2024 Catch-Up, Lightning Round Part 1, Go!
Did you know it's my birthday today?
Look at them, they formed a band!
Hello and how are you? I’m well, thank you. I only have one new piece of published writing to share with you from this past week, after which I’ll dive right into a collection of drive-by thoughts on recent 2024 releases that I’ve caught up with. I pride myself on doing more due diligence than most of my peers (I’m still updating this list…). I also wonder if that matters after glancing at the latest Oscar nominations. I think it does, but yeesh, some of these picks and snubs are irritating.
Anyway, I can recommend The Colors Within, a new Japanese animated coming of age drama about three teenagers who form a band. Warm and surprisingly vivid, The Colors Within is easily one of this week or even this month’s essential new releases. More in my Roger Ebert dot com review.
Oh, and one more thing—it’s my birthday today, so please do consider becoming a paid subscriber. You get a free blu-ray/DVD/book type thing from my collection when you do and at no cost to you (not even shipping!). These are not junky prizes, either—I just sent out a Criterion DVD and a Tartan Asia Extreme box set—and they’re all in excellent condition. I also try to anticipate subscribers’ tastes based on some questions about your preferences and interests…really, what do you have to lose?
And now—IT’S THE LIGHTNING ROUND, GO!
“Ooh, he gave what grade to the how now??”
Anora: Pretty good, especially the performances. I also admire how dramatic tension is built, sustained, and then paid off throughout. I was skeptical—I reviewed Prince of Broadway for the NY Press when it first came out and hadn’t seen a Sean Baker movie since—but this is good. A-.
The Becomers: Extremely My Shit. A-.
Between the Temples: Another critical darling (and apparent crowd-pleaser) that I didn’t prioritze until it popped up on streaming, mostly because the trailers made it look schmaltzy. Surprise, the trailers lied! Thornier, spacier, and much funnier than I expected. A-.
Black Eyed Susan: Scott McCrae is good at what he does. B.
Coma: Definitely prefer this to The Beast, as far as last year’s Bertrand Bonello twofer. Eerie, conceptually bold, and pretty moving. Never knew where he was going next and was usually eager to find out. A-.
Modern art! Makes me! Want to rock out! (AAAHHHH)
Dahomey: Utterly engrossing and more packed with vital ideas and dramatic potential than most scripted features. It’s also super-short, for anyone who likes watching clocks… A.
Flipside: A very Gen X essay doc that follows tangents and by-ways of thought to an ultimately satisfying anti-climax. Lots of great observations and touching details. A-.
Flow: Great characterizations and impressive animation, at minimum… B-.
Hard Times: Didn’t get a single Oscar nomination. A.
Janet Planet: Beautiful and exceptionally poised. Just wish the story were as remarkable as its telling. Not that I need a story, but if you’re going there… A-.
Catherine, whoa!
Kneecap: I’d rather listen to their music, which sounds good, instead of watching this polished, but contrived showcase. C+.
Last Summer: I’m a big Breillat fan, but this one still knocked me on my ass. A.
Mountains: Love the performances and presentation of family life…was somewhat let down by the conclusion, but can otherwise recommend. B.
Nickel Boys: I haven’t read the source material, but I still found this to be very moving and unexpectedly nuanced. I also didn’t find the POV photography alienating at all, so dunno what to tell you on that front… A-.
Release the bats!!
Nightbitch: I’ve not read the book, but still must join (some of) my peers in noting that something essential’s missing here. C.
Nosferatu: Well, yeah. A-.
Oh, Canada: I mostly like, but don’t really love Paul Schrader’s recent movies, and this is no exception. Deeply felt, well-structured, spiritually depleted. It’s fine! B.
The Order: Justin Kurzel’s most conventional movie is mostly fine. Jude Law good, action good, drama flat. C+.
A Real Pain: I don’t see it, sorry. C.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig: Not my favorite by Mohammad Rasoulof, but it is worthwhile. B+.
For Your Consideration: good movies.
Seeking Mavis Beacon: A very Gen Z essay doc that follows tangents and by-ways of thought to an ultimately satisfying anti-climax. Lots of great observations and touching details, but never becomes much more than a rich stream of consciousness. B.
The Substance: I was never bored. C.
Thangalaan: A horror-tinged Indian action-adventure about a doomed expedition for cursed gold. It’s on Netflix and is from the director of the best recent Rajinikanth vehicle (Kaala). An anti-colonial crowd-pleaser. A-.
Vaazhai: An ultimately tragic Indian coming of age drama that makes a lot of distracting choices because it’s Based on a True Story. Still pretty good (and on Hulu). B+.
Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: Neither this nor the were-rabbit picture need to be as long as they are. Then again, I didn’t really need much more about Feathers McGraw either. Vengeance Most Fowl is still typically compelling on a moment to moment basis, so there’s that… B+.
The Wild Robot: Really liked the first half hour or so, but my enthusiasm waned as the story and dialogue took over. C+.
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There will likely be at least one more 2024 lightning round-up, as well as an end-of-January round-up, too. I’m thinking the next post will be a full-length, paid-subscribers-only exclusive….possibly about Rambo in that one Mortal Kombat game. Or maybe about Jelly Mario. Or a rant about Evil? Your guess is as good as mine…
In the meantime—MUSICA.