It's the annual movie post! I'm not proofreading this, so send any needed edits. As is my new tradition I've provided podcast links where appropriate. If you're reading this on Facebook, you should really head over to my blog at jonmadsen.blogspot.com for those links.
top nine movies of 2024!
Yes, you read that right. Of all the movies with a 2024 theatrical release, I saw... nine. Few enough to actually spell out rather than use numerals. I hear 2024 was a super great year for indies and international pictures, so maybe starting tomorrow I'll start my catch-up.
Jerry Seinfeld made what I can only describe as a whimsical picture about the birth of pop tarts -- sans whimsy. Some of the jokes are surprisingly cruel, but thank goodness for them. They’re the only opportunity to laugh. The rest of the jokes don’t come from hack comedians, but rather seemingly from hack ad guys in a contest to give us the most dull, dated, and predictable stuff. And everyone's in this. The funniest part is that IRL half of Hollywood had to walk around in 2024 with their heads lowered in shame.
8. Deadpool & Wolverine
I could recount the plot to this movie, but when the main character constantly makes references to the movie, it's not really a movie, right? It's more like a sketch promoting the movie on The Tonight Show, except it's a few hours long. The positive thing is my earlier days included a massive obsession with Wolverine and X-Men stuff, so I do get Easter egg endorphins like the crucifiction Uncanny 251 cover and Age of Apocalypse stuff, but those are just frames really and not part of the thing I'm watching. Plus it's just hard to find dignity for all the abandoned characters it throws in there while mostly just pissing on them.
7. Winner
This is the true story of that person funly named Reality Winner, an NSA translater who leaked the story of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Quite a shame of a story. A name is not a story and a name alone doesn’t deserve jail. But also, with such constant palpable unfunny sarcasm, it would be impossible to be Reality Winner’s friend.
6. Road House
Jake Gyllenhall is a nice guy with a psychotic stare who's super good at punching people to death. Comes in handy when the coolest bar in Florida makes friends with him and he punches all the real estate developers looking to move in. Thanks, Gyllenhall, for lightening up the bone-breaking mood with friendly conversation! There are a couple of weird camera choices that maybe are more distracting than unique. Ultimately, it's a fine screen saver if you're calmed by punching.
5. Dune: Part Two
Very interesting. And very interestingly long. Now I have even more respect for the Lynch version telling both parts in less time than either of these two new ones. Gonna need to add a star to that (making the Lynch Dune my only 6-star rating). Anyway, on paper, this second one has all the really deep, good stuff from the story. By now, our main guy, the Skywalkeresque Paul is fully established with the sand wizards of Dune and he's totally honed his mom wizard magic. It all comes together with a sort of examination on cults of personalities and the outlandish propaganda of national heroes and how they display their deception for a probable better good. The first one set the world up, and now we can enjoy the world. I cannot logically say why, but I prefer the first movie. Katie often says to me she doesn't like world building in movies, but I'm pretty sure I do. So much so that the first movie, where the unknowns keep expanding, is more my tempo, rather than this second one where the giant universe sort of contracts into more intimacy. The fault is my own.
4. The Fall Guy
I think the movie is saying Matthew McConaughey is really lousy to stunt guys. It's made by stunt men, so it should be more of a love letter to stunt men, but there is some pretty egregious cheap CGI toward the end. Stunt man Ryan Gosling flirts with old flame and new movie director Emily Blunt, in the hottest way possible: by lighting himself on fire. It's plenty fun enough, but it's not quite over-the-edge fun. It feels just a little like they're holding back.
3. Dìdi (弟弟)
There’s the coming of age movie story that involves life-changing moments full of wonder and hope in future growth and relationships. And then there’s this, the true story. This is actually a fine companion to one of my faves, Eighth Grade (mentioned elsewhere in this list). Didi is a Taiwanese-American kid on top of the world at the beginning of his transition into adulthood. His juvenile impulses bring him down and out in this new unfamiliar world though as he's innocent and ignorant in not quite the best ways. It's very relatable.
2. My Old Ass
An adventurous teenager gets a visit from her future self and finds out she grows up to be Aubrey Plaza. The set-up is that she's at a crossroads and she could obviously use advice from her older self most of all. The movie jukes that a bit by switching it up. We often think of giving ourselves advice at a younger age, but what we probably don't utter out loud is what this movie winds up saying. Our old selves need encouragement from our younger selves. Wisdom can be found in youthful recklessness and that's great to know in our world-weary old ass selves. It's a movie about looking to our young selves with admiration rather than regret.
1. Furiosia: A Mad Max Saga
Funny story. I finished all my reviews from the year, I sorted my spreadsheet and I discovered I had only seen eight 2024 movies. Then I took the fun picture with the movie tickets and Hot Pocket and discovered a ticket stub I never logged into Letterboxd. It was for this movie. I guess it blew me away so much I simply... forgot to write it down. As far as action goes, it's on par with Fury Road, but there's a very strong argument that this is the superior film. It's more personal, more meandering, less straight forward. It's more mindful and I think that lends more weight to the action, of which there is abundance. Maybe I still like Fury Road for those same reasons though. This movie is as bleak as those early Gibson ones.
top 63 movies from before that i'd never seen before!
Quite a few bucket list classics! Except the first 30 listed or so!63. Catalina Caper (1967)
Meet the movie so dull that Joel and the bots slept through it. This was an MST3K staple when I was a kid. It stars Tommy Kirk and every teen from the '60s in a bathing suit. There's some kind of shipwreck treasure, but it's impossible to seek because so much gosh darn dancing needs doing! The movie is so dependent on the twist and the go-go that they don't really bother with microphones during any of the dialogue. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #141: Sea Captain Kirk
62. Savage Sam (1963)
This is Disney's sequel to Old Yeller. Obviously with a new, less sensitive dog. This time it's more about family stuff and frontier life and perhaps the worst representations of Native Americans ever put to screen. The kid from Pollyanna (and the first Old Yeller I think) provides a lot of screen time where you're bloodily punching the screen. He plays the little brother who is not torn apart by dogs, or skewered by Native Americans, or gunned down by his own family EVEN THOUGH ALL HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY! Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #141: Sea Captain Kirk
61. Hansel and Gretel (1987)
It takes five minutes to tell the traditional story of Hansel and Gretel and this thing trudges on feature-length with no new material. In fact, it seems like it leaves stuff out. The kids are diligent enough, however, to not only burn the witch alive, but also take the time and effort to dip the witch in batter for easier cooking. Guested on Cultworthy!
60. Beautiful Girls (1996)
Michael Rappaport and a bunch of other loud Boston guys (man, there were a lot of Boston movies this year (oh actually it isn't Boston in this movie, but it's a small town in Massachussetts -- still counting it)) complain about girls and relationships and just not getting "women." These terrible guys may have my similar terrible problems, but I still wouldn’t go to the high school reunion if any of them were there. The movie is probably more famous for having a very very young Natalie Portman and a major plot point is that she definitely will be a sought-after woman some day. Yeah, that's probably just logical, but also pull the reins on bothering to be skeezy enough to make a movie about it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #143: Birth Mark
59. Salt and Fire (2016)
This Werner Herzog narrative has some strange Herzogian charms, but it's mostly irritating and lacking in volcanoes. Michael Shannon kidnaps a team of U.N. inspectors for mysterious reasons. Turns out they didn't punish him enough on the last inspection. Somebody's gotta pay for corporate crimes, but also, what good is such a punishment when the environmental damage is done. Again, no cool volcano. The "Salt" of the title really dwarfs the "Fire." If nothing else though, the movie brought to my attention the intriguing knowledge of the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia. If you ever want to have some fun, mention this movie to my podcast co-host Roy and listen to him grumble and growl for ten minutes. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #145: Volcanic Panic
58. The Monkey's Uncle (1965)
This Disney funventure from days of yore and Annette Funicello gives us nerd Tommy Kirk's goofy inventions and a misplaced idea of college life. Downgrading this heavily for featuring so much collegiate chimp. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #141: Sea Captain Kirk
57. Iron Eagle (1986)
Was it seriously legal in 1986 to make a movie where a kid steals a fighter plane and kills 500 people? Okay okay, the plan was to rescue his dad, but that's obviously the movie's excuse to throw this gunlust story toward every violence-obsessed boy in America. It would have worked on me back in the day before I got old and lame and hide from teenagers when I play online video games. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #143: Birth Mark
56. The Tall Guy (1989)
I think this has everything about Richard Curtis that bugs me. The Love Actually writer sort of started here; looks like it's the second Curtis-penned movie. Jeff Goldblum is the guy in the title. He's the tallest man in the London stage scene, nabbing roles pretty much based on his appearance. Emma Thompson (wow this is early Emma Thompson) plays a clever nurse who somehow digs him (well, he is very tall). And perfectly cast Rowan Atkinson is the villain, an obnoxious entertainer definitely based on Rowan Atkinson (I guess he has the greatest IRL sense of humor of us all). I like a lot of Curtis stuff, but he phones in a lot of jokes he seems to plead with us to appreciate. There aren't too many movies centered around the London stage scene that I'm aware of though, so that's one thing if you dig it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #139: The Big & Tall Samurai Shop
55. Mixed Nuts (1994)
An unseen Steve Martin holiday film directed by Norah Ephron? How could it go wrong? I'm seriously asking the question. I can’t explain why this doesn’t even slightly come together. Maybe it’s just barely too loud and it can’t hear itself. Maybe its storyline about a struggling suicide hotline business isn't dark enough? Maybe there are too many funny people in this and none of them have room to breathe? There is one real LOL moment and it's perfect Steve Martin. I'll tell you what it is IRL if you never see this movie.
54. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Boy I guess I was wrong complaining about the humor of the other Guardians movies. Now without the humor it’s just long and long and long. Also the Guardians are just traveling terrorists.
53. The Lawnmower Man (1992)
One of my most controversial viewing choices this year. It's based on a Stephen King story and is about a simpleton who uses Virtual Reality and a reginmen of brain pills to eschew his kind humility in favor of godlike bullyism. I had heard it was bad, but the premise is something that always drew me to it -- this year fatally. Actually it's not loudly terrible. It's maybe the worst kind of terrible - just hard and tedious to get into. Also, Katie was VERY disappointed it wasn't about a man literally made out of lawnmowers, which would definitely be a killer flick. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #152: Space Screams (Outer and Cyber)
52. Stalker (1979)
This was on my bucket list. I was a big fan of the same Russian director's movie Solaris and waited years to see his Stalker and it left me frightfully cold. A few guys go into this strange zone caused by some kind of alien presence and they pretty much decide NOT to risk things the whole time, fearing the dangers they've heard. Boy the characters saved A BUNDLE of fx budget by trusting in the premise so much. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #135: The Undiscovered Countries
51. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen lose their daughter to the Peace Corps over the holidays, so they decide to skip Christmas, with horror movie results. Either with or without Christmas, they're trapped by an oppressive society either way. Selfishness of their neighbors and especially Tim Allen is exposed and with this universe set up, I suppose the only course is nuclear annihilation. But that actually doesn't happen. Btw, Jamie Lee Curtis ages proudly, respectfully, and voluminously into a bikini.
50. Christmas on the Farm (2021)
This Australian oddity fit the bill as a cozy Christmas movie. A woman pretends to be her farmer mother in order to score a book deal and... fall in love with the guy who doesn't recognize her from their tryst a week earlier. Look, if all she does is dye her hair and he doesn’t recognize her, then maybe it’s not love. Letterboxd reviews are currently filled with angry Australians bemoaning the state of Australian cinema. Might I suggest Muriel's Wedding instead? Christmas is never mentioned, but it's plenty jolly.
49. The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins (1984)
Gary Coleman is the son of U.N. workers in the big apple and his wild imagination comes at an inopportune time as he gets caught up in a cold war spy game in reality. Colemen.isn’t super convincing acting like an adult, but is somehow less convincing acting like a kid. The excitement of reality is interrupted by his constant daydreaming like Walter Mitty or Weird Al in UHF. So the daydreams are fun and skitty, but not necessarily as fun as the other plot. But still, I gotta hand it to that tiny tiny kid, I always love to see a M*A*S*H* parody. Check out maybe the earliest sighting ever of Jason Bateman as a snobby English lad classmate. Guested on Cultworthy!
48. The Peanut Butter Solution (1985)
This year I finally got the opportunity to witness the weird movie some kid talked about in Sunday School when I was like nine. The solution in the title is a hair growth formula, but then there's also a plot involving kidnapped children and magic paintbrushes I think. There's also a Celine Dion song in the middle of it all and Celine Dion was a child herself at the time. The thing is, the movie feels like someone hooked a VCR up to a weird Canadian having a nonsensical dream and that's where the script came from. Or maybe when they actually got funding they must have panicked and actually made a movie. No script leans on this much schizophrenia. Despite my bafflement, it is nice to see a kids movie made with no kidsafe committee oversight. Guested on Cultworthy!
47. A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
Adult humor is refreshing for Christmas, but also there’s a bit of adolescent comic timing. But Justin Hartley is dumb, dirty, and innocent and that’s the working aspect here. But still the Christine Baranski character is weird and mesmerizing. As Mila Kunis's overbearing mom, the jokes go beyond relatable territory and more into hey what kind of science fiction did I just walk into territory. At one point she wins a trophy for neighborhood caroling, which can't possibly be a thing here on Earth. Also, she hosts an impromptu Christmas Eve black tie affair at her daughter's home and who could all these guests possibly be? They'd have to be old male and female hookers. Or perhaps Baranski has John Wick-type underworld connections.
46. The Zone of Interest (2023)
Let's hang out with the family of a German death camp commandant! Not sure that pool slide is ideal. Looks all slivery. Anything to drown out the background noise I guess. The background noise is people dying btw. This film didn't grab me much. I think it's one that's most effective in the theater where you're a bit more trapped in the situation.
45. Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
I watched this as prep to watch the new Axel F movie, which I never got around to. This is funnier than I thought. Well, at least goofier. As a kid I thought an amusement park would make a great action locale. They stole my idea and use every conceivable excuse to return to that park every five minutes. It's almost like an ABC Family version of Die Hard 2.
44. Deconstructing Harry (1997)
"How could I possibly hate Woody Allen more?” *in a pathetic whiny Woody Allen voice* “Hold my beer.” This was one of the few Woody Allen movies I hadn't seen, so I thought I'd squeeze it in before it would be banned forever. Fortunately, this is the one where he really plays a real prick, so it's easier for me to finally get Woody Allen out of my life. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #135: The Undiscovered Countries
43. Psycho II (1983)
Black and white really worked well for the first one. Maybe they shoulda tried that? It's not an atrocity. It's a well-meaning slow burn that plays with similar character types as the first one, but with playful switcharoos. This time the outsiders try to exploit and manipulate the mental illness of Norman Bates. Not a super good idea, but it's intriguing enough to make this sequel. Maybe we'd remember it more if it were a travesty. It's good enough to put it in the forgotten camp where it's only compared to the original.
42. Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
There was a car guy named Tucker Who was kind of a bit of a sucker He got in deep with congress Who had a big laundry list And he said hey I didn’t even consider the mostly bureaucratic needs of a country that puts corporations before people. Also very very 1988-style actory. Jeff Bridges may have needed surgery to either install that perma-grin or perhaps remove it after shooting was finished. Btw, this is one of those true biopics about something you probably don't know about unless you saw this very specific biopic about it. In this case, it's about a care that dared to have seat belts in a time when having seat belts was admiting the vehicle was "unsafe." Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #147: The Coolest Girl and the Zoo Fraternity
41. Good Will Hunting (1997)
He used to beat up Boston bros. Then he beat up math problems. Now he’s beating up love! Finally got around to seeing this and it's very very just fine for me. Minnie Driver's great and Robin Williams is dialed back enough for me to find solace. I am my weak self though and I can't help but get irritated by Damon's know-it-all-itude. I fear people who really really love this movie do so because they relate to a guy who thinks he's smarter and better than everyone around him. If that's you, let's see your finished unsolvable math proof. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #149: Song of the Southies
40. Carol (2015)
Rooney Mara’s wide eyes make her a love zombie staring at the inevitable. And also I’ve left sooo many gloves at department stores and I never see them again. Also I understand giving one's life for Cate Blanchett. I love the vibrant '50s aesthetic and, as allueded, there are powerful on-screen pheromones exuding off of Mara and Blanchett, but after seeing it and checking online reviews I'm a little surprised to see so many with such an emotional connection to this. I find it beautiful, but a little cold.
39. Silkwood (1983)
Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, and Cher are small-towners working in a nuclear plant in the 70s and, you wouldn't believe it, but management doesn't care about their safety too much. It's a true story, but more importantly the movie feels true by capturing the flickering lighting, obnoxious clanks, and somehow the smells of the terrible workplace jobs they're literally killing themselves to keep.
38. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Angela Lansbury plays one of cinema's first cool witches. She actually converts to witchyness as her civic duty to fight Nazis. Would that we all use that reason to give in to witchcraft! First time viewer to this and it's a little funny witnessing such a meandering plot. Mid-century Disney really wanted to make bingeable TV shows out of these old movies. Today, Bedknobs and Broomsticks would totally be a ten-part season of various episode lengths where the end sort of relates to the beginning. As a historical relic we still have this thing that's readily available on Disney+ and can be watched starting halfway through, no problem. Might I recommend the part where they play soccer with a bunch of cartoon characters. MVPs to the two goalies, who hold the game scoreless, despite all the powers that come with animated animal strikers. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #150: Witchlash
37. Fatso (1980)
Guess who's fat? Dom Deluise. Beardless! A bit funny, a bit awkward, a lot of yelling, but most of all you’re gonna eat so much while watching this movie. He so doesn't want to be fat, but his descriptions alone of his love of food make me fatter. At one point he consumes $200 of Chinese food and I'm like, yeah, I've been there. Really though, fatness has little to do with it overall (but it's a great title). It's a rom-com with a quirky, insecure man. The lady is similar and adorkable (but of the non-fat variety). Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #139: The Big & Tall Samurai Shop
36. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Jennifer Grey dirty dances hard and Patrick Swayze is the earnest teacher. He just wants to dance so bad! Think shirtless Jimmy Jr. I watch this movie and I'm more like the old people at the buffet. Not sure they're that into the politics of dancing at this little resort, so when the big protest show occurs with all the dancers strutting for rights, I'm a bit like look, I just wanna eat at the buffet in peace. I don’t need any dancer aisle work and no need for speeches about some kind of baby person. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #138: The Untraveled Unclean Unknown
33. Delicatessen (1991)
Lots of times I sort of dismiss movies from a certain era because it seems so much like that era. Sometimes though, just knowing a movie was made outside the era I assume it was made, makes it better and more original. Thus it is with Delicatessen. Somehow it being early 90s rather than 00s makes me dig it much more. It feels later than it is, but knowing it's got early 2000s quirks way back in 1991 assures me it isn't copying something. Good thing I looked at when it was made when I decided how I felt. That almost seems unfair. If you haven't seen it, it's fun. It's bleak French apocalyptic humor involving neighborliness and cannibalism.
33. Black Death (2010)
Sean Bean is hired by the church to find the ONE place not suffering from the plague and find out why God hasn't blessed this place with the character-building that comes with a good plague. That bubonic plague sure works great for the spiteful!Every time I see a modern movie that takes place in medival times, the point is the wrongheaded thinking that's eerily similar to how things are run in our present time. It's a tiny bit fun to recognize but it's mostly disheartening. Also plague pictures are always gross. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #144: Bean, Bean, GREAT for the Heart!
32. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
They shrunk De Niro and put a Wallace and Gromit prosthetic into DiCaprio’s mouth. Here's one of those biggies from last year I caught up with at the beginning of the year, so I struggle to remember my feelings on it right now. I do remember being disappoined that Lily Gladstone's Oscar-nominated performance was mostly her sick in bed. Hey, if you're a great actor, may as well have the best comforts a set can offer. I also remember an earnest on-screen appearance by Martin Scorsese himself in which he personally testifies of the true injustice depicted in the film. While it's maybe a bit unfair that the non-indiginous director gets to make those statements, I think the gimmick is effective. It's almost like for the first time the old guy says, "Look, I've made a lot of movies, but this is the one that actually says something worth considering."
32. American Fiction (2023)
A black author gangstas it up a bit more to sell his book. It’s amazing how I think maybe all of the pronounced forced thug talk is in the trailer and what I thought was the whole movie is only a few scant minutes. The real movie is sad slow tragedy and weariness. It’s universal life fatigue and yeah it doesn’t need to be identified as African American studies. Still, as annoying as the whites are, I still tragically identify with that sort of dorkiness.
31. The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout (2023)
It’s a 2-for 1 of tragedy. This multi-toned documentary takes turns poking fun of the movie that put John Wayne in Genghis Khan's cowboy boots and alternatingly calling out the U.S. government for essentially murdering its citizens. The tragic movie production with lousy gears can’t quite click into place is actually quite funny, and that nervous laughter helps as the movie then presents the bigger absurdity of testing nuclear weapons a thousand times for some reason. How many times you gotta test a nuclear weapon before you determine it blows up real good? Anyway, everyone in the hemisphere has cancer now.
30. Midnight Run (1988)
Robert De Niro is a bounty hunter who nabs annoying man, Charles Grodin. It's complicated though, because Grodin stole from the bad guys and his capture is a death sentence before any kind of jail sentence. It's mismatched pairs, road trips and a million other people after them. It's perfect for a movie. The credits say Danny Elfman for music but that’s a mistake. Music is actually by Oingo Boingo. I say that because the horn section is so prevalent, stepping a bit on the comedy scales of this action-comedy. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #134: Against All Odds
29. Now, Voyager (1942)
This has a cinematic 1942 soap opera energy that you're probably craving, but would never know it. Bette Davis is the forgotten daughter of a well-off Boston family, but she finds new life in a... sanitarium. Then she connects with the next generation. Claude Raines and Paul Henreid hang out too. There is no 21st century equivalent to this dramatic gange. Oh Bette Davis, surely there’s a funner way to have nervous kids. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #138: The Untraveled Unclean Unknown
28. The Eight Masters (1976)
There may be eight masters, but there’s only ONE masterer! Also I misplaced the story, but whatever, everyone keeps kicking each other. I think a guy needs to avenge the man who saved him. The man's dying wish was something like "kick 700 dudes and 30 chicks." Okay, sorry, I made that one up. I saw this martial arts movie six months ago. I can tell you there's a fabulous sequence where our hero fights through a temple and these gold beings attack him and I don't know if they're statues come to life, or just gold-painted, or honest to goodness robots, but it's way awesome. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #143: Birth Mark
27. My Brilliant Career (1979)
This period piece follows a 19th century Australian woman (Judy Davis) on her quest for the title of the movie. Her hair is so Sideshow Bob Ross, but she swings a mighty mean pillow into Sam Neil's face. Will she choose love or a profession? Somehow in these desolate times in this desolate land, both aren't really enough. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #136: Katie and the May Crusade
26. Fire of Love (2022)
This is a documentary of footage my 9-year-old self would have a joy seizure over. It's this weird French couple (weirder French than usual) who kind of get turned on by volcanoes. I do have a moral objection to this sort of suicidal behavior, but that’s counterbalanced by my primal desire to see lava and I totally am like whoa look at that crazy lava! Oh and also much of the research actually can save communities. RIP. Sorry you had to blow up. And sorry I'm conflicted about my bloodlust (lavalust) depravity in sort of watching people die along with the good that came of it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #145: Volcanic Panic
25. Nine Days (2020)
This popped up as a special Sundance screening and I didn't realize it's actually from four Sundance Festivals ago rather than this latest one. I've watched a lot of movies about the afterlife this year, but this might be the first one about the pre-Earth life. No, it's not a Mormon movie, actually. It has fun with the idea that souls need to pass a test to come here. Despite the setting being pre-life, the movie still finds room to mostly explore the idea of regret. It creeps in even in a setting where there is no past. Ponderous stuff. Winston Duke has this annoying stilted, almost Wes Anderson-like delivery, but when he's able to relinquish it, there's quite a flood of welcome emotion.
24. Polite Society (2023)
Like Hot Rod a lot. But with lots lots lots more kicking. Both good things to me anyway. Taking place in England, this is a very fun and punchy (and kicky) tale of a young Pakistani girl in London who understandibly kicks the whole world's butt when her sister and idol stops kicking butt by settling down to begin a life of domesticity. The main character is an annoying selfish firecracker, but the movie does an amazing job of keeping me on her side the entire time with fun heists and beat-ups. This says a lot from me. In my old age I usually like the youth settled down and flogged, but to stay with her on this is a triumphant tightrope walk. The energy reminds me of another British property that's dominated by South Asian culture called We Are Ladyparts. That's good. Check it out on Peacock. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #140: TGS with Ken and Calum
23. The Challenge (1982)
Scott Glenn is one of those boxers that's down on his luck (seems most boxers are) and gets the chance of a lifetime to help smuggle a priceless family sword into Japan. Slowly his new Japanese family sort of samuraifies him and he's infiltrating ninja-infested fortresses. It’s a waste of many lives to devote so much effort on dumb family heirlooms, but this flick kinda rocks in the sense of modern-day samurai wish fulfillment. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #139: The Big & Tall Samurai Shop
22. The Third Man (1949)
Turns out that third man ain’t so thin! Uh, that's a joke about me constantly mixing up the titles of The Third Man and The Thin Man. Here's another one I specifically picked to watch that I've been meaning to see for years. Who is this third man? Well now I know and you don't. The story is very fun and noir-ish. Our main character (also unaware of third man-ness) visits a dead friend and falls for the friend's brooding girlfriend. In the meantime everyone else lies to him and he's just not cool enough to sort it all out. This is awesome black and white. This is awesome mood. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #135: The Undiscovered Countries
21. Poor Things (2023)
Emma Thompson has the brain of her unborn child in her adult body. Did you know that's what it's about? So much wacting (wacky acting). Quite an assignment Emma. Perhaps our own society is the true absurdity? The wacky set direction seems to confirm that. Wacky.
20. Tel Aviv on Fire (2018)
Through a few bizarre events, a Palestinian man with Israeli connections becomes a big influence on a Palestinian soap opera. Then his Israeli friends want in. In real life, this is an inspirational and fun Palistinian/Israeli joint effort. Politically the moral seems to be to keep the current imperfections forever rather than yearn for some kind of victory. This outlook is downright quaint these days as a similar joint effort now is surely unthinkable. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #133: Mike Hatch of the Day (2.3 Hours of Gross Bumpy Orcs)
19. Supernova (2020)
I had never heard of this, but it's just a quick intimate character thing with Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth and it came out like four years ago. One of them is sick and one of them is coping. The situation simply sucks. I guess it's perfect for a movie because we can hang on their words and bask in the great performances of these two and know that it's not us in the situation. It's very beautiful in its execution of showing how easily beautiful things are taken away. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #137: Asphalt Tragedies
18. Il Sorpasso (1962)
We watched this old Italian movie with no knowledge going in. Let me now pass some knowledge onto you. Ferris Bueller's Day Off owes a lot to this movie. An oozingly charismatic Italian gentlemen talks a buttoned-up student type to accompany hIm throughout the countryside. Charisma is a powerful thing and advantages are taken. It's a joyeous weekend, but there's a nervousness in the air as so many responsibilities are shirked. And hey, what a great document of 1960s Italy! Countryside and cityside! Also, like Ferris Bueller, consider sports cars and their relationship to cliffs.
17. Past Lives (2023)
It’s when everything happens as it should and everyone’s civil when the tears finally come. A woman meets up with an old flame. Wait, that's not it. They were just kids, so I guess it's more of an old spark. The spark's been going for decades though and it's not so much an affair as it is a chance for them to consider their past lives and the coulda-beens in real time. There's nothing affair-like at all. But it's all so emotional. It's a meloncholy hammer.
16. Sorcerer (1977)
This was on my list to see for a while and I think Katie wanted to watch it because it was mentioned in a book or something. It's about criminals finding their only way out of their life is driving brittle dynamite around. I guess it's riviting and pretty enough for me to say it's the best movie that could possibly be made on the subject. The trucks are a lot like the living truck in Duel. Also there are sooo many sweaty, unbuttoned shirts. This movie truly made me a man.
15. Gaslight (1944)
Hey, you know what this movie is about... or do you? It's amazing that the origin of the term gaslighting came right out the gate with this movie. Charles Boyer uses every gaslighting phrase in the 21st century book, so I gotta commend him for being so pioneering in an evil practice that's talked about more now than ever. In the movie he's doing the standard man thing of the time -- searching his new wife's house for rumored treasure while at the same time driving her insane so she can safely be put away while he enjoys his fortune. The standard man-centric fairy tale, really. Angela Lansbury plays a teenager, which feels like a gaslight in itself, because how could Angela Lansbury have ever been a teenager? Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #146: It’s an “Honor” to be Nominated
14. 1408 (2007)
1408 is one of three "haunted house" movies I watched on podcast assignment. I was looking forward to dismissing it in favor of the other two films, which I already appreciated. I was almost annoyed when 1408 ended and it made me feel something more than just movie fun. It addresses grief in a sort of sideways method, and I've recently learned that movies that sneak up to you with grief things are a true weakness of mine. This lame thing blindsided me using my newfound grief bones against me. If you're wondering, John Cusack is dared into staying into a haunted hotel room (not even a whole house!) and the room pummels him with images of his past come to life. The true haunting is how it ultimately changes him and how he then affects others. The bizarre thing, though is 1408 has like five alternate endings, but it's only a very specific one that has the message that affects me. There was a one in five chance I saw a version I immediately forgot a day later. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #153: Housetrap
13. Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Based on the book Princess Leia wrote about her time in Hollywood and her time in drugs. It surprisingly doesn't romanticize recovery. Life in Hollywood seems too whacko to do it sober, so I think I get that whole drug addiction thing. Meryl Streep plays Princess Leia and Shirley MacLane as the Debbie Reynolds type. Great casting.
12. Snatch (2000)
I resisted Snatch for years because many of Guy Ritchie's other movies I find loud and begging for laughs. This one, though, okay this one is really fun and it has that little something that Ritchieheads have been claiming is so great about Guy Ritchie. As far as I'm concerned, Guy Ritchie hustled me with all those other movies that really went down in the fourth, Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #155: Bereft of Ept Goodman Time
11. Godzilla (1954)
How did I go 70 years without ever seeing Godzilla? My expectations were high, but tempered. I figured the special effects would be the weak point, because I knew it's just miniatures and a guy in a lizard costume. The limitations strangely work very well coupled with an eerie noir-ish environment. Also, Hiroshima and Nagasaki loom over this greatly, having occurred a mere nine years earlier. Also Godzilla has a moody personal percussion beat and that does a lot more work than you would think. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #154: Mad Hell,
10. The Hidden (1987)
You know, for being called The Hidden, they sure do a lot of that very public violence. It's an alien invasion, but these body snatchers are kind of coked-up. It's a case of "who turned into an alien THIS time?" Along with a mismatched buddy cop premise where one is possible real-life alien Kyle MacLachlan. He stares ahead like no human being. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #152: Space Screams (Outer and Cyber)
9. Ghost (1990)
Patrick Swayze dirty dances right into the afterlife and then uses ghost charades to save Demi Moore. This is another one of those big huge movies that I never got around to seeing until 2024. It's good! I assumed everyone was wrong when it originally came out. The uniqueness of the premise yields lots of different cinematic moods. The thrills of ghostily jumping between subway cars and effects of walking through people actually outnumber the Righteous Brothers romance of it all. Also, there's that crazy tension of the main bad guy being right in Demi Moore's life. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #148: Love and Death
8. The Invisible Man (2020)
But do you know what is very visible? Elisabeth Moss’s crazy eyes. The movie is about abuse and society siding with the abusers, so it's perfect that Moss has that resting hysteric face. She can look so crazy that I hear her telling the authorities about the invisible man and I'm like, man I dunno, this chick is sounding pretty crazy, EVEN THOUGH I WATCHED THE EVENTS OF THE MOVIE. I remember this was the last theater movie of 2020 and it would have been fun to usher in the pandemic with this sort of justified paranoia. I'm late to it, but I like it. I'm not saying I like abusive dudes who get away with stuff. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #151: Les Invisibles
7. Aftersun (2022)
It makes so much sense that it’s about trying to make sense but coming up with no sense at all. A daughter has a movie-length reminisce about a daddy-daughter trip in the mediterranean. She grows up. He grows in. I don't really know how to talk about this one. I can say it taps into some sense of mental despair that I find familiar. It's got a whiplash quality of family joy next to simply zero. And maybe that's not what it is. It's got the feel of memory where the meaning could be off or on by a few degrees. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs # 140: TGS with Ken and Calum
6. Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
A woman goes on trial for the death of her husband. He wasn't well and may have offed himself, but just how much of a part did she play? You could probably hear forboding music during that quick movie summation, but the movie is more straightforward than it is interested in deception for the sake of movie suspense. Actually, speaking of foreboding music, you'll never hear 50 Cent's "P.I.M.P." the same way again, as the song itself is a main plot point. Also the concept of therapy plays as a character witness. I think the fun of the film is catching a glimpse into the French trial system. The lawyers, witnesses, and defendants all enjoy a more conversational trial rather than a prosecutorial one.
5. A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
Come for the human romance but stay to see America and Britain finally make out! Check out this mid-century charmer if you haven't already. It starts with a doomed pilot and a beautiful radio operator falling in love over their communication airwaves. Then the fantasy starts. You'll get a gorgeous visualization of a grand afterlife along with a very internal personal storyline the furthest thing from divine. Then comes the trial of humanity that questions troubled relationships between the free worlds on both sides of the Atlantic. Why do you spit in the face of this movie by not watching it? Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #148: Love and Death
4. Prey (2022)
I think Predators are nothing more than mean bullies. There I said it. In this day and age we have scores Marvel movies and dozens of Star Wars movies because my Generation X demanded that these things are important and need saturation. I'm sorry to the world for that. But as we all know, this saturation only dilutes the brand in the end. As long as we're stuck here with all this old stuff from my youth, how refreshing is it that every once in a while a revisit to an overly familiar property is actually worth it? Is actually something that could actually be argued is as original and exciting as the movie that spawned it? If you didn't know, Prey is a Predator movie. This one takes place in the 1700s where a young warrior and her cool older brother not only need to take on one of these Predators, but also the fearsomest thugs in our galaxy at that time -- French fur trappers. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #151: Les Invisibles
3. Thelma & Louise (1991)
I can't believe how many of the classic movies I finally saw for the first time in 2024 really lived up to the lifetime of hype. I like this movie more than I thought I would. I knew it all before going in, except the details. The details are the humanity. If you don't know, Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis are the girls of the title. They met in Relief Society (well that's what I put in the backstory anyway), and they just want a little room to live for themselves. The trouble they get in is actually just a touch more complicated than I had assumed and I appreciate that. The subtle pretty boy villainy of Brad Pitt is also actually more obvious than I was expecting. It's a simple well-crafted story with its heart with these two ladies. It's so easy to get into. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #137: Asphalt Tragedies
2. Malcolm X (1992)
I'm surprised how riveting this movie is. It's one of those biggies I took too many decades to see. Denzel Washingto melts into the title role in a sweeping biopic that covers entire lives, rather than the recent trend of focusing on a short period of the subject's history. Washington is supremely confident in the character, but most interesting, is the growth of the character. Usually seen as a flaw, X frequently changes his mind in life. While this characteristic is often seen as weakness, Washington confidently portrays this as evolution. Plus the power dynamics of all the players he orbits provides fascinating psychological politics. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #138: The Untraveled Unclean Unknown
1. Truly Madly Deeply (1990)
Alan Rickman is a ghost that haunts his ex-lover and she's very enthused by this turn of events. Ghosts are plenty fun by themselves, but grief, joy, and acceptance don’t make the best playmates. Crymates, maybe. The year's biggest surprise for me is this movie, which I assumed I'd like, but now that it's seen, it's for reasons I didn't expect. Loss and grief are expected movie subjects, but so often it's as simple as projecting straight sadness. That's just where Truly Madly Deeply starts. It then switches to joy (which may just be denial) before moving onto the real tragedy: the resolution. There's a bittersweet beauty to both the joy and the sorrow. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #148: Love and Death
Meet the movie so dull that Joel and the bots slept through it. This was an MST3K staple when I was a kid. It stars Tommy Kirk and every teen from the '60s in a bathing suit. There's some kind of shipwreck treasure, but it's impossible to seek because so much gosh darn dancing needs doing! The movie is so dependent on the twist and the go-go that they don't really bother with microphones during any of the dialogue. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #141: Sea Captain Kirk
62. Savage Sam (1963)
This is Disney's sequel to Old Yeller. Obviously with a new, less sensitive dog. This time it's more about family stuff and frontier life and perhaps the worst representations of Native Americans ever put to screen. The kid from Pollyanna (and the first Old Yeller I think) provides a lot of screen time where you're bloodily punching the screen. He plays the little brother who is not torn apart by dogs, or skewered by Native Americans, or gunned down by his own family EVEN THOUGH ALL HAD AMPLE OPPORTUNITY! Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #141: Sea Captain Kirk
61. Hansel and Gretel (1987)
It takes five minutes to tell the traditional story of Hansel and Gretel and this thing trudges on feature-length with no new material. In fact, it seems like it leaves stuff out. The kids are diligent enough, however, to not only burn the witch alive, but also take the time and effort to dip the witch in batter for easier cooking. Guested on Cultworthy!
60. Beautiful Girls (1996)
Michael Rappaport and a bunch of other loud Boston guys (man, there were a lot of Boston movies this year (oh actually it isn't Boston in this movie, but it's a small town in Massachussetts -- still counting it)) complain about girls and relationships and just not getting "women." These terrible guys may have my similar terrible problems, but I still wouldn’t go to the high school reunion if any of them were there. The movie is probably more famous for having a very very young Natalie Portman and a major plot point is that she definitely will be a sought-after woman some day. Yeah, that's probably just logical, but also pull the reins on bothering to be skeezy enough to make a movie about it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #143: Birth Mark
59. Salt and Fire (2016)
This Werner Herzog narrative has some strange Herzogian charms, but it's mostly irritating and lacking in volcanoes. Michael Shannon kidnaps a team of U.N. inspectors for mysterious reasons. Turns out they didn't punish him enough on the last inspection. Somebody's gotta pay for corporate crimes, but also, what good is such a punishment when the environmental damage is done. Again, no cool volcano. The "Salt" of the title really dwarfs the "Fire." If nothing else though, the movie brought to my attention the intriguing knowledge of the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia. If you ever want to have some fun, mention this movie to my podcast co-host Roy and listen to him grumble and growl for ten minutes. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #145: Volcanic Panic
58. The Monkey's Uncle (1965)
This Disney funventure from days of yore and Annette Funicello gives us nerd Tommy Kirk's goofy inventions and a misplaced idea of college life. Downgrading this heavily for featuring so much collegiate chimp. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #141: Sea Captain Kirk
57. Iron Eagle (1986)
Was it seriously legal in 1986 to make a movie where a kid steals a fighter plane and kills 500 people? Okay okay, the plan was to rescue his dad, but that's obviously the movie's excuse to throw this gunlust story toward every violence-obsessed boy in America. It would have worked on me back in the day before I got old and lame and hide from teenagers when I play online video games. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #143: Birth Mark
56. The Tall Guy (1989)
I think this has everything about Richard Curtis that bugs me. The Love Actually writer sort of started here; looks like it's the second Curtis-penned movie. Jeff Goldblum is the guy in the title. He's the tallest man in the London stage scene, nabbing roles pretty much based on his appearance. Emma Thompson (wow this is early Emma Thompson) plays a clever nurse who somehow digs him (well, he is very tall). And perfectly cast Rowan Atkinson is the villain, an obnoxious entertainer definitely based on Rowan Atkinson (I guess he has the greatest IRL sense of humor of us all). I like a lot of Curtis stuff, but he phones in a lot of jokes he seems to plead with us to appreciate. There aren't too many movies centered around the London stage scene that I'm aware of though, so that's one thing if you dig it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #139: The Big & Tall Samurai Shop
55. Mixed Nuts (1994)
An unseen Steve Martin holiday film directed by Norah Ephron? How could it go wrong? I'm seriously asking the question. I can’t explain why this doesn’t even slightly come together. Maybe it’s just barely too loud and it can’t hear itself. Maybe its storyline about a struggling suicide hotline business isn't dark enough? Maybe there are too many funny people in this and none of them have room to breathe? There is one real LOL moment and it's perfect Steve Martin. I'll tell you what it is IRL if you never see this movie.
54. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
Boy I guess I was wrong complaining about the humor of the other Guardians movies. Now without the humor it’s just long and long and long. Also the Guardians are just traveling terrorists.
53. The Lawnmower Man (1992)
One of my most controversial viewing choices this year. It's based on a Stephen King story and is about a simpleton who uses Virtual Reality and a reginmen of brain pills to eschew his kind humility in favor of godlike bullyism. I had heard it was bad, but the premise is something that always drew me to it -- this year fatally. Actually it's not loudly terrible. It's maybe the worst kind of terrible - just hard and tedious to get into. Also, Katie was VERY disappointed it wasn't about a man literally made out of lawnmowers, which would definitely be a killer flick. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #152: Space Screams (Outer and Cyber)
52. Stalker (1979)
This was on my bucket list. I was a big fan of the same Russian director's movie Solaris and waited years to see his Stalker and it left me frightfully cold. A few guys go into this strange zone caused by some kind of alien presence and they pretty much decide NOT to risk things the whole time, fearing the dangers they've heard. Boy the characters saved A BUNDLE of fx budget by trusting in the premise so much. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #135: The Undiscovered Countries
51. Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Jamie Lee Curtis and Tim Allen lose their daughter to the Peace Corps over the holidays, so they decide to skip Christmas, with horror movie results. Either with or without Christmas, they're trapped by an oppressive society either way. Selfishness of their neighbors and especially Tim Allen is exposed and with this universe set up, I suppose the only course is nuclear annihilation. But that actually doesn't happen. Btw, Jamie Lee Curtis ages proudly, respectfully, and voluminously into a bikini.
50. Christmas on the Farm (2021)
This Australian oddity fit the bill as a cozy Christmas movie. A woman pretends to be her farmer mother in order to score a book deal and... fall in love with the guy who doesn't recognize her from their tryst a week earlier. Look, if all she does is dye her hair and he doesn’t recognize her, then maybe it’s not love. Letterboxd reviews are currently filled with angry Australians bemoaning the state of Australian cinema. Might I suggest Muriel's Wedding instead? Christmas is never mentioned, but it's plenty jolly.
49. The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins (1984)
Gary Coleman is the son of U.N. workers in the big apple and his wild imagination comes at an inopportune time as he gets caught up in a cold war spy game in reality. Colemen.isn’t super convincing acting like an adult, but is somehow less convincing acting like a kid. The excitement of reality is interrupted by his constant daydreaming like Walter Mitty or Weird Al in UHF. So the daydreams are fun and skitty, but not necessarily as fun as the other plot. But still, I gotta hand it to that tiny tiny kid, I always love to see a M*A*S*H* parody. Check out maybe the earliest sighting ever of Jason Bateman as a snobby English lad classmate. Guested on Cultworthy!
48. The Peanut Butter Solution (1985)
This year I finally got the opportunity to witness the weird movie some kid talked about in Sunday School when I was like nine. The solution in the title is a hair growth formula, but then there's also a plot involving kidnapped children and magic paintbrushes I think. There's also a Celine Dion song in the middle of it all and Celine Dion was a child herself at the time. The thing is, the movie feels like someone hooked a VCR up to a weird Canadian having a nonsensical dream and that's where the script came from. Or maybe when they actually got funding they must have panicked and actually made a movie. No script leans on this much schizophrenia. Despite my bafflement, it is nice to see a kids movie made with no kidsafe committee oversight. Guested on Cultworthy!
47. A Bad Moms Christmas (2017)
Adult humor is refreshing for Christmas, but also there’s a bit of adolescent comic timing. But Justin Hartley is dumb, dirty, and innocent and that’s the working aspect here. But still the Christine Baranski character is weird and mesmerizing. As Mila Kunis's overbearing mom, the jokes go beyond relatable territory and more into hey what kind of science fiction did I just walk into territory. At one point she wins a trophy for neighborhood caroling, which can't possibly be a thing here on Earth. Also, she hosts an impromptu Christmas Eve black tie affair at her daughter's home and who could all these guests possibly be? They'd have to be old male and female hookers. Or perhaps Baranski has John Wick-type underworld connections.
46. The Zone of Interest (2023)
Let's hang out with the family of a German death camp commandant! Not sure that pool slide is ideal. Looks all slivery. Anything to drown out the background noise I guess. The background noise is people dying btw. This film didn't grab me much. I think it's one that's most effective in the theater where you're a bit more trapped in the situation.
45. Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
I watched this as prep to watch the new Axel F movie, which I never got around to. This is funnier than I thought. Well, at least goofier. As a kid I thought an amusement park would make a great action locale. They stole my idea and use every conceivable excuse to return to that park every five minutes. It's almost like an ABC Family version of Die Hard 2.
44. Deconstructing Harry (1997)
"How could I possibly hate Woody Allen more?” *in a pathetic whiny Woody Allen voice* “Hold my beer.” This was one of the few Woody Allen movies I hadn't seen, so I thought I'd squeeze it in before it would be banned forever. Fortunately, this is the one where he really plays a real prick, so it's easier for me to finally get Woody Allen out of my life. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #135: The Undiscovered Countries
43. Psycho II (1983)
Black and white really worked well for the first one. Maybe they shoulda tried that? It's not an atrocity. It's a well-meaning slow burn that plays with similar character types as the first one, but with playful switcharoos. This time the outsiders try to exploit and manipulate the mental illness of Norman Bates. Not a super good idea, but it's intriguing enough to make this sequel. Maybe we'd remember it more if it were a travesty. It's good enough to put it in the forgotten camp where it's only compared to the original.
42. Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
There was a car guy named Tucker Who was kind of a bit of a sucker He got in deep with congress Who had a big laundry list And he said hey I didn’t even consider the mostly bureaucratic needs of a country that puts corporations before people. Also very very 1988-style actory. Jeff Bridges may have needed surgery to either install that perma-grin or perhaps remove it after shooting was finished. Btw, this is one of those true biopics about something you probably don't know about unless you saw this very specific biopic about it. In this case, it's about a care that dared to have seat belts in a time when having seat belts was admiting the vehicle was "unsafe." Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #147: The Coolest Girl and the Zoo Fraternity
41. Good Will Hunting (1997)
He used to beat up Boston bros. Then he beat up math problems. Now he’s beating up love! Finally got around to seeing this and it's very very just fine for me. Minnie Driver's great and Robin Williams is dialed back enough for me to find solace. I am my weak self though and I can't help but get irritated by Damon's know-it-all-itude. I fear people who really really love this movie do so because they relate to a guy who thinks he's smarter and better than everyone around him. If that's you, let's see your finished unsolvable math proof. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #149: Song of the Southies
40. Carol (2015)
Rooney Mara’s wide eyes make her a love zombie staring at the inevitable. And also I’ve left sooo many gloves at department stores and I never see them again. Also I understand giving one's life for Cate Blanchett. I love the vibrant '50s aesthetic and, as allueded, there are powerful on-screen pheromones exuding off of Mara and Blanchett, but after seeing it and checking online reviews I'm a little surprised to see so many with such an emotional connection to this. I find it beautiful, but a little cold.
39. Silkwood (1983)
Meryl Streep, Kurt Russell, and Cher are small-towners working in a nuclear plant in the 70s and, you wouldn't believe it, but management doesn't care about their safety too much. It's a true story, but more importantly the movie feels true by capturing the flickering lighting, obnoxious clanks, and somehow the smells of the terrible workplace jobs they're literally killing themselves to keep.
38. Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971)
Angela Lansbury plays one of cinema's first cool witches. She actually converts to witchyness as her civic duty to fight Nazis. Would that we all use that reason to give in to witchcraft! First time viewer to this and it's a little funny witnessing such a meandering plot. Mid-century Disney really wanted to make bingeable TV shows out of these old movies. Today, Bedknobs and Broomsticks would totally be a ten-part season of various episode lengths where the end sort of relates to the beginning. As a historical relic we still have this thing that's readily available on Disney+ and can be watched starting halfway through, no problem. Might I recommend the part where they play soccer with a bunch of cartoon characters. MVPs to the two goalies, who hold the game scoreless, despite all the powers that come with animated animal strikers. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #150: Witchlash
37. Fatso (1980)
Guess who's fat? Dom Deluise. Beardless! A bit funny, a bit awkward, a lot of yelling, but most of all you’re gonna eat so much while watching this movie. He so doesn't want to be fat, but his descriptions alone of his love of food make me fatter. At one point he consumes $200 of Chinese food and I'm like, yeah, I've been there. Really though, fatness has little to do with it overall (but it's a great title). It's a rom-com with a quirky, insecure man. The lady is similar and adorkable (but of the non-fat variety). Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #139: The Big & Tall Samurai Shop
36. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Jennifer Grey dirty dances hard and Patrick Swayze is the earnest teacher. He just wants to dance so bad! Think shirtless Jimmy Jr. I watch this movie and I'm more like the old people at the buffet. Not sure they're that into the politics of dancing at this little resort, so when the big protest show occurs with all the dancers strutting for rights, I'm a bit like look, I just wanna eat at the buffet in peace. I don’t need any dancer aisle work and no need for speeches about some kind of baby person. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #138: The Untraveled Unclean Unknown
33. Delicatessen (1991)
Lots of times I sort of dismiss movies from a certain era because it seems so much like that era. Sometimes though, just knowing a movie was made outside the era I assume it was made, makes it better and more original. Thus it is with Delicatessen. Somehow it being early 90s rather than 00s makes me dig it much more. It feels later than it is, but knowing it's got early 2000s quirks way back in 1991 assures me it isn't copying something. Good thing I looked at when it was made when I decided how I felt. That almost seems unfair. If you haven't seen it, it's fun. It's bleak French apocalyptic humor involving neighborliness and cannibalism.
33. Black Death (2010)
Sean Bean is hired by the church to find the ONE place not suffering from the plague and find out why God hasn't blessed this place with the character-building that comes with a good plague. That bubonic plague sure works great for the spiteful!Every time I see a modern movie that takes place in medival times, the point is the wrongheaded thinking that's eerily similar to how things are run in our present time. It's a tiny bit fun to recognize but it's mostly disheartening. Also plague pictures are always gross. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #144: Bean, Bean, GREAT for the Heart!
32. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
They shrunk De Niro and put a Wallace and Gromit prosthetic into DiCaprio’s mouth. Here's one of those biggies from last year I caught up with at the beginning of the year, so I struggle to remember my feelings on it right now. I do remember being disappoined that Lily Gladstone's Oscar-nominated performance was mostly her sick in bed. Hey, if you're a great actor, may as well have the best comforts a set can offer. I also remember an earnest on-screen appearance by Martin Scorsese himself in which he personally testifies of the true injustice depicted in the film. While it's maybe a bit unfair that the non-indiginous director gets to make those statements, I think the gimmick is effective. It's almost like for the first time the old guy says, "Look, I've made a lot of movies, but this is the one that actually says something worth considering."
32. American Fiction (2023)
A black author gangstas it up a bit more to sell his book. It’s amazing how I think maybe all of the pronounced forced thug talk is in the trailer and what I thought was the whole movie is only a few scant minutes. The real movie is sad slow tragedy and weariness. It’s universal life fatigue and yeah it doesn’t need to be identified as African American studies. Still, as annoying as the whites are, I still tragically identify with that sort of dorkiness.
31. The Conqueror: Hollywood Fallout (2023)
It’s a 2-for 1 of tragedy. This multi-toned documentary takes turns poking fun of the movie that put John Wayne in Genghis Khan's cowboy boots and alternatingly calling out the U.S. government for essentially murdering its citizens. The tragic movie production with lousy gears can’t quite click into place is actually quite funny, and that nervous laughter helps as the movie then presents the bigger absurdity of testing nuclear weapons a thousand times for some reason. How many times you gotta test a nuclear weapon before you determine it blows up real good? Anyway, everyone in the hemisphere has cancer now.
30. Midnight Run (1988)
Robert De Niro is a bounty hunter who nabs annoying man, Charles Grodin. It's complicated though, because Grodin stole from the bad guys and his capture is a death sentence before any kind of jail sentence. It's mismatched pairs, road trips and a million other people after them. It's perfect for a movie. The credits say Danny Elfman for music but that’s a mistake. Music is actually by Oingo Boingo. I say that because the horn section is so prevalent, stepping a bit on the comedy scales of this action-comedy. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #134: Against All Odds
29. Now, Voyager (1942)
This has a cinematic 1942 soap opera energy that you're probably craving, but would never know it. Bette Davis is the forgotten daughter of a well-off Boston family, but she finds new life in a... sanitarium. Then she connects with the next generation. Claude Raines and Paul Henreid hang out too. There is no 21st century equivalent to this dramatic gange. Oh Bette Davis, surely there’s a funner way to have nervous kids. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #138: The Untraveled Unclean Unknown
28. The Eight Masters (1976)
There may be eight masters, but there’s only ONE masterer! Also I misplaced the story, but whatever, everyone keeps kicking each other. I think a guy needs to avenge the man who saved him. The man's dying wish was something like "kick 700 dudes and 30 chicks." Okay, sorry, I made that one up. I saw this martial arts movie six months ago. I can tell you there's a fabulous sequence where our hero fights through a temple and these gold beings attack him and I don't know if they're statues come to life, or just gold-painted, or honest to goodness robots, but it's way awesome. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #143: Birth Mark
27. My Brilliant Career (1979)
This period piece follows a 19th century Australian woman (Judy Davis) on her quest for the title of the movie. Her hair is so Sideshow Bob Ross, but she swings a mighty mean pillow into Sam Neil's face. Will she choose love or a profession? Somehow in these desolate times in this desolate land, both aren't really enough. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #136: Katie and the May Crusade
26. Fire of Love (2022)
This is a documentary of footage my 9-year-old self would have a joy seizure over. It's this weird French couple (weirder French than usual) who kind of get turned on by volcanoes. I do have a moral objection to this sort of suicidal behavior, but that’s counterbalanced by my primal desire to see lava and I totally am like whoa look at that crazy lava! Oh and also much of the research actually can save communities. RIP. Sorry you had to blow up. And sorry I'm conflicted about my bloodlust (lavalust) depravity in sort of watching people die along with the good that came of it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #145: Volcanic Panic
25. Nine Days (2020)
This popped up as a special Sundance screening and I didn't realize it's actually from four Sundance Festivals ago rather than this latest one. I've watched a lot of movies about the afterlife this year, but this might be the first one about the pre-Earth life. No, it's not a Mormon movie, actually. It has fun with the idea that souls need to pass a test to come here. Despite the setting being pre-life, the movie still finds room to mostly explore the idea of regret. It creeps in even in a setting where there is no past. Ponderous stuff. Winston Duke has this annoying stilted, almost Wes Anderson-like delivery, but when he's able to relinquish it, there's quite a flood of welcome emotion.
24. Polite Society (2023)
Like Hot Rod a lot. But with lots lots lots more kicking. Both good things to me anyway. Taking place in England, this is a very fun and punchy (and kicky) tale of a young Pakistani girl in London who understandibly kicks the whole world's butt when her sister and idol stops kicking butt by settling down to begin a life of domesticity. The main character is an annoying selfish firecracker, but the movie does an amazing job of keeping me on her side the entire time with fun heists and beat-ups. This says a lot from me. In my old age I usually like the youth settled down and flogged, but to stay with her on this is a triumphant tightrope walk. The energy reminds me of another British property that's dominated by South Asian culture called We Are Ladyparts. That's good. Check it out on Peacock. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #140: TGS with Ken and Calum
23. The Challenge (1982)
Scott Glenn is one of those boxers that's down on his luck (seems most boxers are) and gets the chance of a lifetime to help smuggle a priceless family sword into Japan. Slowly his new Japanese family sort of samuraifies him and he's infiltrating ninja-infested fortresses. It’s a waste of many lives to devote so much effort on dumb family heirlooms, but this flick kinda rocks in the sense of modern-day samurai wish fulfillment. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #139: The Big & Tall Samurai Shop
22. The Third Man (1949)
Turns out that third man ain’t so thin! Uh, that's a joke about me constantly mixing up the titles of The Third Man and The Thin Man. Here's another one I specifically picked to watch that I've been meaning to see for years. Who is this third man? Well now I know and you don't. The story is very fun and noir-ish. Our main character (also unaware of third man-ness) visits a dead friend and falls for the friend's brooding girlfriend. In the meantime everyone else lies to him and he's just not cool enough to sort it all out. This is awesome black and white. This is awesome mood. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #135: The Undiscovered Countries
21. Poor Things (2023)
Emma Thompson has the brain of her unborn child in her adult body. Did you know that's what it's about? So much wacting (wacky acting). Quite an assignment Emma. Perhaps our own society is the true absurdity? The wacky set direction seems to confirm that. Wacky.
20. Tel Aviv on Fire (2018)
Through a few bizarre events, a Palestinian man with Israeli connections becomes a big influence on a Palestinian soap opera. Then his Israeli friends want in. In real life, this is an inspirational and fun Palistinian/Israeli joint effort. Politically the moral seems to be to keep the current imperfections forever rather than yearn for some kind of victory. This outlook is downright quaint these days as a similar joint effort now is surely unthinkable. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #133: Mike Hatch of the Day (2.3 Hours of Gross Bumpy Orcs)
19. Supernova (2020)
I had never heard of this, but it's just a quick intimate character thing with Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth and it came out like four years ago. One of them is sick and one of them is coping. The situation simply sucks. I guess it's perfect for a movie because we can hang on their words and bask in the great performances of these two and know that it's not us in the situation. It's very beautiful in its execution of showing how easily beautiful things are taken away. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #137: Asphalt Tragedies
18. Il Sorpasso (1962)
We watched this old Italian movie with no knowledge going in. Let me now pass some knowledge onto you. Ferris Bueller's Day Off owes a lot to this movie. An oozingly charismatic Italian gentlemen talks a buttoned-up student type to accompany hIm throughout the countryside. Charisma is a powerful thing and advantages are taken. It's a joyeous weekend, but there's a nervousness in the air as so many responsibilities are shirked. And hey, what a great document of 1960s Italy! Countryside and cityside! Also, like Ferris Bueller, consider sports cars and their relationship to cliffs.
17. Past Lives (2023)
It’s when everything happens as it should and everyone’s civil when the tears finally come. A woman meets up with an old flame. Wait, that's not it. They were just kids, so I guess it's more of an old spark. The spark's been going for decades though and it's not so much an affair as it is a chance for them to consider their past lives and the coulda-beens in real time. There's nothing affair-like at all. But it's all so emotional. It's a meloncholy hammer.
16. Sorcerer (1977)
This was on my list to see for a while and I think Katie wanted to watch it because it was mentioned in a book or something. It's about criminals finding their only way out of their life is driving brittle dynamite around. I guess it's riviting and pretty enough for me to say it's the best movie that could possibly be made on the subject. The trucks are a lot like the living truck in Duel. Also there are sooo many sweaty, unbuttoned shirts. This movie truly made me a man.
15. Gaslight (1944)
Hey, you know what this movie is about... or do you? It's amazing that the origin of the term gaslighting came right out the gate with this movie. Charles Boyer uses every gaslighting phrase in the 21st century book, so I gotta commend him for being so pioneering in an evil practice that's talked about more now than ever. In the movie he's doing the standard man thing of the time -- searching his new wife's house for rumored treasure while at the same time driving her insane so she can safely be put away while he enjoys his fortune. The standard man-centric fairy tale, really. Angela Lansbury plays a teenager, which feels like a gaslight in itself, because how could Angela Lansbury have ever been a teenager? Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #146: It’s an “Honor” to be Nominated
14. 1408 (2007)
1408 is one of three "haunted house" movies I watched on podcast assignment. I was looking forward to dismissing it in favor of the other two films, which I already appreciated. I was almost annoyed when 1408 ended and it made me feel something more than just movie fun. It addresses grief in a sort of sideways method, and I've recently learned that movies that sneak up to you with grief things are a true weakness of mine. This lame thing blindsided me using my newfound grief bones against me. If you're wondering, John Cusack is dared into staying into a haunted hotel room (not even a whole house!) and the room pummels him with images of his past come to life. The true haunting is how it ultimately changes him and how he then affects others. The bizarre thing, though is 1408 has like five alternate endings, but it's only a very specific one that has the message that affects me. There was a one in five chance I saw a version I immediately forgot a day later. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #153: Housetrap
13. Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Based on the book Princess Leia wrote about her time in Hollywood and her time in drugs. It surprisingly doesn't romanticize recovery. Life in Hollywood seems too whacko to do it sober, so I think I get that whole drug addiction thing. Meryl Streep plays Princess Leia and Shirley MacLane as the Debbie Reynolds type. Great casting.
12. Snatch (2000)
I resisted Snatch for years because many of Guy Ritchie's other movies I find loud and begging for laughs. This one, though, okay this one is really fun and it has that little something that Ritchieheads have been claiming is so great about Guy Ritchie. As far as I'm concerned, Guy Ritchie hustled me with all those other movies that really went down in the fourth, Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #155: Bereft of Ept Goodman Time
11. Godzilla (1954)
How did I go 70 years without ever seeing Godzilla? My expectations were high, but tempered. I figured the special effects would be the weak point, because I knew it's just miniatures and a guy in a lizard costume. The limitations strangely work very well coupled with an eerie noir-ish environment. Also, Hiroshima and Nagasaki loom over this greatly, having occurred a mere nine years earlier. Also Godzilla has a moody personal percussion beat and that does a lot more work than you would think. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #154: Mad Hell,
10. The Hidden (1987)
You know, for being called The Hidden, they sure do a lot of that very public violence. It's an alien invasion, but these body snatchers are kind of coked-up. It's a case of "who turned into an alien THIS time?" Along with a mismatched buddy cop premise where one is possible real-life alien Kyle MacLachlan. He stares ahead like no human being. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #152: Space Screams (Outer and Cyber)
9. Ghost (1990)
Patrick Swayze dirty dances right into the afterlife and then uses ghost charades to save Demi Moore. This is another one of those big huge movies that I never got around to seeing until 2024. It's good! I assumed everyone was wrong when it originally came out. The uniqueness of the premise yields lots of different cinematic moods. The thrills of ghostily jumping between subway cars and effects of walking through people actually outnumber the Righteous Brothers romance of it all. Also, there's that crazy tension of the main bad guy being right in Demi Moore's life. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #148: Love and Death
8. The Invisible Man (2020)
But do you know what is very visible? Elisabeth Moss’s crazy eyes. The movie is about abuse and society siding with the abusers, so it's perfect that Moss has that resting hysteric face. She can look so crazy that I hear her telling the authorities about the invisible man and I'm like, man I dunno, this chick is sounding pretty crazy, EVEN THOUGH I WATCHED THE EVENTS OF THE MOVIE. I remember this was the last theater movie of 2020 and it would have been fun to usher in the pandemic with this sort of justified paranoia. I'm late to it, but I like it. I'm not saying I like abusive dudes who get away with stuff. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #151: Les Invisibles
7. Aftersun (2022)
It makes so much sense that it’s about trying to make sense but coming up with no sense at all. A daughter has a movie-length reminisce about a daddy-daughter trip in the mediterranean. She grows up. He grows in. I don't really know how to talk about this one. I can say it taps into some sense of mental despair that I find familiar. It's got a whiplash quality of family joy next to simply zero. And maybe that's not what it is. It's got the feel of memory where the meaning could be off or on by a few degrees. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs # 140: TGS with Ken and Calum
6. Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
A woman goes on trial for the death of her husband. He wasn't well and may have offed himself, but just how much of a part did she play? You could probably hear forboding music during that quick movie summation, but the movie is more straightforward than it is interested in deception for the sake of movie suspense. Actually, speaking of foreboding music, you'll never hear 50 Cent's "P.I.M.P." the same way again, as the song itself is a main plot point. Also the concept of therapy plays as a character witness. I think the fun of the film is catching a glimpse into the French trial system. The lawyers, witnesses, and defendants all enjoy a more conversational trial rather than a prosecutorial one.
5. A Matter of Life and Death (1946)
Come for the human romance but stay to see America and Britain finally make out! Check out this mid-century charmer if you haven't already. It starts with a doomed pilot and a beautiful radio operator falling in love over their communication airwaves. Then the fantasy starts. You'll get a gorgeous visualization of a grand afterlife along with a very internal personal storyline the furthest thing from divine. Then comes the trial of humanity that questions troubled relationships between the free worlds on both sides of the Atlantic. Why do you spit in the face of this movie by not watching it? Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #148: Love and Death
4. Prey (2022)
I think Predators are nothing more than mean bullies. There I said it. In this day and age we have scores Marvel movies and dozens of Star Wars movies because my Generation X demanded that these things are important and need saturation. I'm sorry to the world for that. But as we all know, this saturation only dilutes the brand in the end. As long as we're stuck here with all this old stuff from my youth, how refreshing is it that every once in a while a revisit to an overly familiar property is actually worth it? Is actually something that could actually be argued is as original and exciting as the movie that spawned it? If you didn't know, Prey is a Predator movie. This one takes place in the 1700s where a young warrior and her cool older brother not only need to take on one of these Predators, but also the fearsomest thugs in our galaxy at that time -- French fur trappers. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #151: Les Invisibles
3. Thelma & Louise (1991)
I can't believe how many of the classic movies I finally saw for the first time in 2024 really lived up to the lifetime of hype. I like this movie more than I thought I would. I knew it all before going in, except the details. The details are the humanity. If you don't know, Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis are the girls of the title. They met in Relief Society (well that's what I put in the backstory anyway), and they just want a little room to live for themselves. The trouble they get in is actually just a touch more complicated than I had assumed and I appreciate that. The subtle pretty boy villainy of Brad Pitt is also actually more obvious than I was expecting. It's a simple well-crafted story with its heart with these two ladies. It's so easy to get into. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #137: Asphalt Tragedies
2. Malcolm X (1992)
I'm surprised how riveting this movie is. It's one of those biggies I took too many decades to see. Denzel Washingto melts into the title role in a sweeping biopic that covers entire lives, rather than the recent trend of focusing on a short period of the subject's history. Washington is supremely confident in the character, but most interesting, is the growth of the character. Usually seen as a flaw, X frequently changes his mind in life. While this characteristic is often seen as weakness, Washington confidently portrays this as evolution. Plus the power dynamics of all the players he orbits provides fascinating psychological politics. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #138: The Untraveled Unclean Unknown
1. Truly Madly Deeply (1990)
Alan Rickman is a ghost that haunts his ex-lover and she's very enthused by this turn of events. Ghosts are plenty fun by themselves, but grief, joy, and acceptance don’t make the best playmates. Crymates, maybe. The year's biggest surprise for me is this movie, which I assumed I'd like, but now that it's seen, it's for reasons I didn't expect. Loss and grief are expected movie subjects, but so often it's as simple as projecting straight sadness. That's just where Truly Madly Deeply starts. It then switches to joy (which may just be denial) before moving onto the real tragedy: the resolution. There's a bittersweet beauty to both the joy and the sorrow. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #148: Love and Death
top 47 movies i'd already seen but watched again!
You'll never guess what made the top spot this year!
47. Bewitched (2005)
Okay serious question. Answer in the comments. Is there any male actor that would have been worse casting than Will Ferrell for Bewitched? There are a couple of sarcastic asides from side characters that make me chuckle a bit, but this movie is simply doomed from the beginning. Made in 2005, its the first stages of nostalgia for something that people originally merely put up with rather than obsessed over. This movie plays with that slightly. In the movie's universe, the annoying Will Farrell character is obsessed with the literal Bewitched TV show. I guess it's possible to be obsessed with Bewitched, but I've just never known that person. It was always just a show to fill time. The movie feels similar. Let's just make content. Let's just digest content. No love, no soul. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #150: Witchlash
46. Animal House (1978)
Okay serious question. Answer in the comments. Is there any male actor that would have been worse casting than Will Ferrell for Bewitched? There are a couple of sarcastic asides from side characters that make me chuckle a bit, but this movie is simply doomed from the beginning. Made in 2005, its the first stages of nostalgia for something that people originally merely put up with rather than obsessed over. This movie plays with that slightly. In the movie's universe, the annoying Will Farrell character is obsessed with the literal Bewitched TV show. I guess it's possible to be obsessed with Bewitched, but I've just never known that person. It was always just a show to fill time. The movie feels similar. Let's just make content. Let's just digest content. No love, no soul. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #150: Witchlash
46. Animal House (1978)
John Belushi, Kevin Bacon, Amadeus, the guy from Babylon 5, Vice President Hoynes, and Maestro from Seinfeld do college by way of the method (fraternities) that's most foreign to my living-at-home religious school higher education. The love and brotherhood they learned on the way turned it into an Animal Home™️. Well just kidding. It’s funny because somehow they can actually live with themselves. Now to be clear, I'm pretty sure the joke of this movie is that EVERYONE is a deranged pervert and that's the messed up thing about this world. Spoilers if you've never seen, but at the end when it gives a written description of where everybody ends up and John Belushi becomes a Senator, yeah I think that's the movie's way of saying the world is run by horrible people and that's a problem. Okay, now that I've defended this terrible, very cancelable movie, the counter argument to this movie's existence is it's not really very funny, despite the offensiveness.
Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #147: The Coolest Girl and the Zoo Fraternity
45. Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
I discussed this on the podcast as if it were a new movie to me. Then I went to log it on Letterboxd and discovered I had not only seen this before, but I liked it quite a bit in some kind of healthier past life in the middle of the pandemic. This film forgetfulness will likely happen much more in the future. This is only the beginning. But I do understand my amnesia. This is the kind of movie that's definitely a gimmicky production. A fun idea, with a very competent execution, but also feels commercial and soulless. Like the subjects know they're presenting something live in 2017, but it's disposed of six months later, so it has the definite enthusiasm of an Instagram reel. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #156: Yippee Ki Yay Merry Christmas
44. Over the Top (1987)
I know everybody reading has seen this several times, but here's the story. Sylvester Stallone is finally getting to know his son after the mother dies, and he plops the kid in his big rig to expose him to the quality American pasttimes of trucking and winning massive arm wrestling competitions. Parts of this are essential to culture, but a lot of it at once is pretty boring. Maybe it’s as good as an "arm wrestling for possession of a child" movie can be. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #137: Asphalt Tragedies
43. Barbie (2023)
Okay I had a much harder time dealing with Farrell and the Mattel execs this time. A much harder time. 2024 was a bad year for me watching movies with Will Farrell (I didn't get around to seeing Will & Harper, but I was forced to revisit Bewitched). As for the rest of the movie, well, I just don't know what to say. It's very good, but ever since it's come out I've felt guilty about being less enthused than most lovers. The world and its rules are too far out for me to gather personal meaning. I can't get a grasp on many of the personalities. There are songs. Also, I hate saying this stuff out loud because I don't want to appear for a second like I'm critical in a way that's similar to the haters who are threatened by this thing. Barbie is actually mostly harmless and mild in its political statements. It would be nice if the haters were more threatened. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #140: TGS with Ken and Calum
42. Die Hard 2 (1990)
Watched Die Hard 2 this year for Christmas. I maintain the first Die Hard is definitely a Christmas movie, but the second one... ehhh you can possibly argue otherwise. The first one has an underlying theme of greed, which certainly is a concept of Christmas. This one is more about the hellish travieling of the holiday season. Oh, and the terrorists take over a church to do evil. So yeah it's about replacing Christ with uhh, crashing planes. Okay now that I've typed that, Die Hard 2 is definitely a Chrsitmas movie. Gotta admire McClane for constantly trying to break IN to the building this time. All that publicity from the last one sure girded up his gung-ho-ness. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #156: Yippee Ki Yay Merry Christmas
41. Breakin' (1984)
They dance their way out of a compelling plot and it’s awesome (except for some of the lame hand jive moves). Besides break dancing, no aspect of this movie even matters, which is fortunate, because no effort was put into anything else. Fortunately as for dancing, and maybe this is just my '80s self speaking,, break dancing has got to be the most cinematically agreeable. It's weird and unusual and just fun to watch. This movie is packed with it and uses trickle-down plot economics. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #142: In the Beginnings
40. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Looks like another star added from last time. Surely a sign that eventually I’ll love it like the acolytes. For now though I still have the same complaint I’ve always had: it’s front-loaded with the best songs and the movie’s end is unmemorable. Literally. Eventually Frank N. Furter's crazy antics give way to meloncholia and my mind just doesn't stay with the story. Maybe it's a good thing. I never know how it ends and I've seen it half a dozen times.
39. What About Bob? (1991)
Bill Murray is the most annoying person in the world and he drives his therapist, Richard Dreyfuss, into an asylum. My biggest complaint has always been that it doesn't make sense that Dreyfuss is the only person annoyed by the most annoying person in the world. This time I kind of get how Dreyfuss's family and Bill Murray have a sort of mutual need for each other, so maybe I'm slightly coming around on that original opinion. But not so much that I believe they all sing “Singin’ in the Rain” together in such an annoying way. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #134: Against All Odds
38. Fandango (1985)
Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson, and two other guys go on one last trip before service in 'Nam. Not sure how Kevin Costner and Judd Nelson became friends in the first place and not sure how the other Groovers can stand either one of them, but what’s college without a road trip and a draft dodge? This squad is actually my squad in high school. We watched it all the time and called ourselves Groovers. I was actually guy sleeping in the back car window the whole time. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #132: Three Brides of Frankincense
37. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Peter O'Toole is one of those guys from last century that you just want to hang out with and hear speak and hopefully catch a glimpse of a smirk and a smile directed at you. Here he plays T.E. Lawrence, the guy who manipulated the Middle East into fighting the Ottomans in World War I. And he seems to make so much sense in his persuading. He's the star in the foreground of another star, the Arabian desert, shot breathlessly in technicolor that couldn't wait to be invented so it could display such sights. Despite all this beauty, I swear the film is like four hours longer than last time I watched it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #146: It’s an “Honor” to be Nominated
36. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
The sincere Everything comes, but not before a bit too much All at Once. I needed to see this again to give it a fair shot. I remember loving it back in 2022, but slowly over the last two years I found myself resenting it more and more. As brilliant as it is, it's not on my wavelength humor-wise. Remember this is the directing team that did Swiss Army Man, the ultimate emperor's new clothes experience for me. Not that this is a review of Swiss Army Man, but remember when that movie came out and everybody said it's "so much more than a movie about a farting corpse," and then I saw it and was like, I can't believe that was more about a farting corpse than I could have possibly imagined. At one point, I loved Everything Everywhere All at Once, but I took issue with the humor and that whole Swiss Army Many experience gnawed at me at the same time. The silliness of EEAAO drove the heart of it all out of my mind. For me, the movie is wonderful without the silliness, but it takes a lot of feigned laughter to find it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #154: Mad Hell
35. Notting Hill (1999)
Hugh Grant is the everyman who dates Julia Roberts, the movie star. She could have picked someone with less of a Hugh Grant stutter though, because he definitely took his time in stopping her from opening the door to all the Paparazzi cameras in her underwear. Also Spike is a nice person, but he contributes all the terribleness of the world. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #134: Against All Odds
33. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
The camera work is fantastic, so much so that the dumb parenthetical title is overbaked and useless. I think since this came out there's been a lot more loathing than loving it. The incessent drumming has worn on me a bit, but I think the single-take structure still sucks me into the kineticism. Michael Keaton punches Edward Norton and that's satisfying. Plus Keaton gets to talk like Batman again, which I will always watch (the exception, of course, is bothering to see The Flash). Actually, besides the drums, the majorest disappointment is the pouty Emma Stone. That character doesn't ebb beyond pouty. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #146: It’s an “Honor” to be Nominated
32. Good Time (2017)
This movie completely derailed my podcast where we covered "inept criminal movies," because the topic implies a funnier movie than this one. I still maintain a bleached-head Robert Pattinson douching it up in the nightlife of outer NYC boroughs hustling for cash while dismissing everyone but his brother is inherently comedic (if not funny). There are some chuckles among the neon and the synths and the acid -- especially in his ultimate ineptitude. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #155: Bereft of Ept Goodman Time
31. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
A bit too much Denethor and a bit too much Caribbean Pirate ghost party in the extended version. Minas Tirith is lovely this time of year, despite the gloomy doomy view. We watched the extended version of this and the first one this year, so this baby's four hours long. I think all those theatrical endings are still intact. There is that weird Mouth of Sauron guy, which is weird and fun. Maybe not worth the extra time though. Anyway, I kind of still think the first one is the best because I think by nature of creation there's less CGI overalll. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #133: Mike Hatch of the Day (4.23 Hours of Gross Bumpy Orcs)
30. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Okay what can I possibly tell you about The Wizard of Oz? You've probably seen Wicked three times already, so the unspoken diabolical nature of Glinda might very well be the foremost thing on your mind. Considering the 1939 movie on an island though, the joke is that she immediately kills and then enlists three strangers to kill again, but the weight of that statement is still very real. I think the success of this movie is that despite the light-as-air songs, a very legitimately stressed out Judy Garland brings the pain in her eyes. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #150: Witchlash
29. The Legend of Hell House (1973)
If you consider watching a haunted house movie, consider this one. It's less inspired by a true story, like so many Amityvilles, and more what if someone tried to make their house as haunted as possible? This has perfect film stock. It was made at a time in British history where the neutral colors are vibrant rather than drab (think Mary Poppins maybe). Hill House is a funhouse. They threw everything in it and the blood-spewing kitchen sink. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #153: Housetrap
28. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Jimmy Stewart again proves he's the Christmas movie icon of the 20th century. Did you know this precursor to You've Got Mail takes place in Hungary? Why Hungary you say? Actually that’s what I’m asking.I suppose it's a bit Romantic in the formal sense of a story taking place in a different locale. Also the universality of romance during the special holiday season. Are the guidelines of dating coworkers more relaxed there? Oh well. Have at it Jimmy and Margaret! It’s Christmas Mr. Potter! Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #156: Yippee Ki Yay Merry Christmas
27. Patriot Games (1992)
Tagline: A deadly offshoot of the IRA has attacked American soil and I ARE SCARED about what’s to happen next! Harrison Ford takes over the role of CIA analyst Jack Ryan, and he wails on way more suckas than Alec Baldwin ever did. I really dig these sort of early '90s actioners that talk so much before the action stuff, but talk in a good way. It's like if this were made today I'd hate all that dialogue because the people making the dialogue are like my age or younger. I feel like a kid when I watch old Jack Ryan stuff, the adults are talking about important world stuff and then all sorts of butt-kicking happens. Are there many IRA movies these days? Are we allowed to make those? What's the IRA up to lately? Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #144: Bean, Bean, GREAT for the Heart!
26. GoldenEye (1995)
Pierce Brosnan's first James Bond film -- certainly the best one of his (although I have a fun adoration of Tomorrow Never Dies). Judi Dench gives that big speech about Bond being a misogynist dinosaur, but then he proceeds to totally Bond it up just like Roger Moore of yore, sped up like Benny Hill. Fortunately for Pierce Brosnan, I really like Roger Moore-era Bond. In the modern days of Daniel Craig, it's very difficult to take this kind of camp seriously, but it's totally my bag, baby. Keep in mind the director of this one went on to direct Casino Royale, easily the best of the Craig Bonds (and I know right now you're saying Skyfall is better than Casino Royale, but you're totally wrong about that and it's not close at all). Hey, GoldenEye is the one with Famke Janssen's Xenia Onnatop, the funnest of Bond girl villains. Also, they somehow recruited all the soldiers from that old video game Rush'n Attack. You know, the one where the Soviet soldiers can only run straight into your bullets? Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #144: Bean, Bean, GREAT for the Heart!
25. The Departed (2006)
Certainly a direct sequel to Good Will Hunting. Matt Damon resumes duty as a self-absorbed Boston know-it-all to use his incredible mind powers to infiltrate the police force. In the meantime, Leonardo Di Caprio furrows his brow with mouth agape and out of breath to see how long he can last in the mob before somebody notices his badge. All this while the head mobster, Jack Nicholson, just wanders into public spaces literally covered in blood. Mark Wahlberg is the best he's ever been. I've gone on record preferring the original movie this is based on, Infernal Affairs, solely because it's an hour shorter. But one thing about The Departed that's probably the best thing about The Departed is that three hours weirdly breezes by as if it were 45 minutes. That's saying something. There's a lot of humor in this too and it's so needed. Otherwise I'd have a dozen panic attacks. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #149: Song of the Southies
24. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Probably the best of the series because there are so many actual guys in orc costumes and not so many CGI orcs. Still, the fellowship seem to unrealistically mow these physical orcs down just the same. Yeah, looking back I'd say they should have used 100 orcs instead of 1,000 orcs. Yeah, maybe that's not what's on the page, but a more low-fi approach probably would bring me in a bit more. Keep the battles in the same realm of intimacy as the dialogue. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #142: In the Beginnings
23. Fiend Without a Face (1958)
Okay how's this for a hilarious premise? A nuclear reactor is accidentally creating strange creatures that strangle people, but the reactor is not emitting enough radiation to make these monsters visible. The result is a seemingly budget-less movie where victims are walking along and then suddenly grab their throats AS IF being choked by invisible beings. So I guess it's also a showcase of amateur mimework. Okay, but what if I told you the movie gathers every nickel and dime of special effects money and provides ten spectacularly amazing minutes of revealed creatures that are the coolest, grossest, craziest things you'll ever see in a movie? It's worth it, trust me. Okay fine, I won't tell you what the monsters are, but it's worth a trip to YouTube at least for that end scene. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #151: Les Invisibles
22. House (1977)
The perfect combination of true wtf horror along with Japanese girl giggling in the face of it. If you haven't seen this 1977 Japanese haunted house movie, it's definitely worth a check next time you're awake after midnight. It's true comedy horror in a more oldschool sense. It's the horrors of something like living in an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon. Plus all the trapped schoolgirls have X-Men-like powers (well, Teen Titans-like powers). Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #153: Housetrap
21. Death Becomes Her (1992)
Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep become beautiful and immortal with extremely tangible bodies. I've said this elsewhere in the list, but I'm not sure how else to say it, it's very Itchy and Scratchy. Also this is 1992 so it's nearly peak Bruce Willis. Meryl Streep said making this movie with its silly sepcial effects felt more like going to the dentist than acting in a movie, but the results are as down-to-earth as they can be about two frenemies blowing holes in each other and twisting necks all the way around. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #154: Mad Hell
20. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
It’s objectively better than I give it credit for, but I’m such a fan of the first one that T2 has automatic detriments. Well my excuse for a non-perfect review is that Edward Furlong really Poochies it up. Btw everybody knows this is the one where they find the good/evil switch in the back of the robit. That's the one thing Katie knew, so I have yet to meet one person in the whole universe taken in by the "is he back to kill her again?" storyline of the first half or so. It's so weird that in 1991 everyone knew the mid-movie twist before ever seeing the film, which makes me wonder why it was even conceived with that kind of good/bad uncertainty in the story at all.
19. The Trip to Italy (2014)
I love these movies. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon drive around with each other to annoy and to spitefully make each other laugh. This time, Italy why not? Seems like Heaven and Hell are both hanging out with an old friend in a pride-induced and deadly serious impression-off.
18. The Trip (2010)
Exhausting dissatisfaction takes a backseat to British impressions and weird food. Smile, then think about how the big trip is going. The big trip called………….. ……. … ..life. This is the movie where Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon have the most sincere and hilarious Michael Caine impression contest that's ever existed. And they drive around tasting delicious food. Who needs space adventures when we've got all these elements right down here?
17. Moonlight (2016)
It's three events in a boy's life. Each vignette illustrates just a little why he doesn't talk much. It's simple and it's a grand internal tragedy. The life is played by three different actors. A very young boy, a skinny middle teenager, and a grown young man (with a sort of distracting amazing body, btw). Have you ever looked at the poster for Moonlight? All three actors are represented in the composite image of the boy and it makes sense, even though all three actors look completely different. Somehow these obvious physical differences don't take me out of this kid's life. Maybe because we're not looking at him as much as we're observing life through his eyes. Life’s a bit blue. With too many unnecessary obstacles. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #149: Song of the Southies
15. Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
Tom Hanks finds new meaning in life... by ending his life. His voyage to throw himself into a volcano includes many iterations of Meg Ryan. I consider this movie the first, second, and third-best Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pairing. It's so damn charming it only took until this viewing (my ninth or so) to realize 99% of those Joe tries to save die tragically in the ocean. It plays like a bright fable just barely obscuring the reality of lonliness and death. It's quirky funny though. A low-impact, sullen quirk. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #145: Volcanic Panic
14. Jojo Rabbit (2019)
I like Jojo Rabbit. I hear some people call it Taika Waititi's Springtime for Hitler, but you know what? I still think Nazis are bad even when presented a so-called sympathy for 10-year-olds. The kid is just eager to belong. He grew out if it. If you're a Nazi and you're reading this, please just grow out of your eagerness to belong. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #131: Die Andybruder Die
13. Alien (1979)
The singular sci-fi horror of its generation. The Alien series is having yet another moment in 2024 with that new movie that came out that I didn't see. There's nothing quite so alienating as the very original. When the space alien bursts out of John Hurt's chest there is a brief instant of confused silence on the faces of the rest of the crew. That's fitting for the word. It's one of those that fuels a million other movies, but by definition, the first one is still where it's at. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #152: Space Screams (Outer and Cyber)
12. Escape to Victory (1981)
I say this is the best Stallone movie and my esteemed colleague at Yours, Mine, & Theirs thinks I’m disparaging Stallone when what I’m really saying is Victory Is everything I want in a film. Like me, Stallone is the sole non-soccer fan in his environment. Also he's in a WWII German prisoner camp. He has plans to use an exhibition soccer game between the Allied soccer stars and a group of German soccer bullies. What's more important? Escape or soccer? If you're American, the answer will surprise you! Oh and Michael Caine and Max Von Sydow, I mean, c'mon, what a great cast! Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Gears #133: Mike Hatch of the Day (4.23 Hours of Gross Bumpy Orcs)
11. Sixteen Candles (1984)
Molly Ringwald was unleashed unto the world in a movie where she just wants a pink guy for her 16th birthday. Look it doesn’t deserve my defense. Just three things: 1) Long Duk Dong is an offensive caricature, but he still rises above it as far as I’m concerned. 2) Annoying brother Mike walks into a closed door and he totally deserves it. 3) This is the only movie I watched, rewound the VHS, and then immediately watched again. Also, it's the best high school party ever. They trapped Anthony Michael Hall underneath what I think is an emptied out aquarium. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #132: Three Brides of Frankincense
10. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Only a penitent man does somersaults. The third Indiana Jones really leans in more to the divine with Jones searching out the Holy Grail with the help of his father, James Bond. "My soul is prepared. How's yours?" A couple more Indiana Jones came after this and they have their merits, but this is really the capper to the series. It came out in 1989 while the first one came out in 1980. The decade between these bookends belongs to Indiana Jones. The first one is sooo Old Testament and this one is sooo New Testament. But also (put on a Stefon voice now), this movie has everything: rats, floor x's, chopped boats, book burnings, motorbike jousting, zepplin lunch, Hitler, fortress tanks, floor letters, an inexplicable collection of poison cups, etc. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #136: Katie and the May Crusade
9. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
This has all the Tarantino things I hate, but the stuff I love makes it my favorite. Most of the title characters are pretty lame, but the fun times is really in the Shoshanna story with the old film house and the ladyjew revenge. I think I said this when I originally watched it, but I'd love to edit a version together with just that. No Brad Pitt and Eli Roth stuff. Maybe a little bit of Fassbender. Well, I'll change my mind again a little. Some of that gung-ho stuff probably should remain because I think another point is that oppression leads to oppression on a different vector. Retaliation is justified of course. But then again so is re-retaliation. And yes, a forgotten '80s Bowie song from a forgotten '80s horror remake definitely belongs in this '40s fan fiction of history. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #136: Katie and the May Crusade
8. Before Midnight (2013)
You have an obligation to check out Before Sunrise and its much superior sequel, Before Sunset before even thinking about seeing this one (or even knowing of its existence). Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy had a decade or so to figure out these characters and by trilogy's end the whole thing perfectly fits together into a beautiful and ugly mess that's almost too real to enjoy. It’s too real and then it starts up again all over and my heart breaks and my head hurts. Has the fairy tale any hope of lasting beyond midnight? It's worth it though. The enjoyment truly hits in hindsight.
7. Muriel's Wedding (1994)
This Australian gem brought Toni Collete into the world as a pathetic, ABBA-loving, marriage-obsessed downer, who I love. She finds her true friends and family (the latter a bit too late) in some pretty rocky paths. This movie is so very jubilant one minute and then drops a sad hammer in the next. Somehow, it works. Hold on for dear life to the ones that love you and you don’t even need ABBA. But ABBA certainly doesn’t hurt along the way Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #132: Three Brides of Frankincense
6. Jaws (1975)
Despite it ushering in the mindless blockbuster era, this is still a beautiful, watchable, extraordinary cinematic experience. Hey! Also notice the John Williams score OUTSIDE of the “Bah nuh nah nuh nah nuh” part. Williams was a star this early on for providing the score we don't necessarilt remember as shark music, but rather the very natural, intense music of the scene. All this and the most exciting part is when the three dudes are just sitting around yappin' about old sea stories. I like this movie more each time. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #142: In the Beginnings
5. The Terminator (1984)
There’s cyberpunk and then there’s cyberheavymetal. This one's been on this list plenty of times, so what new can I say now? It's the original, all-stakes, no turning back techno horror adventure. Don't mess with the classics (by having five sequels and a high school-set TV show).
4. Raising Arizona (1987)
I guess it is telling me what I want to hear. What a perfect comedy. Possibly the best of the '80s. Probably only Airplane stands in its way. That may be open for debate. Why don't you tell me one '80s comedy that's better than Raising Arizona. This is the Coens' second movie and I think it's just about the biggest sophomore statement of all time. Their first movie, Blood Simple, is an intriguing crime thriller. It's almost more impressive that they do such a 180 in every aspect of style than if Raising Arizona were their first film. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #155: Bereft of Ept Goodman Time
3. Tron (1982)
Tron is like, so spiritual to me. It's not even subtle. Jeff Bridges gets sucked into a computer where he meets his programs and experiences their personalities. They dream of the gods that are the users of programs in the real world. But the David Warner bot lurking in the same mainframe considers users "superfluous." This is pretty much the events of Skynet coming online, wrapped up in techmyth. Not sure if techmyth has ever been used as a word, but it definitely applies here. Okay if the philosophical mumbo jumbo doesn't work for you (and to be fair, it's perhaps childish philosophy), stay for the retro effects. It's computer animation before computer animation. It's like painstakingly making an entire movie with MS Paint. A lot of sweat behind the camera and a lot of bright colors on camera.
2. Eighth Grade (2018)
It's exactly as the title implies with the main character attempting to navigate the last few days of probably the worst school year to live through. Kayla is experiencing anxiety and despair in 8th grade. In the meantime Jon is experiencing anxiety and despair in 39th grade. You want to comfort her, but you also want to tell her so much of life is more of the same. I’m off to drink every McNugget sauce. Actually though, I'm selling the movie pretty short. For as much as it is stressful and it brings back all those negative adolescent memories, the hope is peppered in with such sincerity from a few who escaped eighth grade unscathed (or at least therapized). Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #147: The Coolest Girl and the Zoo Fraternity
1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
There is so much talk about foreclosures and honest working men deserving homes for their families and the building and loan philosophy of spreading housing funds around, but I’m pretty sure Mary just stole a house. This year I got to see it with an audience at the Broadway Theatre. The crowd was actually a little more reverent than I was hoping, but we all chuckled a little at the line about "this place still smelling like pine needles."
45. Anna and the Apocalypse (2017)
I discussed this on the podcast as if it were a new movie to me. Then I went to log it on Letterboxd and discovered I had not only seen this before, but I liked it quite a bit in some kind of healthier past life in the middle of the pandemic. This film forgetfulness will likely happen much more in the future. This is only the beginning. But I do understand my amnesia. This is the kind of movie that's definitely a gimmicky production. A fun idea, with a very competent execution, but also feels commercial and soulless. Like the subjects know they're presenting something live in 2017, but it's disposed of six months later, so it has the definite enthusiasm of an Instagram reel. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #156: Yippee Ki Yay Merry Christmas
44. Over the Top (1987)
I know everybody reading has seen this several times, but here's the story. Sylvester Stallone is finally getting to know his son after the mother dies, and he plops the kid in his big rig to expose him to the quality American pasttimes of trucking and winning massive arm wrestling competitions. Parts of this are essential to culture, but a lot of it at once is pretty boring. Maybe it’s as good as an "arm wrestling for possession of a child" movie can be. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #137: Asphalt Tragedies
43. Barbie (2023)
Okay I had a much harder time dealing with Farrell and the Mattel execs this time. A much harder time. 2024 was a bad year for me watching movies with Will Farrell (I didn't get around to seeing Will & Harper, but I was forced to revisit Bewitched). As for the rest of the movie, well, I just don't know what to say. It's very good, but ever since it's come out I've felt guilty about being less enthused than most lovers. The world and its rules are too far out for me to gather personal meaning. I can't get a grasp on many of the personalities. There are songs. Also, I hate saying this stuff out loud because I don't want to appear for a second like I'm critical in a way that's similar to the haters who are threatened by this thing. Barbie is actually mostly harmless and mild in its political statements. It would be nice if the haters were more threatened. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #140: TGS with Ken and Calum
42. Die Hard 2 (1990)
Watched Die Hard 2 this year for Christmas. I maintain the first Die Hard is definitely a Christmas movie, but the second one... ehhh you can possibly argue otherwise. The first one has an underlying theme of greed, which certainly is a concept of Christmas. This one is more about the hellish travieling of the holiday season. Oh, and the terrorists take over a church to do evil. So yeah it's about replacing Christ with uhh, crashing planes. Okay now that I've typed that, Die Hard 2 is definitely a Chrsitmas movie. Gotta admire McClane for constantly trying to break IN to the building this time. All that publicity from the last one sure girded up his gung-ho-ness. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #156: Yippee Ki Yay Merry Christmas
41. Breakin' (1984)
They dance their way out of a compelling plot and it’s awesome (except for some of the lame hand jive moves). Besides break dancing, no aspect of this movie even matters, which is fortunate, because no effort was put into anything else. Fortunately as for dancing, and maybe this is just my '80s self speaking,, break dancing has got to be the most cinematically agreeable. It's weird and unusual and just fun to watch. This movie is packed with it and uses trickle-down plot economics. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #142: In the Beginnings
40. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
Looks like another star added from last time. Surely a sign that eventually I’ll love it like the acolytes. For now though I still have the same complaint I’ve always had: it’s front-loaded with the best songs and the movie’s end is unmemorable. Literally. Eventually Frank N. Furter's crazy antics give way to meloncholia and my mind just doesn't stay with the story. Maybe it's a good thing. I never know how it ends and I've seen it half a dozen times.
39. What About Bob? (1991)
Bill Murray is the most annoying person in the world and he drives his therapist, Richard Dreyfuss, into an asylum. My biggest complaint has always been that it doesn't make sense that Dreyfuss is the only person annoyed by the most annoying person in the world. This time I kind of get how Dreyfuss's family and Bill Murray have a sort of mutual need for each other, so maybe I'm slightly coming around on that original opinion. But not so much that I believe they all sing “Singin’ in the Rain” together in such an annoying way. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #134: Against All Odds
38. Fandango (1985)
Kevin Costner, Judd Nelson, and two other guys go on one last trip before service in 'Nam. Not sure how Kevin Costner and Judd Nelson became friends in the first place and not sure how the other Groovers can stand either one of them, but what’s college without a road trip and a draft dodge? This squad is actually my squad in high school. We watched it all the time and called ourselves Groovers. I was actually guy sleeping in the back car window the whole time. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #132: Three Brides of Frankincense
37. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Peter O'Toole is one of those guys from last century that you just want to hang out with and hear speak and hopefully catch a glimpse of a smirk and a smile directed at you. Here he plays T.E. Lawrence, the guy who manipulated the Middle East into fighting the Ottomans in World War I. And he seems to make so much sense in his persuading. He's the star in the foreground of another star, the Arabian desert, shot breathlessly in technicolor that couldn't wait to be invented so it could display such sights. Despite all this beauty, I swear the film is like four hours longer than last time I watched it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #146: It’s an “Honor” to be Nominated
36. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
The sincere Everything comes, but not before a bit too much All at Once. I needed to see this again to give it a fair shot. I remember loving it back in 2022, but slowly over the last two years I found myself resenting it more and more. As brilliant as it is, it's not on my wavelength humor-wise. Remember this is the directing team that did Swiss Army Man, the ultimate emperor's new clothes experience for me. Not that this is a review of Swiss Army Man, but remember when that movie came out and everybody said it's "so much more than a movie about a farting corpse," and then I saw it and was like, I can't believe that was more about a farting corpse than I could have possibly imagined. At one point, I loved Everything Everywhere All at Once, but I took issue with the humor and that whole Swiss Army Many experience gnawed at me at the same time. The silliness of EEAAO drove the heart of it all out of my mind. For me, the movie is wonderful without the silliness, but it takes a lot of feigned laughter to find it. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #154: Mad Hell
35. Notting Hill (1999)
Hugh Grant is the everyman who dates Julia Roberts, the movie star. She could have picked someone with less of a Hugh Grant stutter though, because he definitely took his time in stopping her from opening the door to all the Paparazzi cameras in her underwear. Also Spike is a nice person, but he contributes all the terribleness of the world. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #134: Against All Odds
33. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
The camera work is fantastic, so much so that the dumb parenthetical title is overbaked and useless. I think since this came out there's been a lot more loathing than loving it. The incessent drumming has worn on me a bit, but I think the single-take structure still sucks me into the kineticism. Michael Keaton punches Edward Norton and that's satisfying. Plus Keaton gets to talk like Batman again, which I will always watch (the exception, of course, is bothering to see The Flash). Actually, besides the drums, the majorest disappointment is the pouty Emma Stone. That character doesn't ebb beyond pouty. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #146: It’s an “Honor” to be Nominated
32. Good Time (2017)
This movie completely derailed my podcast where we covered "inept criminal movies," because the topic implies a funnier movie than this one. I still maintain a bleached-head Robert Pattinson douching it up in the nightlife of outer NYC boroughs hustling for cash while dismissing everyone but his brother is inherently comedic (if not funny). There are some chuckles among the neon and the synths and the acid -- especially in his ultimate ineptitude. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #155: Bereft of Ept Goodman Time
31. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
A bit too much Denethor and a bit too much Caribbean Pirate ghost party in the extended version. Minas Tirith is lovely this time of year, despite the gloomy doomy view. We watched the extended version of this and the first one this year, so this baby's four hours long. I think all those theatrical endings are still intact. There is that weird Mouth of Sauron guy, which is weird and fun. Maybe not worth the extra time though. Anyway, I kind of still think the first one is the best because I think by nature of creation there's less CGI overalll. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #133: Mike Hatch of the Day (4.23 Hours of Gross Bumpy Orcs)
30. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Okay what can I possibly tell you about The Wizard of Oz? You've probably seen Wicked three times already, so the unspoken diabolical nature of Glinda might very well be the foremost thing on your mind. Considering the 1939 movie on an island though, the joke is that she immediately kills and then enlists three strangers to kill again, but the weight of that statement is still very real. I think the success of this movie is that despite the light-as-air songs, a very legitimately stressed out Judy Garland brings the pain in her eyes. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #150: Witchlash
29. The Legend of Hell House (1973)
If you consider watching a haunted house movie, consider this one. It's less inspired by a true story, like so many Amityvilles, and more what if someone tried to make their house as haunted as possible? This has perfect film stock. It was made at a time in British history where the neutral colors are vibrant rather than drab (think Mary Poppins maybe). Hill House is a funhouse. They threw everything in it and the blood-spewing kitchen sink. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #153: Housetrap
28. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
Jimmy Stewart again proves he's the Christmas movie icon of the 20th century. Did you know this precursor to You've Got Mail takes place in Hungary? Why Hungary you say? Actually that’s what I’m asking.I suppose it's a bit Romantic in the formal sense of a story taking place in a different locale. Also the universality of romance during the special holiday season. Are the guidelines of dating coworkers more relaxed there? Oh well. Have at it Jimmy and Margaret! It’s Christmas Mr. Potter! Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #156: Yippee Ki Yay Merry Christmas
27. Patriot Games (1992)
Tagline: A deadly offshoot of the IRA has attacked American soil and I ARE SCARED about what’s to happen next! Harrison Ford takes over the role of CIA analyst Jack Ryan, and he wails on way more suckas than Alec Baldwin ever did. I really dig these sort of early '90s actioners that talk so much before the action stuff, but talk in a good way. It's like if this were made today I'd hate all that dialogue because the people making the dialogue are like my age or younger. I feel like a kid when I watch old Jack Ryan stuff, the adults are talking about important world stuff and then all sorts of butt-kicking happens. Are there many IRA movies these days? Are we allowed to make those? What's the IRA up to lately? Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #144: Bean, Bean, GREAT for the Heart!
26. GoldenEye (1995)
Pierce Brosnan's first James Bond film -- certainly the best one of his (although I have a fun adoration of Tomorrow Never Dies). Judi Dench gives that big speech about Bond being a misogynist dinosaur, but then he proceeds to totally Bond it up just like Roger Moore of yore, sped up like Benny Hill. Fortunately for Pierce Brosnan, I really like Roger Moore-era Bond. In the modern days of Daniel Craig, it's very difficult to take this kind of camp seriously, but it's totally my bag, baby. Keep in mind the director of this one went on to direct Casino Royale, easily the best of the Craig Bonds (and I know right now you're saying Skyfall is better than Casino Royale, but you're totally wrong about that and it's not close at all). Hey, GoldenEye is the one with Famke Janssen's Xenia Onnatop, the funnest of Bond girl villains. Also, they somehow recruited all the soldiers from that old video game Rush'n Attack. You know, the one where the Soviet soldiers can only run straight into your bullets? Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #144: Bean, Bean, GREAT for the Heart!
25. The Departed (2006)
Certainly a direct sequel to Good Will Hunting. Matt Damon resumes duty as a self-absorbed Boston know-it-all to use his incredible mind powers to infiltrate the police force. In the meantime, Leonardo Di Caprio furrows his brow with mouth agape and out of breath to see how long he can last in the mob before somebody notices his badge. All this while the head mobster, Jack Nicholson, just wanders into public spaces literally covered in blood. Mark Wahlberg is the best he's ever been. I've gone on record preferring the original movie this is based on, Infernal Affairs, solely because it's an hour shorter. But one thing about The Departed that's probably the best thing about The Departed is that three hours weirdly breezes by as if it were 45 minutes. That's saying something. There's a lot of humor in this too and it's so needed. Otherwise I'd have a dozen panic attacks. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #149: Song of the Southies
24. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Probably the best of the series because there are so many actual guys in orc costumes and not so many CGI orcs. Still, the fellowship seem to unrealistically mow these physical orcs down just the same. Yeah, looking back I'd say they should have used 100 orcs instead of 1,000 orcs. Yeah, maybe that's not what's on the page, but a more low-fi approach probably would bring me in a bit more. Keep the battles in the same realm of intimacy as the dialogue. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #142: In the Beginnings
23. Fiend Without a Face (1958)
Okay how's this for a hilarious premise? A nuclear reactor is accidentally creating strange creatures that strangle people, but the reactor is not emitting enough radiation to make these monsters visible. The result is a seemingly budget-less movie where victims are walking along and then suddenly grab their throats AS IF being choked by invisible beings. So I guess it's also a showcase of amateur mimework. Okay, but what if I told you the movie gathers every nickel and dime of special effects money and provides ten spectacularly amazing minutes of revealed creatures that are the coolest, grossest, craziest things you'll ever see in a movie? It's worth it, trust me. Okay fine, I won't tell you what the monsters are, but it's worth a trip to YouTube at least for that end scene. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #151: Les Invisibles
22. House (1977)
The perfect combination of true wtf horror along with Japanese girl giggling in the face of it. If you haven't seen this 1977 Japanese haunted house movie, it's definitely worth a check next time you're awake after midnight. It's true comedy horror in a more oldschool sense. It's the horrors of something like living in an Itchy and Scratchy cartoon. Plus all the trapped schoolgirls have X-Men-like powers (well, Teen Titans-like powers). Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #153: Housetrap
21. Death Becomes Her (1992)
Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep become beautiful and immortal with extremely tangible bodies. I've said this elsewhere in the list, but I'm not sure how else to say it, it's very Itchy and Scratchy. Also this is 1992 so it's nearly peak Bruce Willis. Meryl Streep said making this movie with its silly sepcial effects felt more like going to the dentist than acting in a movie, but the results are as down-to-earth as they can be about two frenemies blowing holes in each other and twisting necks all the way around. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #154: Mad Hell
20. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
It’s objectively better than I give it credit for, but I’m such a fan of the first one that T2 has automatic detriments. Well my excuse for a non-perfect review is that Edward Furlong really Poochies it up. Btw everybody knows this is the one where they find the good/evil switch in the back of the robit. That's the one thing Katie knew, so I have yet to meet one person in the whole universe taken in by the "is he back to kill her again?" storyline of the first half or so. It's so weird that in 1991 everyone knew the mid-movie twist before ever seeing the film, which makes me wonder why it was even conceived with that kind of good/bad uncertainty in the story at all.
19. The Trip to Italy (2014)
I love these movies. Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon drive around with each other to annoy and to spitefully make each other laugh. This time, Italy why not? Seems like Heaven and Hell are both hanging out with an old friend in a pride-induced and deadly serious impression-off.
18. The Trip (2010)
Exhausting dissatisfaction takes a backseat to British impressions and weird food. Smile, then think about how the big trip is going. The big trip called………….. ……. … ..life. This is the movie where Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon have the most sincere and hilarious Michael Caine impression contest that's ever existed. And they drive around tasting delicious food. Who needs space adventures when we've got all these elements right down here?
17. Moonlight (2016)
It's three events in a boy's life. Each vignette illustrates just a little why he doesn't talk much. It's simple and it's a grand internal tragedy. The life is played by three different actors. A very young boy, a skinny middle teenager, and a grown young man (with a sort of distracting amazing body, btw). Have you ever looked at the poster for Moonlight? All three actors are represented in the composite image of the boy and it makes sense, even though all three actors look completely different. Somehow these obvious physical differences don't take me out of this kid's life. Maybe because we're not looking at him as much as we're observing life through his eyes. Life’s a bit blue. With too many unnecessary obstacles. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #149: Song of the Southies
15. Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)
Tom Hanks finds new meaning in life... by ending his life. His voyage to throw himself into a volcano includes many iterations of Meg Ryan. I consider this movie the first, second, and third-best Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan pairing. It's so damn charming it only took until this viewing (my ninth or so) to realize 99% of those Joe tries to save die tragically in the ocean. It plays like a bright fable just barely obscuring the reality of lonliness and death. It's quirky funny though. A low-impact, sullen quirk. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #145: Volcanic Panic
14. Jojo Rabbit (2019)
I like Jojo Rabbit. I hear some people call it Taika Waititi's Springtime for Hitler, but you know what? I still think Nazis are bad even when presented a so-called sympathy for 10-year-olds. The kid is just eager to belong. He grew out if it. If you're a Nazi and you're reading this, please just grow out of your eagerness to belong. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #131: Die Andybruder Die
13. Alien (1979)
The singular sci-fi horror of its generation. The Alien series is having yet another moment in 2024 with that new movie that came out that I didn't see. There's nothing quite so alienating as the very original. When the space alien bursts out of John Hurt's chest there is a brief instant of confused silence on the faces of the rest of the crew. That's fitting for the word. It's one of those that fuels a million other movies, but by definition, the first one is still where it's at. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #152: Space Screams (Outer and Cyber)
12. Escape to Victory (1981)
I say this is the best Stallone movie and my esteemed colleague at Yours, Mine, & Theirs thinks I’m disparaging Stallone when what I’m really saying is Victory Is everything I want in a film. Like me, Stallone is the sole non-soccer fan in his environment. Also he's in a WWII German prisoner camp. He has plans to use an exhibition soccer game between the Allied soccer stars and a group of German soccer bullies. What's more important? Escape or soccer? If you're American, the answer will surprise you! Oh and Michael Caine and Max Von Sydow, I mean, c'mon, what a great cast! Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Gears #133: Mike Hatch of the Day (4.23 Hours of Gross Bumpy Orcs)
11. Sixteen Candles (1984)
Molly Ringwald was unleashed unto the world in a movie where she just wants a pink guy for her 16th birthday. Look it doesn’t deserve my defense. Just three things: 1) Long Duk Dong is an offensive caricature, but he still rises above it as far as I’m concerned. 2) Annoying brother Mike walks into a closed door and he totally deserves it. 3) This is the only movie I watched, rewound the VHS, and then immediately watched again. Also, it's the best high school party ever. They trapped Anthony Michael Hall underneath what I think is an emptied out aquarium. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #132: Three Brides of Frankincense
10. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Only a penitent man does somersaults. The third Indiana Jones really leans in more to the divine with Jones searching out the Holy Grail with the help of his father, James Bond. "My soul is prepared. How's yours?" A couple more Indiana Jones came after this and they have their merits, but this is really the capper to the series. It came out in 1989 while the first one came out in 1980. The decade between these bookends belongs to Indiana Jones. The first one is sooo Old Testament and this one is sooo New Testament. But also (put on a Stefon voice now), this movie has everything: rats, floor x's, chopped boats, book burnings, motorbike jousting, zepplin lunch, Hitler, fortress tanks, floor letters, an inexplicable collection of poison cups, etc. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #136: Katie and the May Crusade
9. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
This has all the Tarantino things I hate, but the stuff I love makes it my favorite. Most of the title characters are pretty lame, but the fun times is really in the Shoshanna story with the old film house and the ladyjew revenge. I think I said this when I originally watched it, but I'd love to edit a version together with just that. No Brad Pitt and Eli Roth stuff. Maybe a little bit of Fassbender. Well, I'll change my mind again a little. Some of that gung-ho stuff probably should remain because I think another point is that oppression leads to oppression on a different vector. Retaliation is justified of course. But then again so is re-retaliation. And yes, a forgotten '80s Bowie song from a forgotten '80s horror remake definitely belongs in this '40s fan fiction of history. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #136: Katie and the May Crusade
8. Before Midnight (2013)
You have an obligation to check out Before Sunrise and its much superior sequel, Before Sunset before even thinking about seeing this one (or even knowing of its existence). Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy had a decade or so to figure out these characters and by trilogy's end the whole thing perfectly fits together into a beautiful and ugly mess that's almost too real to enjoy. It’s too real and then it starts up again all over and my heart breaks and my head hurts. Has the fairy tale any hope of lasting beyond midnight? It's worth it though. The enjoyment truly hits in hindsight.
7. Muriel's Wedding (1994)
This Australian gem brought Toni Collete into the world as a pathetic, ABBA-loving, marriage-obsessed downer, who I love. She finds her true friends and family (the latter a bit too late) in some pretty rocky paths. This movie is so very jubilant one minute and then drops a sad hammer in the next. Somehow, it works. Hold on for dear life to the ones that love you and you don’t even need ABBA. But ABBA certainly doesn’t hurt along the way Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #132: Three Brides of Frankincense
6. Jaws (1975)
Despite it ushering in the mindless blockbuster era, this is still a beautiful, watchable, extraordinary cinematic experience. Hey! Also notice the John Williams score OUTSIDE of the “Bah nuh nah nuh nah nuh” part. Williams was a star this early on for providing the score we don't necessarilt remember as shark music, but rather the very natural, intense music of the scene. All this and the most exciting part is when the three dudes are just sitting around yappin' about old sea stories. I like this movie more each time. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #142: In the Beginnings
5. The Terminator (1984)
There’s cyberpunk and then there’s cyberheavymetal. This one's been on this list plenty of times, so what new can I say now? It's the original, all-stakes, no turning back techno horror adventure. Don't mess with the classics (by having five sequels and a high school-set TV show).
4. Raising Arizona (1987)
I guess it is telling me what I want to hear. What a perfect comedy. Possibly the best of the '80s. Probably only Airplane stands in its way. That may be open for debate. Why don't you tell me one '80s comedy that's better than Raising Arizona. This is the Coens' second movie and I think it's just about the biggest sophomore statement of all time. Their first movie, Blood Simple, is an intriguing crime thriller. It's almost more impressive that they do such a 180 in every aspect of style than if Raising Arizona were their first film. Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #155: Bereft of Ept Goodman Time
3. Tron (1982)
Tron is like, so spiritual to me. It's not even subtle. Jeff Bridges gets sucked into a computer where he meets his programs and experiences their personalities. They dream of the gods that are the users of programs in the real world. But the David Warner bot lurking in the same mainframe considers users "superfluous." This is pretty much the events of Skynet coming online, wrapped up in techmyth. Not sure if techmyth has ever been used as a word, but it definitely applies here. Okay if the philosophical mumbo jumbo doesn't work for you (and to be fair, it's perhaps childish philosophy), stay for the retro effects. It's computer animation before computer animation. It's like painstakingly making an entire movie with MS Paint. A lot of sweat behind the camera and a lot of bright colors on camera.
2. Eighth Grade (2018)
It's exactly as the title implies with the main character attempting to navigate the last few days of probably the worst school year to live through. Kayla is experiencing anxiety and despair in 8th grade. In the meantime Jon is experiencing anxiety and despair in 39th grade. You want to comfort her, but you also want to tell her so much of life is more of the same. I’m off to drink every McNugget sauce. Actually though, I'm selling the movie pretty short. For as much as it is stressful and it brings back all those negative adolescent memories, the hope is peppered in with such sincerity from a few who escaped eighth grade unscathed (or at least therapized). Discussed on Yours, Mine, & Theirs #147: The Coolest Girl and the Zoo Fraternity
1. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
There is so much talk about foreclosures and honest working men deserving homes for their families and the building and loan philosophy of spreading housing funds around, but I’m pretty sure Mary just stole a house. This year I got to see it with an audience at the Broadway Theatre. The crowd was actually a little more reverent than I was hoping, but we all chuckled a little at the line about "this place still smelling like pine needles."
silly facts and stats nobody cares about but me!
Total number of movies seen: 117 (151 last year)
Total number of 2024 movies seen: 9 (18 last year, whoa, cut in half!)
Total number of non-2024 movies seen: 108 (133 old movies last year)
Year of oldest movie: 1939 (The Wizard of Oz)
Total number of movies seen more than once: 0
Biggest movie-watching month: March and October tied with 13
Smallest movie-watching month: 6 in April
Biggest movie-watching day: I am likely wrong about this, but according to my records on July 13th we did a volcano-fest with Joe Versus The Volcano, Salt and Fire, and Fire of Love.
Most time between movies: 17 days (between The Tall Guy on April 17th and Aftersun on May 4th)
Movies seen at the cinema: 7 (15 last year)
Most popular theater: Broadway (3)
2024 movies streamed or seen in a method other than cinema'd: 5
Movies seen at Sundance: 4 (just 1 during Sundance and the other 3 during the summer Sundance revival around town))
Movies seen at the annual 24-hour movie marathon: 0
Movies seen on an airplane: 0
DVD/Blu-ray: 64 (thank heavens for the public library)
VHS: 0
Amazon Prime: 4
Amazon rental: 1
Amazon purchase: 0
AppleTV: 1
Apple rental: 6
Apple purchase: 2
Criterion Channel: 3
Disney+: 4
HBO: 5
Hulu: 2
Netflix: 2
Paramount: 2
Peacock: 2
YouTube: 5
Shudder: 0
Other streaming: 0
Public showings in a place that's not a theater: 4
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