12 Days of Movies part 12

Here it is, the 12th day of movies I loved this year. Since I skipped today (in order to keep continuity and create suspense) I offer you 2 movies I loved in one blog! YES! a two-fer!

Crazy Rich Asians (2018) Warner Bros.

Crazy Rich Asians was smart, charming, very funny, and didn't star a single white person (sorry, white people) and crushed it at the box office. Again, with NO WHITE PEOPLE. Anyone who said no one would see a romcom with an all Asian cast (or almost entirely black cast in the case of Black Panther) needs to step into this century. Movie making, like the world we live in, needs to continue being diverse. More people of color, queers, trans folks, and women, please. Keep it coming.

Suspiria (2018) Amazon Studios

Which brings me to Suspiria. Oh, what do I say about a movie that held me spellbound for two and a half hours? The look and feel of this film captivated me. I will admit the style overtakes the substance of this film, but for me that is all right. One could say this film is about the hypnotic and destructive power of dance, or Nazism, or terrorism or maybe even good ol' witchcraft (I've heard all of these things mentioned and more!) But for me, this film is about women- the bonds between them as mother and daughter and as sisters. The closeness and the rivalries. Also- lesbian intrigue. Also- wigs. Those wigs, y'all.

So, basically, witchcraft!

12 Days of Movies part 11

The Favourite (2018) Fox Searchlight

I just got home from seeing the Yorgos Lanthimos' latest film, The Favourite and I have to say, it is probably one of my favorite films of the year. Wickedly funny, indecent at times, unexpected- all trademarks of Lanthimos' films-  not to mention a visual feast for the eyes for both costume and production design as well as some wild cinematography. The acting by Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone is some of the best of the year. I will add, there are so many slaps. I love movie slaps!

I dare not spoil the plot because really, the less you know going in, the better. I just want y'all to go see this movie!

12 Days of Movies part 10

Thoroughbreds (2018) Focus Features

As we get closer to the end of this list I am making, I find myself writing shorter and shorter blogs. By the time we get to day 12 I might just write "I LOVED THIS MOVIE". I guess this is all probably due to the zillion things I am trying to accomplish before Christmas arrives. Enough of my grumbling.

Thoroughbreds was one of my favorite films of this past year. I stand by what I said back when I saw it: This film is darkly comical and psychologically twisted. It's clever and original and everything about it was done so, so well. I wrote more about it in an early blog, if you care to read it, here is the link

12 Days of Movies part 9

Hereditary (2018) A24

Hereditary is a film that really made my year. I love horror, as anyone who has read this blog knows. But my favorite films aren't just "scary". They fill me with dread. They create an atmosphere that infiltrates my brain and stays there until well after I have left the theater. This movie did that, both times I saw it. One of the best piece of acting of the whole year comes from Toni Collette,  as well as some excellent acting from costars Alex Wolff and Milly Shapiro. This movie is original, unsettling, and absolutely incredible. I wrote about it back when I saw it this summer and you can read about that here if you want a little more detail.

12 Days of Movies part 8

Halloween (2018) Blumhouse/Miramax

I was skeptical about the new Halloween when it was first announced, but I knew in my heart I'd go see it. Moments in, all my worries about it being bad melted away. The score, the style, Jamie Lee Curtis as grandma Laurie Strode dealing with the PTSD of surviving Michael Myers. It was as much an action film as it was a horror movie.  David Gordon Green and Danny McBride got it pretty right, and I especially loved the little homages to the first film (and its sequels, even if they "didn't count").  This was just fun, and JLC kicked as as grandma Laurie

12 Days of Movies part 7

Sorry to Bother You 2018 (Annapurna) 

Today I am going to hit you with a movie I saw twice in the theaters, and could watch again. Sorry to Bother You has hit the streams so If you missed it while it was in the theaters, please do yourself a favor and watch this genre defying, anti-capitalist, social critique with both eyes wide open. Boots Riley has made one of the best movies of 2018. I wrote about this film back when I first saw it if you want to revisit that post, you can find it here.

Vox Lux(2018)

Vox Lux (2018) Neon

I saw Vox Lux on Friday and honestly, I needed a few days of it rolling around in my brain to determine how I really felt about it. This is the kind of movie that splits the crowd I think, but I'm part of the crowd that liked it. I really liked it.

Vox Lux is subtitled a 21st Century Portrait, (which I didn't know until after seeing it) is the tale of Celeste, a 14 year old who survives a school shooting and becomes a pop sensation. The film takes her from 14 in 2000 to 31 in 2017. It begins with that school shooting, then shows how young Celeste (Raffey Cassidy), even at 14, is all business, and wants to become a star. Jude Law shows up as a sort of sleazy manager who helps her navigate her way to the top while her sister (Stacy Martin) is along for the ride, writing her hits.

The second part gives us Natalie Portman as Celeste in 2017 and we see that the hard and fast lifestyle has done to her (a cautionary tale as old as time). Celeste cares only about Celeste. Her interactions with her daughter Albertine (also played by Cassidy) seem more like that of a bratty adult who can't let go of childhood. An adult who had he innocence taken away by the school shooting and by, well lets not get into the cautionary fame tale.

The finale is Celeste. Onstage, in an extravagant, big budget performance at a huge stadium. The lights. the lasers, the sparkly stuff. The entire film was worth it for me to get to that last sequence. Here is Celeste doing what she does. Giving her all on that stage, when minutes before we see her break down under the weight of her life. This is Celeste. This is who she was meant to be. Giving the people what they want. Right?

So, the movie begins with a school shooting, makes mention of September 11th, and then features more violence later in the film, all of which helps show how people today, especially those who have grown up in this era of school shootings, terrorist acts, 24 hour news cycles, and a constant stream of violence have become desensitized to it. You acknowledge it as a thing that happened then you move on and do the things you are supposed to be doing. Welcome to the 21st century. Here's your pop star.

The style and tone of this film reminded me of some of the work of Michael Haneke. Brady Corbet did star in the american version of Funny Games, after all. Black Swan also came to mind, but that might have been more to do with Natalie Portman's over-the-top performance. Her accent, her walk, her no bullshit (or all bullshit?) attitude as Celeste was a joy. But then again, over the top is my guilty pleasure.

12 Days of Movies part 6

 Border (Gräns) 2018 Neon

I knew 2 things about Border upon going in- That it was sort of folk tale-ish and that it was based on a short story by John Ajvide Lindqvist. He also wrote Let The Right One In, one of my favorite movies of all time, so naturally, I was excited to buy a ticket.

Honestly, the less you know about this film going in the better, because it really is an unexpected delight, so I will just give the most basic plot I can. Tina (Eva Melander) has spent her life feeling out of place due to her strange appearance. One day she meets someone while on the job (her line of work is as a customs agent who uses their sense of smell to sniff out contraband). She's never seen anyone like her before, and the intriguing Vore (Eero Milanoff) is as confident as she is shy. She begins to learn things about herself and her past that change everything. This is such a beautifully shot film with twists and turns and a sex scene unlike anything you've ever seen.

12 Days of Movies part 5

Three Identical Strangers 2018 (Neon)

I will go see a documentary on just about anything. When I got my ticket to Three Identical Strangers, I thought I was settling in to see the story of 3 brothers, separated at birth, who by some twist of fate found each other again. And I definitely got that, but what seems like a feel good story about a reunion takes an unexpected dark turn, and it will have your eyes glued to the screen as the story unfolds. 

12 Days of Movies part 4

Hearts Beat Loud 2018 (Gunpowder & Sky)

Hearts Beat Loud was such a sweet gem to find this Summer. Single dad and soon-off-to-college daughter try to bond in Brooklyn over music. This movie could fall flat if not for the performances of leads Kiersey Clemons and Nick Offerman. They give this movie a lot of heart, and have a pretty fantastic supporting cast that includes Toni Collette, Sasha Lane,Ted Danson, and Blythe Danner. It might sound formulaic, but don't be fooled. It doesn't go for the same old, same old. I wrote about it back in July, this link will take you to it if you care to read more.

12 Days of Movies part 3

The Rider (2018) Sony Pictures Classics

The Rider is one of those quiet movies that snuck in and surprised me. It's the story of a rodeo star who has had a career ending injury. What do you do when rodeo is all you know? Chloe Zhou has made a quiet, work of art with this film, transporting you to the plains of South Dakota, the struggles of Brady Jandreau and his family, the hardships of the community around them, and the beauty in a place that seems desolate. The dialogue is sparse, but you don't need it in this movie to know what is going on. It is a truly beautiful film that is worth your time.

12 Days of Movies part 2

When I saw First Reformed back in July, I wasn't really sure what I was in for. Written and Directed by Paul Schrader, this is about the despair that comes from losing ones faith and trying, somehow, to reclaim it. What raises this film above your average movie, though, is Schrader's script and Ethan Hawke's performance as the Rev. Ernst Toller. Plus the desolate look of the film set in good ol' upstate NY in...winter? Fall? It's hard to tell its all gray. Y'all recognize that, I am sure.

My original take on this movie can be found here if you're interested.

12 Days of Movies

Don't let that title fool you. I am not doing another movie-a-day thing, or talking about holiday movies. Nope, instead, I thought I'd write a sort of quasi-top 12 before the year has actually ended. I am going to try to share with y'all one movie I saw this year that I really loved, in no particular order. I'll start with a big one.

Black Panther.

Oh, how I loved this movie. For me, Black Panther came along and sort of turned the Marvel movie upside down. It didn't have this long, drawn out origin story. You got that, sure, but you didn't just get that. Along with it, you were introduced to Wakanda, vibranium, and the women warriors who were just important to the story. Let me repeat that in all caps THE WOMEN WERE JUST AS IMPORTANT! Not to mention this movie has an antagonist in Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who is much more than  the usual cookie cutter villain. He is a character with dimensions and emotions and honestly, he challenges T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and doesn't hold back. He also helps dispense some truths about colonialism and racism. Black Panther isn't shy about bringing these issues up.  This is way more than just another superhero movie, you see.

The fact that it's 2018 and this is essentially the first big budget film featuring an almost entirely black cast should blow your mind. (see also-Crazy Rich Asians). How has it taken this long? I'm going to stay on track and talk about the movie and not american politics/systemic racism. Instead I am going to say that Black Panther was a favorite of mine this year, for the action, the storytelling, the cast (Letitia Wright stole every scene as Shuri), the look of the film, and the soundtrack. Its streaming now so if you haven't seen it, you should probably do yourself a favor and watch it.