First Time Viewings: October 2022
I haven't written a description in a long time, but this is a record-breaking month for me, so I thought I would this time. 35 films in one month is the most I've seen since I've been keeping records and probably the most since before I had a full-time job, so that's going back to 2001, which I'm sure I would've easily beaten during that period of my life. This month beats my previous record of 30 films watched in December 2013.
While I didn't rate anything a 10/10 this month, I gave 9/10 to five films. My personal favourite of them was The Burnt Orange Heresy, but as the rating suggests, I loved them all dearly. I only rated four films less than 6/10, I always try to see the best in a film and stay positive. Rather than trying to find reasons to hate a film, I prefer to look for the good things in a film. The worst of these was Viva, which was actually very successful is recreating a bad softcore film from the 70's because that's what it was, except it was made in 2007.
So that's it for my celebratory write-up in a record watching month. Maybe I might keep doing them, maybe not, depends on how busy I am and how invested in movies I was in the given month. Some months I struggle to watch 2 or 3 films, in which case it seems pointless, but if I hit double figures then I might continue with these.
While I didn't rate anything a 10/10 this month, I gave 9/10 to five films. My personal favourite of them was The Burnt Orange Heresy, but as the rating suggests, I loved them all dearly. I only rated four films less than 6/10, I always try to see the best in a film and stay positive. Rather than trying to find reasons to hate a film, I prefer to look for the good things in a film. The worst of these was Viva, which was actually very successful is recreating a bad softcore film from the 70's because that's what it was, except it was made in 2007.
So that's it for my celebratory write-up in a record watching month. Maybe I might keep doing them, maybe not, depends on how busy I am and how invested in movies I was in the given month. Some months I struggle to watch 2 or 3 films, in which case it seems pointless, but if I hit double figures then I might continue with these.
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- DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsAnatoliy SolonitsynIvan LapikovNikolay GrinkoThe life, times and afflictions of the fifteenth-century Russian iconographer St. Andrei Rublev.Viewed: 01-10-2022
One of those "Greatest Films Ever Made" that I'm only just watching for the first time. It's visually impressive and the fact this was only Tarkovsky's second feature shows how ambitious he was. Even though the film is titled for him and he's in the film, it's less about Rublev and more about the era of 15th century Russia. Certainly, don't go into it expecting a standard biopic where you learn about the person, because even after 3+ hours you don't learn much. It's more a poetic journey of early 1400's Russia. It's slow going at times but it's so visually stimulating that it counterbalances the pace and it's a truly rewarding journey. I think this is one film that would definitely benefit from a 2nd viewing to be able to take this spectacle in properly.
9/10 - DirectorAndrei TarkovskyStarsIgor FomchenkoVladimir ZamanskiyNatalya ArkhangelskayaSeven-year-old Sasha practices violin every day to satisfy the ambition of his parents. Already withdrawn as a result of his routines, Sasha quickly regains confidence when he accidentally meets and befriends worker Sergei, who works on a steamroller in their upscale Moscow neighborhood.Viewed: 01-10-22
Utterly charming short film from Andrei Tarkovsky before he made his first feature, and already showing plenty of skill behind the director's chair.
8/10 - DirectorAnna FoersterStarsAllison JanneyJurnee SmollettLogan Marshall-GreenAs a storm rages, a young girl is kidnapped. Her mother teams up with the mysterious woman next door to pursue the kidnapper, a journey that tests their limits and exposes shocking secrets from their pasts.Viewed: 03-10-22
Allison Janney gives an excellent performance in this otherwise unremarkable thriller. Every twist and turn is telegraphed well in advance and the supporting characters aren't all that well drawn. Still, it has some solid passages and the aforementioned performance by Janney makes it worth a watch but don't expect to be blown away by it.
6/10 - DirectorAndrew DominikStarsAna de ArmasLily FisherJulianne NicholsonThe story of American actress Marilyn Monroe, covering her love and professional lives.Viewed: 03-10-22
Billed as a biopic but this is more like a horror film of the life of Marilyn Monroe. Fictionalized because who really knows the true story of Marilyn. We certainly know that she had a tragically short life, used and abused by Hollywood and spat out. Ana de Armas is given the role of a lifetime and performs to the highest level. Director Andrew Dominik creates an appropriately jarring, brutal but mesmerizing film with a dreamlike quality, actually make that a nightmarish quality.
The near 3-hour runtime seemed a little daunting to begin with, but this film had me in its grip from start to finish. This will undoubtedly split audiences down the middle, just like any great art will do, and it does feel a tad exploitative using the life of a real person to make such a film, but it's so meticulously and lovingly created that I believe there were only good intentions involved. Relentlessly heartbreaking and suffocating, it's definitely not a film to watch for a good time.
9/10 - DirectorRenny HarlinStarsPierce BrosnanTim RothNick CannonAfter being recruited by a group of unconventional thieves, renowned criminal Richard Pace finds himself caught up in an elaborate gold heist that promises to have far-reaching implications on his life and the lives of countless others.Viewed: 03-10-22
This heist film starts off as some silly fun, but the fun slowly dissipates and all that's left is the silliness. The characters are quite likeable for the most part, but the entertainment level drops significantly when the heist starts getting planned out. The plot starts to get disjointed, and the villain just isn't memorable. Add to that, the comedy really falls flat in the second half. All in all, it just gets a little bland.
5/10 - DirectorKrzysztof KieslowskiStarsMiroslaw BakaKrzysztof GlobiszJan TesarzA soon-to-be lawyer crosses his path with a taxi driver and a young sinister man.Viewed: 04-10-22
Highly regarded but aloof film by Krzysztof Kieslowski about the argument against murder but then tries to compare murder with capital punishment. I must say it doesn't put up a very good argument against capital punishment, in fact it makes me want capital punishment in my country even more after watching this. So, in that respect, it has failed miserably. If you take away the agenda of the film though, it's a very well-made film. It has some narrative missteps, and I might not agree with everything that Kieslowski believed but it has many powerful scenes that makes it worthwhile.
7/10 - DirectorJohn Lee HancockStarsDonald SutherlandJaeden MartellJoe TippettWhen Mr. Harrigan dies, Craig, the teen who befriended and did odd jobs for him, puts his smart phone in his pocket before burial. When the lonely youth sends his dead friend a message, he is shocked to get a return text.Viewed: 06-10-22
Slow-burn drama based on a Stephen King short story. It is billed as a horror, and it does have some horror elements to be sure, but it's no way what you might expect from the trailer. A fairly simple and well-told story without the usual gimmicks, which is quite refreshing. Fairly solid all round, without being anything mind-blowing.
7/10 - DirectorGiuseppe CapotondiStarsClaes BangElizabeth DebickiMick JaggerHired to procure a rare painting from one of the most enigmatic painters of all time, an ambitious art scholar becomes consumed by his own greed and insecurity as the operation spins out of control.Viewed: 06-10-22
Beautifully filmed, wonderfully acted and cleverly written sophisticated thriller. You could even take the plot out of this film, and I would be happy just watching these characters in conversation. It really had me from the first scene and just gets better and better from there. Every time you think you know what's about to happen, it doesn't, or it does but in a much different way. Interesting, entertaining and compelling the whole way through. An absolute joy to watch.
9/10 - DirectorTodd HaynesStarsCate BlanchettRooney MaraSarah PaulsonAn aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York.Viewed: 07-10-22
This film has all the ingredients, but it never quite hits the high notes for me. The two leading women, Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, are fantastic. Director Todd Haynes is meticulous in recreating this world and atmosphere of the early 50's. It looks great, sounds great but it just falls a little flat. I'm only saying this because it's widely regarded as a masterpiece in many circles. If it was met with disdain, I would be praising it. It has many fine things going for it and is a wonderful motion picture in several ways, I just wasn't as moved by it as I had hoped.
7/10 - DirectorMike BarkerStarsMila KunisChiara AureliaFinn WittrockA woman in New York, who seems to have things under control, is faced with a trauma that makes her life unravel.Viewed: 07-10-22
Mila Kunis and Chiara Aurelia are both brilliant playing the lead role of Ani Fanelli in the current day and flashbacks. Ani is a strong woman going on to bigger and better things at work and is 6 weeks away from getting married, just as the terrible things from her past start to catch up with her. There are a few unvarnished scenes that are very direct and blunt and will likely be very difficult to watch for many people but it's important that they are not watered down. The film straddles a fine line of being entertainment and being a socially conscious film that can hopefully change people's perspectives. The fact that it is both things, elevates the film above if it was just one or the other.
8/10 - DirectorMichael AptedStarsNoomi RapaceOrlando BloomToni ColletteA CIA interrogator is lured into a ruse that puts London at risk of a biological attack.Viewed: 09-10-22
Mostly by-the-numbers spy thriller that is lifted by a strong lead performance by Noomi Rapace and several solid supporting performances by Orlando Bloom, Toni Collete, John Malkovich and Michael Douglas. If only they'd taken as much care into making a better film as they did with the casting. The writing is incredibly lazy throughout. The characters are meant to be smart, but they do some pretty dumb stuff. There are some really good action scenes though. On an escapist level (which is the only level you should be watching this), it's short enough and the quality actors make this entertaining enough to be passable.
6/10 - DirectorChris SunStarsBill MoseleyNathan JonesJohn JarrattIn the harsh, yet beautiful Australian outback lives a beast, an animal of staggering size, with a ruthless, driving need for blood and destruction. It cares for none, defends its territory with brutal force, and kills with a raw, animalistic savagery unlike any have seen before. Now coming face to face with the giant bloodthirsty killing machine, teens on a hiking trip will have the beast in order to en its reign of terror.Viewed: 09-10-22
Silly, trashy and fun creature feature from Chris Sun. Between the blood and gore, there is some great Aussie banter between characters, especially John Jarratt & Roger Ward. Destined to be a future cult classic. Watching Nathan Jones rapping along to Ice Ice Baby is also a highlight. If you like some gore mixed with comedy in an Aussie setting, then this is for you.
7/10 - DirectorAnna BillerStarsAnna BillerJared SanfordBridget BrnoTwo suburban couples experiment with sex, drugs and bohemia in early 1970's Los Angeles.Viewed: 09-10-22
Anna Biller has faithfully recreated the look and feel of a late 60's/early 70's softcore porn film. It doesn't feel like a parody though, as it's not at all funny. It feels like Biller is genuinely paying homage to those terrible films, by making a terrible film. It would work better as a short film, or even a shorter feature length film, but the two-hour runtime is a chore to get through. It's a tough one, because this film is a success at what it's trying to achieve. The acting is atrociously but intentionally wooden, the set designs and colour palette are all spot on. If I didn't know this film was made in 2007, I would think this was the real deal. While I give it props for what it is, it just isn't that entertaining to me.
4/10 - DirectorRobert BressonStarsNadine NortierJean-Claude GuilbertMarie CardinalA young girl living in the French countryside suffers constant indignities at the hand of alcoholism and her fellow man.Viewed: 10-10-22
Frustrated. That's the first thing I felt after watching this highly celebrated film. It looks great and I love the style, but the screenplay is painfully anaemic and the amateur actors are very wooden. Having non-professional actors was meant to make it more realistic but I could never get involved with the story because of how unrealistic they actually were. Lead actress Nadine Nortier does a decent job, but the under-written script failed to draw me in. This is one of those "great" films that I just can't agree with. As I said, it was a frustrating watch.
5/10 - DirectorAnna BillerStarsSamantha RobinsonJeffrey Vincent PariseLaura WaddellA modern-day witch uses spells and magic to get men to fall in love with her, with deadly consequences.Viewed: 10-10-22
Anna Biller's sophomore feature film is much more successful at being entertaining. Samantha Robinson is a lot of fun in the titular role, who makes men fall in love with her so much that they would literally die to be with her. Colourful campy fun, though still on the overlong side.
7/10 - DirectorTakashi MiikeStarsHideaki ItôKôichi SatôQuentin TarantinoA nameless gunfighter arrives in a town ripped apart by rival gangs and, though courted by both to join, chooses his own path.Viewed: 11-10-22
Takashi Miike puts his own spin on a Djangoesque spaghetti western with a nod to Shakespeare. Certainly a little confusing at times which affects the pacing, but quite entertaining with a large amount of violence and black comedy thrown in for good measure.
7/10 - DirectorDrake DoremusStarsEwan McGregorLéa SeydouxTheo JamesA story about how synthetic humans can feel and even love and how the people they are involved with react to this concept.Viewed: 12-10-22
What's starts as a fascinating study of integrating AI into our social and personal lives turns into a ho-hum love story by the end. It frustratingly poses a lot of questions that it lazily sidesteps too. But there are positives. The film looks great, the soundtrack is amazing and the whole feel of the film is quite beautiful that it will entertain you most of the way through until near the end when you start asking questions. Not bad, but the second half should have been so much better considering the strong beginning.
6/10 - DirectorKen CameronStarsSteve BisleyTracy MannPeter HehirA bright young teenager from a broken home uses his quick wits and glib tongue to get out of trouble - but they also get him into it.Viewed: 13-10-22
Aussie slice-of-life about a troubled teen who seems to be a complete no-hoper but has plenty of confidence and charm to actually be a likeable character. He knows all the tricks to scam some money, or get into a nightclub, or run from the law. This coming-of-age drama has plenty of comedic moments in amongst the depressing nature of this kid's life. I really enjoyed seeing the Australian life of this era which just adds to an already entertaining film. It doesn't really end up anywhere all that interesting though, but the journey there is quite enjoyable.
7/10 - DirectorCharlie McDowellStarsJason SegelLily CollinsJesse PlemonsA man breaks into a tech billionaire's empty vacation home, but things go sideways when the arrogant mogul and his wife arrive for a last-minute getaway.Viewed: 13-10-22
A movie like this is usually based on a play, as there's only one location and four total characters. It was however, borne out of necessity at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Though regardless of the genesis of the story, I do love a film like this. They are heavily dialogue and character driven, and this film is no exception. Jesse Plemons is the standout here and his character definitely drives the intensity of the plot through to the end. I do have a hard time viewing Jason Segel in a serious role though, but he does a good job and it's probably more my fault than his. Lily Collins is also very good. The film looks and sounds great, the story had me interested the whole way and it doesn't overstay its welcome, a terrific piece of entertainment. Highly recommended if you like films based on plays, even though this one isn't.
8/10 - DirectorLuca GuadagninoStarsTilda SwintonMatthias SchoenaertsRalph FiennesA famous rock star's vacation in Italy with her boyfriend is disrupted by the unexpected visit of an old friend and his daughter.Viewed: 15-10-22
Moody, contemplative drama that is terrific for a majority of the runtime but takes a turn towards the end that just doesn't gel with the rest of the film. All four of the main actors are excellent, but Ralph Fiennes deserves special mention as this performance is right up there with the best. The film has many wonderful shots throughout that make me wonder how they pulled it off, and the location on an Italian island is absolutely gorgeous. So, there are many positives to make this film worth a watch indeed, but the last act really derails the film and kills all the momentum it had.
7/10 - DirectorF. Gary GrayStarsVin DieselTimothy OlyphantLarenz TateA man known as Diablo emerges to head a drug cartel after the previous leader is imprisoned.Viewed: 15-10-22
Considering how nonsensical this movie is, it's actually somewhat entertaining. Vin Diesel plays a badass cop well and is very charismatic. The movie looks decent too but has holes galore in the script. There were a lot of reshoots which only add to the confusion of the plot. It's a completely unoriginal revenge actioner. Despite those things, I still found myself being entertained which I'll put down to some really exciting action scenes and Diesel being a solid action leading man, and he convincingly pulls off some fairly emotional scenes as well.
6/10 - DirectorBrendan FletcherStarsDean Daley-JonesLucas YeedaGreg TaitSeeking his long-lost son, TJ travels the remote Kimberley, where encounters with captivating characters and their tradition-rich lifestyle compel him to reconsider his violent choices.Viewed: 16-10-22
Absorbing drama filled with mostly first-time actors. A rage-fueled man decides to travel a long way to see his 13-year-old son for the first time after getting himself into some trouble. Meanwhile, his son is also getting himself into trouble and gets sent away to a boot camp to learn how to live off the land and mature. At the same time, but apart, they are both learning how to be a man. The town's local cop is the glue that holds this film (and their community) together. Played by Greg Tait, this is a masterful performance, perfect for the tone of the movie, especially given that this is his first acting performance. A very solid first feature film from Brendan Fletcher.
8/10 - DirectorIvan SenStarsAaron PedersenAlex RussellJacki WeaverIndigenous detective Jay Swan arrives in the town of Goldstone to search for a missing person, and his simple duty becomes complicated when he uncovers a web of crime and corruption.Viewed: 16-10-22
I only found out after watching this film that this is a sequel to Mystery Road, which I haven't seen. This film stands on its own quite well, but I would've liked a bit more back story for the main character, which I now know he has. That's my fault. This crime thriller has a slow pace, but that's fine because it lets the viewer take in the gorgeous scenery. The story itself is fairly standard, but it's the way it's told that makes it interesting.
7/10 - DirectorPeter WeirStarsRichard ChamberlainOlivia HamnettDavid GulpililA Sydney lawyer defends five Aboriginal Persons in a ritualized taboo murder and in the process learns disturbing things about himself and premonitions.Viewed: 16-10-22
Mystical and nightmarish film from Peter Weir. Starts off as a standard drama of a tax lawyer getting drawn into a murder case but things get weirder and weirder as it moves along. It's hard to explain and gets a little confusing but it's always riveting to watch. Quite a unique film that's difficult to pigeon-hole.
8/10 - DirectorJohn HillcoatStarsTom HardyShia LaBeoufGuy PearceSet in Depression-era Franklin County, Virginia, a trio of bootlegging brothers are threatened by a new special deputy and other authorities angling for a cut of their profits.Viewed: 22-10-22
Engaging prohibition-era gangster film based around a real-life bootlegging band of brothers. Expertly filmed with atmosphere to spare, and solidly acted throughout. The violence is not all through the film, but it's very graphic and brutal when it does appear. There is a little something lacking to make it a truly great film but it's certainly an excellent one.
8/10
