I saw 30 movies in February: One film festival, 2 shorts, 9 documentaries, 18 narrative films, and most of a movie marathon. Even though I saw What We Do In The Shadows 3 times, it wasn't my favourite flick. That would be Dog Day Afternoon - one of my 9 rewatches, first time seeing it in a theatre though. 50 Shades of Grey is my worst movie of the month, maybe ever. It's super bad and not in that good campy way. Though it has the possibility to get elevated to a great comic experience if people get clever with comeback lines. I don't see that happening except in a rifftrax way. That would make it watchable. It's a well made movie with pretty people, and great locations, just it's brain dead and offensive on a dialogue/plot level. Even with the advantages of AVX size, I came very close to ditching the tedious show, and I regret that I contributed to its box office take.
I was super excited about the 24 Hour Movie Marathon that The Cinematheque put on, but as it unfolded and yet another movie I'd already scene came on screen, (of the 15 films they showed, I'd seen 12), I lost my enthusiasm. It's to be expected, maintaining attention over 24 hours is a dicey proposition to begin with, but especially when you get tired, it's harder to care about or stay awake if it's a story you already know. I wish they'd shown better movies at the end. I had to stand up to get through Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure without falling asleep.
I really liked what programming I caught at The Toronto Black Film Festival. Specifically, the documentary, "Sound of Torture", about the kidnapping of Eritreans in The Sinai desert, and "Ninah's Dowry", a narrative about a Cameroon woman in an abusive relationship that illuminated the societal aspects supporting that abuse, were both especially captivating and harrowing.
AIDependence, about the plethora of NGO's operating in Haiti was an eye opener around the negative consequences and self serving nature of charitable enterprises.
Here's my list, rewatches in italics.
Vancouver Asahi
This is a highly entertaining and educational movie, even if you don't like baseball. It's so well done with super high production values. They recreate Vancouver's Japantown in a seamless fashion. The racism that the Japanese people had to deal with is hard to watch though.
Through A Lens Darkly
Great documentary about Black identity through the medium of portrait photography. It also played at The Toronto Black Film Festival.
Keep On Keepin' On
Clark Terry mentors a blind musician. Super music doc!!
Dog Day Afternoon
I saw this in Toronto as part of the Cineplex Classics. It was great getting to see this on a big screen. Al Pacino is so good in this, plays such a likeable psycho guy.
Project Almanac
Omg such a dumb movie. Kids doing idiotic stuff when they find a time machine.
Jupiter Ascending
I had high hopes for this since it was made by the Wachowski's but it's a serious disappointment. I fell asleep during it. :(
Wild Card
Solid man movie entertainments. A remake of Heat (1986), starring Las Vegas!! (and Jason Statham), based on a William Goldman novel/screenplay.
Toronto Black Film Festival
Growing Up Positive
Contrast of 2 young women, one black and one white, and their respective experiences growing up HIV positive.
Sewing Hope: The Story of Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe
Uganda's Civil War created soooo many orphans. Sister Rosemary set up a training school to help some of these young women. Narrated by Forest Whitaker.
AIDependence: The Many Ills of the NGO system
Charities are self serving opportunistic drains on poor nations.
Betty's Blues
Awesome music and super cool animation!
Ninah's Dowry
This movie was hard to watch. Women are chattel still in Cameroon. Well done.
Sound Of Torture
This documentary made me cry. The failure of the world at large in responding to this Eritrean tragedy is unconscionable.
What We Do In The Shadows
Funnest fauxmentary ever!!
What We Do In The Shadows
The Wrecking Crew
Doc on the session musicians responsible for most every good song made in the US in the 60's though to the 80's.
The Girl Who Walks Alone At Night
Style and ennui for days.
True Romance
Glad I got to see this on a big screen. Dennis Hopper reminds me of my dad in this soooo much. I love you daddy!!
King: A Filmed Record...Montgomery to Memphis
Racism is fucked up. Really good historical doc. Watch this if you want to see the real story behind Selma.
Nightcrawler
This should have got some kind of Oscar nod. Best breakdown of capitalist tropes and the snakes that get ahead since Wolf of Wall Street.
50 Shades Of Grey
Bad, bad movie. The makers of this should be punished.
The Lazurus Effect
Well made and entertaining horror with SF trappings, if predictable and trite. Nothing you ain't seen before. Think Flatliners + Event Horizon - space.
What We Do In The Shadows
The Duff
Solid teen romantic comedy in the vein of John Hughes. Like Mean Girls or Easy A, takes on the clique system and bullying in high school with aplomb.
24 Hour Movie Marathon
Groundhog Day
One of Bill Murray's best roles. Nice to see it on a big screen.
Memento
Was good to see this on a big screen, but watching the terrible drama unfold knowing the outcome, is much worse than puzzling it out cold.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
More silly teen time travel. Super romantic - I'm sure its target audience appreciates it though.
Primer
Watching it again, knowing the time travel aspect, I appreciated this more as an explication of the interpersonal politics of start up businesses.
Orlando
This was my favourite view of the marathon. It's super gorgeous and interesting on more than just a narrative level. Metafeminist happenings abound.
A Brief History of Time
I ducked out for some of this to get Subway. Good companion piece to The Theory of Everything in terms of showing more of Hawking's life, but it doesn't cover his latest theorizing.
I was super excited about the 24 Hour Movie Marathon that The Cinematheque put on, but as it unfolded and yet another movie I'd already scene came on screen, (of the 15 films they showed, I'd seen 12), I lost my enthusiasm. It's to be expected, maintaining attention over 24 hours is a dicey proposition to begin with, but especially when you get tired, it's harder to care about or stay awake if it's a story you already know. I wish they'd shown better movies at the end. I had to stand up to get through Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure without falling asleep.
I really liked what programming I caught at The Toronto Black Film Festival. Specifically, the documentary, "Sound of Torture", about the kidnapping of Eritreans in The Sinai desert, and "Ninah's Dowry", a narrative about a Cameroon woman in an abusive relationship that illuminated the societal aspects supporting that abuse, were both especially captivating and harrowing.
AIDependence, about the plethora of NGO's operating in Haiti was an eye opener around the negative consequences and self serving nature of charitable enterprises.
Here's my list, rewatches in italics.
Vancouver Asahi
This is a highly entertaining and educational movie, even if you don't like baseball. It's so well done with super high production values. They recreate Vancouver's Japantown in a seamless fashion. The racism that the Japanese people had to deal with is hard to watch though.
Through A Lens Darkly
Great documentary about Black identity through the medium of portrait photography. It also played at The Toronto Black Film Festival.
Keep On Keepin' On
Clark Terry mentors a blind musician. Super music doc!!
Dog Day Afternoon
I saw this in Toronto as part of the Cineplex Classics. It was great getting to see this on a big screen. Al Pacino is so good in this, plays such a likeable psycho guy.
Project Almanac
Omg such a dumb movie. Kids doing idiotic stuff when they find a time machine.
Jupiter Ascending
I had high hopes for this since it was made by the Wachowski's but it's a serious disappointment. I fell asleep during it. :(
Wild Card
Solid man movie entertainments. A remake of Heat (1986), starring Las Vegas!! (and Jason Statham), based on a William Goldman novel/screenplay.
Toronto Black Film Festival
Growing Up Positive
Contrast of 2 young women, one black and one white, and their respective experiences growing up HIV positive.
Sewing Hope: The Story of Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe
Uganda's Civil War created soooo many orphans. Sister Rosemary set up a training school to help some of these young women. Narrated by Forest Whitaker.
AIDependence: The Many Ills of the NGO system
Charities are self serving opportunistic drains on poor nations.
Betty's Blues
Awesome music and super cool animation!
Ninah's Dowry
This movie was hard to watch. Women are chattel still in Cameroon. Well done.
Sound Of Torture
This documentary made me cry. The failure of the world at large in responding to this Eritrean tragedy is unconscionable.
What We Do In The Shadows
Funnest fauxmentary ever!!
What We Do In The Shadows
The Wrecking Crew
Doc on the session musicians responsible for most every good song made in the US in the 60's though to the 80's.
The Girl Who Walks Alone At Night
Style and ennui for days.
True Romance
Glad I got to see this on a big screen. Dennis Hopper reminds me of my dad in this soooo much. I love you daddy!!
King: A Filmed Record...Montgomery to Memphis
Racism is fucked up. Really good historical doc. Watch this if you want to see the real story behind Selma.
Nightcrawler
This should have got some kind of Oscar nod. Best breakdown of capitalist tropes and the snakes that get ahead since Wolf of Wall Street.
50 Shades Of Grey
Bad, bad movie. The makers of this should be punished.
The Lazurus Effect
Well made and entertaining horror with SF trappings, if predictable and trite. Nothing you ain't seen before. Think Flatliners + Event Horizon - space.
What We Do In The Shadows
The Duff
Solid teen romantic comedy in the vein of John Hughes. Like Mean Girls or Easy A, takes on the clique system and bullying in high school with aplomb.
24 Hour Movie Marathon
Groundhog Day
One of Bill Murray's best roles. Nice to see it on a big screen.
Memento
Was good to see this on a big screen, but watching the terrible drama unfold knowing the outcome, is much worse than puzzling it out cold.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
More silly teen time travel. Super romantic - I'm sure its target audience appreciates it though.
Primer
Watching it again, knowing the time travel aspect, I appreciated this more as an explication of the interpersonal politics of start up businesses.
Orlando
This was my favourite view of the marathon. It's super gorgeous and interesting on more than just a narrative level. Metafeminist happenings abound.
A Brief History of Time
I ducked out for some of this to get Subway. Good companion piece to The Theory of Everything in terms of showing more of Hawking's life, but it doesn't cover his latest theorizing.
