Ryan McNeil
My habit is beginning to return to normal!
There has even been choices in the cinema after what felt like a whole darned summer’s worth of nuthin’. I will never understand why studios and theatre chains don’t really believe in counter-programming. I mean, I’m as intrigued by CARS 3, THE MUMMY, and DESPICABLE M3 as the next guy…but would it kill exhibitors to stagger out releases like BABY DRIVER, THE BEGUILED, and THE BIG SICK over a longer stretch of time?
It’s like they’re being hoarded or something.
Sure, on the surface, these films seem like they could get slaughtered in the bloodbath that is the summertime box office. But all the same, they are the sorts of releases that have legs…that audiences find…that word of mouth can stoke. A film like CARS makes its splash and then dissolves into the waters. Films like those that I mentioned above have a tendency to grow their audience as word of their quality spreads. Why hold them all back and thin out the audience?
While the first two months of this summer have felt a little thin for offerings like this…at least it gives me hope for the dog days.
Bring on A GHOST STORY…and LADY MACBETH…and ATOMIC BLONDE…and…
Here’s the past two weeks at hand…
Screenings
ALIEN: COVENANT – I liked it. Try to act surprised.
BABY DRIVER – Lots more to say about this as the weekend goes along.
THE BEGUILED – You guys…
Streaming/Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT – I used to lob jokes about this film when I was younger. I feel bad about that now.
BILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIME WALK – There was a better story to be told here, though I remain curious about seeing this in 120fps.
THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS – Just when I thought I’d seen it all in the zombie genre.
FASTBALL – Not bad, but very much like a weak 30-for-30 entry.
HE RAN ALL THE WAY – Still quite enjoying Noir Alley
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (2016) – That final showdown is pretty darned epic.
HOWARD’S END – I enjoyed this far more than I expected to. Who knew?
FLAWLESS – I still miss Phil.
NOBODY SPEAK: TRIALS OF THE FREE PRESS – A good documentary, but one that feels a bit disjointed.
Streaming/Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Seen Before
GHOST WORLD – The Criterion edition of this was a birthday gift from Lady Hatter.
IN THE LINE OF FIRE – Do you remember your first Malkovich?
DEADPOOL – This is quickly becoming my go-to superhero time waster.
THE NICE GUYS – Why do I still feel as though this film is underrated.
Boxscore for The Year
110 First-Timers, 55 Re-Watched
28 Screenings
165 Movies in Total
How’s about you – seen anything good?