
I’m still on my own all weekend, so I’m sure I’ll get through plenty more.
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Screenings
JAZZ ON A SUMMER’S DAY – How I’d never seen this before is a mystery. That I got to see it on a big screen is a blessing.
THOR: THE DARK WORLD – Thoughts on this tomorrow morning.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS – Liked this way more than I thought I would. I also feel the urge to re-watch FAR FROM HEAVEN now.
KNIFE IN THE WATER – Splendid
JEZEBEL – Next time someone brings up GONE WITH THE WIND, I think I’ll point them towards this instead.
THE GOLD RUSH – I can’t believe I waited this long to watch it.
McCABE & MRS MILLER – I actually want to revisit this soon, especially since the picture quality on TCM wasn’t the best.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
V FOR VENDETTA – It was the fifth of November, right?
where’s HARD BOILED sir??? SIR????
the best film I saw this week (not counting Story of Film) I gotta go with FRANCES HA. More I let it stew is the more I like it.
That’s part of next week’s tally. You might be amused to know that as I was formatting my THOR review, I used the line “Asgardian Doves”
I’m really anxious to get my mitts on that FRANCES HA blu-ray, but at this stage it looks like it’ll have to wait until after Christmas.
I assume you watched Greta’s video with Arcade Fire?
Yup. Saw the video… quite entranced by it
First-Timers: Double Indemnity, Permanent Vacation, Ace in the Hole, Stranger Than Paradise, and Los Olvidados.
Re-Watches: The Banger Sisters, Ray, Year of the Horse, and Original Gangstas.
Why didn’t I put two-and-two together and realize that you were watching ACE IN THE HOLE for the first time? Lordy, that *and* DOUBLE INDEMNITY for the first time in the same week? Talk about hitting the jackpot…
I saw Jezebel when I was a teen and hated it, but I imagine my opinion would be different now. One of these days I’ll find out! Glad you liked it.
For me, all first-time:
Xenogenesis – James Cameron’s amateur short from 1978
Trancers: City of Lost Angels
Kull the Conqueror
Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong
Seriously dude – so many of the same ideas as GONE WITH THE WIND. Far less racism. Less awkward confederate romanticism. Half the runtime.
Give it another look sometime.
Two films this week:
GO FOR SISTERS – I was lucky enough to get access online to watch John Sayles’ new film before its limited release this past weekend. It’s not going to win a lot of new Sayles fans, but I really liked it. Great acting and a lot of room for the characters to work.
WHITE MEN CAN’T JUMP (rewatch) – I watched this on Friday for a podcast, and my reaction was pretty mixed. I hadn’t seen it since the ’90s. The basketball still works well, but the romance and real idiocy of Woody Harrelson’s character brought it down.
Geez, talk about a random choice of film to discuss on a podcast.
I remember having fun watching WHITE MEN when I was younger, but I can’t imagine how poorly it must have aged.
Tell me about it. It’s aged okay in terms of the basketball and hustling, but some of the other elements like the clothes are definitely locked to a certain era.