Ryan McNeil
My movie-watching at home has slowed a great deal this week thanks to the fact that I’m trying to work through three different TV shows at the same time. Lindsay and I have been working through both “GLOW” and “The Leftovers”, which tends to be the first suggestions when after-dinner watching is concerned. Beyond those two selections, I am working on the latest season of “House of Cards” – so bedtime watching is likewise spoken-for.
However, while my TV’s might have been consumed with…well…TV this week, my butt got into a cinema several times over the last seven days. Four times to be specific, which is a bit unusual for me, even during the summertime.
Saturday night took me to The Lightbox, where TIFF is doing a retrospective on the works of Olivier Assayas. The weekend brought them around to DEMONLOVER, which wouldn’t have even been one of my selections were it not for my friend Kurt Halfyard suggesting it. While waiting for the film to begin – in a very sparsely attended screening, mind you – I overheard several people muttering about how hard this film was to track down, and how even Assayas didn’t like it anymore. It’s easy to see why. That’s not to say that I wasn’t intrigued by what I watched, so much as it’s a statement on how the film fits with the man’s work and the current world order.
The film is handsome – and sounds incredible, but I won’t be recommending it to anyone else anytime soon.
Sunday afternoon took me right back to The Lightbox, this time with the whole fam in-tow. Mom, you see, is a big fan of James Stewart. So when I heard TIFF was doing a screening of THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER, I knew a family get-together would be in order. Mom soaked up every bit of it (even if we were seated in front of a woman who coughed through the first half and snored through the second). The print looked amazing and I was teased mightily over the fact that I’d forgotten that the story takes place at Christmas. Hey, if you can’t celebrate Christmas in July, then the terrorists have already won, amirite?
After an evening off, Tuesday took me back to (say it with me) The Lightbox. STEP is a documentary I could work into the schedule at Hot Docs, and after catching this screening, I’m both glad and saddened. I’m saddened because it handily would have been the highlight of that festival, but I’m glad because this screening was an emotional affair with many of the films subjects in attendance and the director herself. I’ll have more to say about it in a few weeks, but this screening is one I won’t soon forget…for several reasons.
Finally, on Friday night, I hit the multiplex to catch the most recent PLANET OF THE APES movie. I’m left trying to decide whether the film bridges the gap between these origin stories and the Charlton Heston original, but can’t seem to totally decide. Maybe that’s something I’ll have to rally the troops and fully hash out. Regardless, this is the sort of blockbuster I want from my studios; why can’t I get more of these?
So there you have it – a week where my couch was mostly for TV (and, of course, books), but one where I had popcorn for dinner more often than even I usually do. Pretty good trade, I’d say!
Here’s the week at hand…
Screenings
DEMONLOVER – There’s a teeny part of me that thinks “The director wants to disavow this work” would make a great screening series.
THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER – I now find myself wondering why Klara couldn’t recognize Alfred’s handwriting around the shop.
STEP – See it when you can.
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES – I’m mildly perplexed about the end of this movie.
Streaming/Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Seen Before
MILLER’S CROSSING – What’s a High Hat?
Boxscore for The Year
117 First-Timers, 59 Re-Watched
34 Screenings
176 Movies in Total
How’s about you – seen anything good?