Remember last week, when I rhymed off 45 films watched over three weeks? I think I can safely say that this week represented a return to earth. What’s more, is that given all of the extra-curricular activities I have lined up for the next three weeks, this might be the new normal for a while.
Feel free to make your own jokes about how “the new normal” is still a pace of one title a day.
The thing that does make this week a little odd is the fact that it’s only the second time since the spring I didn’t see something new in the theatre. Not only wasn’t there all that much to choose from (DREDD anyone?), but I wanted to get another audience with Lancaster Dodd before trying to write about him.
As for my re-watches, three of the five were chosen in reaction to other activities. Am I the only nut who does this? Who thinks to himself, well this movie would go really well with that other movie I just watched…I should put that on”.
C’mon gang – tell me I’m not the only on who’s this crazy.
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Screenings
THE MASTER - Yes, again. I’ve talked to a lot of people who are left unaffected by Anderson’s latest. Totally understand that, but I would offer that It plays better on re-watch.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
TOUCH OF EVIL - It takes a mighty film to endure “Charlton Heston as a Mexican”.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS - Don’t tell Sasha James.
BAND A PARTE - After talking to Jandy Stone on the podcast, I was reminded of a film she suggested to me last year.
THE BROTHERS BLOOM - How more people don’t love this film, I’ll never know.
GET SHORTY - After TOUCH OF EVIL, this felt apropos.
MANHATTAN - That opening montage!
Boxscore for The Year
188 First-Timers, 172 Re-Watched
105 Screenings
360 Movies in Total
26 comments
CS says:
Sep 29, 2012
First-time:
The Battle of Algiers – Blind Spot pick. Really glad I finally got around to seeing the film.
Before the Devil Knows Your Dead – Quite enjoyed this film. Hoffman was great as usual.
The Cabin in the Woods – Still torn on this one. While I enjoyed several aspects of the film, I cannot help but feel that this film is vastly overrated.
The Master – Loved every minute of the this film.
Ryan McNeil says:
Sep 30, 2012
ALGIERS moved pretty high up my list after the Sight & Sound poll. That will likely get a spin in my player in the new year.
CABIN IN THE WOODS was fun indeed, but I’m with you – the fanbase oversold it.
And every moment I think back on THE MASTER, I love it more and more.
Colin Biggs says:
Sep 30, 2012
I’d argue that Hoffman’s performance in ‘Before the Devil…’ is his finest. I haven’t seen ‘The Master’ yet, but I’m eager to see how they compare.
Nikhat says:
Sep 29, 2012
I love your rewatched list, except Get Shorty because I haven’t seen it. That opening montage indeed! I need to rewatch Manhattan.
Firsts: Barfi!- Really good, though not as amazing as everyone keeps saying. SDG and I are making your Bollywood list, but in the meantime you might wanna check this out.
A Room with a View- It was okay. Naked men running about was a bit weird.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington- I was loving it till the kids started getting attacked. WTF?
The Deer Hunter- Definitely great.
Rewatched: Taxi Driver- Love this film.
The Devil Wears Prada- Had not watched this in the longest time. Favourite Meryl Streep performance.
Ryan McNeil says:
Sep 30, 2012
GET SHORTY is a great “movie about the movies”, and would make a great triple-bill with JACKIE BROWN and OUT OF SIGHT. All three films are based on Elmore Leonard novels.
You might recall that MR SMITH was a blindspot watch for me back in February. I was sorta surprised by its bleakness, and I really think its a film that politicians everywhere should be forced to watch once a year.
Helen says:
Sep 29, 2012
“C’mon gang – tell me I’m not the only on who’s this crazy.”
You’re not. I used to do that all the time. The only reason I don’t still do it is because I don’t have much time to devote to movie watching right now and have to prioritize new-to-me titles.
DREDD is strictly routine as an action movie but the cop thriller and dystopian sci-fi aspects are quite good. I’ve always enjoyed watching Karl Urban and this was no exception. I remain unconvinced by 3D. Even when it’s used well and the movie is supposed to have a dark palette, both of which are the case in DREDD, 3D adds little to the experience.
Ryan McNeil says:
Sep 30, 2012
I quietly put an emphasis on new-to-me titles this year too, so my viewing series of like-films have been diminished somewhat.
And you’ll pardon my assumption on this, but how did you end up at a showing of DREDD? That doesn’t really strike me as your speed.
Helen says:
Sep 30, 2012
In fact, it is. That’s why I know that DREDD is infinitely superior to JUDGE DREDD.
I’ve never gotten into American comics (although I’ve read a lot of manga), but I enjoy a good comic book movie more than the next person.
Nobody ever guesses that action is my favorite movie genre.
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 4, 2012
Well I guess I’m missing out, given that I’ve never done the DREDD/PANDORA double-feature then, aren’t I?
Omar says:
Sep 29, 2012
Movies have taken a back seat due to my addiction of Breaking Bad and Game of Thrones. Should pick up next week…
1sts / bourne legacy, although it had a few true to the series aspects and a strong cast it was unsatisfying.
rewatches / the wackness, the soundtrack is still killer but the storyline is even duller on the second go .
/ the devil wears prada, I feel guilty for enjoying this that much , just as good as the first time.
/ brothers bloom, had to see this again, it might be underrated but it’s def worth watching more than once.
Ryan McNeil says:
Sep 30, 2012
Both shows are kick-ass, so you have my approval to dim the movie watching in favour of TV.
Hey, we both watched BROTHERS BLOOM this week! Were you like me, and thinking to yourself “Why don’t more people love this movie?”. I actually bought it without even having seen it, which is super rare for me, but I couldn’t be happier that I did.
Steven Flores says:
Sep 29, 2012
I saw a lot this past week. On Sunday, The Master. Other first-timers include Jean de Florette, Die Another Day, Manon des Sources, A Thousand Words (one of the worst films I had ever seen), Sweet Home Alabama-The Southern Rock Saga, and earlier today, Stanley Kubrick’s Lolita.
Re-Watches: Weekend at Bernie’s, American Wedding, and Bond Girls are Forever.
Ryan McNeil says:
Sep 30, 2012
Quite a mish-mash of titles you watched there!
Been digging all of that PTA coverage on your site lately, and certainly happy to see you enjoyed THE MASTER. How-oh-how though did you happen to find yourself watching AMERICAN WEDDING?
Steven Flores says:
Sep 30, 2012
It was on TV. I just liked the stuff that involved Stifler. Especially when he dances.
SJHoneywell says:
Sep 30, 2012
Ha! I’m catching up!
New:
Seance on a Wet Afternoon: Oh, boy was this good. No, really.
Funny Games: I respect what it is, but I also don’t like what it is.
Audition: No. No. No. No. No.
Bonnie and Clyde: My blindspot for the month was another good one.
A Time to Live, a Time to Die: Slow. Not sure I’d recommend it.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy: Great plot. Other than that, great plot.
Lone Star: Wow, this was good and unexpected.
The Crying Game: Who knew the big reveal wasn’t central to the actual plot?
Rewatches:
Sullivan’s Travels: I liked it less on a rewatch.
Sunset Blvd.: I liked it more on a rewatch.
Ryan McNeil says:
Sep 30, 2012
But will you ever catch my screening tally?
Ahhhh SUNSET BLVD, a film I loved so very much more on rewatch. I’ve been on a Wilder kick this year and in many ways that film started it when I got it in a box set for Christmas (with SABRINA, and STALAG 17 to boot!)
LONE STAR is a 90′s indie that might as well be permanently engraved on my to-watch list. I’m betting I’ll enjoy it a great deal, but I’ve just never managed to pull the trigger and finally give it a look. Basically, it’s in the same column as SMOKE.
Colin Biggs says:
Sep 30, 2012
I had the same hesitation as you a couple of years ago regarding Lone Star. Pull the trigger, believe me, it will be worth it.
SJHoneywell says:
Sep 30, 2012
I’m a Wilder fan. Double Indemnity is my favorite, but Sunset Blvd. is right behind it. This was probably the 5th or 6th timed I’d watched, and it genuinely gets better every time I see it. Wilder was arguably the most versatile director in history–he did everything but Westerns and sci-fi, just about–and his films are at or near the top in every category he touched.
Someday you should pull Lone Star off that shelf and give it a go. It’s surprisingly enjoyable. Do it for Elizabeth Pena.
And no, I’ll never catch your screening tally.
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 4, 2012
Man, who’d have thought there’s be so much LONE STAR love? At this point, I might hold off and just put it on to next year’s Blind Spot list.
Those are certainly some great Wilders to have in your one-two. For me, I think the untouchable number one is THE APARTMENT, but I could certainly see the case for the pair you mentioned and a few others.
I’m actually anxiously waiting on a copy of The Wilder Conversations – the book of interviews between him and Cameron Crowe. It’s supposed to be in my mailbox any day now…but any day can’t seem to come fast enough!
Nick says:
Oct 2, 2012
Oh man, Lone Star really is a gem of an indie, and proof McConaughey could act before this sudden renaissance. Are you a Sayles fan at all, Ryan? I’d also recommend Sunshine State. That’s my favorite Sayles film. As if your to watch list isn’t already long enough…
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 4, 2012
The only Sayles I’ve ever seen are EIGHT MEN OUT and CASA DE LOS BABYS. Guess I need to have me a LONE STAR-SUNSHINE STATE double feature night sometime soon!
ruth says:
Oct 4, 2012
Oooh, you make me want to watch X-MEN: FIRST CLASS again!! I’ve got that on BD, I LOVE that movie so much!
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 7, 2012
I’m not sure if we’d even watched our BD copy of X-MEN before last week. That’s sorta what happens when Lindsay buys a movie. Hal of the time, it just ends up on the shelf…sometimes still wrapped.
Joel Bocko says:
Oct 8, 2012
Funny, I put up a similar post right around the same time – although it spanned movies I’d watched all year and not covered. A weekly composite would not make sense for me right now; at least since March my pace has been slow, at times almost snaillike. Though it’s picked up a bit more recently.
I love Band of Outsiders, one of my favorite Godards. Haven’t seen The Master yet. I’m a bit of a PT Anderson skeptic so it will be interesting to see how I take to it.
Ryan McNeil says:
Oct 10, 2012
This series of posts started in January of 2011 as a way to keep tabs on how much I was watching over the course of the year. A friend here in town mentioned that he had seen 700 movies one year, and when I balked at the tally, he mentioned that it really wasn’t hard to do (especially with no cable).
A lot of people are coming down very divided on THE MASTER, so when.if you *do* catch up with it, I’ll be interested to see your take.
PS – If you wanted to add the site back into your blogroll, I wouldn’t be opposed
Joel Bocko says:
Oct 10, 2012
It’s still on there, but appears to be the outdated URL. I shall update it swiftly…