Still need to see Arrival.

It's currently streaming on Hulu.

I know, it's been sitting in My List for ages. I just needto feel like I have enough brain to take it in...

I know, it's been sitting in My List for ages.

I'm so bad about things sitting in My List/Watchlist forever. One thing I really like about Mubi (which I finally tried once I realized my DVD player app gave me a $1 3-month trial) is the fact that each film is only on there for 30 days, so I actually make a point of watching things. And, since I can't get Filmstruck on my TV, it is a good substitute for arthouse/indy stuff.

The problem with getting physical screeners is it's possible to let things sit around literally forever. I put off seeing 3 Billboards for MONTHS.

I was busy the one week it played in my hometown and had to drive to the next state over to see it, but it was well worth the effort.

The problem with getting physical screeners is it's possible to let things sit around literally forever. I put off seeing 3 Billboards for MONTHS.

Truth. All the Math Greek's Spirit Awards screeners end up here, and, well, I have such good intentions... but I still haven't watched The Disaster Artist or Beach Rats even though I mean to, I really do. Not to mention things like Sacred Deer or Oh Lucy! It's a strange psychological burden.

Of course, this year we got some truly amazing and popular films in the package (GOOD TIME, GET OUT, LADY BIRD, FLORIDA PROJECT, INGRID GOES WEST, etc) so I really can't complain too much even if I had already seen them.

Finally saw The Shape of Water the other day.

Greenest Movie Ever!

I feel like I've seen some modern crime thrillers where the lens was made out of a green traffic light—at least there were other accent colors that stood out against the background palette in this one

I really want to see Annihilation, but I'm also a little leery because I loved the book (which still haunts me a year after reading it).

From what I understand, it is a VERY loose adaptation of the book, more like a variation on the theme rather than a straight adaptation. I heard Garland purposefully did not reread the book for faithful recreation of plots/characters - he wanted to work off his memories and feelings.

I was going to watch A Wrinkle in Time today but when I got to the theater, I found myself opting to see Annihilation again instead (and learned that Moviepass lets you watch the same movie multiple times!). This time, I didn't pore over details or try to make sense of the impossible things happening on screen -- I just let it wash over me, the whole gorgeous and disturbing visual and auditory feast of it all. Good God, the music and sound design during the climax of the film are so fucking amazing. I stayed for the credits, feeling rather drunk.

The bear attack scene still remains one of the most viscerally upsetting things I've seen on screen in recent years. It is said good horror always has a huge vein of sorrow running through it, and this seems a great example.

For those who also watched Ex Machina, Sonoya Mizuno, who played Kyoko in that film, has a tiny cameo at the beginning and a more substantial role as Lena's double at the end. I only learned about that couple of days ago!

I see the comparison for Arrival, with its female scientist lead, extraterrestrial threat, and metaphysical bent. But for all its last minute emotional whammy, Arrival seems a much more straightforward and coherent piece of work than Annihilation. In terms of *feelings* it invoked, the one this reminded me most of is Under the Skin, that very strange and disturbing film where Scarlett Johansson plays an alien that hunts for dudes to drain in Glasgow. I think Annihilation is a smidge more accessible than that though.

I know the movie is coming to Netflix -- apparently next week internationally, but no release date yet for US. I guess they are waiting for it to leave the theater. If you are at all interested, it really is worth seeing it on the big screen.