2018 Movie Log: November

2nd: Mid90s – Jonah Hill (2018)
Watched at Logan by myself. I liked it for the most part. It seemed like it was trying to be two different movies. At first, a hangout film and then a drama/tragedy at the end. Not really sure if it all comes together. But it was mostly good and it was super short.
Grade: B-
Mid90s – Jonah Hill (2018)

2nd: Ocean’s Eleven – Steven Soderbergh (2001)
Watched at Wills’s with Wills, Anna, and Tommy. Really crazy to see this movie again. It’s completely built on the billing. I wonder how Soderbergh comes up with fake plots to rob casinos.

4th: First Reformed – Paul Schrader (2018)
Watched at Doc Films Chicago with Gioia. My favorite movie of 2018. I can’t think of a more relevant, pressing movie. Ethan Hawke is absolutely incredible. Schraeder sets up the conflict beautifully. It forces you to consider eco-terrorism as a viable option. Along with Hawke, you’re pushed toward accepting it. Absolutely incredible
Grade: A

7th: Wildlife – Paul Dano (2018)
Watched at Regal Western 14 with Gioia. A miserable story, but well done. Just a steady emotional downhill slide. I thought the climax was fantastic.
Grade: B

9th: Tampopo – Juzo Itami (1987)
Watched at home with Gioia and Bryce. Incredible. Truly one of the most delightful surprises of a movie I’ve ever seen. It’s so fun. Maybe one of my favorite movies full stop.
Grade: A

9th: Heathers – Michael Lehmann (1989)
Watched at Music Box with Gioia. It’s brilliant. So dark and funny.

10th: Raging Bull – Martin Scorsese (1980)
Watched at home with Gioia. I loved it. It’s beautifully shot from start to finish. The scene where DeNiro approaches from the sliding door is magnificent.
Grade: A

10th: The Handmaiden – Park Chan-wook (2016)
Watched at home with Gioia. Feels like the most Tarantino movie imaginable. Almost operatic in how big it is with twists upon twists. Normally, I think this movie would have been too big or maximalist for me. But the story was tight enough that it works.
Grade: B

24th: Paris, Texas – Wim Wenders (1984)
Watched at home. One of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen. I could watch a five hour cut of it. It’s so endearingly human. I was in pieces during Harry Dean Stanton’s confrontation with his wife.
Grade: A

24th: Wings of Desire – Wim Wenders (1987)
Watched at home. Just a beautiful, haunting film. I know I didn’t even get 70% that I could from it. I’ll definitely re-watch.

30th: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – David Yates (2016)
Watched at home with Gioia. I liked it much more than the first time around. This time, I could focus past the world and just its ties to Harry Potter and more fully on the story. And I think it’s a pretty good story. Newt is an interesting protagonist. He’s so awkward.
Grade: B

30th: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald (2018)
Watched at the theater with Gioia. I don’t think the film is comprehensible without Wikipedia.  I found it to be pretty disappointing.
Grade: D

Author: Samuel

Big fan of TV, movies, and books. Even bigger fan of maniacally recording my thoughts on them in the desperate and inevitably futile attempt to keep them in my memory forever. View all posts by Samuel