Yes it’s the last day of February, but I’m posting this roundup of what I watched in January anyway. Early in the month I got out to theaters to see “1917” and “Little Women,” both on the same day, and both worthwhile investments of time.
I went into “1917” with a healthy amount of skepticism about the movie’s conceit of a single, uninterrupted shot, based partly on its inherently gimmicky nature and also the fact that Sam Mendes’s movies have always struck me as shallow. But I was pleasantly surprised by how “1917” delivered a genuinely affecting emotional wallop that mostly redeems its “video game” premise.
On the other hand, I had the inverse experience with “Little Women.” I went into it with high hopes based on director Greta Gerwig’s previous outing, “Lady Bird,” which I found to be nearly flawless. But I found this adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s immortal novel to be surprisingly misshapen, and marred by ill-advised casting. For a creative talent who seems so independent by nature, Gerwig’s take on “Little Women” just felt disappointingly Hollywood-esque.
In total, I watched sixteen movies in January, including several by Ingmar Bergman. I’m trying to make my way through “Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema,” a massive boxed set comprising thirty-nine films across thirty Blu-Ray discs. I have to admit knowing very little about this legendary director before starting this exercise; I’d only ever previously seen “The Seventh Seal” and “Scenes from a Marriage.” It’s going to take me all year to finish it, but I’m enjoying every minute.
Here’s the full list.
- “Beirut” (2018) ★★
The bones of a complex script smothered in Hollywood clichés. - “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies” (2018) ★★★½
Rewatched. Best DC movie since Nolan. - “Blaze” (2018) ★★★½
Fully committed and exquisitely made, but it’s a lot. - “Before Midnight” (2013) ★★★★★
Rewatched. So many truths. - “1917” (2019) ★★★★
At first I thought it was a bit of a gimmick, but it swept me up. - “Little Women” (2019) ★★★½
Its credentials are better than its execution, in part due to some pretty egregious miscasting. - “Smiles of a Summer Night” (1955) ★★★
Social deviants hiding in polite society. - “Wild Strawberries” (1957) ★★★★
Everything you could want in a Bergman film. - “Toy Story 3” (2010) ★★★★
Incisive farewell to childhood. - “The Assassin Next Door” (2009) ★★
Schlock city, but I’ll watch Olga Kurylenko in anything. - “Before Sunset” (2004) ★★★★★
Rewatched. Exquisite articulation of growing into yourself. - “Crisis” (1946) ★★
Maudlin excuse to objectify youth. - “The Natural” (1984) ★★
Reagan-era hokum on the baseball diamond. - “Yesterday” (2019) ★★★½
Empty-headed but irresistible. - “Paris, Je T’Aime” (2006) ★★½
As expected for an anthology film, a mixed bag. - “A Ship to India” (1947) ★★★½
Brutal youth.
This is the latest roundup of my monthly movie consumption. You can also see what I watched in December, in November, in October, in September, in August, in July, in June, in May, in April, in March, in February, in January and a full list of everything I watched in 2018, in 2017 and in 2016. And, if you’re really interested, you can follow along with my movie diary at letterboxd.com.
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