Come with me on this journey as I watch a movie a day for, maybe, the rest of my life. It can be old, new, or inbetween. Either way, let's watch something.
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Day 25 - Psycho - A Movie A Day - Jan. 25th
Yes, this is my first time seeing this movie. And yes, it’s as good as everyone told me it was going to be. Moving on, my expectations were actually not that high for this movie. Not that I didn’t think it was going to be great but that I thought because I knew the twist and the ending that the movie would lose a lot of it’s impact and appeal on me. I was very, very wrong.
Released in 1960, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, Psycho is a movie about a man named Norman Bates who runs Bates Motel. I would tell you more but honestly, you should watch this movie for yourself. And I HARDLY ever do that but this movie is so beautifully and tightly constructed that saying anything more would ruin it. The only things I can say is there’s murder, there’s lying, and it’s a hell of a ride.
I haven’t seen such a well constructed movie in a long time. The film had me exactly where it wanted me the entire time. Everything it did, everything it showed was for a particular reason. Attention to detail is really what makes this movie stand out as well as it’s unconventional ways of scaring you. There is a scene in particular that made me just at the same time the character on screen jumped because we both saw the same thing and it was AMAZING.
I can’t say enough good stuff about Psycho. I know I took a long time to watch it because I hate watching overly praised movies because I feel like they won’t live up to my expectations. And I know a lot of people don’t like watching old movies, especially when they are in black and white. But if you’re a horror fan, or a movie fan in general, and you haven’t seen Psycho, you really are doing a disservice to yourself.
WATCH IT - Angel
#psycho#alfred hitchcock#hitchcock#bates#motel#norman bates#bates motel#movie review#movie reviews#movie#review#film#filmmaking#amad
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Day 24 - Best In Show - A Movie A Day - Jan. 24th
I’m gonna go right out and say this is one of the funniest movies you’ll ever see, but it’s also one of those movies you’ll either love or hate depending on your taste in comedy. To give you an example, I think the funniest movie ever made is Napoleon Dynamite. So if you’re down with that, you’ll be down with this.
Released in 2000, written and directed by Christopher Guest, Best In Show is a mochumentary that follows multiple dog show contestants and how crazy and eccentric they can get. From screaming about a lost chew toy to singing their favorite goodnight song, this movie plays it all very, very straight. And that’s why it’s so funny; because you feel like these people are real.
The comedy comes from the ridiculousness of what you’re watching and you’re either gonna take it or leave it. If you can sit through 3 minutes of a man listing different types of nuts, while also reminiscing about how his mom used to hate when he would list them, then go on a tangent about macadamia nuts, you’re gonna be right at home with this movie. Think of those little girl beauty pagents but instead replace the girls with dogs, but the parents are just as passionate and just as insane.
I was legit laughing out loud throughout this movie and I couldn’t believe how smart yet how stupid it was at the same time. And I came to the realization that maybe that’s what real comedy is: how to be smart and stupid at the same time. These days we mainly get more stupid than smart, but that’s a whole different topic entirely. But for now, if you want a good laugh and you like cute dogs, Best In Show won’t let you down.
WATCH IT - Angel
#best in show#dog#dogs#christopher guest#movie reviews#movie review#movie#review#film#filmmaking#directing#amad
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Day 23 - Wolf Children - A Movie A Day - Jan. 23rd
I didn’t think this movie was going to be able to surprise me much seeing as how it’s called Wolf Children; I think I have a pretty good idea what it’s going to be about. But instead what I got was a beautiful story about being a mother, being a sister, a brother, a child, and overall growing up. About coming into your own and being true to who you are; be it man or wolf.
Released in 2012, written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, Wolf Children begins with a girl named Hana meeting a boy in her class and finding out he’s actually part wolf. They fall in love, have two kids, and so begins our story. We see the difficulties of raising children but even more so because these children can turn into wolves! We see one embrace their wolf-side more than their human-side and the other do the opposite, and as the years roll by it feels like a natural progression.
Nothing about this movie ever feels fake or false or disingenuous. Even though we’re dealing with made-up situations like, “What if my children were wolves?” the movie takes itself very seriously. We get themes of identity crisis, mortality, coming of age, and knowing when to let go. What this movie is at it’s core is a story about family and if you have a brother or a sister or a mom, I implore you to check this movie out.
Wolf Children will make you laugh, will make you smile, and will probably make you cry. The animation is beautiful and the soundtrack just the same. It taught me to embrace who I am but also know that you are who you choose to be, and just because you were born something or someone specific does not make that your path in life. You pave your own path.
WATCH IT - Angel
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Day 22 - Chungking Express - A Movie A Day - Jan. 22nd
This was a really weird movie and I loved every bit of it. I have heard of the director as well as heard the name of this movie dozens of times but I never got around to watching it until now. What I was exposed to is a film that seemingly breaks the rules of conventional filmmaking and just tells the story, or better yet stories, that it wants to tell.
Released in 1994, written and directed by Kar-Wait Wong, Chungking express is two almost identical stories. At their core they are about a man trying to get over a breakup, but that is really where the similarities end. The first is a man who who meets a woman drug-runner at a bar and the second is about a security guard who becomes friends with a girl at a fast food place. What we get is a very intimate look at these people’s lives, their loves, their flaws, and their dreams.
I honestly can’t say which one I like more because they are both good for different reasons. The first one is a lot slower and a lot sadder and the second one is a lot weirder and a bit quirkier. The film deals with broken people and people just trying to fill the empty spaces in their soul with anything they can find, even pineapples.
It’s not your average popcorn movie and the average movie goer might be taken aback by it’s unique approach to storytelling and it’s seemingly aimless direction. But if you sit back and take it all in for what it is, Chungking Express is one of the few movies I can actually call a work of art. It’s beautiful, it’s sad, it’s weird, and it’s great.
WATCH IT - Angel
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Day 21 - Rumble In The Bronx - A Movie A Day - Jan. 21st
For some reason I was really in the mood for some good ol’ Jackie Chan adventures! But instead of actually watching the show of that name, I decided to look for a Jackie Chan movie I have yet to see. I WAS going to watch Supercop 1, but couldn’t find it through my... methods. So instead I settled for Rumble In The Bronx. And it was... ehh.
Released in 1995, directed by Stanley Tong, Rumble In The Bronx is a story of Jackie Chan staying with his uncle in the Bronx for vacation, pissing off a biker gang, and also pissing off some hitmen by stealing their diamonds? Yeah, it’s kind of a weird movie and it’s paced very awkwardly as well. It’s also one of those movies where the Chinese actors are trying their best to speak English but they still get dubbed over and it just sounds really awkward. So yeah, it’s a weird movie.
I would say it’s worth a watch for the fight scenes alone but there is maybe 2 noteworthy fight scenes in the whole movie and to me, it just wasn’t worth it. Also Jackie starts working at a grocery store and he meets a girl there but ends up falling for the leader of the biker gang’s girl who also happens to be the sister of his uncle’s neighbor who’s a little kid in a wheelchair. I can only assume the Bronx is very small.
There are better Jackie Chan movies out there and this one came at a time where Jackie’s American movies were still trying to find their footing. Go watch Supercop 3, Who Am I, or Shanghai Noon. If you DO watch this movie, it probably won’t be a complete waste of time, but it won’t be super fun either.
SKIP IT - Angel
#rumble in the bronx#jackie chan#movie review#movie reviews#movie#review#film#filmmaking#directing#kung fu#martial arts
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Day 20 - Unbreakable - A Movie A Day - Jan. 20th
You are correct, I DID watch two M. Night Shyamalan movies in a row! Why would I put myself through such torture you ask? Mainly morbid curiosity. After watching Split, I wanted to know more about this Unbreakable movie, and I was actually pleasantly surprised at the movie I ended up watching. Two times, M. Night, your average is increasing!
Released in 2000, written and directed once again my M. Night Shyamalan, Unbreakable is the story of a man who in the sole survivor of a deadly train crash and the man who believes him to be meant for greatness. If this all sounds like a setup for a comic book movie, you’re half right. This story is definitely about heroes and villains, but not in the way that you think.
We mostly focus on the character of David, played by Bruce Willis, and Elijah, played by Samuel L. Jackson. David is seemingly indestructible: he can’t get hurt, he’s never sick, and can lift incredible amounts of weight. Elijah is the exact opposite: bones so brittle that they broke during childbirth, gaining him the name Mr. Glass. The story follows David as Elijah tries to convince him that he’s destined to be a hero.
As far-fetched as the set-up sounds, it’s actually a very grounded movie. Surprisingly the best thing about this movie is the direction. Almost every scene is just shot in such a unique and particular way that you can’t help but be impressed. The look and feel of this movie is so unique, as well as the message once the credits roll (which if you know Shyamalan, it’s definitely a great twist.) The acting can be janky at times, some camera set-ups are begging to be asked what they mean, but overall a good film!
So is Shyamalan a good director? Hell no. But he is a unique one. One that knows exactly what he wants and does it every time, except sometimes he misses the mark so bad you get Avatar: The Last Airbender. But the man can direct, I just don’t know why he went so off in his later career. If Split is any indication, we might be seeing a resurgence back to the M. Night of movies like this one. Let’s hope for the best!
WATCH IT - Angel
#m. night shyamalan#m night shyamalan#movie review#movie reviews#unbreakable#movie#review#film#filmmaking#film review#bruce willis#samuel l jackson#mr glass
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Day 19 - Split - A Movie A Day - Jan. 19th
It was good. Yeah, I’m just as surprised as you are! My expectations were bottom of the barrel low for this one, especially since the movie to come before this was The Visit, which was probably the worst movie of 2015. And this director does not have the best track record for making good movies, so the odds were stacked against it. Even so, I left the theater very entertained.
Released in 2017, written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, Split is the story of a man with 23 distinctly different personalities living in his body, each with their own mannerisms, accents, body types, and afflictions. The story kicks off with one personality kidnapping these three girls in order for them to be sacrificed to “the beast,” and the story gets crazier from there. It was a thrill ride, but not without it’s bumps.
The best part about the movie is James McAvoy, who does an incredible job portraying different characters with one body. I don’t think I can successfully explain just how good he was in this movie. Put simply, if he wasn’t this good, the movie would be a trainwreck. He is what holds this movie together and in place. The glue of the movie and the only reason we watch to the end. It’s rare you watch a mediocre movie with an absolutely phenomenal performance, but here it is.
Now it does have it’s flaws... a lot of them. The three girl actresses are TERRIBLE, except maaaaybe for the lead. She’s okay, but they have nothing to do, ever. All they do is cry and scream and breath really hard. It’s so obnoxious. Anytime they are on screen WITHOUT James McAvoy, the movie comes to a screeching halt. Some dialogue choices are dumb, some shots and scenes are dumb, and really this whole movie is kinda dumb. And yet I liked it?
This movie would not be an M. Night movie WITHOUT all the dumb shit in it. The unnatural dialogue, the director cameo, the pretentious and obnoxious angles and camera movements; that’s what makes this an M. Night film. He doesn’t make perfect movies, or even good movies; he makes M. Night Shyamalan movies. And sometimes, they are worth watching on that merit alone. Split is a fun time with some dumb moments but you couldn’t possibly have one without the other.
WATCH IT - Angel
#split#m. night shyamalan#movie reviews#movie review#movie#review#film#filmmaking#directing#james mcavoy#m night shyamalan
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Day 18 - Your Name - A Movie A Day - Jan. 18th
I told myself I wasn’t going to watch this movie because I had already seen a Makoto Shinkai movie earlier this month and I wanted to be diverse in my selection of movies but GODDAMMIT the hype was too much! And I regret nothing! This movie was freaking beautiful.
Released in 2016, written and directed by Makoto Shinkai, Your Name tells the story of a boy and a girl who continuously wake up in each other’s bodies and the events that come from that. Without ruining anything, this is one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever seen. It plays out beautifully through the visuals and the dialogue and the music and just everything! I don’t know whether it’s because I just watched it a few minutes ago but I can’t think of anything bad to say about it.
The movie plays around with time and magic and you really have to suspend your disbelief for some aspects of the movie, but the movie makes it easy but throwing us into a world where that kind of stuff feels natural! The setting we are in feels like it COULD give way to such things, and we go along with it, and we love every second of it. This film is full of powerful visuals and moments that make your eyes water and your heart wring in it’s place.
I don’t know what else to say about it. It gave me hope above all things. Hope of the concept of soul mates, transcending love, fate, etc. This movie put a lot of things into perspective for me. But most of all it made me feel. It made me feel for the plight of the characters and the events that happen and just all around feel EMOTION. That is what movies are supposed to do: evoke emotions. And this movie did it and it did it oh so well.
WATCH IT - Angel
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Day 17 - Silence - A Movie A Day - Jan. 17th
I don’t know what the goal was for this movie in terms of an audience reaction, but I can definitely say it made me angry. It made me despise religion more than I already did. I found nothing good about worshipping God or gods and nothing good about dying for your beliefs. Again, maybe that was the point of the movie, who knows? But that’s what I came away with.
Released in 2016, written and directed by Martin Scorsese, Silence is set in Japan during a time where a sort of culling of Christians is being implemented by the government. The story follows two priest, (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) on their search through Japan for their mentor (Liam Neeson) who is rumored to have denounced his faith. What we get is three hours of people being tortured, murdered, faith being tested, and just all around cruelty. Is that a good thing? It’s all up to the viewer but for me, not so much.
Before I go on, the cinematography is phenomenal. The landscapes and the people and just everything about the picture is beautiful. Even when characters are covered in dirt and even when we are watching people be tortured, Rodrigo Prieto manages to capture it purely and perfectly. That is my favorite part of the movie, and a close second comes Andrew Garfield. Very, VERY good performance. But it’s 3 hours long, very religious, and I’m not going to lie it’s hard to sit through. If you don’t have patience, you’re not going to enjoy this movie for long.
I don’t know if I would go so far as to say I regret watching this movie, but I think I just want something different from my trips to the cinema. I don’t want to watch period pieces anymore, especially ones with religious subject matter. I don’t know, I left the movie unchanged, aside from the angry part of course. My opinions of the worthlessness of religion were only enforced but even still, I didn’t want to continue seeing people die for their beliefs. Simply put, it was a bummer.
SKIP IT - Angel
#silence#movie review#movie#review#andrew garfield#adam driver#liam neeson#martin scorsese#film#filmmaking
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Day 16 - Adaptation - A Movie A Day - Jan. 16th
This movie opens with claiming to be based on a book called “The Orchid Thief.” Little does the audience know that they are in for less of an adaptation of a novel and more of a decent into the anxiety-filled mind of the screenwriter tasked with adapting said novel. In three words, “it’s a trip.”
Released in 2001, directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman (and his fake twin brother Donald Kaufman,) Adaptation is like no other film I’ve ever seen. It stars Nicholas Cage as both Charlie and Donald Kaufman, as Charlie tries desperately to adapt the novel “The Orchid Thief” into a screenplay. The story jumps around time a lot, sometimes millions of years, sometimes just a few years, and yet we are never lost. Kaufman calls screenwriting a journey into the unknown. This is that. So, so that.
The acting is flawless for the most part. Nicholas Cage is very hit or miss but I will say this performance is a definite hit. His ability to play two twin characters, and play them so differently, is so much fun to witness. Meryl Streep is very good, Chris Cooper is VERy good, and the directing is always on point. This movie does such a good job giving you really dramatic, profound moments and then throwing a curve-ball and have the most ridiculous thing be done or said. Keeps you on your toes.
I knew I loved this movie the second I heard Donald Kaufman say this line: “You are what you love, not what loves you.” Now that might sound pretty simple and not life-changing to some but for me, it was huge. I heard it and had to stop the movie because I couldn’t believe such a simple concept had escaped me my whole life. So if you haven’t guessed it, I loved this movie. It taught me how to be a better person, a better screenwriting, and a shitload about orchids as well.
WATCH IT - Angel
#adaptation#nicholas cage#spike jonze#charlie kaufman#meryl streep#movie review#movie#review#film#filmmaking#amad
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Day 15 - Y Tu Mamá También - A Movie A Day - Jan. 15th
All my adult life I’ve had people ask me if I’ve seen this movie. And everytime I tell them no I have not, they say, “Oh my god dude you GOTTA see it!” And that was it. They never told me anything about the plot or anything else, leaving me to instead assume the plot by the title of the movie. I knew it was going to have a lot of sex, but even then I was not ready for this movie.
Released in 2001, written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, Y Tu Mamá También is a story about two best friends who go on a road trip with an older woman. Through the trip we explore themes of friendship, mortality, morality, and most of all sex. I would say 75% of this movie is focused on talking about sex but in such a way that is seems so natural. They talk so much about sex that it stops being a sort of taboo subject to talk about and we accept it as just a natural part of these people’s lives.
This movie is set in Mexico and every frame of this picture screams that. It’s such a relief to see a country like Mexico be explored given that most mainstream films are set in the States. Everything feels alive and natural. I keep coming back to that word, natural, because that’s the best way to explain this film. The friendships feel natural, the sex feels natural, the environments and set pieces feel natural. We’re not watching a movie; we’re watching life.
Y Tu Mamá También taught me a lot about friendship, love, sex. Perspectives on these subjects that sadly don’t get talked about as often as they should. Everyone has at least had a few conversations like the ones in the movie, but to actually SHOW those conversations to a mainstream audience makes all the difference. Even now, 15 years later, these conversations still feel like they should be kept in private. But they shouldn’t. They should be embraced and explored and talked about, and in doing so hopefully we as a species can start to feel comfortable in our own skin.
WATCH IT - Angel
#y tu mama tambien#movie review#movie#review#film#filmmaking#alfonso cuaron#gael garcia bernal#diego luna#maribel verd��
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Day 14 - The Graduate - A Movie A Day - Jan. 14th
Rich Kid Blues. That’s what this movie is. I felt nothing but annoyance and dislike for all of these characters. Not a single one felt relatable to be. I was so annoyed the entire time watching it that it couldn’t have ended sooner. Overrated is an understatement in my opinion,
Released in 1967, directed by Mike Nichols, The Graduate follows the story of Ben, fresh out of undergraduate school and worried about his future. Everyone in his life is super proud of him but instead of figuring out what to do with his life he stays around in mommy and daddy’s mansion drinking beer, hanging by the pool, and having an affair with his dad’s work partner’s wife. Yeah, Ben sucks.
And then when he gets tired of the wife, he goes for the daughter! Ben is a garbage human being. He lies and stalks and does whatever the hell he wants without any form of consequence. I’m supposed to root for this guy? I’m supposed to want him to get the girl? Fuck that. I felt nothing for his character nor his problems. Get a job you lazy ass.
The one thing I was enjoying was the soundtrack, done by Simon and Garfunkel. I love them so much but after the 10th time of hearing Scarborough Fair, yeah, it’s not as impactful. They repeat the same two songs like 5 times and it’s incredibly obnoxious. The cinematography is cool, the directing is cool, but the story sucks, the characters suck, and I can’t believe this is considered a classic. Not for me.
SKIP IT - Angel
#the graduate#movie review#movie#review#film#filmmaking#Mike nichols#dustin hoffman#mrs. robinson#simon and garfunkel
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Day 13 - Shin Godzilla - A Movie A Day - Jan. 13th
This movie was weird. Maybe it’s because it’s the first Japanese Godzilla movie I’ve ever seen, but something was off about this movie to me. I don’t think I’d classify it as bad, but I would mainly say it wasn’t what I wanted out of a Godzilla. And after 2014′s American Godzilla, I don’t think Godzilla movies are for me in general.
Released in 2016, written and directed by Hideaki Anno, Shin Godzilla is not your usual Godzilla movie. I would go so far as to say it’s not even about Godzilla at all. Instead, it’s about Japan, and the people of Japan, and how they must come together as a country to defeat this seemingly unbeatable creature on their own terms. What’s unique about this movie is that there isn’t really one main character or protagonist: we are rooting for Japan. And in a sense, we’re rooting for humanity.
Now there are some really cool scenes of Godzilla destroying shit, but the CGI is much different than what American audiences are used to. It’s very goofy and very UN-realistic. At I can’t help but be taken out of the movie when the CGI is so unconvincing. The story is really fasted paced with quick cuts and conversations. So much happens so fast that it’s hard to keep up. Again, the main focus is on the human characters so don’t be expecting Pacific Rim.
Shin Godzilla is about the power of humanity. The power of a collective of people coming together to overpower a single force of power. And that’s all well and good, but I wanted more monster mashing. Call me basic, say I didn’t “get it,” I don’t care. I am in no rush to watch Shin Godzilla anytime soon.
SKIP IT - Angel
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Day 12 - Don’t Think Twice - A Movie A Day - Jan. 12th
How much do you know about improv comedy? If you are anything like me, not much. But the great thing about this movie is that even though it’s subject matter is improv, it's really about growing up, even though the entire cast is older than 30. You’re never too old to grow up.
Released in 2016, written and directed by Mike Birbiglia, Don’t Think Twice follows the lives of an improv comedy group in New York. Their lives are shaken up when one of their members auditions and gets hired on Weekend Live, this movie’s equivalent to SNL. What follows is a story about growing up, doing what you love, following your dreams, and accepting situations. Even though most of the characters are a decade older than me, I found this movie to be incredibly relatable.
While watching this movie, it took me back to old New York-centric movies like Annie Hall and Manhattan. Love letters to the city but also to the people living in the city. Don’t Think Twice paints the town in a great light and creates characters with real depth to them. I’m very glad I saw this movie and I can’t wait to see what Mike Birbiglia does next.
WATCH IT - Angel
#don't think twice#movie review#movie#review#film#filmmaking#mike birbiglia#improv#improv comedy#snl
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Day 11 - Punk’s Dead: SLC Punk 2 - A Movie A Day - Jan. 11th
This was so bad. Like, I don’t know if I can muster the words to talk about, so bad! I found this movie as a personal offense to me, because the original SLC Punk is in my top 10 movies of all time. And this? They might as well have spit in my face.
Released in 2016, written and directed by James Merendino, Punk’s Dead: SLC Punk 2 (I feel dirty just writing that) follows the son of Heroin Bob from the first movie. Even though Bob died in the last one, he lived long enough to get Trish pregnant I GUESS? Anyways, it follows Ross, his son, as he goes out and does all the things he wasn’t allowed to do growing up, i.e. drink, do drugs, and go to punk shows. Fascinating.
I hate this movie, but there are two good things about it. The first is the soundtrack. It’s got a ton of awesome songs that play during the movie, and you’re going to need it because everything else in the movie is god awful. The second thing is one specific scene where Ross sees his girlfriend cheating on him. That scene was pretty great. And that’s it. The cameos don’t work, the story is boring, the acting is shit, everything is stupid, and did I mention HEROIN BOB, WHO IS DEAD, NARRATES THE WHOLE THING? Fuck.
I’ve said all I need to say about this movie. I don’t know why it was made, I don’t know who thought this was a good idea, but it spits in the face of a classic movie loved by many. You can tell this movie was made by an old guy trying to appeal to a younger crowd. And he’s so out of touch with how young people act that it’s laughable. Fuck this movie and everyone who likes it.
SKIP IT - Angel
#slc punk 2#slc punk#punks dead#punks dead slc punk 2#james merendino#heroin bob#stevo#movie review#movie#review#film#filmmaking
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Day 10 - The Garden Of Words - A Movie A Day - Jan. 11th
I have a lot of emotions right now. First off, this movie is like 45 minutes long. My first thought was, “There’s no way I could get emotionally invested in the story and the characters in such a short amount of time!” BOY, was I wrong.
Released in 2013, written and directed by Makoto Shinkai, The Garden Of Words is one of the prettiest animated movies you’ll ever see. It’s also one of the most emotional you’ll ever see. The story is about a boy who skips school on rainy days to draw at a park. There he continuously meets this lady that seems to be there every day and they start to form a friendship. That’s all I will say because I want everyone to experience the story the way it was intended!
I know know what else to say about this movie. It’s that kind of movie that you don’t want to end. Even as the credits are rolling you think. “Please, please, just a little bit more.” But I think that’s where this movie’s strength lies: it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. The relationship our two main characters develop is not rushed nor is it dwelled upon for too long. It’s a perfect story told in the exact amount of time it needed.
Now I know a lot of people have this preconceived notion about anime and anime feature films that they probably want to stay as far away from this film and others like it as possible. Please, PLEASE, do yourself a favor and check this movie out. Suffer and read some subtitles for once in your life! This story is incredible. The visuals are incredible! The music is incredible! Stop reading and watch it! PLEASE.
WATCH IT - Angel
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Day 9 - Nocturnal Animals - A Movie A Day - Jan. 9th
This movie had me. It had me and then it lost me at the last few minutes of the movie. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a movie being completely ruined for me by an ending. Now that’s not to say this movie was a waste of time or worthless or any of that. There’s a lot of good in this movie, but ultimately, it left me literally screaming out loud, “What was that?!”
Released in 2016, written and directed by Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals is the story of Susan (Amy Adams) as she reads a manuscript sent to her by her ex-husband Edward (Jake Gyllenhaal.) What we get is two parallel stories playing against each other: the manuscripts’ story and Susan’s story. At the same time we jump between the past and the present with Susan, so there is actually THREE stories we are watching. You would think this is where the problem lies: keeping up with the storylines, but this movie actually does a fantastic job at the pacing and the coherency of each story. No complaints there.
I already mentioned by hatred of the ending, but there’s a bigger problem: the main cast. Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal are SO boring. The only time Jake is entertaining is in the manuscript’s story, where Susan imagines Jake as the protagonist. That is where Jake’s acting skills really shine, but they are unfortunately overshadowed by two VASTLY superior performances: Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Michael Shannon.
These two are so great. They are the reason you watch this movie till the end. But unfortunately, instead of giving you a good payoff or a nice wrap up to Susan’s story, you get something else. I’m so stuck on the ending because IT’S THE ENDING TO YOUR MOVIE! It’s arguably the most important part of the story! That’s why when people ask you about an interesting movie they usually want to know HOW DOES IT END? Great score, great editing, an okay/sometimes amazing cast, BUT A SHIT ENDING. I can’t get over it. I can’t.
On a deeper level, Nocturnal Animals didn’t do much for me. It was pretty to look at, it was entertaining most of the time, but it’s not a movie that I will remember. I will remember some of the performances, but overall it didn’t do it for me. Honestly, if the ending had turned out different, it might have completely changed my mind. That’s how important a good ending is. It’s the difference between a “watch” and a “skip.” And sadly I gotta say...
SKIP IT - Angel
#nocturnal animals#jake gyllenhaal#amy adams#micheal shannon#aaron taylor-johnson#movie review#movie#review#film#filmmaking#tom ford
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