I've been working on a novel... After six months of drafting, I've got something tangible to work with, and now I'm into editing. Picture yourself naked, standing in a well-lit closet, where each wall is a mirror, so you can see your body from every possible angle. You've been given a task: with careful, critical attention, account for every feature, in precise detail, and try to be objective. That's what editing this thing feels like. Disconcerting.
Anyway, let's do another movie roundup. Things I watched in the past four months which I think are worth your time...
Six Favourites
Neptune Frost (2021)
Totally cool, breezy, poetic, with great music, it's everything a contemporary movie musical should be. It's also possibly my favourite movie about gender transition.
Miami Connection (1987)
B action movie / musical with a pretty great original soundtrack, dope fight scenes, and an uplifting story about the power of friendship. Really silly, with the kind of baffling writing and acting choices that make this sort of movie so much fun. Also, to whatever extent this matters, it's nicer to look at than most B movies. I can't for the life of me get a screenshot I'm satisfied with, so check out the trailer.
M (1931)
Organized crime bosses are having their bars disturbed by police shakedowns of their customers, supposedly in service of their impotent hunt for a child murderer. To get the cops off their back, the bosses hire the city's panhandler's union to start a real hunt for the killer-- played by Peter Lorre in a performance that earns its legendary reputation. This thing's got layers I'm not prepared to dig into yet.
Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1990)
The plot of an erotic thriller, with the look of late golden-age Hollywood. Every frame practically screams "this is only a movie!!!", portraying its clean, well-lit, Technicolor world. Can't tell if that makes it feel safer or more unsettling. The thing's a trip. And Antonio Banderas............
Crimes of Passion (1984)
Boy oh boy. Surprising, not so much for its twisting, bad taste plot, but for its commitment to changing its tone on a dime. The script is amusing enough, but the careful balance of camp and quiet heartbreak feels entirely in the hands of the director and main cast. Kathleen Turner, as always, is a powerhouse of sardonic femininity. And Anthony Perkins is just perfect opposite her.
The King of Comedy (1982)
There is a boogeyman for anyone working in artistic professions which produce celebrities, and it is the uninspired, fame-chasing hack. I suspect this creature, often a subject of gossip, and sometimes a character in movies such as this, actually rears its head most often in the anxieties and doubts of artists themselves. This movie is the most thoughtful, funny portrayal of that character. (F for Fake and Close-Up are equally thoughtful, but because their stories are based in real life, they don't adhere so closely to the archetype). Should also have painfully familiar moments for anyone with fandom experience.
Six of Interest
The Lure (2015)
Tested my patience, especially early on. Once I decided not to expect coherence, it was fun to sit back and be surprised. Individual scenes work well and are interesting, and the music's good, but the macro-scale editing was confusing. I got the sense that there were key scenes missing, and they kind of cobbled the rest together the best they could.
Fateful Findings (2013)
Boring in stretches, like most so-bad-it's-good movies. But the climax and the finale are too hilarious to pass up.
Welcome II The Terrordome (1995)
Goes so damn far. Remarkable. A piece of true vent art. Really hard to watch. And hard for me to talk about.
Man Hunt (1941)
We could all go for a little anti-Nazi WW2 propaganda sometimes, right? And this one's made by Fritz Lang, who can sure make a movie.
Another Round (2020)
Four school teachers decide to start drinking on the job. A love-hate letter to alcohol, and just about the drunkest a movie has made me feel. As a character-driven dramedy, it's a great time-- Mads Mikkelsen is absolutely sopping with his brand of charm. Its social commentary is just a hair above tepid, but whatever.
Mad God (2021)
Only watch this if you're in a place, psychologically, where fully-realized visions of Hell won't wreck your shit entirely. As a piece of animation, it's incredible. And its ideas are, at least, interesting. It also stands out as one of the most disgusting films I've seen, for sure. Took over 30 years to make, directed by a living legend of animation, and I'm glad that someone who has worked in service of other people's passions for his whole career was finally able to get this insane movie made. But like. Also. Don't watch it if you don't really, really feel like it.