My last post on here was in May 2018?!
I have watched a fair amount of films since then, but my visits to the cinema haven’t been as frequent due to the extensive content available on various streaming platforms.
One of my aims for the coming year is to post more and to achieve that I plan to go to the cinema at least once a week.
I mainly previewed future releases in previous articles, so I’ve decided to go down a more simplified route and recommending new & old releases that I have recently watched.
The top three films that stood out for me in January 2020:
Rating 9/10
Having watched Benny& Josh Safdie’s intense 2017 release Good Time in the cinema I was keen to watch Uncut Gems during its very short theatrical run.
Adam Sandler completely embodies New York jeweller Howard Ratner in this anxiety ridden thriller and for me this is the biggest Oscar snub.
It’s not just Sandler that the Safdie brothers have struck gold with its pretty much the whole cast in this loud and unsettling film.
This film had me hooked for the 2 hours 15 min runs time.
Uncut Gems and Good Time are available to watch on Netflix.
Rating 8.5/10
I made my way down from the independent cinema with my head buzzing from Uncut Gems to a screening of 1917.
The film is technically jaw dropping and fully deserves acknowledgment in direction, production design, visual effects and Roger Deakins iconic cinematography.
There’s no surprise that World War One drama has had a successful BAFTA’s with the British film picking up 7 awards last night at the Royal Albert Hall.
This was a truly great cinema going experience.
Rating 8/10
From award sweeping blockbuster 1917 to Mark Jenkin’s experimental British drama Bait.
Shot on a 16mm clockwork Bolex camera and 130 rolls of black and white film, Jenkin really went above and beyond when crafting this film. Not only did he shoot the film he wrote, directed and edited it.
Set in the fishing community of Cornwall, fisherman Martin tries to raise money to buy a boat. Edward Rowe puts in a great performance as Martin as we follow him in his day to day routine and the struggles he is met with.
This film could not be more on point from a social aspect as it highlights the challenges second home ownership brings to seaside communities. It really was deserving of the Outstanding Debut award it received at the BAFTA’s last night.
The BFI player currently has a 14-day trial which means you’re able to watch Bait for free.
Honourable mentions of other films I watched last month:
The Farewell Rating 8/10
Lulu Wang’s touching family drama is bolstered by the chemistry of Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen. This film made me laugh and cry. The A24 juggernaut continues.
Jojo Rabbit Rating 7.5/10
Taika Waititi continues his run of good form as he gets excellent performances out of his cast in this entertaining anti hate satire. Not only does the film have Waititi’s signature humour it has real heart.
Videodrome Rating 7.5/10
David Cronenberg’s 1983 science fiction film has recently been added to Netflix and being a big fan of The Fly, this catapulted to the top of my watch list. James Woods plays a CEO who’s on the lookout for new content for his sleazy television channel, when he stumbles across a disturbing transmission called Videodrome. The films alarming accuracy on today’s society shows how much of a visionary Cronenberg was when this was released 37 years ago. There are similarities with John Carpenter’s They Live but on the batshit scale Videodrome takes first prize.
The Lighthouse Rating 7/10
Speaking of batshit we have Robert Eggers follow up to his renowned debut The Witch. The mix of genres is clear to see but The Lighthouse leans heavily towards art house for me. This experimental filmmaking won’t be for everyone. The two main positives for me were Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe nailing their roles and Jarin Blaschke’s unbelievable cinematography. I look forward to a second viewing once released digitally with some much-needed subtitles.
A Hidden Life Rating 7/10
Terrence Malick’s spiritual World War II drama was a mixed bag for me. The film looks stunning as you’re transported to the Austrian alps and the performances from leads August Diehl and Valerie Pachner are great. On the other hand, the story is very thin considering the almost 3 hour run time that accompanies it and was often repetitive in parts.
You can find all my film ratings on my new Letterboxd account.
See you next month with my February recommendations!
Alex
salmonconnery 