2024 Movie Log: March

3rd: Priscilla – Sofia Coppola (2023)
Feels like we’ve gotten to this strange place where Coppola’s influence is more prominent than ever and yet her own films are kind of flying under the radar? To some extent, that just might be the Apple TV of it all. But genuinely think this is one of her best features in a while and deserves to be seen.
Grade: A-

3rd: Elvis – Baz Luhrmann (2022)
Normally I only log movies I finish but the first ten minutes of this told me everything I needed to know
Grade: F

9th: Cute Girl (Lovable You) – Hou Hsiao-Hsien (1980)
The Alien 3 of Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s career?
Grade: C+

10th: The Green, Green Grass of Home – Hou Hsiao-Hsien (1982)
This is not that far removed (in both time and structure) to “Cute Girl” and yet Hou ups his game in every way. It still has some elements of a fun, rompy made-for-tv movie, but there’s an eye for beauty and detail that makes it irresistible. One of my absolute favorites so far.
Grade: A

10th: Fallen Angels – Wong Kar Wai (1995)
I just found out that Wong Kar Wai’s latest work is a 30-part Chinese miniseries and my impulse is to try and figure out a way to watch it, all while I own a lovely boxset of his work with films I haven’t even seen before. I’m a fool!
Grade: A-

15th: Down Terrace – Ben Wheatley (2009)
I remembered this as a comedy and in some parts I’m not sure that it isn’t.
Grade: B+

15th: Anyone But You – Will Gluck (2023)
Grade: C-

17th: Widows – Steve McQueen (2018)
One of the best Chicago movies ever imo
Grade: A-

22nd: Once Upon a Time in America – Sergio Leone (1984)
Seems like I have a thing for four hour, dreamy, historical, gangster epics 🤔
Grade: A-

23rd: A Fistful of Dollars – Sergio Leone (1964)
When Tom Petty invited The Replacements to tour with him they apparently kept telling him they loved his song “Running Down the Drain” and if I ever meet Clint Eastwood I’ll tell him I love your film “A Fistful of Ball Hairs”
Grade: B+

23rd: For a Few Dollars More – Sergio Leone (1965)
I know I’m way late to the game, but these films absolutely rip. What a delight to find something you like way more than you would have thought
Grade: A-

24th: Daughter of the Nile – Hou Hsiao-Hsien (1987)
Can tell this is a film right in the middle of Hsiao-Hsien’s career. Still has some of the family/slice of life dna of his early features but with a wider scope and really ambitious cinematography.
Grade: B

29th: Café Lumière – Hou Hsiao-Hsien (2003)
Have not watched enough Ozu to judge this based on being an homage to Ozu (which it is). But I sure do like Hou and trains and Tokyo 🙂
Grade: B-