Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Killer - Ummmmmmmm....so, I didn't love it. It's exactly how I feel about Fincher's output since Zodiac. I haven't loved any of it (except Mindhunter!!), and some of them I didn't like at all (Mank, Gone Girl). It's really a shame considering that Se7en is one of my all-time favorite films. And I love Fight Club and Panic Room. But this is just so dull. It's well-made, and visually appealing, but the actual story is so predictable and the story of a killer (whether paid assassin or serial killer) letting his personal life effect his "job" has been done a million times (Dexter, Barry, Killing Eve, that awful Jessica Chastain movie Ava, are the first projects that pop into my head, but I'm sure I can probably name a dozen more if I really thought about it). I quite like the idea behind it - that being an assassin is just as mundane as any other 9-5 job ("Redundancies, Redundancies, and Redundancies" said in the same tone as "I smile, I smile, and I smile"). And at least Fincher knows how to light a night scene! There's also a lot of discussion within the film community about Fincher's use of seamless CGI, which I also agree with. But I just couldn't connect to it at all and I found the soundtrack extremely grating (we get it, he likes The Smiths, but Jesus Christ there's only so much I can take within a 2 hour timeframe). I think it could have been more subtle, or had more nuance. It also could have gone much darker or added more comedic moments. But instead, it's just all sort of...there. It's definitely a case of style over substance, and I do think his fanbase are those kind of "die hard" fans that will see genius in everything he does even if it's mostly mediocre. I also think Michael Fassbender is (usually) a terrific actor, and he does a good job of leading this film. I do think it's weird that he seems to have escaped the abuse allegations. I see it brought up every once in a while, but then it's quickly forgotten about again. It's most definitely because he's white, handsome, and has star power that can lead franchises (also, maybe the allegations aren't true, but it's still weird that nobody seems to want to address it). Overall though, meh. 

2. El Conde - I think this movie is sort of genius. It's a little too long and it feels kind of like an episode of Succession but with vampires, but then there is a really funny twist to it that I don't think anyone will see coming unless you're like me and wonder who did the narration and were too impatient to wait to find out. I googled it within the first minute and realized I spoiled a huge twist for myself. ***and spoilers ahead*** I honestly looked it up because I thought why does this narrator sound like Gillian Anderson doing her Margaret Thatcher on The Crown impersonation??? And then once I realized that it is supposed to be Margaret Thatcher, I kind of knew how the story was going to end. It's hilarious, though. But anyway, I think Pablo Lorrain is a really interesting filmmaker, even though I haven't loved all of his movies (Ema is my favorite of his, and I liked both Spencer and No. The only one I didn't really like was Jackie, but that might have been due to my own expectations). There's some really beautiful cinematography in this, and the scene with the young woman flying is excellently executed (I didn't love the overwhelming violins though). I don't know if the movie will really stick with me (other than the Thatcher twist), but I appreciate what it attempts. 

3. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - This is a stunning movie. I really, really liked the first one, but I thought the praise was a little too much. When the same praise happened for this one (and most citing it as "even better"), I assumed it was another product of the hyperbole machine. However, I think I agree! It's definitely better than the first one, and it's one of the most well-thought-out superhero stories...ever. I did find the animation to be a little over-stimulating (and I didn't feel like that one with the first one), but it's still absolutely gorgeous. There are so many highlights to the story, but my personal favorite is Spider-Punk, voiced to perfection by Daniel Kaluuya. I laughed so hard at how much he loved the chaos (a lot of his little mannerisms are in the background too, so you have to really be paying attention specifically to him to notice it). I also thought the Indian version of Spider-Man was hilarious as he's showing them around ("this is where all the traffic is"). I love that both of these films have leaned into the fact that they can do Spider-Man comic book things that don't translate well in live-action (like Spider-Cat for example), and I can't wait to see how the next one attempts to top this. I was already aware that this was a "part one" and that it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I kind of guessed what was going to happen, but I don't really rely on these stories to be shocking. I also don't rely on them to have this much depth and heartfelt emotion, but this film excels in this aspect. Just everything one could ask for in an animated film - perfectly cast voice actors, gorgeous animation filled with unexpected visual styles, a strong story, well-written characters, and some emotional punches. I think Infinity Pool is still my favorite film of the year just because of the sheer audacity of it, but this is a better film in terms of filmmaking so it's a close second.

4. Fingernails - I really liked this movie, but I'm also a little disappointed with it because it could have been A LOT better. I just think that a movie with this cast that has a storyline on par with The Lobster, should be my favorite film of the year and I don't think it's going to even make my Top 10. It just feels like it's missing something. And one of those things is chemistry. While I LOVE Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed - they just don't click for me at all. I wanted to feel the aching they had for each other. And I love that Jeremy Allen White is, like, a household name now (he was so good as Lip Gallagher, and I've seen a lot of people going back to watch the U.S version of Shameless due to his current popularity. Now if I can just convince people to watch the original first season of Shameless, my heart would explode. It's still my favorite season of any television series ever. Plus, James McAvoy), but he's given very little to do in this. I also don't really feel the chemistry between White and Buckley either, which I think was sort of done on purpose, but I think it would have made the story a LOT more interesting. I do like a lot of other things about this movie, though. I love that it feels futuristic and retro at the same time - it seems to take place in the late 70s/early 80s based on cars and technology, but they have an advanced system of detecting if two people are in love. I also think they mention the movie Titanic? So it would have to be after 1997 (or do they talk about the actual Titanic??? Now I'm double guessing myself). Anyway, it's definitely an interesting world that they've created. And I love all of the dancing scenes because it's very ridiculous, but they take it very seriously. There is a line of dialogue that I deeply hate though - "watching a love story feels safe, while being in love doesn't". What the fuck? Being in love should make you feel the safest you've ever felt in your whole life. If it doesn't then please get the fuck out of the relationship. 

5. Barbie - I'm not quite sure just how I feel about this movie yet. I know when the trailers were released and everyone was freaking out about it, I thought it looked horrendous. I had no interest in watching it in a theater, because it seemed like a nightmare (especially with the whole Barbenheimer thing). I wasn't surprised when reviews starting come in and they were largely good, but mostly because Greta Gerwig has a fairly large fanbase and her movies are a bit over-praised, in my opinion (I liked Lady Bird a lot, but it wasn't a masterpiece as some describe it. And I enjoyed Little Women more than I thought I would, but I can't believe it was nominated for Oscars). But, I'm happy to report that I definitely liked this - it's funny and cute, very well-acted, and the production design and costumes are a dream. But, I also think it's also a little cheesy, kind of stupid, and...very simple. I think too many people acted like it was subversive and layered, and I found it to be the opposite. The biggest success is most definitely the casting - Margot Robbie is Barbie and I love how much she just owned it - the press she did pre-strike, in which she wore recreated iconic Barbie looks were downright genius. And while I think Oscar talk is ridiculous, Ryan Gosling as Ken, is HILARIOUS. I think the best thing about Gosling is that he's in on the joke. Like, he knows how ridiculous this movie is and he just leans into it. I was surprised at how good he sings that Matchbox Twenty song, and I sincerely hope that "I'm Just Ken" is nominated for an Oscar because I think watching this performed live during the Oscar ceremony could potentially be an Oscar highlight of the century. I also love the casting of Issa Rae (her line delivery of "that's because they're dreamhouses, mother fucker" is probably my favorite line of the whole movie), and the Sex Education reunion (I'm going to miss that show so much). I also think that the whole battle of the sexes aspect is done really well - and when Ken introduces the patriarchy to Barbie Land, I laughed really hard at most of it. I appreciate the production design, the attention to detail with the costumes, and the choreographed musical numbers. It felt like Gerwig put a lot of love into this, and I'm glad that she was rewarded with breaking box office records. But, as I said, it's also really stupid, the ending drags a bit, and it's not something I would ever watch again. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Haunted Mansion - I like a lot of this cast (LaKeith Stanfield, Danny DeVito, Rosario Dawson, Hasan Minhaj, Dan Levy, Jamie Lee Curtis, even Owen Wilson sometimes!), but this movie is God-awful. It's not quite the worst movie of the year for me (so far), but it's pretty damn close (the worst is still Cocaine Bear - nobody can convince me that it's "fun & campy"). It's a weird group of people to put in a movie together (from Oscar nominees & winners, to legends, to...Tiffany Haddish - such an unfunny person that keeps being in stuff). It's a shame they weren't able to promote it because I do think it would have been a more successful family movie if it were promoted by its stars. It also had an unfortunate release date (why not wait for Halloween? Even the streaming release felt early - release this on Halloween weekend...duh). But, I also wish it were better. The story is kind of cute-ish, but it's just very busy and cheesy, instead of campy. The effects are very poorly done, and the "twist" is basically The Sixth Sense. I do love the New Orleans setting, but also I feel like people from there probably get really annoyed by all of the tourists interested in all the "haunted" stuff instead of the actual history. I think I could forgive the movie more if it were geared towards children, but it's SO boring, I would have hated it as a kid. 

2. Bottoms - This is a cute and funny teen comedy, but the hyperbolic praise for it is...really something. It really makes me long for genuine film criticism that isn't necessarily serious (because a lot of film critics are elitist assholes), but also not out here giving movies like this 5 stars on Letterboxd. I know that a lot of people, including critics, admit that they don't take the stars seriously (one that I regularly read rates every single movie 5 stars), but putting this movie in the same rating category as, like, Vertigo, is just insane to me (I'm not exaggerating - Bottoms has over 100k 5 star ratings. I just wish there was something in-between being elitist and being completely chaotic with ratings). Anyway, I did enjoy this a lot (I rated it 3 stars - which means "good" because I'm not a psychopath) and I laughed a lot. There are a lot of seemingly throwaway lines that are so bitingly funny - my favorite is "this is the second wave all over again" (referencing second-wave feminism. It's very funny, if you're well-versed in the history of feminism). But I also laughed out loud to "nice try, but my vagina belongs to the government", and "you don't care about feminism, you're favorite show is Entourage". Rachel Sennott and Ayo Edebiri have great comedic chemistry together, and I think it's super cool that Sennott co-wrote this as well. I also really want to root for Kaia Gerber (she was terrible in the AHS spin-off, but I see potential. And I've always been a big Cindy Crawford fan - one of the best supermodels ever). AND one of my favorite newcomers, Havana Rose Liu! I was hoping to see her in something bigger after her excellent performance in No Exit. I was having a lot of fun with this, but it definitely starts to fall apart about 1/2 way through, which is why it's NOT a 5 star movie (I will never get over this!). Also, I always get really annoyed at how American high schools are portrayed in the media - like why are that many people at a pep rally? Nobody cared about pep rallies in my high school. In fact, it was kind of uncool to care about school or participate in any of that stuff. But then I was talking to my husband, who went to a more typical suburban high school, about it, and he said that at his school they were required (!!) to attend. Like, they gave everyone off from whatever class you had during the rally but you had to go to the pep rally instead (!!). It's so crazy how different we grew up considering we both are from right outside of NYC (just opposite directions), but my school had about 4000 kids and his only had 1100. Anyway, I guess it is something that happens in American schools, but it certainly isn't happening at every school. 

3. Reptile - This is a very average movie - but somewhat interesting. I think there is a good movie in here - like a solid 90s thriller, but a few mistakes were made - it's far too long (there are SO MANY unnecessary scenes!), it feels like it's trying too hard to lean into a gritty, noir instead of leaning into a trashy thriller, and it's extremely obvious as to who "did it" - I knew it as soon as we see the woman's dead body (which is kind of spoilery since we aren't introduced to the other two suspects until after she dies. Ooops). Also, I have no idea why it's called Reptile? No reference to reptiles at all in the entire movie (at least that are noticeable) - just on the poster with the tagline "Shed The Lies"....Uhhhhh? Okay, I guess. But, it has a great cast - Benicio Del Toro, Alicia Silverstone, Frances Fisher, an extremely under-utilized Michael Pitt, Ato Essendoh, and a stand-out performance from Karl Glusman (I feel like he usually picks better movies that this though - Neon Demon, Watcher, Nocturnal Animals - he has an excellent filmography so far). And, of course, Justin Timberlake. I've said it before, but to repeat myself - Timberlake is an incredible performer. He's just not the greatest actor. I think he gets miscast in a lot, so it enhances his lack of acting skills, but also I think his own personality shines through every role he's done. Also, while we're on the subject of Justin (someone that I was obsessed with during the Justin/Britney days - and I also worked as an intern at their record label, and have heard a LOT of gossip from both of their perspectives), I am so frustrated by Britney's "tell-all" book. First, I would never, ever, ever do that to an ex-partner - especially if that person were only 20 years old at the time of our relationship. Like, OF COURSE, they both made a lot of mistakes - it was an insane time for both of them and they were practically kids, thrown into the world of celebrity almost instantly. I think it's such a shitty thing for her to do, especially considering how she's been treated her whole life. And I think it's weird that nobody is criticizing her for it - instead he's cast as a villain. I sincerely hope he does the bigger thing and just keeps his mouth shut. At this point, I think it would be useless for him to defend himself. The internet had made up their mind already. Annnyyyway...like I said, it's an average movie, at best, but there's some interesting things within it. 

4. No Hard Feelings - I liked this - it's probably not something that will stay with me. There are no memorable lines that I'll be quoting decades from now, but I was entertained and I laughed a few times. The funniest part was a throw away line about her adopting a dog - when she's asked why she wants to adopt a dog, she responds "because I can't have a dog of my own" (I snorted laughing. It's a very clever line that doesn't get the same landing that some of the unfunnier jokes get). I'm glad that the scene from the teaser trailer is shown right up front, because I was very nervous that this was going to be a disaster from that clip - I only watched it because everyone on twitter seemed to think it was hilarious, but I thought it seemed desperate and cringe. However, it is mostly a sweet and funny movie. Jennifer Lawrence is good when she wants to be, and she has a very natural sense of humor. I appreciate the lengths she's willing to go to for a laugh. And her fighting a group of teenagers on the beach...naked...is definitely funny (but it also felt like CGI, so I didn't actually think it was her until I read afterwards that it was). I also laughed very hard when they call her "ma'am" and act like she's ancient even though she's like 30. Her reactions and timing are on point, and this is by far one of her better performances (I also thought she was great in mother!, and The Hunger Games movies. I don't think I've loved another performance from her - even the ones that she's been nominated for Oscars for. I think she's miscast in the O. Russell films). I do think the movie is also a little...sad? Like how stunted young people have become, especially post-Covid, combined with a massive increase in social media usage. I was talking to this man the other day about how he has 17 year old twin daughters, and they don't date. He said none of their friends do either. Guys don't ask them out or even really talk to them, and how when he watches them in group situations they all just ignore each other and look at their phones. It's like nobody knows how to communicate anymore, and it's only going to get worse. I think this movie touches on that social anxiety a bit, and how child-like a 19 year old is. I was a full-blown adult at 19 - lived on my own, had multiple relationships by then, etc. I'm just getting more and more scared for the future generations every minute. 

5. Fair Play - I'm actually in a little bit of shock at how much I liked this movie. I certainly didn't expect to, for multiple reasons. First, I think Phoebe Dynevor was the second worst thing about Bridgerton (the first was Rege-Jean Page), and I assumed that she was a terrible actress. Second, it's a Netflix movie and most of those have ranged from terrible to mediocre. Third, the beginning is really awful. I couldn't even look at the screen - just about the worst engagement scene I've ever seen. However, as the film continued, there is something really interesting explored within the power dynamics of this relationship and the pacing of the story is fan-fucking-tastic. It's been a long time since I've said that about any movie - so many are drawn out, or too dull, or don't know how to build tension. But this hooked me and I couldn't look away. Dynevor is incredible, which shocked me, but also I LOVE when someone surprises me. I think maybe her performance in Bridgerton is a product of bad casting. However, Alden Ehrenreich steals the movie - I sort of hate that a film with this subject matter (a woman superseding her male co-worker, who also happens to be her fiance, in the work place), that is directed by a woman, has a male performance as the highlight, but I have to be honest. He is stunning in this film (and will likely be ignored for any awards) - he somehow created a character who is a TOTAL asshole that I still felt sympathy for because I could see his emotions bubbling behind his eyes and his struggle to contain it and remain "cool". And his performance gets even better once he does break - when he goes full psychopath and starts fucking barking. It's glorious. It's such a good story of a man being emasculated, his over-reaction to it, his manipulation, the way he undercuts her but in a seemingly supportive way, and ultimately the way he's convinced himself that sexual favors were exchanged - as if that's the only explanation for her succeeding. It's just so good. And I think very realistic, unfortunately. I think it's a big mistake to work with your partner because there's always going to be a bit of competitiveness that will strain the relationship (my husband and I have talked about me working for him - he owns two stores, and I have over 20 years of experience in retail management. It would be logical and also, financially smarter for him to pay me as a manager - having that money go into our own pockets instead of a stranger. BUT, I tell him flat-out that I would run circles around him in a work environment and it would bother him. He claims it wouldn't, but I think it's just a product of our environment for men to feel emasculated if women are better than them at certain things. And business is one of those things). The way this film handles this tension, how it shifts the power dynamics back and forth, how it plays with reality - it's going to stick with me for a while. 

Film Retrospective Part IV: Thoughts on 10 Films (pre-1970)

1. The Red Shoes - [blind spot] I'm going to say something really controversial, but I found this movie really boring. So boring, that I had to stop it after about an hour because I was too bored to pay attention to the plot. I watched the rest a few hours later, with fresh eyes, but I was still very bored. This is always listed among "Best Films of All Time" lists, but I never really had an inkling to watch it. Obviously, from the description, I could instantly make the comparisons to Black Swan. But I LOVE Black Swan. I just couldn't connect to this, even though it's the precursor to a lot of films about mental health and anxiety, stress, mental breakdowns, etc. I did love the ending, and the production of the actual play is really beautiful - the way they transition scenes from day to night is really cool. It's just that nothing else about it really captured my attention. Sorry, film snobs! (Luckily film snobs don't read my blog...LOL). 

2. Umberto D. - [re-watch] I took a whole class on Italian neorealism, and studied this film extensively. I remember really loving it, but that was over 20 years ago. I can't say that I still love it after rewatching. I do think it's great for its time, and is important in regards to film history, but it's also poorly paced for a 90 minute movie. I think I may have been swayed by the dog in the past (haha!). Some great shots, and wonderful, heartbreaking performances (by a lot of non-professional actors). But, certainly not a masterpiece (don't worry, everyone, I still give it 4 stars). 

3. M - [re-watch] Okay, I realize my film card might be revoked with my thoughts on The Red Shoes and Umberto D., so please allow me to redeem myself. This is a masterpiece. One of my favorite movies of all-time. I don't think I've really talked about my love of Fritz Lang on here, but Metropolis is also one of my faves of all-time. Both are 5 star movies (and I don't think any other director has more than one 5 star movie, according to my Letterboxd? Okay, I actually just looked up my ratings and I've only rated 11 films TOTAL as 5 star films. Because 5 stars means perfect, and perfect is a rarity. But guess what? I'm wrong because Steven Spielberg has 2 as well - Saving Private Ryan and Jurassic Park. But I actually haven't even rated Metropolis on there, so it's not totally accurate. I'm sure maybe Hitch, too. I think I've only rated Vertigo as 5 stars, though. Hmmmm...I may be a little *too* strict with my ratings.). Anyway, this is a perfect movie, in my opinion. So many stunning, iconic shots, a cautionary story about mass hysteria, the problems with early detective work, and sensationalism in the press, plus a massive performance from Peter Lorre. Fritz Lang literally shaped the modern serial killer movie. And he was a master of lighting and shadow shots. I liked watching this from a lighter perspective (instead of my critical film brain - I think I have a better balance now than I did when I was studying film), but I was still blown away by it all. Especially the iconic shot of the "M" on his back. Ugh...it's just soooooo good. 

4. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - [re-watch] I don't think I've seen this since I was probably 8ish? Snow White was never one of my favorites (as a young child I liked Aurora from Sleeping Beauty the best and then as an older child I loved Belle and Ariel). I'm surprised by how little I actually remembered of it. I think the only thing I did remember is the song the dwarfs sing as they head to and from work ("hi ho hi ho it's off to work we go" is kind a popular saying, though). Like, I had no recollection of her practically breaking into their home and cleaning it up, and then them all walking in on her while she was sleeping in one of their beds. What a weird story for children (!). There are parts of this that are really good - her running through the forest features some beautiful animation, especially for the time. But overall, I'm not a big fan. Most scenes drag on for far too long, Snow White is just not that interesting, the dwarfs are kind of rude to her, and the songs are dull. I'm interested in the Rachel Zeigler updated version (although casting Gal Gadot is probably going to be its downfall). I didn't mind the Kristen Stewart ones, either. It's definitely a story that can be remade into a lot of different renditions.  

5. A Star is Born (1954) - [blind spot] I've only seen the most recent remake, and I loved it. I thought this was the original one, only to find out there's an even earlier version made in the 30s! I'll have to seek that one out soon. And also the Barbra Streisand one. I thought this one was ok. It's saved by Judy Garland's stunning voice. But, it's just way too long. 3 full hours is totally unnecessary, and most of that is the long performances. I could easily cut an hour from this movie, without harming the story at all (and Cooper basically did with his version - it's 2 hours & 15 minutes). There are also these odd still shots throughout the movie, that I actually thought were errors in my dvd copy. It's...weird. Also, I actually laughed out loud when he says "I just wanna take another look at you" because that became so iconic and memed like crazy, I thought it was specific to the new one. It's a classic story, but so weird that there are 4 different versions of it. It's not that good of a story? 

6. Cleo from 5 to 7 - [blind spot] Wow. Stunning film. I think this is my first Varda, which is bullshit because I STUDIED FILM in college. But, unfortunately, in the early 2000s, studying film meant studying male filmmakers. I think it's changed slightly now (hopefully?). Obviously, female directors were rare, so a large focus will be on men. I'm not stupid, and I don't think we should focus on a female filmmaker just because she is a woman especially if the films are mediocre, but this film is spectacular. There is NO reason that it shouldn't have been part of my curriculum, especially since I studied other French New Wave filmmakers like Godard (who is in this), Rohmer, Resnais, etc. This is an absolutely beautiful movie, just stunningly made, and such an interesting "slice of life" story about this woman awaiting a call from a doctor to determine her fate. First, the composition of shots, especially when they are in the taxi are mind-blowing. There are so many complicated shots that are all so smooth and seem effortless. Second, the observational storytelling is wonderful - the way she focuses the camera on the "other" conversations happening. There is also something almost musical about the pace - the way the clicking of her heels match the music in the beginning really sets up the whole thing. It might actually be a perfect film now that I'm writing it all down (my initial rating is 4.5 stars, but it might change). I loved the little background reference to Un Chien andalou (a film known for surrealism and avant-guard filmmaking, basically the opposite of this film). And Corinne Marchand is impossibly gorgeous - and still going at 91!

7. The Hustler - [blind spot] This is an okay movie - it becomes a little repetitive, but overall I was entertained. Paul Newman is good, as expected, and I didn't realize that Piper Laurie was in this (and she died the day before I watched this). She definitely steals the movie - her character is really interesting - all the brashness and mystery made me want to continue watching for her story, not necessarily his. But the whole "hustler" angle is interesting too - I would love to be able to hustle people but I'm too nice, and I would end up feeling bad. I also can't really play pool (I mean, I can play pool, but it's mostly luck instead of strategy. But, my mom is an excellent pool player and my mom's sister, who I don't speak to because she is legitimately an awful person, was a national pool champion at one point. They grew up in a bar, though, so I guess it makes sense). I think the funniest part of the whole movie is when they break his thumbs and he's a big crybaby about it. I thought they broke his arms - why did they cast all the way up his arms for just his thumbs??? It's so funny. I'm sorry, I know it's painful, but I broke my ring finger when I was a child and I didn't even cry. I break toes all the time and it's like..."ok that hurts" but it's not something to cry about. He's like this big tough, macho guy and he's crying over broken thumbs. I think it's hilarious. 

8. Tokyo Story - [blind spot] I do think that I've seen a few scenes from this (most likely in a film class) because some of it seemed familiar, but as a whole I don't think I've watched the entire thing. It's heartbreaking. I think I was expecting something more groundbreaking in terms of style, but I think it's a very quiet film, the camera is mostly motion-less, and it's all very grounded. I guess, that it's groundbreaking by not being flashy and exploitative? Sort of camera as the observer storytelling? I'll have to do some research, but my honest initial reaction was a bit subdued. I did love the story, though, and it's obviously culturally important to show this Japanese family in post WWII turmoil, the shift in traditions, etc. And there's a crushing line of dialogue towards the end: "isn't life disappointing". Just about destroyed me. 

9. Rebel Without a Cause - [re-watch] I was hesitant to watch this again, now that I know Natalie Wood's backstory and how shitty Nicholas Ray (the director) is. It's stomach turning - she was just endlessly exploited by so many men in Hollywood (and Ray is "allegedly" one of them). But it's such a good movie that I haven't seen in quite some time. I forgot a lot of it - I vaguely just remembered the drag racing stuff, but not much else. I think it's funny that she's accused of having "daddy issues" within the first 10 minutes. It made me laugh. And how there's like 9 people shoved in that car that is built for a maximum of 4. Imagine seeing that now? It's like a clown car. Anyway, I think this film's biggest success is the whole "cool factor" that it has going for it. Natalie Wood is just pure class - she just had "it". And James Dean is so effortless - his style, his attitude. I think anyone watching this movie when it was released wanted to be these two people, and yet we still want to be these people. They were so aspirational. I don't feel like that happens much anymore (and a lot of the popular young movie stars feel derivative - like Timothee Chamalet/Chalamet does this whole James Dean "look", which is probably why I don't like him). I do think some young actresses have potential to have that iconic staying power 70 years from now (I think Florence Pugh has the most potential - an incredible actress and has a specific style that nobody else is doing. She feels classic, yet modern and trendy - and I think she puts a lot of thought behind how she presents herself to the world (even the whole "cooking with Flo" thing gives her that "relatability" edge). Anyway, this movie just got me thinking about the power of the "movie star", and how it can really make a film transcend into a classic. 

10. Night of the Living Dead - [re-watch] I wanted to watch a classic horror movie on Halloween, so I picked this one because it's one of the bigger ones that I remember the least. I actually watched this movie the first time, not in a film class, but in a class that focused on gender and race in the media (although I think the class fulfilled a film requirement? Probably. I took a lot of gender focused classes in college too). I've seen it a few times since then, but for some reason it just never really stuck out in my brain. It's definitely filled with some iconic horror shots - like her shoes falling off in the beginning as she's running, the skull with the eyeballs popping out, etc. And the cast is fantastic - my favorite is Marilyn Eastman as Helen Cooper. She's definitely my favorite character, with her no nonsense dialogue "we may not like living together, but dying together will do no good". She's also gorgeous - I never realized how much Julia Roberts resembled her??? It actually prompted me to see if they were related (they're not). I have not watched any of the sequels, which is weird because I'm definitely interested knowing that Romero is involved in all of them.

Thoughts on 5 Films ***Halloween Edition***

1. The Boogeyman - I don't usually do the whole horror movies in October thing that every other film buff seems to do (I watch all genres all year long), but I got a small stomach bug the day before Halloween and was unexpectedly stuck at home for two days so I decided to make it a spooky marathon with 5 new horror releases from this year. I had heard some mixed reviews on this one, mostly negative from film people I trust, but I didn't mind it. It's too well-acted and well-filmed to give it less than 2.5 stars, in my opinion. The story could have been stronger, and the jump scares were hardly scary, and it all felt very average. But, average does not equal bad. It just could have been better and less cliched, I think. I know that this is based on a Stephen King short story, but I think there have been other Boogeyman movies made, right? I've never seen any of them, but I always thought that "Lester Billings" was "The Boogeyman", but that's not the case in this (although I guess you can interpret it that he is, but I feel like the film is inching the other way). I also picture "The Boogeyman" as more of a man, not an actual monster. It's also weird that they don't just....turn the lights on? Like the woman has her hallway lined with candles in order for it to never be dark, but lightbulbs are far easier??? On a side note - that moon ball light is pretty nifty huh? I would have loved to have that as a kid (I kind of want one now!). Anyway, as I said, the acting is strong and keeps the film from completely falling apart - the girl from Yellowjackets is an incredible young actress. And the girl who plays Princess Leia in Obi-Wan is also very good (I think she's good on Obi-Wan too because she's supposed to be annoying). Chris Messina as the sexy, depressed dad is perfect casting. And Marin Ireland! She's great and should definitely be in more stuff. 

2. Cobweb -  *spoilers ahead* This is probably my favorite of the bunch (although Totally Killer is a bit more fun). I think it just does a really good job at creating a creepy atmosphere without feeling like every other horror movie. There are some genuinely intense scenes (like when the teacher visits and the father holds the hammer - my whole body was in a cringe position). It's clear that things aren't as the little boy thinks, and that his parents are protecting him, but they are also complete psychopaths, so killing them was the right thing to do anyway. And casting Lizzy Caplan and Anthony Starr as the psychopaths is a wonderful move, because they are both excellent here. The little boy (from C'mon, C'mon) is a terrific little actor and I think the whole movie hinges on his performance as this sweet, innocent boy who is just trying to do the right thing. The reveal scene is executed really well, and still a little surprising, even if you've figure it out. There's a bit of a Barbarian meets Malignant (both recent horror movies that I liked). It also goes full horror slasher for a whole scene towards the end, so if that's more your thing, you'll still have a lot of fun (I tend to like a bit more of the slasher horror, sometimes creepy atmosphere just isn't enough for me). 

3. Totally Killer - This is a really fun movie. I think some of the praise is a little much (it's fun, but still a 3 star movie. I saw someone say it's a 10/10 movie. I mean, c'mon!!). I'm not sure if I've ever told my Kiernan Shipka story? Well, I was a stand-in for her on a movie she was in right before she got the Mad Men gig (yes, I am tiny enough to be a stand-in for a then 8 year old girl when I was 26ish LOL). She was a very sweet girl, especially in comparison to the other child actor starring in the movie who was a total little asshole (and I've never seen him in anything after that...I don't think?). I'm rooting for her, and I hope she stayed just as sweet (I can't believe she's in her 20s now. Nothing makes me feel older). Anyway, as I said, this is fun. I think it overdoes the whole "wow the 80s were so not woke" thing to a point where it becomes a little annoying. I also think it's SO DUMB that she goes to school right after her mom is brutally murdered (which is a very typical horror movie trope that I wish they would stop doing. It's just dumb). I do like that it embraces the whole Back to the Future element, and runs with it. It's like a mix of Back to the Future, Happy Death Day, and Freaky all mixed together. Some of the 80s jokes worked really well, though, it just felt a little unbalanced with shoving too many of them in. I appreciated the dodgeball scene with her being like what the fuck is this shit and getting hit by that hard ass dodgeball (that ball hurt! people used to get hurt in gym class!). And they kept talking about the ride "the quantum drop", which I had no idea what they were talking about until I saw it and it brought back a flood of fair memories (we called that ride The Gravitron). Also, when she gives the cop the "DNA" evidence and he looks at her like "what the fuck am I supposed to do with this?" and throws it on the floor. I laughed. Kiernan is great - super cute and has great comedic timing. I do hope to see Liana Liberato in a starring role, soon, though? I thought with Scream VI she would land something big, but she's still a sidekick character in this (and not even the main sidekick!). 

4. Five Nights at Freddy's - This is one of those films that I can confidently say was not made for me, and I feel bad giving it a bad review for this reason. I will say, it's not terrible, definitely not as terrible as some of the reviews have claimed. I don't even think it will make my 10 worst movies of the year (It is at 8 right now, but everything changes in Nov/Dec). It's just clearly a kids movie - and as some are referring it as "a gateway horror", there's enough kills and gore for it to be "horror", but it's still made for teens. And, gamers, I think? (I think I saw that it's based off of a game? I have no idea. Sorry, I'm old). It's also SO WEIRD that the same movie released with Nicolas Cage just a few years ago (Willy's Wonderland), but for adults (the creators of FNaF should definitely have sued, in my opinion). I just think it takes itself a little too seriously, and as a teen I would have still enjoyed something like Totally Killer over this. Plus, it's not like "gateway horror" is a new concept (Goosebumps, Are You Afraid of the Dark, etc.). I do like Josh Hutcherson a lot, and I think he does a good job leading this. I also like Becks from You! I don't think I've seen her in anything else before, but she's adorable. ALSO, horror icon, Matthew Lillard is great casting (and obvious that he is a bigger part of the story because he's horror icon Matthew Lillard, but I think that probably goes over the intended audience's heads). Also, on a major aside, and a major gripe I have with Hollywood, is that I looked up the little girl's age because I don't understand why an 8(?) year old girl would have a haircut like Amelie, and guess what? Her age has been scrubbed from the internet. AN 8(?) year old girl is already being told not to divulge her age. One of the film websites has it listed as her "playing age range is from 8 to 14". So fucking stupid. 

5. A Haunting in Venice - What a fucking snoozefest. I could have fallen asleep had I not watched it while waiting for trick-or-treaters. And such a weird cast of people who don't click at all. Tina Fey is so miscast in this, it's almost hard to watch. And then Jamie Dornan (who isn't always the best actor, he is certainly not a chameleon. He's only good in very specific roles), who is reunited with the little boy from Belfast - who is inexplicably dressed like Eggsy from the Kingsman movies. Plus, Kelly Reilly (who is far too good for this movie) and two of my favorite up-and-coming actors - Kyle Allen & Emma Laird who both have very little to do. Combined with Kenneth Branagh's overacting, it just doesn't work. I think it's weird that this one seems to be favored over Branagh's previous Agatha Christie adaptations, Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile, while I think the exact opposite. With Orient Express, I already knew the story so I focused a lot of production (and it is a BEAUTIFUL movie), and with Nile, I wasn't as familiar, but even though it was obvious, it was still fun to see how the mystery unfolded. I couldn't care less about the outcome here. I guess, I'm not usually a fan of gothic horror mysteries, and this is more in line with that genre, I think. It's just plain boring. And I wasn't wowed by any of the production - it's very flat and felt like any person with a camera could have done the same thing.