I have a slight hypothesis: My movie-watching will go down this year compared to the last two.
It could just be that I had a busy week, and that this slight dip in my habit won’t be representative of 2013 on the whole…or this could be a sign of things to come. Now that said, I think I need to give my head a shake if fifteen films in eleven days (including three screenings this week) qualifies as “down a bit”…but time will tell.
Likewise, if my viewing habits are due to take a dip, I should probably make a concerted effort to watch more new than repeat. So far I’m out-distancing myself in the wrong direction, but that should level off. Part of the reason for the imbalance is that I’m still working my way through Christmas gifts, and all of those are obviously films I know.
Geez, the trends I notice already!
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Screenings
STORIES WE TELL - This will be playing Sundance this month and rolling out across the states throughout 2013. Look for it and thank me later.
REBELLE (WAR WITCH) - Canada’s Oscar nominated entry for Best Foreign Film. Not my favorite of the ones we’ve put forward in recent years.
ZERO DARK THIRTY - Anyone who thinks this movie is “pro-torture” didn’t watch it.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
ROSEMARY’S BABY - Got the Criterion blu-ray for Christmas. Lordy does it ever look splendid.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER - This is my hypothesis for the first Avengers films one should watch.
IRON MAN - Then this.
IRON MAN 2 - Then this, although on rewatch Stark’s involvement with S.H.I.E.L.D. feels a little underdeveloped.
Boxscore for The Year
5 First-Timers, 10 Re-Watched
3 Screenings
15 Movies in Total
21 comments
CS says:
Jan 12, 2013
I find it odd that the torture scenes in Zero Dark Thirty have created such a stir. I found it to be such a minor aspect of film overall.
First time:
Stories We Tell – Loved this film, kicking myself for not getting around to it sooner.
A Separation – Not what I expected at all, which is probably why I loved it so much.
The Housemaid – This was very disappointing. I think my expectations were set too high after falling in love with one of Sang-soo Im’s earlier films at TIFF several years ago.
Zero Dark Thirty – Really enjoyed this film.
Rewatched:
The Hunger Games – I still really enjoy this film. I just do not understand the harsh backlash to it.
Striking Distance – I remember liking this film at one time…boy was I wrong. This film is just awful.
Ryan McNeil says:
Jan 13, 2013
No kidding. We got past the torture and I thought to myself “Wait, that’s it?” 24 did worse things than that.
Pretty sure we were at the same screening of STORIES WE TELL. Could have swore I saw you and Norm come in. If I had a better memory I would have met up with ya there.
CS says:
Jan 13, 2013
Actually I was with my cousin Steve at that screening. We invited Norm but he saw Stories We Tell at TIFF.
I am slowly starting to look over the Lightbox screenings for the next few months. After watching Late Spring on DVD last year I am looking forward to catching up on a few more of the Ozu’s films (e.g. Tokyo Story, Early Summer, etc). I also think I might hit Intolerance, Superman, and 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Nikhat says:
Jan 12, 2013
I love Captain America and Iron Man.
Firsts: Django Unchained- Ah Tarantino <3 Man, Leo should have been nominated.
Anna Karenina- It was so gorgeous to look at.
The Imposter- Creepy creepy creepy.
Paranorman- It was really good, especially the last act.
Celeste and Jesse Forever- This was smart and sweet.
Gangster Squad- The things I do to watch Ryan Gosling in suits…
Les Miserables- Were it not for Russel Crowe, I might have loved it.
Silver Linings Playbook- So much love. I adore romcoms. I am all lost about my favourite film of last year though.
Rewatched: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist- I needed comforting.
Skyfall- What else to go and watch right before the Oscar noms?
The Cabin in the Woods- Is Marty the greatest character of 2012?? I think so.
Ryan McNeil says:
Jan 13, 2013
Damn – that’s a great week of watching! Like…a seriously great week of watching.
I have a question though, let’s work backwards. If you give Leo a Best Supporting nomination, which of those other five badass nominations do you take away?
Nikhat says:
Jan 13, 2013
Arkin. Duh. And seeing how Waltz was actually lead, I’d nominate Matthew McConaughey or Ezra Miller in his place.
Sean Kelly says:
Jan 12, 2013
My marathon video game playing is really causing me to neglect my Christmas blu-rays. Hopefully it evens out in a few weeks.
Screenings:
Stories We Tell – Would have probably made my top ten if I’ve seen it earlier.
Rebelle – I thought it was a solid film.
The Ambassador – An interesting exposé of the blood diamond trade in Africa and how it is apparently very easy to fool people into thinking you’re a diplomat.
OnDemand First Time:
Johnny English Reborn – So-so film, but there is a hilarious scene (which brings up memories of Mr Bean) during the closing credits.
Ryan McNeil says:
Jan 13, 2013
I liked REBELLE well enough, but I liked titles like INCENDIES, MONSIEUR LAZHAR, and the unnominated C.R.A.Z.Y. much more.
Sean Kelly says:
Jan 14, 2013
I can say that I agree with that statement.
Peter says:
Jan 12, 2013
First Time:
The World Before Her: Solid documentary about women’s role in two different parts of India
Zero Dark Thirty: Love this movie, I think it’s better than The Hurt Locker. I still don’t understand the pro-torture stance.
The Paperboy: Daniels should get a nomination for this, a Razzie nomination.
Rewatch:
Stories We Tell: 3rd time watching it, loving it even more.
Carlos: A sort-of companion piece to Zero Dark Thirty, except from the other side. This is Assayas’ masterpiece. Don’t be scared of the 6 hour running time.
Ryan McNeil says:
Jan 13, 2013
I’ll put CARLOS on the watchlist for this year. If memory serves there are a few natural breaks in it, so if I wanted to split it up over a few nights it’d be an easy feat. That said, I sorta wish I’d seen the epic screening of it at TIFF a few years ago!
Peter says:
Jan 13, 2013
If you are interested, I could loan you my copy of CARLOS Blu Ray disc at the next pub night. I should show up this time around.
Corey P. says:
Jan 12, 2013
Audience of One: Great documentary about a preacher who decides to make a 200 million dollar budget sci fi epic retelling of the Joseph story and his inevitable failings as a moviemaker. Hard to find but seek it out.
The World According to Sesame Street: Kind of like Exporting Raymond, but in three different countries as they cast their own versions reflecting their own cultures. Also covers the political implications of doing so, including making a Muppet with AIDS.
The Staircase 2: aired on CBC, is mostly rehash ala the first chunk of Paradise Lost 3, but gives necessary updates to the case.
Killer Joe (rewatch): one of the better films of last year, didn’t get any better or worse on rewatch.
Holy Motors: I enjoyed the first hour a lot more than the second. Enjoy it on a simple visceral level, but think it’s a waste of time to dig into the meanings of it or consider it genius at all.
The Elephant Man: A new favorite Lynch film, presented rather old school in how it’s shot, a very humanist and compassionate film that I did not expect. Must see.
Death at a Funeral: The UK version with Frank Oz. Alan Tudyk is amazing here and is naked most of the time.
Barfi!: My first Bollywood film ever – India’s submission to the Oscars this year, and it was fantastic. Turns out to be controversial as it lifts scenes from a lot of western films, specifically old Keaton and Chaplin films. But it works for me in the same way Tarantino stole so much in Kill Bill. It’s maybe the cutest movie since Amelie. See it on Netflix.
Zero Dark Thirty – I am not impressed. Everything for me absolutely sucked until Gandolfini showed up. Especially do not get the love for Chastain here as I found her to be both uninteresting and unsympathetic.
The Illusionist (2010): The animated film from a Tati story, absolutely beautiful animation, amazing blu-ray. The story maybe though could better define the young girl’s role, as she can come off as greedy and unlikeable rather than the naive girl she is supposed to be.
Ryan McNeil says:
Jan 13, 2013
Looks like a pretty good week of watching.
HOLY MOTORS actually surprised me with how insane it wasn’t. I kept hearing about how batshit insane it was and walked away thinking “Well that was weird, but it wasn’t *that* weird”.
I’m overdue for a FUNERAL rewatch. That whole cast gives me the giggles.
Steven Flores says:
Jan 12, 2013
First-Timers: The Three Stooges (oy…), Bob le flambeur, Boy A, The Hire short series, and earlier today, Promised Land, and Zero Dark Thirty.
Re-Watches: The City of Lost Children, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Valley Girl, Shrek 2, The Return of the King, and The Mighty Ducks.
Ryan McNeil says:
Jan 13, 2013
What…how…why did did you end up watching THE THREE STOOGES??
(Or THE MIGHTY DUCKS for that matter)
I’m *long* overdue for a CROUCHING TIGER rewatch. I tink I’ll have to dust off that dvd and toss it in the player this week!
Steven Flores says:
Jan 13, 2013
It was on TV and I wanted to see how bad it was….
It’s official, the Farrelly Brothers are done. They’ve lost their touch. They need to just go away and retire because they fucking suck.
The Mighty Ducks was something I enjoyed as a kid. Sort of holds up a bit though it’s the best of the 3 films. The sequels weren’t very good.
I only re-watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for my Auteurs piece which might be finished by Friday.
Will says:
Jan 13, 2013
Only watched three movies last week! That pesky thing called “responsibilities” always seems to get in the way of what I really need to do!
First Time:
The Players Club
Cub Tiger From Kwang Tung
Lockout
Ryan McNeil says:
Jan 19, 2013
Pfft! “Responsibilities”.
I hate when responsibilities curb my viewing habits.
We should form a “No Responsibilities Society”
SJHoneywell says:
Jan 13, 2013
Had a big week. I’m compensating now for a few weeks to come in the future.
New to me:
First Man Into Space: Who knew a weird little number like this would get a Criterion release?
The Atomic Submarine: Same with this one. What a weird film.
Borat: As offensive as I figured, not as funny as I’d hoped.
Theodora Goes Wild: What a great discovery from the mid-1930s!
Mogambo: I’m not sure this film knows what it wants to be.
The Wrong Man: Typical Hitchcock plot, atypical Hitchcock film.
Fat City: Surprisingly good. One of the best boxing films ever made, even if the boxing isn’t that great.
The Killer: Entertaining John Woo action.
John Carter: I wonder now if anyone connected with this film actually looked at the source material.
Rewatches:
Broadcast News: Better than I remembered it, but not by a lot.
Escape from L.A.: Snake Plissken? I thought you’d be taller.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan: The best of ‘em.
Black Sabbath: The international release is much better than the American release.
Ryan McNeil says:
Jan 19, 2013
But did you actively loathe JOHN CARTER the way many reviewers would have had you believe you should?