Ryan McNeil
Last week, when my tally-to-date stood at 37, Nikhat wondered aloud how anyone could have already seen 37 films in a month. Fair question.
For starters, I know I’ve seen 37 films because January has been so bitterly cold. Now growing up in these parts, I’ve become well-accustomed to the winter months. It’s seldom stopped me from doing much of anything – I just make sure I’m wearing an extra layer or two and off I go. I see my friends, I hit the town, I have a drink or two, and yes I see some movies. This January in Toronto though, we’ve been in an especially deep freeze. For about three weeks solid, it has felt like minus four degrees fahrenheit.
Even for me, that’s fuckin’ cold.
The result is that I haven’t wanted to leave the apartment to do a whole lot else than go to work. Thus, my blu-ray player and PVR have gotten a workout.
Then on the other hand, I’m pressed to think of another year where January was so terrible a month at the multiplex. How terrible? There was only one commercial release that piqued my interest, and it’s a holdover from 2013. Would it have killed Hollywood to have given us a HAYWIRE? a CLOVERFIELD? Heck, for that matter, would it have killed them to have spread the Oscar love around so I hadn’t seen so damned many of the nominees already?
This is one long, cold, dark winter my friends. If you’re like me, the best source of warmth is a blanket and a comfy couch…and a good movie on your TV.
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
THE ACT OF KILLING – I’m just gonna be sitting and crying in the corner, okay?
CHARADE – If every month gets as many Blind Spot posts as this first one, this is going to be a great year.
CLEO FROM 5 TO 7 – Loved her at five, not all that sure what I thought of her at seven.
GRAN TORINO – For podcasting purposes. This is gonna leave a mark.
CONSTANTINE – For someone else’s podcast.
GET CARTER (1971) – Damn. That was grittier than I thought it’d be!
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT – Rewatching this in light of “Pictures at a Revolution“, I’m gobsmacked how anyone at the time of its release could have been underwhelmed by its impact.
January is a much better cinematic month for those of us in the UK you see, we get all the Oscar nominees later than you so I’ve been escaping the English cold in the cinema!
Apart from in the cinema, I finally got around to watching This Boy’s Life last night which I thoroughly enjoyed!
Not to mention that there are a few titles you folks are going to get before us – I’m looking squarely at A LONG WAY DOWN which I cannot wait to see!
I’ve never seen THIS BOY’S LIFE. For some reason, in my head I always mix it up with A BRONX TALE and feel like I’ve seen it already.
I am so excited for A Long Way Down too! I hope it’s worth the wait for you.
Was bit of a slow week.
Screenings:
Philomena – Best picture catch-up is complete.
Stop Making Sense – Even though my knowledge of Talking Heads was limited to 3 songs (you can probably guess which ones), this was one hell of a concert film (especially in a packed cinema).
The Final Member – AKA the documentary about the Penis Museum in Iceland. 😛
DVD:
Manborg/Bio-Cop – The relatively brief 72 minute length makes this great “on the whim” late night viewing.
My best experience with STOP MAKING SENSE was two summers back when they showed it at Harbourfront. I basically turned into one great big dance party.
I also 37 films in January.
This week in first-timers: The Birth of a Nation, the 2014 Royal Rumble, Pepi, Luci, Bom, A King in New York, and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.
Re-watches: Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, WrestleMania IV, The Incredibles, and later tonight, Trois Couleurs: Bleu.
For some reason, I’m always surprised at the continuing popularity of wrestling. I don’t know why I am though…
I was surprised by all those blind spot links at the end of your Charade post too! Wow! Hope everyone can keep it up, it’s a fun series to do.
For me…
First time:
14 Amazons
Behind the Candelabra
The Conjuring
Revolutionary Girl Utena: The Movie
And I re-watched The Wild Bunch.
Know what’s crazier than all the links you saw – that they keep on coming! Two more were added this week.
How much fun was THE CONJURING?
Also, one of my fondest memories from 2013 at the movies was the fact that I got to see BEHIND THE CANDELABRA on the big screen. Quite a fitting way to say goodbye to Soderbergh.
Wow, that’s great. Everyone has blind spot fever!
I was rather disappointed in The Conjuring, to be honest. It’s fine to watch, I was entertained, but I don’t think it’s good.
How did Candelabra look on the big screen? I loved it, but it seemed less cinematic than Soderbergh’s standard style, although it does have some great moments.
Watching 37 films in a month is still pretty impressive, even with the cold and lack of excitement at the cinema. I feel like I did pretty well in January (ahead of last year’s pace!), and I watched 14 movies. Ouch.
This week:
DRINKING BUDDIES – really enjoyed this movie, which is easily my favorite of what I’ve seen from Joe Swanberg
20 FEET FROM STARDOM – just a fun documentary, with great music
COLD COMES THE NIGHT – such a generic crime thriller; not a good use of Bryan Cranston’s talents
CAPTAIN Phillips – I was blown away by it and remembered just how much intensity Paul Greengrass can build with the right material. Hanks is so good
Pretty sure I’m going to need to get my mitts on the soundtrack for STARDOM as soon as humanly possible.
Definitely. I saw that my local library has the soundtrack, so I requested it right after seeing the movie. I’m planning to write about it in the next week or so too.