For a while there, it looked as though my tally for this week was going to be a bit light. The weekend is when I do most of my watching, and last weekend was far too busy to even dream about putting anything on. Come to think of it, I’m hard pressed to think of the last weekend where I didn’t watch a thing! But then along came a cold, and with it my usual treatment of staying horizontal and trying to rest it off. And what else can one do when they are horizontal (and sick) than take comfort with dvd’s?

The fact that my headache and sniffles got worse after seeing a Soderbergh film left me in a mood to go on a bender of the man’s work – specifically for two of his films I haven’t watched as often as TRAFFIC or the OCEAN’S films (though I did pull those off the shelf too). I’ve since moved on to other directors to cure my malady, but don’t be surprised if you see a few more of his titles next week.

Here’s The Week at Hand…

Screenings
HAYWIRE – A great way to start 2012 at the multiplex. If my meds kick in, I should have a review up tomorrow.

Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
9 to 5 – My parents raised me on Dolly Parton, so I have no idea why I’d never been shown this before.
MILLENNIUM ACTRESS – Enjoyed it, but might have put it on too early in the syllabus.
PAPRIKA – This on the other hand, I must find a blu-ray copy of immediately.

Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
THE TOWN – Enjoyed it a bit more the second time around, but still wish they’d used Fenway more.
CHE – What batter way to spend a sick day than with four and a half hours of latino guerrillas?
SOLARIS (2002) – My friends went to see the Russian original on Thursday night; this was my substitute.
RANGO – Expect to see CHINATOWN in this slot next week

Boxscore for The Year
11 First-Timers, 13 Re-Watched
3 Screenings
24 Movies in Total

How’s about you – seen anything good?

18 Replies to “Days of The Week (Films Watched Jan 14 – Jan 20)”

  1. Well for the whole week, I’ve been finishing up some Lars von Trier related material as I watched The Kingdom II and Medea while earlier today, I saw The Artist (my review will be posted tomorrow) and Carnage. I just need to finish reviews on The Artist and Medea and then I can complete my Auteurs piece on Lars von Trier.

  2. One thing I love about being sick is that it gives me a reason to watch movies all day and not feel very guilty about it. Other than that, being sick is not good. Hope you feel better soon!

    Anyway, it has been a slow week since I just got back from holiday and I had no DVDs that jumped out at me. And I just discovered Downton Abbey, so I’ll be away from the movies for a while.

    First-timers:
    The Descendants – The more I look back at it, the more I dislike it. Was so disappointed in this movie, will be a little angry if George Clooney wins the Oscar.
    Hugo – Was pleasantly surprised with this one, as a few people made it out to be quite bad. It was so magical, though!
    Puss in Boots – It was on the plane. Thought I should watch it just in case it gets nominated in the Best Animated category.
    What’s Your Number – Another movie on the plane. Nice time-pass, but by no means a good movie.
    Friends with Benefits – Better than No Strings Attached, but I thought it was a little slow. Still, some good laughs to be had.

    Rewatches:
    Beginners – Liked it so much more this time around. Christopher Plummer for the Oscar!
    The Virgin Suicides – One of my favourite movies ever. I love Sofia Coppola movies.

    1. I’m already on the mend, so thanks for the get-well wishes. As for Downton Abbey, feel free to tweet Lindsay about it since she pretty much mainlined every episode there was to be consumed over the last two weeks.

      For me, there was a lot to like about THE DESCENDANTS – dig up my review of it and/or podcast episode talking about it. Might just be a victim of hype for you.

      As for HUGO, I weep for anyone who makes it out to be “quite bad”.

  3. Continuing my blistering pace…

    New to me:
    The Life of Emile Zola: A surprisingly powerful and moving film
    Before the Revolution: I’m starting to think I don’t like Bertolucci.
    Badlands: Sparse and disturbing, just as it should be.
    Fanny and Alexander: Accessible Bergman? Yep.
    The Face is Familiar: This short documentary on character actors is ultimately forgettable, like many of its subjects.
    Best Worst Movie: Such a strange world cult films live in!
    Heaven and Earth Magic: The most incomprehensible hour I’ve spent watching a film…ever, and I’ve seen Eraserhead.
    Shoot the Piano Player: Young Truffaut didn’t know what he wanted to be, and neither did this film.

    Repeat viewing:
    I am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang: Still powerful despite its age and melodrama.
    Field of Dreams: Shown for class. Magical realism at its best.

      1. L.A. CONFIDENTIAL…I haven’t put pen to paper, but I reckon it’d rank for me as one of the top ten films of the 90’s. As for BADLANDS, isn’t it wild to see where Malick took his filmmaking after that?

  4. Firsts: Hotel Chevalier– After Moonrise Kingdom’s trailer, I needed to see something Wes Anderson. Sweet.
    The Descendants– I really liked it in the first hour after seeing it, but I am losing interest by the second.
    Moneyball– Baseball = Too American. Also, I don’t do sports.
    Christopher and His Kind– BBC movie about Christopher Isherwood which has the current Doctor Who Matt Smith. It was okay.
    Horrible Bosses– After struggling to watch Babel all week and failing, I needed something funny. It answered to my needs.
    The Artist– So lovely.

    Rewatched: Shaun of the Dead– After finishing all the episodes of the much-too-short Black Books, I needed more Dylan Moran. So much love for this film.

    1. Heh… I love how the remedy for BABEL is HORRIBLE BOSSES. I enjoy them both, but that gives me quite a smile. I haven’t watched HOTEL CHEVALIER in a while…I might just have to give it a spin this evening. I wish Anderson made more shorts.

  5. new:
    My Week With Marilyn: still thinking about how good it really was, haven’t decided yet.
    A Hard Day’s Night: Beatles for 90 minutes… thank you
    Abduction: Let’s not say anymore
    Beauty and the Beast 3D: (3D new, not the movie)… actually looked good in 3D.. honest.

    1. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN was very, very good. You’re welcome.

      I wish theatres had offered 2D showings of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, because I have no real interest in seeing it with the gimmick laced in, but certainly would like to see it on a big screen for the first time in 20 years.

  6. Re-watched “Sanshiro Sugata” as preparation for film club movie of the month discussion. Interesting to see some of Kurosawa’s trademark techniques already in evidence in his first film.

    In new movies, I also enjoyed “Haywire” quite a lot. Very stylish.

      1. Tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. It’s essentially a coming of age story about the title character, a dramatized version of an early disciple of the founder of judo (it’s set late 19th c.). I still need to read up a bit on judo to prepare as the martial discipline is key to Sugata’s emotional and spiritual growth.

        We’re starting a mini-retrospective. The other films will be “Ikiru”, “High and Low” and “Ran”. Most of my group haven’t seen more than a couple, if any of his films so I wanted to choose titles representative of phases in Kurosawa’s career; these four take in four decades, four genres, b&w and color, 4:3 and widescreen, and his three principal actor collaborators. “High and Low” also happens to be my favorite Kurosawa film.

    1. I know, and I can remember thirteen-year-old me thinking “Wow – It looks like the camera is swooping down through that ballroom!”. Still no need to post-convert the whole film.

  8. I know you don’t typically write about older movies but as someone who considers “Chinatown” to be The Perfect Movie, I’d love to hear your in-depth thoughts on that one.

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