2021 Movie Log: October

1st: Daisies – Věra Chytilová (1966)
Have not seen many (if any) movies like this. I typically have a limit when it comes to all-out postmodern experimental films. I will say this has a couple of things going for it. 1. The synchronization between the music, sound design, editing, and character movement is mesmerizing. I couldn’t tell you the message that most scenes were trying to convey, but I never really lost interest in any of them. 2. The movie is 75 minutes, a perfect length.
Grade: B

1st: The Many Saints of Newark – Alan Taylor (2021)
I loved every minute of this. I can’t think of a movie I’ve loved more this year. I’ve read and heard a decent amount of criticism about the film. Specifically that it lacks the subtlety, nuance, and subversiveness that made the series so special. And while I can buy into those critiques, it just didn’t matter for me. There is nothing like being back in this world. I thought the filmmaking and particularly the soundtrack were on par with the series. What can I say? The Sopranos is the best. I’m glad I got two more hours of it.
Grade: B

2nd: Jennifer’s Body – Karyn Kusama (2009)
An interesting one to assess. This movie is absurdly silly. While I think there are interesting things in it, Kusama leans heavily into irony and satire to justify the film in general. Typically, I don’t like movies like that. Movies that, in other words, are intentionally trying to be cult movies. This one worked for me. I thought it was genuinely smart and often funny. It’s certainly not my favorite movie, but I think it’s a worthwhile one.
Grade: B-

3rd: Candyman – Nia DaCosta (2021)
I had heard that this movie was not scary. That’s crazy to me. I was uncomfortable for the entire run time. Maybe that’s something slightly different, but it was still affecting. Honestly, it’s a bit difficult for me to assess the movie. Plainly, I did not enjoy watching it. But I’m not really sure you’re supposed to enjoy watching this. It’s extremely unpleasant. Overall, I guess I thought it was a worthwhile sequel to the original.
Grade: B-

29th: Dune – Denis Villeneuve (2021)
DUNE! I was not excited about this movie. I don’t really like the book. I didn’t want to watch a three-hour adaption of just the first half. Boy, was I wrong. This movie is so good it makes me want to reconsider my feelings about the novel. My problem with the source material was how removed the book was from its characters. That is, I should say, by design. Herbert presents the story as the gospel of Paul Muad’Dib (aka Space Jesus). It’s supposed to be the passed down telling of a messiah. Because of that format, it’s hard to feel anything about the characters. They’re presented as historical figures. That’s where a film serves as a great medium. By having people like Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, and Javier Bardem inhabit these figures, they bring life to them. It made the story so much more accessible and impactful to me. The other reason this movie works is that nobody makes big movies as well as Villeneuve. Even if the story was bad, Dune would work because of how stunning it is to look at.
Grade: A-

31st: Last Night in Soho – Edgar Wright (2021)
Wright is a director I’ve always admired more than felt genuinely connected to. Broadly speaking, he is as talented a stylist as anyone working. But I’ve felt that in many of his films, that style seems to cover up a lack of substance. With the exception of Scott Pilgrim, I haven’t come away from many of his films thinking more than, “Wow that looked amazing.” However, all of that is a personal preference. While I don’t love Wright’s work, you can’t argue that he’s incredible at making movies. That fact makes Last Night in Soho particularly disappointing. There’s too much talent for it to be an outright failure, but it’s pretty bad. The story isn’t compelling. The characters aren’t particularly likable. On top of this, I don’t think the movie has anything to say. Which, if everything else worked, might not be a problem. Here, it makes the movie feel like a waste of time.
Grade: C-

31st: Titane -Julia Ducournau (2021)
One of the most fucked up movies I’ve seen! It was a magnificent viewing experience. I would recommend anybody who can handle a movie like this to see it in the theater. That being said, is this movie good? Probably? I do wonder if there’s more shock-appeal than substance. In other words, what is this film trying to provoke? Or, is it trying to be provocative for its own sake? It reminded me a lot of Claire Denis. However, after watching a Denis film, I always have an idea of what she’s trying to get at. Here, I really don’t. Still, Titane made me react more viscerally than anything I’ve seen maybe ever. That has to count for something.
Grade: B+