{"id":140720,"date":"2018-12-03T10:50:39","date_gmt":"2018-12-03T15:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=140720"},"modified":"2021-03-21T08:43:52","modified_gmt":"2021-03-21T12:43:52","slug":"november-2018-viewing-diary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=140720","title":{"rendered":"November 2018 Viewing Diary"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><em>Mr. Soul!<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Melissa Haizlip)<br \/>\nThe opening night film of Indie Memphis, which already feels like it was 20 years ago. I wrote about it briefly in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/festivals-and-awards\/a-look-back-at-the-2018-indie-memphis-film-festival\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">my recap of the festival for Ebert<\/a>. It&#8217;s a gorgeous film. <\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xpfLkuWdMeI\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Supernatural<\/em><\/strong>, Season 14, episode 4, &#8220;Mint Condition&#8221; (2018; d. Amyn Kaderali)<br \/>\nI enjoyed this episode a lot. It had a fresh and funny energy, with a lot of inventive sequences. I take what I can get these days.<\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_phhxtzVcOU1rstq9ro4_540.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_phhxtzVcOU1rstq9ro4_540.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"265\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141648\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Shoot the Moon Right Between the Eyes<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Graham Carter)<br \/>\nAnother treat from the Indie Memphis festival (which I also wrote about at the link above). We really loved this movie. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/content_shoot-moon-image-.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/content_shoot-moon-image-.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"539\" height=\"400\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141649\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/content_shoot-moon-image-.jpg 539w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/content_shoot-moon-image--100x74.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/content_shoot-moon-image--200x148.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/content_shoot-moon-image--400x297.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 539px) 100vw, 539px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>If Beale Street Could Talk<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Barry Jenkins)<br \/>\nThe regional premiere of Barry Jenkins&#8217; highly anticipated followup to Best Picture winner, <i>Moonlight<\/i>. I attended with John Belfuss, a reporter for the Memphis <i>Commercial Appeal<\/i>, and Robert Gordon &#8211; whom I met that night &#8211; he was going to be introducing my Elvis talk, so we had a little pow-wow beforehand. Seeing <i>Beale Street<\/i> for the first time &#8211; in MEMPHIS no less &#8211; was really special (even though, of course, James Baldwin&#8217;s book does not take place in Memphis). Barry Jenkins was unable to attend, and he sent this beautiful video message to all of us, played before the screening. The place was packed. They had to bring in more chairs. I loved the film, AND congratulations to Regina King &#8211; whom I have adored ever since <i>Jerry Maguire<\/i> (&#8220;My life does not WORK without him!&#8221; Sob!) &#8211; for winning <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiewire.com\/2018\/11\/new-york-film-critics-circle-2018-awards-winners-1202023917\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Best Supporting Actress in the NYFCC Awards<\/a>. It was a pretty exciting moment &#8220;in the room&#8221; when the votes were tallied, showing that she won &#8211; evidence of everyone&#8217;s love of her work, her career as a whole, and the fact that she will be recognized for her performance in this. She&#8217;s such a fantastic actress. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/regina2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/regina2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/regina2.jpg 620w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/regina2-100x58.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/regina2-200x116.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/regina2-400x232.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Hitchhiker<\/em><\/strong> (1953; d. Ida Lupino)<br \/>\nI re-watched this gripping gritty thriller in preparation for the Film Comment podcast &#8211; subject: Ida Lupino, actress and director. It&#8217;s SO good. If you haven&#8217;t seen it, what are you waiting for? <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/the-hitchhiker-1953_43adc.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/the-hitchhiker-1953_43adc.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"333\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141651\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Roadhouse<\/em><\/strong> (1948; d. Jean Negulesco)<br \/>\nGod, I love this weird movie. Starring Ida Lupino, Cornel Wilde, Richard Widmark and Celeste Holm. A murderer&#8217;s row. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-2.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-2.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"245\" height=\"240\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141654\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Wild Life<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Paul Dano)<br \/>\nThis is a wonderful movie. There&#8217;s a sort of <i>What Maisie Knew<\/i> vibe, parental discord as seen through the eyes of a child (although Maisie is younger than the boy here. The boy here knows enough to see what is going on). Beautifully shot. An auspicious directorial debut from Paul Dano. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_p97spj3NwA1qd2pfqo5_500.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_p97spj3NwA1qd2pfqo5_500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"257\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141655\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Other Side of the Wind<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Orson Welles)<br \/>\nWhat is there to even be said? 40 years in the making. Orson Welles&#8217; final film, which he had obsessed over, tried to find funding for, kept coming back to. A legendary project, with reels basically held hostage by the Iranian government, which &#8230; only Orson Welles would get himself into such a situation. But with the hard work and devotion of a number of people, the film has been put together &#8211; trying to honor Welles&#8217; wishes &#8230; An extraordinary project. I almost couldn&#8217;t believe I was sitting down to watch a NEW ORSON WELLES movie. I got very emotional. Even better, it&#8217;s phenomenal. So ahead of its time it takes your breath away. He saw where we were going. Filmed on all different kinds of &#8220;stock&#8221; &#8211; it&#8217;s a film from the POV of the many paparazzi\/documentary &#8220;film-makers&#8221; following the famous director (played by John Huston) around. (It is for this reason that it has taken so long to put this film together. Only now &#8211; with digital innovations &#8211; could all of this different kind of film be put together.) If you haven&#8217;t heard much about it, then &#8230; first of all, where have you been? But second of all, there&#8217;s been a ton of commentary on it, as well as two new documentaries. It gives good background about this project, and Welles&#8217; desperate attempt to finish it. Well, here it is. Finished. Is it what he would have wanted? How can we know? He had put together much of it already, and left copious notes and shooting scripts and all the rest, all of which were pored over obsessively. Much thanks to Frank Marshall is in order, who was very instrumental in seeing this project through (Marshall had been an assistant on the original shoot). The film is on Netflix now. You really must see it. It&#8217;s incredible. I am so grateful it exists now. <\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O5AgJUlrwHE\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>A Final Cut for Orson: 40 Years in the Making<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Ryan Suffern)<br \/>\nOn the Netflix page of <i>Other Side of the Wind<\/i>, if you click on &#8220;Trailers&#8221;, you&#8217;ll get to this. It&#8217;s a little bit buried but it is so worth watching. It gives the background of the project. Watch this before you watch the movie. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Other-Side-of-the-Wind-still-Orson-700x368.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Other-Side-of-the-Wind-still-Orson-700x368.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"700\" height=\"368\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141658\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Other-Side-of-the-Wind-still-Orson-700x368.jpeg 700w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Other-Side-of-the-Wind-still-Orson-700x368-100x53.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Other-Side-of-the-Wind-still-Orson-700x368-200x105.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The-Other-Side-of-the-Wind-still-Orson-700x368-400x210.jpeg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Roma<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Alfonso Cuar\u00f3n)<br \/>\nThis is a must-see. We voted it Best Picture at NYFCC. Not best FOREIGN film, but Best Picture. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_pcfgy1Cw6V1qa3emao1_540.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_pcfgy1Cw6V1qa3emao1_540.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141660\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Homecoming<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Sam Esmail)<br \/>\nThis series was very very enjoyable. Stylized like a 1970s paranoid thriller, it features Julia Roberts in a role which doesn&#8217;t allow her to do the things she normally does &#8211; rely on her natural charm, charisma, humor &#8211; none of that would be appropriate for the character &#8211; which is very very interesting, and makes this an interesting &#8211; and daring &#8211; choice for her. She doesn&#8217;t get to be confident, funny. She ALSO doesn&#8217;t get to be &#8220;the smartest person in the room&#8221; &#8211; always part of her persona as an actress. She has to play a woman cowed by forces larger than her, a woman who is always 5 or 6 steps behind events, someone who literally does not know what has happened to her. She&#8217;s wonderful! It took me a couple of episodes to succumb to the series&#8217; mode &#8211; which is rather silly, honestly &#8211; but I really liked it. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/bientot-sur-amazon.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/bientot-sur-amazon.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141662\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Deadwood<\/em><\/strong>, Season 1, episodes 1 &#8211; 6 (2004)<br \/>\nI have never seen it. I know, I know. I didn&#8217;t have HBO at the time, and have never gotten around to catching up. Until now. My friend Keith, who ushered me through <i>The X-Files<\/i> and <i>Millennium<\/i> is now binge-watching <i>Deadwood<\/i> with me. We are really good binge-watch buddies. We watched 6 episodes on our first get-together and then I had to wait two weeks for our second meet-up. I almost cheated. Yes, I know, I am late to the party. People have been telling me to watch <i>Deadwood<\/i> since 2004. And now I understand. The acting is so phenomenal, the characters are all so well-drawn and &#8230; the whole thing is in iambic pentameter? WHAT. I&#8217;m obsessed. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_ovq47tfjK21vydtjzo1_1280.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_ovq47tfjK21vydtjzo1_1280.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141664\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Tehran Taboo<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Ali Soozandeh)<br \/>\nAn extremely bleak animated film about life in Tehran, and all the taboos (too many to count), and how people get around them &#8211; not for pleasure&#8217;s sake, but for survival. It&#8217;s brutal. Beautifully done. <\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xUnSemNTycE\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Monrovia, Indiana<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Frederick Wiseman)<br \/>\nThe new documentary from the masterful Wiseman. It&#8217;s amazing. It&#8217;s been a year of incredible documentaries. This is one of the best. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-3.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-3.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141665\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>They&#8217;ll Love Me When I&#8217;m Dead<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Morgan Neville)<br \/>\nThis is the SECOND documentary about Orson Welles&#8217; <i>The Other Side of the Wind<\/i>, also on Netflix, and also essential. <\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H_kOsnGzfYY\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Supernatural<\/em><\/strong>, Season 15, episode 5 &#8220;Nightmare Logic&#8221; (2018; d. Darren Grant)<br \/>\nTruly embarrassing. One of the worst episodes in recent &#8211; or even lengthier &#8211; memory. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_phx3cmW1na1xzlpm7o2_400.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_phx3cmW1na1xzlpm7o2_400.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141667\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Amazing Grace<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Sydney Pollack)<br \/>\nAnother doc decades in the making. What a year!! If you&#8217;re not aware of the backstory: In 1972, Aretha Franklin &#8211; at the height of her fame &#8211; recorded a live gospel album. To this day, it&#8217;s a high watermark in gospel recordings, AND in her career. Sydney Pollack filmed the concert. BUT &#8211; and how is this possible &#8211; the sound was not synced up. He had somehow forgotten to use the clapper. So the footage has sat in a vault for almost 50 years. Franklin herself did not want the film to be seen, for various reasons (it&#8217;s been talked about obsessively. Google is your friend). Once she died, it was time to basically ignore her wishes, and a producer &#8211; Alan Elliott &#8211; headed up the project to get the sound synced, and the film completed. It&#8217;s being given a short theatrical run (only in LA and NY, I think) to qualify for awards, but eventually it will hit streaming platforms and trust me when I tell you: you have GOT to see this. There were moments where I felt like I literally stopped breathing, her performance is so deep and raw and transcendent. Seriously, so many times I&#8217;d think to myself, &#8220;Okay, that was clearly the climax of the song, because it was so intense I almost can&#8217;t bear it&#8221; &#8230; and then she&#8217;d go to yet ANOTHER level. Do not miss this one. <\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BA6lBW3R__M\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>You &#038; Me<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Alexander Baack)<br \/>\nA film being released on streaming platforms TOMORROW. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=141291\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">I interviewed the director about it<\/a>. It&#8217;s beautiful. <\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/270779323\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Rider<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Chlo\u00e9 Zhao)<br \/>\nThis is in my Top 5 of 2018. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The_Rider2_533_300_70.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The_Rider2_533_300_70.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"533\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141668\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The_Rider2_533_300_70.jpeg 533w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The_Rider2_533_300_70-100x56.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The_Rider2_533_300_70-200x113.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/The_Rider2_533_300_70-400x225.jpeg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Write When You Get Work<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Stacy Cochran)<br \/>\nSome really interesting stuff here, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/write-when-you-get-work-2018\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">I reviewed for Ebert<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-4.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-4.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"192\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141669\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Juliet, Naked<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Jesse Peretz)<br \/>\nI really enjoyed this! <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Dg4OoWPWAAAz3O5.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Dg4OoWPWAAAz3O5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"633\" height=\"356\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141670\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Dg4OoWPWAAAz3O5.jpg 633w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Dg4OoWPWAAAz3O5-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Dg4OoWPWAAAz3O5-200x112.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Dg4OoWPWAAAz3O5-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Love &#038; Mercy<\/em><\/strong> (2014; d. Bill Pohlad)<br \/>\nGod, I love this movie. I&#8217;ve watched it many times at this point. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=103933\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Wrote about it here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/8Sv7.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/8Sv7.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"303\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141671\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Land of Steady Habits<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Nicole Holofcener)<br \/>\nI love Holofcener&#8217;s work so much. It&#8217;s detailed, it&#8217;s observant, it&#8217;s funny too. Her latest is pretty bleak, moving into John Cheever territory. A guy, a &#8220;winner,&#8221; who made a killing on Wall Street, has retired early and has completely exploded his life. On purpose. Ben Mendelsohn is great as a guy who is OLD to be this lost, to be this &#8230; silly, really. But this is what happens. He can&#8217;t be married, so he left his wife, and yet he can&#8217;t stop himself from stopping by, going to visit. The habits of the title are the habits engrained in him, the habit of marriage but also the habit of indiscriminate unsatisfying sex with others. It&#8217;s depressing in the same way John Cheever is depressing. Catharsis really isn&#8217;t on the table. I loved it. On Netflix now.<\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZbKDFMW8hGE\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Miseducation of Cameron Post<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Desiree Akhavan)<br \/>\nTwo movies about gay conversion therapy in one year (the other one being <i>Boy Erased<\/i>). Of the two, this is the one to see. Jennifer Ehle is the stuff of nightmares. Very very effective, and really goes at the underlying pathology of those who ran organizations such as Love in Action. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-5.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-5.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141672\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Magic Mike XXL<\/em><\/strong> (2015; d. Gregory Jacobs)<br \/>\nOne of my favorite movies of the last 20 years. I had such a strong response to it I think I saw it 3 times in the movie theatre. And wondered if it would &#8220;hold up.&#8221; It does. Men who haven&#8217;t seen this movie because it doesn&#8217;t seem like it&#8217;s &#8220;for them&#8221; (it&#8217;s more for YOU then it is for US, by the way: we already KNOW all this stuff) &#8211; or who scoff at it, or who don&#8217;t get it &#8211; need to really listen to what other people have to say about it, and then try to open your mind. You will have no excuse then if you still say baffled shit like &#8220;what the hell do women want&#8221;. Maybe to be treated with affection, maybe to have our happiness taken into consideration, maybe to not be punished for wanting sex with you or whoever else? It&#8217;s not rocket science. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-6.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-6.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"540\" height=\"224\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141673\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Supernatural<\/em><\/strong>, Season 15, episode 6 &#8220;Optimism&#8221; (2018; d. Richard Speight Jr.)<br \/>\nThis had many enjoyable aspects, and Speight has shown himself to be one of the most talented directors on staff. I mean, I watch &#8220;Just My Imagination&#8221; all the time. It&#8217;s perfect. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"200\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141674\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Black Panther<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Ryan Coogler)<br \/>\nEnd of year means screeners start piling up in my mailbox. I hadn&#8217;t seen this in the theatre so I was catching up. It&#8217;s so much fun. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/doramilaje_01.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/doramilaje_01.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141676\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Never Look Away<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck)<br \/>\nA wonderful new film from the director of <i>The Lives of Others<\/i>: a sweeping panorama of life in East Germany spanning the years 1937 to 1968 or something like that. Based somewhat on the life of painter Gerhard Richter. I loved it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/never-look-away-2018\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">My review is up at Ebert.<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/43393-werk_ohne_autor_-_florian_henckel_von_donnersmarck___2018_buena_vista_international_pergamon_film_wiedemann___berg_film__film_still_-1-e1543850388494.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/43393-werk_ohne_autor_-_florian_henckel_von_donnersmarck___2018_buena_vista_international_pergamon_film_wiedemann___berg_film__film_still_-1-e1543850388494.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141677\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Lives of Others<\/em><\/strong> (2006; d. Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck)<br \/>\nA re-watch in preparation for my review of <i>Never Look Away<\/i>. It&#8217;s such an extraordinary film.<\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hqlp3RR.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/Hqlp3RR.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"211\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141678\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n<strong><em>Cold War<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Pawel Pawlikowski)<br \/>\nThe follow-up to his celebrated (understatement) film <i>Ida<\/i>. <i>Cold War<\/i> looks at the history of Poland during the &#8220;cold war&#8221; through the lens of popular music (which also played a big part in <i>Ida<\/i>, if you recall). A fascinating look at the Politburo&#8217;s &#8220;campaign&#8221; to elevate Polish &#8220;folk music&#8221; basically to show &#8230; happy peasants frolicking in traditional dress &#8230; as part of the propaganda for their Socialist Utopia. See how everyone is happy? The film is much more than that. It&#8217;s also a love story. And the impossibility of life under the regime in Poland, pre-1989. Stunning black and white cinematography. I loved it. We gave this Best Foreign Film at NYFCC. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-7.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/giphy-7.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"712\" height=\"530\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141679\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\n<strong><em>Shoplifters<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Hirokazu Koreeda)<br \/>\nThis movie, people, this movie &#8230; I cannot get it out of my head. In my Top 10 of 2018. Great great film. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shoplifters.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shoplifters.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"780\" height=\"520\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shoplifters.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shoplifters-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shoplifters-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shoplifters-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/shoplifters-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Guilty<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Gustav M\u00f6ller)<br \/>\nWhat an amazing film. Similar to <i>Locke<\/i> (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=94864\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">wrote about it here<\/a>), which featured Tom Hardy in a tour de force performance, managing multiple crises from his car phone. No other human beings appear in it, just their voices on the other end. In <i>The Guilty<\/i>, a disgraced cop &#8211; demoted to emergency dispatch call center &#8211; gets a call from a woman who claims she has been kidnapped. He tries to help. The entire film takes place in one room, and while there are other characters in the background &#8211; he is the focus. You never see the woman on the other end, or the many many other people he calls to try to manage the situation. Jakob Cedergren is phenomenal. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/jakob-cedergren-the-guilty-02-600x350.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/jakob-cedergren-the-guilty-02-600x350.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"350\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141682\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/jakob-cedergren-the-guilty-02-600x350.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/jakob-cedergren-the-guilty-02-600x350-100x58.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/jakob-cedergren-the-guilty-02-600x350-200x117.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/jakob-cedergren-the-guilty-02-600x350-400x233.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath<\/em><\/strong>, Season 3, episode 1 (2018)<br \/>\nSeason 3 up and running. I admire so much what she is doing. I can&#8217;t even believe it is happening, to be honest. <\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Ballad of Buster Scruggs<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. The Coen brothers)<br \/>\nI&#8217;ve seen it twice now. The first viewing, I was so taken with the chapter called &#8220;The Gal Who Got Rattled&#8221; it overtook my response, especially in regards to the final &#8220;chapter.&#8221; I was missing some of the subtleties. It was necessary to go back and watch a second time. The second viewing was almost more gratifying, since I could settle in and notice the details. Not just that, but also feel the Arc of the overall thing &#8211; which is very strong, even though I couldn&#8217;t really FEEL said Arc on first viewing. I really love this film. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs-official-trailer-hd-netflix_gif1.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs-official-trailer-hd-netflix_gif1.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141683\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>The Favourite<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Yorgos Lanthimos)<br \/>\nI loved it. Lanthimos brings up strong responses in people. This may be his best, his most assured. It&#8217;s kind of crazy, too. Olivia Colman is extraordinary. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_pblsquy4ZD1wz33jfo1_500.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tumblr_pblsquy4ZD1wz33jfo1_500.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"436\" height=\"436\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141684\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Vice<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Adam McKay)<br \/>\nWent to the screening at SVA, with Adam McKay, Amy Adams (and a host of others) in attendance. I loved <i>The Big Short<\/i>. There are moments in this I enjoyed (the Shakespeare scene, the false ending), but in general, I didn&#8217;t really care for it. I know I&#8217;ve told this story before, but my uncle punched Dick Cheney in the face for being a drunk asshole in the O&#8217;Malley home. I am proud of this. It was actually an O&#8217;Malley brothers brawl, my dad included &#8211; as they all basically threw him out into the street, like, &#8220;Go the fuck home, drunkie.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/vice-movie-christian-bale-2-1542970442.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/vice-movie-christian-bale-2-1542970442.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"279\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141685\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/vice-movie-christian-bale-2-1542970442.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/vice-movie-christian-bale-2-1542970442-100x58.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/vice-movie-christian-bale-2-1542970442-200x116.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/vice-movie-christian-bale-2-1542970442-400x233.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Supernatural<\/em><\/strong>, Season 15, episode 7 &#8220;Unhuman Nature&#8221; (2018; d. John F. Showalter)<br \/>\nI liked a lot of this, in particular the Jack\/Dean scenes. And the Impala getting shown off. There&#8217;s so much that is &#8211; on almost a cellular level &#8211; wrong with this show now, so much that&#8217;s &#8220;off&#8221; &#8230; it&#8217;s sometimes hard to hang in there. All I see are missed opportunities. And again with the Supernatural Tuberculosis? But there were some good scenes here. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/14x07x4.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/14x07x4.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"222\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141686\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Boy Erased<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Joel Edgerton)<br \/>\nThis is what happens when a heterosexual Australian makes a movie about a gay American kid. Nope. No sense of critique of the underlying sinister nature of conversion therapy (see <i>Miseducation of Cameron Post<\/i>, written by a queer author, directed by a bisexual director &#8211; these things don&#8217;t ALWAYS matter, but sometimes, boy, they do), and no sense of who the hell this boy is. The parents are let off the hook, and this wasn&#8217;t helped by the shallow performances of Crowe and Kidman (it hurts me to say this, they&#8217;re usually so good). Everything was bleak and dark and grim. Yes, a grim story, but again, see <i>Cameron Post<\/i> to see a more human treatment. Edgerton is a total outsider in every way, and it shows in the movie. I&#8217;ve liked his work before. This is a misfire. <\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tenor.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/tenor.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"266\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141688\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>What Haunts Us<\/em><\/strong> (2018; d. Paige Tolmach)<br \/>\nOne of the screeners that arrived in my mailbox this month. Popped it in just to check it out. It&#8217;s a powerful piece of work, upsetting, infuriating, very well done. <\/p>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7xQZDiDkaRk\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Deadwood<\/em><\/strong>, Season 1, episodes 6 &#8211; 12 (2004)<br \/>\nSpent the day, again, over at Keith&#8217;s, watching the final 6 episodes of season 1, with Kyle, another huge fan of the series. The rain poured down outside, and I was just so sucked into this Deadwood world, these people! I was in tears OFTEN (the final shot of Season 1. STOP IT.) We already have our date for Season 2 binge-watch. I&#8217;m beside myself. It&#8217;s so good. I am late to the party, AS ALWAYS. But at least I got here eventually!<\/p>\n<p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/UbtUdto.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/UbtUdto.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"320\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-141690\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mr. Soul! (2018; d. Melissa Haizlip) The opening night film of Indie Memphis, which already feels like it was 20 years ago. I wrote about it briefly in my recap of the festival for Ebert. It&#8217;s a gorgeous film. Supernatural, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/?p=140720\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2627,4,31],"tags":[1357,2221,2493,2368,1492,2395,14,1255,2433,2345,1577,2328,107,316,2263,1285,2637],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140720"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=140720"}],"version-history":[{"count":52,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140720\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158404,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140720\/revisions\/158404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=140720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=140720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sheilaomalley.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=140720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}