Ryan McNeil
The last two weeks have brought upon less film viewing that usual. The reasons are simple: family and playoffs.
Once upon a time, holiday weekends used to be just that: a holiday. They were two or three days to count on for titles, pages, records, and all-around R&R. Nowadays, it’s spent doing the planning, doing the preparing, doing the cooking and other such tasks. Such is the nature of things changing with time, of course. However, that means that where once, Easter weekend would be about 4 – 7 films watched…now it means, maybe two.
Tops.
As for playoffs, for the first time since I started writing in this space nearly ten years back, playoffs have been my fixation for two whole weeks (and counting). For the first time in fifteen years, The Toronto Raptors and The Toronto Maple Leafs are both in the playoffs at the same time. This has me on the couch every night, and not with much time for other interests.
It’s been a fun ride, and one that might not even go beyond the first round. It’s been full of unexpected narratives, drama, tension…the sorts of things I often turn to film for!
All it means is that rather than digging into that Criterion box set of Linklater’s Before Trilogy, I have been spending hour after hour learning how to pronounce Giannis Antetokounmpo.
But there has been a bit of time for film – and there will be even more! But I fully expect the next four weeks to be a beautiful blur…and film, family, and playoffs will all be a part of that
Here’s the past two weeks at hand…
Screenings
SONG TO SONG – I’ve been putting off KNIGHT OF CUPS. At this rate it may have to wait until after the playoffs.
COLOSSAL – Oh Nacho, you wonderful man!
Streaming/Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
RACE – Jesse Owens deserved a better film, but I’m happy this exists.
BLUE SKY – An awesome performance in a so-so film…the sort of thing Oscar wins are made of!
GILBERT – Hot Docs Screener
WHITE WALLS SAY NOTHING – Hot Docs Screener
78/52 – Hot Docs Screener
BECOMING BOND – Hot Docs Screener
PACMEN – Hot Docs Screener
RAMEN HEADS – Hot Docs Screener
Streaming/Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Seen Before
DOPE – Who did I lend my Digital Underground CD to?
INDIGNATION – The bibliophile in me adores that library scene.
Boxscore for The Year
76 First-Timers, 37 Re-Watched
16 Screenings
113 Movies in Total
How’s about you – seen anything good?