First Reformed (2018; d. Paul Schrader)
The best film of the year thus far. This is not an exaggeration: I had trouble breathing during the final sequence (as in: I felt like I stopped breathing) – and once the film ended, it had me in its grip for a good 48 hours. I kept having to “shake it off.” It is still with me. It’s been a long long time since I’ve seen a film that shook me the way First Reformed did.
Sorry to Bother You (2018; d. Boots Riley)
This movie is a trip. I loved it.
Auto Focus (2002; d. Paul Schrader)
First Reformed got me thinking about Paul Schrader again. I saw this movie in the theatre when it came out. It’s just brutal. One of Greg Kinnear’s best. And Willem Defoe too. Sex, man. It can fuck people UP.
Take Shelter (2011; d. Jeff Nichols)
I liked this movie so much when it first came out I wrote a whole big thing about it. This was pre-diagnosis. Watching it post-diagnosis, it’s like a whole different movie. It’s an accurate depiction of the onslaught of mental illness. I could barely get through it, to be honest. It was so upsetting.
The Handmaid’s Tale, Season 2, episode 3 “Baggage” (2018; d. Kari Skogland)
Nope. That’s it. I’m done. Life’s too short for this pandering torture porn. Although FINALLY we get to see Offred’s angry feminist mother, completely absent from Season 1. Cherry Jones is perfect casting. But leaving her out of the story until now … when she is so much a part of Atwood’s point – about the “angry” first feminists, the radical feminists … and the break with those who came after … I guess it doesn’t fit in with their desire to create a “Girl Power” narrative. Girl Power. Out of THE HANDMAID’S TALE?? Nope. Next.
The Post (2017; d. Steven Spielberg)
I really enjoy it, and have seen it a couple of times. Also, Streep’s caftans alone make the movie worth seeing.
Supernatural, Season 13, episode 21 “Beat the Devil” (2018; d. Philip Sgriccia)
With a title like that, you think they’d have more John Huston/Truman Capote/Humphrey Bogart hijinx. Why use a title if you’re not going to comment on it? Although, okay, maybe there are some hijinx.
Night and Fog (1956; d. Alain Resnais)
The short film that brought the images of the Holocaust to the world. It’s tough to get through but you do feel the moral obligation to LOOK. SEE.
The Eichmann Show (2015; d. Paul Andrew Williams)
Staying with the Nazi fuck-head theme: this was a TV movie starring Martin Freeman and Alfred Molina about the TV producer hired to film the Eichmann trial in Israel. It’s okay. Freeman is very very good.
Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (2017; d. Catherine Bainbridge, Alfonso Maiorana)
Such an excellent documentary about the vast Native American contribution to American music and pop culture: rock ‘n roll, folk, jazz, etc. Terrific. Starts with Link Wray, of course, but it moves forwards and backwards. My parents had all of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s stuff!
My Next Guest Needs No Introduction: David Letterman and Tina Fey, Season 1, episode 5 “It’s just Landmine Hopscotch” (2018; d. Michael Bonfiglio)
Interesting. Maybe more surface-y than some of the other ones. I knew Tina Fey “back in the day”, in Chicago, when all of my friends and my main flame were stars in the improv scene, at Second City and Improv Olympic. Adam McKay, Neil Flynn, Amy Poehler, Tina, Tina’s wildly talented husband Jeff Richmond – who wrote a musical version of Hamlet – which my flame was in – he played Claudius – and who played Gertrude? Someone who would eventually become one of my best friends, although that was years in the future – Alexandra Billings. Connections abound. Alex and my flame doing a conniving scheming box step, wearing Burger King crowns?? It made me so happy.) So many of these people are stars now. It’s been kind of amazing to watch. I’m not surprised at all though. They were all incredible then, when they were working in upstairs black box theatres for no money.
Beast (2018; d. Michael Pearce)
This was really good. I reviewed for Ebert.
Supernatural, Season 13, episode 22 “Exodus” (2018; d. Thomas J. Wright)
I’m sorry. I just can’t really “get it up” for all of this AU stuff.
Supernatural, Season 13, episode 23 “Let the Good Times Roll” (2018; d. Robert Singer)
Recently, I watched “Fan Fiction” and the contrast between the show now and the show then … it was painful. There are still good moments sometimes. There are even some beautiful shots. But the FEEL is gone. They don’t know what the show is about anymore (I mean, how on earth can you MISS what it’s ABOUT? Two guys in a car fighting monsters. Like, how do you lose track of THAT?) I hate being negative. Sorry.
The Americans, Seasons 1 – 6
It was streaming on Prime, so I thought, “Whatevs, let’s watch the pilot.” Forget it, I was hooked. It just worked out that I was able to binge the whole thing just in time to watch the finale of the whole series this past week. What an experience this whole thing was. Eventually I need to write about Allison Wright’s performance as poor Martha. It is epic. Truly. But they’re all excellent. I loved every episode. Very very strong sustained piece of work.
The Tale (2018; d. Jennifer Fox)
Really good, and really disturbing. I highly recommend it. I reviewed for Ebert.
Leave No Trace (2018; d. Debra Granik)
Will be reviewing for Ebert.
Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist (2018; d. Trey Borzillieri, Barbara Schroeder)
A 4-part thing on Netflix. I watched, but it just didn’t grab me.
Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton (2017; d. Rory Kennedy)
Rory Kennedy usually takes on pretty weighty topics … but as this film goes on, you can see the appeal. Laird Hamilton is not an easy guy. He’s not a cool dude surfer. He is a single-minded obsessive. I’ve been mildly into him for years, mainly because I have ZERO desire to do what he does. NEVER. NOPE. NEVER. And so I’m fascinated by someone who wants to do what he does. I really enjoyed this documentary. It’s in-depth. A character study.
The Mountain Between Us (2017; d. Hany Abu-Assad)
Oh my goodness, it was so bad! I was embarrassed! And from Abu-Assad? Director of Paradise Now and Omar?? What on earth is going on?
Touching the Void (2003; d. Kevin Macdonald)
An incredible film based on an incredible book. I’ve seen this multiple times, read the book multiple times. See above comment in re: Laird Hamilton. I have NO desire to do what these guys do. Hence, the fascination.
The Heat (2013; d. Paul Feig)
I reviewed for Ebert. If Hollywood made any sense whatsoever, this would have become a franchise.
Bridesmaids (2011; d. Paul Feig)
It never gets old.
Supernatural, Season 10, episode 5 “Fan Fiction” (2014; d. Philip Sgriccia)
I popped this in randomly one night. It made me cry. It’s perfect. The episode does what it needs to do while sacrificing nothing. It tells a good story. It loops in the fans. It’s raw and emotional but also hilarious. It’s filled with a sense of mourning, but mourning so sweet it’s become a pleasant ache. It was wild to watch it right after Season 13 ended (and Season 13 wasn’t as bad as Season 12): “Fan Fiction” was a stark reminder of how it’s not the same show anymore, and I have been seriously grading on a curve, due to my loyalty and willingness to see the positive. But seriously. It’s really over. Sorry. #toughtalk
Missing Mom (2016; d. Robert McCallum, Jordan Christopher Morris)
I tripped over this while searching for a documentary to watch. It’s pretty bare bones, in terms of film-making, but it’s a riveting story.
The Quest of Alain Ducasse (2017; d. Gilles de Maistre)
I saw this because I showed up at a screening room on Wednesday morning only to realize that I had gone to the wrong screening room. The movie I was supposed to see was downtown. So whatever, I went into whatever was being screened for the press. I’m not sure if there’s an embargo on this so I won’t say anything.
Adrift (2018; d. Baltasar Kormákur)
Reviewed for Ebert. This has been a month of watching people do things I have no desire to do: surfing 100-foot waves, climbing mountains, and sailing.
