I'm trying out the whole virtual cinema thing -- namely, my local repertory theater has a list of films scheduled this week, and I bought a ticket to a new (!) film as if I was in the theater, and streamed it at home. It cost about as much as the price of a in-person ticket ($12) but I was happy to do it to support the local indie movie place (I understand this is a luxury many cannot afford.)
The movie I watched is called Driveways, a lo-fi slice-of-life story about a single mom who comes to clean up the house of her sister who just passed away, her 8 yo son in tow, and the tentative friendship that develops between the boy and a widowed Korean war vet next door played by the late great Brian Dennehy (he just passed away last month.) The mom and the boy are Asian-American (it's directed by Andrew Ahn, a Korean-American director) but in a way that's matter-of-fact, although culturally resonant nonetheless. All the actors are terrific, especially Dennehy. Made me choke up a couple of times, he did.
One of those lovely small films that linger, about kindness and human connections and regrets, but not at all in a sentimental way. I highly recommend it. FYI, there is a very brief glimpse of a dead cat earlier on in case that's triggering.
GOSH, I miss going to the movies.
Watching
Vertigo.
I had forgotten most of the movie. Probably because I really dislike it.
Watching Vertigo. I had forgotten most of the movie. Probably because I really dislike it.
Vertigo
dethroning
Citizen Kane
on the Sight & Sound list was like a gut punch. It barely makes my Top Ten Hitchcock and that's only because of technical merit.
We're due for another Sight & Sound poll this year; I hope it isn't delayed.
We're due for another Sight & Sound poll this year; I hope it isn't delayed.
I will be really interested in that one, but those are on the 2s, aren't they? So, 2022.
What is really overdue is another AFI 100 list. The latest one was 2007 but the most recent movie on it is
The LotR: Fellowship,
which is problematic on multiple levels.
Watched The Conversation and The Farewell on Kanopy last night and today. Looking to start knocking more off my lists. Not many things from 70s and 80s Oscar Best Picture noms on any streaming services at the moment. My library in Texas was going to be my source for most of those films. Now on lockdown I have no library source.
Now on lockdown I have no library source.
Yeah, my Century project had already stalled due to work, but not having library access isn't helping motivate me to pick it back up again. That's why these days I'm mostly just trying to fill gaps via Criterion.
TCG and I switch off on our movie pick every other week. I usually pick from a streaming service, but he likes to wander through the library until something catches his eye. So, he's been having trouble finding what he wants.
We're also trying to catch up on Good Movies We Missed. Just watched The Great Santini, which I'd never seen. Excellent performances, including the kids. I adored watching baby Lisa Jane Persky being delightful snarky.
We finally watched The Death of Stalin, and wow was that a good time. Jason Issacs, in particular, is the best, but the entire cast is amazing. I enjoyed how the movie highlighted the absurdity of the USSR while not shying away from how terrible it was. I was also unsurprised to find it had been based on a French graphic novel.
