Everything You Ever Need To Know About Life...

 ... you can learn from:

The Matrix Ressurections (2021)

Smith: What has the world come to 

when you can't even trust a program?

I feel like one day the world will get The Matrix Ressurections for the deconstructionist masterpiece that it is, but that day doesn't seem to be today (although I know I'm not alone on this island, so cheers to those of you who agree) -- anyway a happy 41st birthday to our boy Jonny Groff today! This is kind of a weird choice of a quote to celebrate him with -- something from Looking or Mindhunter probably would've made more sense, but I actually love watching our sweet boy get to play villainous in this flick. Great fun was had! But speaking of Looking -- anybody done a re-watch lately? I have very much been feeling a re-watch coming on. In summation, this photo of a Baby Groff that I have never seen before:

Today's Fanboy Delusion

 Today I'd rather be...

... making Miguel Ángel Silvestre smile.

Aww this is so sweet of Miguel -- he must have heard my brain this past weekend sending out distress signals that I hadn't had the chance to ogle him in a bit (it's been like eight months since our last post!) so he went and dropped this video (via) for us. He's a doll. No literally he might be a doll? Has this man aged a bit since Sense8? That show was 10 years ago! WTF. Anyway hit the jump for more gifs and the video itself showcasing this man's supernatural gifts...

Cole Doman Got Me in a Haze

That is not a photo from the movie I am about to direct you to my review of, but it is a picture of the star of said movie -- it's actor Cole Doman, who you should hopefully recognize from writer-director Stephen Cone's wonderful 2015 film Henry Gamble's Birthday Party, and who stars in the queer thriller called Haze aka the movie I have now reviewed. I mentioned both Haze and Doman back in May when this film screened at NewFest but I wasn't able to catch it then -- thankfully it just screened at the Fantasia Film Fest in Montreal though, and there I did catch it. And if you head over to Pajiba you can read my review of the film, which sees Doman playing a young journalist who heads to his hometown to dig into a shuttered psychiatric hospital that left a trail of suicides in its wake. And if you really need to be sold -- the film also co-stars Sense8's own Brian J. Smith and those two go at it like gangbusters in the movie. Hot stuff!

Happy Pride From Criterion!

June is Pride Month and Criterion is hitting a home run right off the bat with their June 2024 slate of announcements -- Rainer Werner Fassbinder's final film Querelle, a surreal Jean Genet adaptation starring a sizzling hot Brad Davis that has been a real pain in the ass to get for years (out of print et cetera) is entering the collection on June 11th! We've posted a million and one times about this movie here at MNPP, it's been one of our faves since it was first introduced to us in a college class on queer cinema -- I'm a little sad they're not releasing it in 4K (just regular blu) but I will not complain! It will just be nice to replace my ancient DVD! But that's not the only gay goodness they've got in store for the month...

... as they're also dropping the Wachowski's 1996 lesbian noir masterpiece Bound! And this one IS getting the 4K treatment! If you've never seen Bound before... well don't even wait for the June 18th release date. Watch Bound tonight! You will not be disappointed. It remains my favorite Wachowski movie, and it was their first! But the hits don't stop there...

... as they've also slated Barry Jenkins seriously underappreciated 2021 masterpiece of a miniseries The Underground Railroad. I guess because the world felt like it was falling apart (not that that feeling has stopped) when this was airing it really felt like it didn't get enough attention at the time -- maybe it was also the fact that it was on Amazon Prime and lord knows the black hole that is streaming does the legacy of art no favors. But this is the best thing Jenkins has done to date and I say that as a person who felt Moonlight deserved Best Picture. Just an astonishing accomplishment, not to be missed. 

The rest of their June slate ain't no slouch -- David Lynch's 1986 masterpiece Blue Velvet is getting the 4K upgrade for one. This is probably my favorite Lynch movie? It's nigh impossible to choose given his filmography but it's the one I keep coming back to the most often anyway. And I cannot wait to see how it looks in 4K. Also getting a 4K upgrade is Terry Gilliam's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. And then there's the one movie of the June bunch I am unfamliar with -- Emilio Fernandez's 1951 film Victims of Sin, which sounds like a Mexican noir melodrama? I'm in. Once I finish watching Querelle for the 50,000th time anyway...

Everything You Ever Need To Know About Life...

... you can learn from:

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Robert Frobisher: Sixsmith. I climb the steps of the Scott Monument every morning and all becomes clear. Wish I could make you see this brightness. Don't worry, all is well. All is so perfectly, damnably well. I understand now that boundaries between noise and sound are conventions. All boundaries are conventions, waiting to be transcended. One may transcend any convention if only one can first conceive of doing so. Moments like this, I can feel your heart beating as clearly as I feel my own, and I know that separation is an illusion. My life extends far beyond the limitations of me.

I didn't like the film of Cloud Atlas when it came out ten years ago this October, but I listen to bits of its swoon-worthy score every so often and begin to convince myself that maybe I'm a fool... well I know I'm a fool, but with regards to this particular instance maybe more than usual? Anyway post-Sense8 where I've grown a better firmer affection for the Wachowskis brand of sentimental hamminess I think maybe I'd appreciate Cloud Atlas more, and think revisiting it makes some sense. What are y'all's feelings about the movie? If nothing else...

... there's Ben Whishaw and James D'Arcy gaying it up to look forward to, right? Anyway maybe you're asking yourselves why I'm talking about this movie, if its tenth anniversary isn't until October? No it's not just so I could post that gif of Ben & James being kissy, although I clearly made sure to go there. No it's because it's the 57th birthday of the film's handsome co-director Tom Tykwer, he of Run Lola Run legend -- you know I just realized that Tykwer also made the movie Perfume: The Story of a Murderer which was I do believe the first thing I ever saw Ben Whishaw in? Which makes me realize that Tom & Ben have some history. Which makes me... think further thoughts. Oh my. On that note here after the jump are a few pictures of the two together that I'm appreciating differently in light of my new favorite fantasy...

Yahya Abdul-Mateen Three Times

Thirty-nine days until Yahya's movie with Jake Gyllenhaal comes out! That's how I am choosing to think about the movie -- it's not a Michael Bay movie. It's the Jake & Yahya Show. Whatever helps me sleep at night. These snaps are via GQ UK from last fall when the Matrix movie came out but I missed them at the time -- you can see more at the link.

Good Morning, World

Nobody's done me better for these "Good Morning" posts over the years than former Sense8 star Miguel Angel Silvestre -- whenever I need something, he got something. (And what a something, what several somethings, they is.) I wish I got to see him you know act as much as I got to see him you know this...

... but if not both then definitely one of these things please. These are more photos for that razor campaign I shared some photos from last week (right here), via his Insta of course. In related news did anybody catch the cameo his Sense8 character (an actor named Lito) apparently made in the new Matrix movie? The Wachowskis of course hired several of their actors from that show but sadly not Miguel, but I heard there was... 

... a theater marquee advertising one of Lito's movies, and sure enough, one google later, there it be (click to embiggen). That's fun. That's a non-obnoxious Easter Egg that doesn't stop the plot and shout at itself like let's say every single thing that happens in the last Ghostbusters movie. Anyway that also makes me realize I haven't said anything about The Matrix Resurrections since break ended? WTF, Me. I don't have a ton to say about it -- I thought it was a lot of fun and romantic and clever and ...

The entire nighttime city streets chase sequence in The Matrix Resurrections is probably The Action Set-piece of this year, jaw dropping, horrifying, absolutely gorgeous, and people are saying the film’s action is lackluster?? What do people even want anymorrrrr #Matrix pic.twitter.com/yXuNw97V4z

— Jason Adams (@JAMNPP) December 24, 2021

... had that. And our boy Groff was a hoot. It's definitely my second favorite Matrix movie now, after the first one (which remains utterly and completely perfect). Other people have written much more interesting things about it than I have to say (clearly). I recommend it though. And I also recommend you hit the jump for three more pictures, while we're at the whole recommending things...

Quote of the Day

"We have to have this physical agreement with each other, and this trust with each other – we’re gonna get a little bruised, and we’re gonna make mistakes, and that’s okay."

That's Jonathan Groff talking about doing fight-scenes with Keanu Reeves in the new Matrix movie to GQ, but taken out of context I think it's alright for us to contemplate Jonathan & Keanu talking that way toward each other about many things. Or several, anyway. I didn't think I'd read the whole GQ interview with Groff (I tend to skim) but a majority of it was spent talking about how much he likes working out now and so natch, I got sucked in. Let's hope he's got a project lined up where he gets to show off this gym-bunny phase then, since I doubt his role in the Matrix gets him out of his black suit. (I wouldn't scoff at a third season of Looking, for instance!) Hit the jump for three more GQ pictures...

Miguel Ángel Silvestre Four Times

Balls! Miguel loves 'em, and we love watching him play with 'em. Also love the fact that Miguel is always playing "skins" no matter the occasion. Bless him. I wish he was one of the many many many Sense8 actors popping up in the Wachowski's new Matrix movie -- he's even got the backdrop here in that franchise's signature sickly green going on! -- but I guess we can't have it all, no matter what those goddamned feminists used to say. Have I mentioned I'm seeing the new Matrix on Monday? I know there are More Important Critics seeing it tonight but we don't speak of those people. The only person's opinion that matters is mine, mine dammit! Aaaanyway on that slightly psychotic note this is me signing off for the evening, so I can go home and stare at myself in the mirror and curse other critics under my breath apparently. Y'all have a good night, and I'll help you with that some after the jump...

Keanu Reeves Fifteen Times

I have been checking the guild screenings page for the fourth Matrix film at least twice a day for the past several weeks, just in case they've started scheduling screenings for the only 2021 movie that remains for me to see that I actually truly am dying to see -- this crawled up on me unexpectedly circa the last trailer for the film; I really didn't like the second and third Matrix films and greeted the original news of a new one with a weary shrug, but then all of a sudden nostalgia swooped in like a One-i-fied Neo and got me but good. (I blame the pandemic.)

Anyway that film's out in exactly one month so it's got to start screening for Important People (i.e. not me) relatively soon and we'll surely start getting buzz any day now. On the PR Buzz front the One himself, Mr. Keanu Reeves, has just today popped on on the cover of December's Esquire -- you can read the interview here. It's very long so I'm saving it for lunch myself, so I can't quote it at you. But I can give you the photo-spread! Hit the jump for that...

Good Morning, World

Happy 57 to Keanu today! Honestly we should just made today a holiday -- September 2nd we all get to sleep in, not brush our hair, defuse a bomb on a bus, surf, have sex with three vampire brides at once, get revenge for our dog, play some guitar, meditate, and make out with River Phoenix. It's a day for everybody, really!

 

I'm sure you noticed I left any reference to The Matrix out of that "To Do" list, but that was on purpose, because I wanted to talk The Matrix -- specifically The Matrix: Resurrections, which is what they revealed the title for the fourth film to be earlier this week. Is anybody esle finding themselves crazy excited for this movie all of a sudden? The second and third films were so wonky I'd long ago lost my boner for the franchise but having re-watched the first film recently and just a general nostalgia for the Before Times (The Before Everything Went To Shit Times), well I think it's creating a perfect Matrix Storm. For me anyway. You?

5 Off My Head: Siri Says 1999

Well the day has finally arrived! The day I have dreaded among all my "Siri Says" series days! Today when I asked my telephone to give me a number between 1 and 100 she responded with the number "99" meaning I've finally got to dive face-first into my favorites from The Movies of 1999, aka the greatest year of filmmaking probably any of us will see in our lifetimes. (Also can I just say that it's super weird to me to think this was 22 years ago now and there are people on this here internet who weren't actually even alive to see it? WTF)

Anyway we knew pretty fast that 1999 was an insane year, quality-wise -- the first big series I did here on MNPP was about how incredible 1999 was, in 2006. Or anyway I knew. I gots my finger on the pulse, yo! Ahem. Anyway 1999 has been talked to death by this point, I don't have a lot to say about it besides, "Wowza!" But before I get to my immense list -- I am naming my 20 favorites because the year demands it -- there's one other piece of business (because this post wasn't already enough work). Whenever I finish an entire decade for our Siri Series I link to all ten years therein. (See also the 1970s, aka the only other decade I have finished.) Well with today's post I've just finished the 1990s! Here's links:

Here are my favorite movies of 1990

Here are my favorite movies of 1991

Here are my favorite movies of 1992

Here are my favorite movies of 1993

Here are my favorite movies of 1994

Here are my favorite movies of 1995

Here are my favorite movies of 1996

Here are my favorite movies of 1997

Here are my favorite movies of 1998

And now without further blathering I give you...

My Favorite Movies of 1999

Go

(dir. Doug Liman)

-- released on April 9th 1999 -- 

Being John Malkovich

(dir. Spike Jonze)

-- released on December 3rd 1999 -- 

The Blair Witch Project

(dir. Myrick & Sánchez)

-- released on July 30th 1999 -- 

The Talented Mr. Ripley

(dir. Anthony Minghella)

-- released on December 25th 1999 -- 

Magnolia

(dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)

-- released on December 17th 1999 -- 

Fight Club

(dir. David Fincher)

-- released on October 15th 1999 -- 

Election

(dir. Alexander Payne)

-- released on May 7th 1999 -- 

Run Lola Run

(dir. Tom Tykwer)

-- released on June 18th 1999 -- 

Galaxy Quest

(dir. Dean Parisot)

-- released on December 25th 1999 -- 

The Matrix

(dir. The Wachowskis)

-- released on March 31st 1999 -- 

The Virgin Suicides

(dir. Sofia Coppola)

-- released on May 19th 1999 -- 

Ravenous

(dir. Antonia Bird)

-- released on March 19th 1999 -- 

All About My Mother

(dir. Pedro Almodovar)

-- released on November 24th 1999 -- 

eXistenZ

(dir. David Cronenberg)

-- released on April 23rd 1999 -- 

Eyes Wide Shut

(dir. Stanley Kubrick)

-- released on July 16th 1999 -- 

Dick

(dir. Andrew Fleming)

-- released on August 4th 1999 -- 

The Straight Story

(dir. David Lynch)

-- released on October 15th 1999 -- 

The Limey

(dir. Steven Soderbergh)

-- released on October 8th 1999 -- 

Sleepy Hollow

(dir. Tim Burton)

-- released on November 19th 1999 -- 

Audition

(dir. Takashi Miike)

-- released on  October 2nd 1999 -- 

-----------------------------------------

Runners-up: The Sixth Sense (dir. M. Night Shyamalan), Toy Story 2 (dir. John Lasseter), Three Kings (dir. David O. Russell), October Sky (dir.), South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut (dir. Trey Parker), Girl Interrupted (dir. James Mangold), The End of the Affair (dir. Neil Jordan), In Dreams (dir.Neil Jordan), Splendor (dir. Gregg Araki), Cruel Intentions (dir. Roger Kumble)...

... Jawbreaker (dir. Darren Stein), Office Space (dir. Mike Judge), A Walk on the Moon (dir. Tony Goldwyn), Notting Hill (dir. Mike Newell), Summer of Sam (dir. Spike Lee), Lake Placid (dir. Steve Miner), Drop Dead Gorgeous (dir. Michael Patrick Jann), Trick (dir. Jim Fall), Deep Blue Sea (dir. Renny Harlin)...

... The Iron Giant (dir. Brad Bird), Stir of Echoes (dir. David Koepp), House on Haunted Hill (dir. William Malone), Topsy Turvy (dir. Mike Leigh), Ride With the Devil (dir. Ang Lee), Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris (dir. Shusuke Kaneko), The Mummy (dir. Stephen Sommers), But I'm a Cheerleader (dir. Jamie Babbit)

Never Seen: Mansfield Park (dir. Patricia Rozema), For the Love of the Game (dir. Sam Raimi), Man on the Moon (dir. Milos Forman), She's All That (dir. Robert iscove), 10 Things I Hate About You (dir. Gil Junger), Tarzan (dir. Chris Buck), Tumbleweeds (dir. Gavin O'Connor), The Insider (dir. Michael Mann), Never Been Kissed (dir. Raja Gosnell), An Ideal Husband (dir. Oliver Parker)...

... Buena Vista Social Club (dir. Wim Wenders), Music of the Heart (dir. Wes Craven), Bowfinger (dir. Frank Oz), Flawless (dir. Joel Schumacher), Titus (dir. Julie Taymor), Jesus' Son (dir. Alison Maclean), Ratcatcher (dir. Lynne Ramsey), Analyze This (dir. Harold Ramis), Payback (dir. Brian Helgeland), American Movie (dir. Chris Smith)

-----------------------------------------

What are your favorite movies of 1999?