Best New Watches
- Batman: The Killing Joke (2016)
Synopsis: The Joker (Mark Hamill) has escaped, and plans a final joke to play on the Batman (Kevin Conroy).
Though there are (I gather) some key differences between the comic and the film, the most important thing the film carries over is the idea that this is a story in a world we already know. This movie expects a certain level of audience investment right from the start, which allows it to not waste any time building up the world of Batman and the conflict between him and Joker. It also allows the audience to bring the full weight of their emotional investment in that conflict to the brilliantly executed ending, rather than having some watered-down, simplified version created specifically for the movie. What world-building the story does bring to the table (mainly in the Joker origin story) only adds to the payoff at the end. While there are some hacky moments along the way, it’s all worth it. - The Cabin in the Woods (2012)
Synopsis: A group of friends take a trip to a cabin in the woods and you can pretty much see where this is going. Or can you?
Though it’s a little more gruesome and scary than I’m comfortable with, the artistry of how the film plays with horror tropes is really quite good. - The End of the Tour (2015)
Synopsis: In this biopic, writer David Lipsky (Jesse Eisenberg), upon hearing of the suicide of David Foster Wallace (Jason Segel), recalls the time the two spent together following the publication of Wallace’s novel, Infinite Jest.
Jesse Eisenberg is kind of annoying in everything I’ve ever seen him in but Jason Segel’s performance and the writing carry the film. I get that DFW is kind of a polarizing figure, but I think the film takes an empathetic approach without putting him on a pedestal or overdoing the tortured genius tropes. - Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Synopsis: A space-thief (Chris Pratt) finds himself caught up in something bigger than he’s really comfortable with, and is forced to band together with some unlikely allies.
I have to admit, I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, but only after watching like 3 different positive critiques of it on YouTube, so that may have had something to do with it. Still, better than Winter Soldier. - Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (2017)
Synopsis: A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Man on the Moon, the Andy Kaufman biopic starring Jim Carrey.
The filmmakers made an interesting choice in having the film being composed almost entirely of archival footage of Kaufman and previously-unreleased documentary footage from the making of the film, with only one present-day interview with Carrey serving to frame and ground the documentary. No one else involved with Man on the Moon was interviewed (except at the time of the film), so Carrey is pretty much given free reign to tell his side of the story. That story is fascinating and occasionally disturbing. Carrey is obviously at a point in his life where he can talk about it but is somewhat distant from it, and he’s more interested in the effects it had on him than on other people (though he doesn’t exactly come off as callous). It’s a well-made documentary, and interesting, and it complicates how I feel about Carrey’s performance. - Paterson (2016)
Synopsis: A bus driver (Adam Driver) writes poetry while his wife (Golshifteh Farahani) starts a cupcake business and learns guitar. That’s pretty much it.
A sublimely quiet film steeped in the sensibility of William Carlos Williams, and a great introduction to poetry. - Seven Psychopaths (2012)
Synopsis: Marty (Colin Farrell) is trying to write a screenplay about seven psychopaths. Meanwhile, his friend Billy (Sam Rockwell) has inadvertently kidnapped a psychopath’s dog.
An unbalanced but ultimately entertaining film, with some great performances from the leads, especially Christopher Walken. Also further proof of my theory that Colin Farrell is only good when he’s Irish. - Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Synopsis: A kid (Tom Holland, this time around) uses science to gain the powers of a spider and help stop crime in New York. Does this sound familiar?
This was the best first Spider-Man since the first first Spider-Man, and arguably the most enjoyable MCU film thus far. Where the other films try to be all gritty and deal with weighty themes while still throwing around fart jokes, Homecoming keeps everything at a manageable and appropriate-for-joking-around level, so the fun doesn’t feel out of place. Also, does Michael Keaton only play bird-themed characters now? - Wonder Woman (2017)
Synopsis: When the island of the Amazons is invaded by Nazis (because who else), Princess Diana (not that one) (Gal Gadot) decides that the world of men (in both senses) needs her help to defeat Ares, god of war.
Pretty much a pitch-perfect superhero origin movie. Gal Gadot is perfectly cast, Patty Jenkins’s directing is top-notch, and the story is tight without feeling rushed. Of special note, the rewrite of Greek mythology to take the blame off of Pandora was exceptionally well-executed. And the careful avoidance of ever actually calling Diana “Wonder Woman” (which I think we can all agree is a stupid name) was also much appreciated.
Though there are still some of the usual superhero action flick hangups, my one major complaint (besides the general optimism about humanity that felt kind of out of place given *gestures broadly at, you know, all the bad things*) is that Diana wasn’t able to fully access her power until Steve’s sacrifice, which slightly undercut the message of female empowerment. The love story in general I could take or leave, but it would have been better if her powers manifested because of her own personal struggle, not because of her romantic feelings for some dude she barely knows who clearly mistreats his secretary.
Best Re-Watches
- Animal Crackers (1930)
Synopsis: Explorer Captain Spaulding (Groucho Marx) arrives at a party in his honor only to get embroiled in a painting theft and subsequent cover-up.
While some of the jokes suffer from the culture gap, the Marx Brothers’ genius is still undeniable (“One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How it got in my pajamas I don’t know.” I mean, come on.) Also contains one of my favorite Chico piano performances. - Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay (2012)
Synopsis: A look the influences and interests of card magician Ricky Jay.
A remarkably well-made film, given the inherent difficulty of documenting its subject. The title is apt; it is less about Ricky Jay than it is about his influences, his obsessions, and his secrets. Like any good magic act, you come away with more questions than answers. - The Institute (2013)
Synopsis: A documentary about an immersive live-action role-playing experience on the streets of San Francisco.
A frustrating film that’s either an interesting (if somewhat biased) documentary about an innovative game/art project with an unexpectedly tragic center, or just a bunch of performance art BS with no truth to it whatsoever. We may never know. Sparks some good discussion though.
Honorable Mentions: the first third of Baby Driver (2017), Silver Streak (1976)
Certain of Eventual Failure 