Star Ratings

For posterity I have established what my star ratings represent. I hate half marks and I'm not a massive fan of marking something out of 10. It's a 5 star rating or nothing.

Also I've succumbed to tracking my film watching on Letterboxd. This is only for films so I'll still keep my lists for books/tv/other activities. Cataloguing everything seems to instil some satisfaction within me. Let's see how long I manage to keep it up.

* - 1 star - hated it, would never want to watch again
** - 2 stars - didn't like, wouldn't watch again but had some merits
*** - 3 stars - liked it, wouldn't feel compelled to watch again (but never say never!)
**** - 4 stars - liked it, would want to watch again
***** - 5 stars - loved it, would watch again lots

Letterboxd profile

Films I watched for the first time in 2018

I went through my list of 2018 and pulled out all of the films I hadn't watched before and made a comment about each of them.

This was done today therefore my sentiments and memories toward some of movies may have changed since the initial watch of them. For the most part I can recall every film but there are a few I forget a little bit - there are 200+ so go figure.

Well, here we go!

1. Mulberry Street (2010) - hey Abel Ferrara, nice street party, where is Harvey Keitel!?
2. Antiporno (2016) - turns out you can examine sexual exploitation and gender politics and still be pretty damn sexist
3. Lost City of Z (2016) - serious actor Robert Pattinson, welcome to the floor
4. Ava (2017) - being a teenage girl and going blind sucks but it can be directed beautifully
5. Reprise (2006) - poetic and creatively edited
6. Something Different (1963) - a dancer and a housewife, both complex and both essential
7. The Pleasure of Being Robbed (2008) - girl being a complete wastrel and boring me senseless
8. Fracture (2007) - man I can't remember this, but I do love Ryan Gosling...       
9. Tomorrowland (2015)  - I fell asleep during this one. What a fascinating idea, what terrible CGI... Hugh Laurie what are you doing?
10. The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989) -  genius and terrifying in equal measure, gorgeous set 
11. Self-Criticism of a Bourgeois Dog (2017) - self indulgent and aimless 
12. Dyketactics (1974) Superdyke Meets Madame X (1976) - the first one was blessedly short and well cut together, the second was nonsense and boring.
13. Drive, He Said (1971) - Jack Nicholson directs a film about some moronic young fellas, I really disliked this one
14. The Crimson Kimono (1959) - a noir film where the asian guy gets as much weight and emotion as his white best friend? Amazing and thrilling.
15. Midnight Run (1988) - this one just made me inexplicably happy, it was just an enjoyable movie
16. Blue Collar (1978) - Paul Shrader directs Richard Pryor and Harvey Keitel in an interesting look at union disputes (my first conscious Harvey Keitel experience)
17. Good Time (2017) - Robert Pattinson continues to be a fascinating actor 
18. I am Not Your Negro (2016) - Essential
19. The Promise (2016) - lest we forget the Armenian Genocide, a heartbreaking reality and a well crafted film
20. Valerian: The City of a Thousand Planets (2017) - when Rhianna is the best thing about your film you seriously need a rethink 
21. The Big Sick (2017) - Zoe Kazan plays such interesting roles
22. The Power Rangers Movie (2017) - unashamedly dumb and fun
23. Girls Trip (2017) - girls be nasty and funny
24. The Night of the Hunter (1955) - Robert Mitchum terrifies me, it's because of this movie
25. Say When (2014) - Sam Rockwell you charming so-and-so...
26. Mr Right (2015) -  ditto
27. Colossal (2016) - kaijus and toxic maculinity? shouldn't work, but it does.
28. Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) - you mean we could have been friends all along?
29. Vanilla Sky (2001) - what a frustrating waste of time
30. In Bed With Victoria (2016) - because getting some random 20 year old to be your babysitter and then falling in love with him is... totally fine?
31. Man Bites Dog (1992) - viscious, cruel, nasty, amazing 
32. The Structure of Crystal (1969) - I tried to get into Zanussi (not the guy who makes washing machines) but I did not manage to penetrate his psyche
33. Cat People (1982) - fun B-movie with Malcolm McDowell
34. Family Life (1971) - the Zanussi experiment part 2 - same result
35. Crimson Peak (2015) - gothic costume drama, gorgeous but lacking
36. Black Panther (2018) - a pleasant surprise
37. Not One Less (1999) - 13 year old substitute teacher in China is told not to lose any students! My heart breaks as she does her darned best
38. The Road Home (1999) - Zhang Yimou strikes again, much like the previous one, this made me weep and it was beautiful
39. Fifty Shades Freed (2018) - contrary to popular believe, these films are pure lifestyle porn, women aren't so bothered about the kinky stuff, they want to marry a billionaire
40. Illumination (1973) - Zanussi part 3 - same resuts
41. Before Summer Ends (2017) - a thoroughly enjoyable road-trip
42. Wings of Desire (1987) - COLUMBO!! Fascinating idea and engagingly explored. Couldn't get over Peter Falk being charming and magical
43. The Lost Weekend (1945) - an intricate and powerfully acted insight into alcoholism, before it's time
44. Lover for a Day (2017) - boring, good dance routine
45. Six Shooter (2004) - black as Martin McDonagh's soul and brilliant
46. Wild at Heart (1990) - Laura Dern and Nicholas Cage living their best lives
47. On Body and Soul (2017) - a sensitive love story set at an abbattoir, strange and striking
48. No Country For Old Men (2007) - if you see Javier Bardem you run, you run away. 
49. Mute (2018) - a massive disappointment on every level
50. Ladybird (2017) - Greta Gerwig can see inside my soul and the main character's conflicted feelings about her home town spoke to me
51. When We First Met (2018) - flaming trash, Netflix you can do better than this!
52. Admission (2013) - because Paul Rudd
53. Las Plantas (2015) - Chilean teen coming of age film with added comic books/conventions, delicate and interesting
54. Thelma (2017) - gorgeous, thrilling and disturbing
55. Annihilation (2018) - see above
56. Going My Way (1944) - enjoyable but remembered for beating Double Indemnity at the Oscars
57. Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) - this is the thing about corruption, people in power don't care what you do, as long as you don't drag the rest down
58. Morvern Callar (2002) - angry and chilling, Morvern Callar has bruised my soul
59. Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018) - more fun than it had any right to be
60. Baden Baden (2016) - i couldn't bring myself to care
61. Serial Mom (1994) - good family fun
62. The Last Picture Show (1971) - teenagers being aimless and empty, young Jeff Bridges!
63. Snow Canon (2011) - boring and pointless
64. Strange Days (1995) - imperfect but a prescient concept and glorious casting (Ralph Fiennes and Angela Bassett) elevated this 
65. Documenteur (1981) - I've got such a soft spot for Agnes Varda and this was a sensitive portrait of a mother
66. Marie Antoinette (2006) - I have another soft spot reserved for Sofia Coppola, she operates on a feeling and i admired her anachronistic take on Marie Antoinette 
67. Ishtar (1981) - 'Telling the truth can be dangerous business...' - this film is a masterpiece, don't tell me otherwise
68. Bottle Rocket (1996) - Owen Wilson being obnoxious in a Wes Anderson film, because... sure?
69. All I Desire (1953) - my first Douglas Sirk and most importantly my introduction to Barbara Stanwyck, she is a goddess
70. Magnificent Obsession (1954)  - Douglas Sirk part 2, the melodrama, the escalation, the colourful endlessly surprising plot... gorgeous
71. All That Heaven Allows (1955) -  Douglas Sirk part 3, same players, different drama, not as affecting but still enthralling
72. As You Are (2015) - Charlie Heaton from Stranger Things being caustically cool. Worth it for the last minute
73. Tootsie (1982) - not as clever or enlightening as it thinks it is
74. Selma (2014) - borderline hagiographic but nevertheless powerful
75. Caramel (2007) - women doing their best and being charming, what more could I ask for
76. Happy Anniversary (2018) - Netflix why!?! You have a charming cast and you still have the most infuriating propensity for weak storytelling
77. The Fall (2006) - unashamedly fairytale and gorgeous, it's not perfect but it's certainly ambitious and I admire it
78. Written on the Wind (1956) - Douglas Sirk part 4, Lauren Bacall breaks my heart 
79. Gholam (2017) - slight but curious, a London cabbie who wants no part of the criminal world nevertheless being dragged in
80. The Squid and the Whale (2005) - navel-gazing but charismatic and personal enough to be interesting
81. Point Break (1991)  - an enjoyable classic, I can't believe I've never seen it before
82. The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017) - by the numbers schlock, forgettable
83. The Awful Truth (1937) - Cary Grant is damn hilarious and Irene Dunne matches him barb for barb
84. North by Northwest (1959) - an old Cary Grant in a Hitchcock classic
85. Bridge of Spies (2015) - I was surprised by how this (purportedly true story) had a happy ending, I can't get enough of Tom Hanks though
86. The Avengers: Infinity War (2018) - I just struggled to care because it's missing an end and you know there's a reset button waiting to be pressed
87. There’s Always Tomorrow (1956) Douglas Sirk part 5, the return of Barbara Stanwyck, she is undeniably magnificent
88. City of Angels (1998) - Nicholas Cage and Meg Ryan star in the American remake of Wings of Desire, everything that made the original charming and curious (COLUMBO) is missing and it's worse for it
89. Primary Colors (1998) - I love Mike Nichols (The Graduate) but I didn't care much for this
90. Closer (2004) - Mike Nichols part 2, I hate everyone in this film, I hated the end
91. Kodachrome (2018) - Jason Sudeikis, Ed Harris and Elizabeth Olsen being charming, well done Netflix, I wasn't bored to tears or frustrated by this one
92. A Bigger Splash (2016) - 'Of course. I'll be sad forever.' 
93. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) - amazing idea, poor execution, still not terrible
94. The Tarnished Angel (1957) Douglas Sirk part 6 (I committed to this retrospective), not his most memorable  
95. How to be Single (2016) - Dakota Johnson, you are so very charming aren't you?
96. The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things (2004) - Asia Argento adapted what was a very difficult book (I read as a teenager) and it's such an awful experience on film
97. Prisoners (2013) - extremely upsetting and gripping
98. Absence of Malice (1981) - Sydney Lumet directs a forgettable hard to follow mess
99. Lost River (2014) - Ryan Gosling in his directorial debut, it's not a perfect film but Ben Mendelsohn dancing is worth it... so worth it...
100. Bad Neighbours 2 (2016) - rehash of the original with girls, silly and fun
101. Nightcrawler (2014) - no but seriously, Jake Gyllenhaal is terrifying
102. Call Me By Your Name (2017) - Luca Guadagnino's direction is gorgeous and this delicate story of love is enchanting
103. The Florida Project (2017) - if you're going to take advantage of a motel, make sure that it's run by Willem Defoe. Shot on an iPhone and colourfully unforgettable 
104. Maps to the Stars (2014) - freaking awful
105. Deadpool 2 (2018) - Josh Brolin... you've been working out I see... 
106. Solo: A Star Wars Movie (2018) - a film with sole intention of filling out the mythology about Han Solo flying the Millennium Falcon through the Kessel Run and somehow it's still confusing nonsense
107. Touch of Evil (1958) - everyone talks about that opening sequence and to be honest that's all I can remember
108. A Time to Love and a Time to Die (1958) - Douglas Sirk part 7, i love melodrama but this was a very long view of the war...
109. Imitation of Life (1959) - Douglas Sirk part 8 (the finale), this was what I was waiting for! What a fantastic heartbreaking film with difficult themes and raw emotions... perfection.
110. Ibiza (2018) - Netflix strikes again with some trashy nonsense shot in Croatia
111. The Comedy (2012) - oh good God, this was unforgiveable crap
112. Stand By Me (1986) - a classic and thoroughly enjoyable, hey there tiny River Phoenix!
113. The Lady Without Camelias (1953) - the curious thing about this film is that the main character's trajectory strongly reflected her real life. So very sad... 
114. Una (2016) - Ben Mendehlson and Rooney Mara act out what I think is a play, full of tricky and painful emotions, very dreary 
115. My Own Private Idaho (1991) - the Shakespeare nonsense is so irritating when you have River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves vibrating with magical chemistry...
116. Set it Up (2018) - Netflix made a charming and enjoyable rom-com, who'd have thought!?!
117. The Inertia Variations (2017) - Matt Johnson famed for The The and one of my favourite songs - This is the Day - which was my theme tune for the year, watching this felt like a thank you to him
118. The Glass Key (1942) - Veronica Lake is divine... some other things happened...
119. Horrible Bosses (2011) - tone deaf and a bit disturbing
120. Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) - a zombie invasion in all but name, gripping
121. Rumble Fish (1983) - a young Diane Lane enchants all who see her, the rest is teenage boy posturing
122. Body Double (1984) - I can't quite get this one out of my head, it's a shlocky B-movie but it's visually arresting
123. A Burning Hot Summer (2011) - Louis Garrell banging Monica Bellucci should not be this boring
124. Kuro (2017) - a confusing art piece which maintained my focus but left me cold and bewildered
125. The Exorcist (1973) - oh how this aged terribly... spent most of the film coveting the 70s costume design
126. Rosemary’s Baby (1968) - whereas this is timeless, an effective and terrifying film, an unforgettable classic
127. To Rome with Love (2012) - a forgettable and frustrating effort from Woody Allen, Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page have the least chemistry
128. Mala Noche (1985) - a tricky but fascinating film in stylish black and white about infatuation
129. Erase and Forget (2017) - a documentary about Bo Gritz which failed to hold my attention
130. Detroit (2017) - we don't know what happened in that hotel that night, I don't think we ever will, this film is so difficult but it's important
131. Tamara Drewe (2010) - all over the place, terrible
132. Mamma Mia 2: Here We Go Again (2018) - nothing short of a masterpiece
133. Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) - my first John Cassavettes, I kind of loved how messed up and difficult the characters were
134. Albert Nobbs (2011) - toothless and disappointing
135. Antman and the Wasp (2018) - fun and forgettable
136. Tomb Raider (2018) - wasted cast
137. The Illusionist (2006) - hated it
138. Phantom Thread (2017) - a fascinating character study, Lesley Manville stole the whole film
139. Did You Wonder Who Fire the Gun? (2017) - a blistering documentary
140. Florence Foster Jenkins (2016) - trite and light but still heartwarming and effective
141. How Heavy This Hammer (2015) - an ugly man, inside and out
142. The Wedding Banquet (1993) - a film based around an interracial gay couple hiding the fact from the Chinese guy's parents, it's impressive and immersive and I loved it
143. Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) - three sisters with full and complex lives and interiors but the best part is watching the dad spend hours and hours cooking 
144. My Man Godfrey (1936) - i loved this farce, it's bitter and tricky and hilarious
145. Death Becomes Her (1992) - shouldn't have been as good as it was
146. Cape Fear (1962) - Robert Mitchum returns to haunt my nighmares
147. Cape Fear (1991) - i couldn't see past The Simpsons parodies
148. The Last Emperor (1987) - a three hour film about an era in history I knew nothing about, fascinating
149. Machete (2010) - dumb, loud and crazy fun
150. Blackkklansman (2018) - how much should we be laughing and how much should we be weeping? I just couldn't tell...
151. Searching (2018) - watching a computer screen in a cinema, John Cho elevated this effective thriller
152. Molly’s Game (2017) - Idris Elba and Jessica Chastain sniping at one another from a Aaron Sorkin script? Uh yes please 
153. Bridget Jones Baby (2016) - POOR DR MCDREAMY
154. Wind River (2017) - heartbreaking but unforgettable
155. The Land of Steady Habits (2018) - a Netflix film by Nicole Holofcener, starring Ben Mendelsohn, interminably dull
156. 8 1/2 (1963) - my first Fellini, visually arresting and glorious
157. Mass for Shut Ins (2017) - so very very boring but that's probably the point
158. Sullivan's Travels (1941) - the inception of O Brother, Where Art Thou, a rollicking and incredibly entertaining picture about the struggles of authenticity in cinema. Timeless.
159. The Andromeda Strain (1971) - sci-fi at it's most turgid, it's a great idea but it's so long and deliberate
160. The Lady Eve (1941) - Barbara Stanwyck seduces Henry Fonda and it's the most fun I had watching a film
161. 12 Angry Men (1957) - an older and wiser Henry Fonda convinces a jury of righteousness, it's engrossing
162. Rope (1948) - a chamber piece directed by Hitchcock which is entertaining and has a one endless shot conceit before Birdman was even conceived. Apparently Hitchcock hated it, I didn't mind it
163. Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (2017) - a tender love story which works as a delicate biopic with glorious acting performances but treads a little too carefully
164. Game Night (2018) - Rachel McAdams should star in more comedies
165. Table 19 (2017) - June Squibb made me cry, I didn't care about the rest of it
166. A Star is Born (2018) - that electric moment on stage when Ally sings Shallows for the first time is unforgettable, everything else is just filler
167. His Girl Friday (1940) - Cary Grant you charming devil you...
168. Doctor Strange (2016) - Benedict Cabbagepatch playing the manipulative genius but in a Marvel film
169. The Birdcage (1996) - shouldn't work as well as it does but by God does it work
170. Enter the Void (2009) - the first 20 minutes are fascinating, then I spent the longest 3 hours watching a film about a man who wanted to sleep with his sister
171. Maggie’s Plan (2015) - Greta Gerwig is an angel, Ethan Hawke is obnoxious
172. Night of the Living Dead (1968) - I was surprised by how timeless and chilling this was
173. Sorry to Bother You (2018) - when your story keeps escalating and never holds up with visual creativity and painful social commentary, you know you have a classic on your hands
174. Suspiria (2018) - an homage to the original with more layers and more disturbing imagery but manages to be both overlong and alienating. I need to watch it again but I'm too afraid
175. Inuyashiki (2018) - because nothing is more funny than an middle-aged guy turning into a robot
176. Widows (2018) - an effective and clever thriller which is both thoughtful and mindlessly entertaining 
177. Peterloo (2018) - 2 hours of endless talking, 20 minutes of a massacre 
178. You Were Never Really Here (2017) - brutal and beautiful
179. Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016) - I wanted to like you... why did you let me down so hard?
180. Red Lights (2012) - Cillian Murphy and Sigourney Weaver start the film on such an intriguing note and then it just falls apart so bad... 
181. Red Sparrow (2018) - terrible view on women, on people, on espionage, boilerplate spy drama with absolutely zero understanding of the complexity human emotion
182. Passengers (2016) - JLaw and Chris Pratt do messy kissing on a shiny spaceship
183. I, Tonya (2018) - a biopic which makes you question the veracity of the people telling the story, it's both fun and serious and impressively made
184. Another Year (2010) - Lesley Manville broke my heart, people don't want to see the vulnerable and the lost, they do as little as they can to make themselves feel better - Mike Leigh is a genius, more of this and less of Peterloo please!
185. Animal Kingdom (2010) - Ben Mendehlson is the only actor I seem to be highlighting with any frequency. That's because he is in difficult and fascinating films.
186. Unfaithful (2002) - Diane Lane for the love of God, get as far as away as possible from Richard Gere!!!
187. Suspiria (1977) - the original is as bright and colourful as the remake is not. It's an odd film I'm not sure I fully appreciated, the soundtrack is magic though
188. Hellzapoppin’ (1941) - breaking all of the walls and being deliriously silly can be much fun
189. The Thing (1982) - terrifying on every single level, a masterpiece
190. Mandy (2018) - the most metal film ever made. 
191. Senna (2010) - impressive documentary, heartbreaking story
192. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) - the first half of the film is so good, the second half is so SO bad
193. Cosmopolis (2012) - would have worked as a play, as a film it's sinfully dull and self-indulgent
194. A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) - HEY STELLAAAAAAA
195. Outlaw King (2018) - I confess my interest in military history is limited but the battle sequences in this film were the best part
196. Bright Young Things (2003) - STOP SELLING EMILY MORTIMER
197. I Am Love (2009) - Tilda Swinton has the most poetic/arty affair... the end was so jarring
198. The Post (2017) - Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep publish the Pentagon Papers, drinks for everyone!
199. Breathless (1960) - French new wave, very visually stylish with a charismatic lead but very much a product of it's time (in my uneducated eyes)
200. A Star is Born (1937) - the original based on Barbara Stanwyck's life (convince me otherwise) starring Janet Gaynor, the ingenue rises as an acting talent, predictable and just fine
201. A Star is Born (1954) - Judy Garland's turn, very similar but with additional song and dance routines, so very very long...
202. The Old Man &The Gun (2018) - charming and warm
203. Lovers of the Arctic Circle (1998) - the ending was unforgiveable, what was waste of time
204. Walkabout (1971) - it just made me so very sad...
205. Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse (2018) - the best comic book movie ever made
206. Thelma & Louise (1991) - LET THEM BE FREE
207. Win It All (2017) - Jake Johnson gambling for a bit, why not?
208. Tag (2018) - terrible
209. Tumbledown (2015) - Rebecca Hall is a sad widow and Jason Sudeikis is there, no further comment required 
210. The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) - David Bowie convinces as an alien
211. Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018) - great fun, perfect action flick
212. Aquaman (2018) - unashamed schlock but Jason Mamoa's charisma didn't quite save it

Stats 2018

Because I hate number crunching and counting however I figured I should at least try my best to get some kind of clarity from all things I recorded through the year.

So whilst watching Christmas films I did some counting and I can guarantee that it was not accurate. Here is what I found.

Things I have not watched/read before:
Films: 215
Episodes of Television: 635
Books: 32

To be honest that's about it... I can't think of much else to record at this time. Perhaps I'll keep a hold of my list and think on it.

One thing is for sure, my father-in-law was right, I don't get out enough.

Movies of 2018

So it's been a pretty weird year. I may have become more of a recluse or less of one. I don't think we have the results in just yet for that one.

One thing is certainly clear, I have watched far too much television and way too many films. Luckily I happen to love films. Standard end of year award ceremony coming your way. Officially named the 'Hendys' (patent pending).

Best Comic Book Movie of the Year
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

You know what comic book movies are missing? Colour! And actual sound effects that appear on the screen as words! This movie had these things and it most importantly was the most fun, vibrant and straight up entertaining experience.

Now I have various permutations of Spidey to be fiercely protective of. Miles Morales, Dad-bod Spiderman, Spider-ballerina-girl, Noir-Cage-Spiderman, Anime-crab-robot school-girl spider-girl and most importantly Spider-ham.

Everything about the film is fun and delightful and the soundtrack is clogging up my Spotify. I can't get it out of my head. I demand more films like this. You deserve your Hendy Spidey.

Best send-off movie for veteran actor
The Old Man & the Gun

Not that anyone is asking but I have a deep well of emotion regarding any circumstances involving elderly people. Old people have lived far longer than I have, they have experienced so much and deserve nothing but respect for surviving in this terrible world for so long.

Needless to say any film/television episode which includes June Squibb makes me cry and the woman has been in a lot in the past 5 years. Nebraska made a weeping wreck.

All of this rambling brings me to a slight but exceedingly pleasant film about a real cool old guy played by Robert Redford committing felonies and flirting with Sissy Spacek. Casey Affleck is also there. It's all about the vintage camera filter and the retro outfits, it hits my sweet spot. The whole film made me smile so much my cheeks hurt at the end, I was still smiling when I was crying (films about old people make me cry). For that reason Robert Redford, you and David Lowery come on down and accept your Hendy.

Special mention: Phantom Thread - Daniel Day-Lewis is a fashion designer and a tricky fella to deal with, his idiosyncracies make him incredibly exhausting too be around. The film didn't quite snag the 'Hendy' just because Day-Lewis' supporting players stole the show from him. Lesley Manville you bitter pill... the woman is an inspiration.

Most disturbing remake
Suspiria

The film earns it's Hendy for completely subverting my expectations and being an incredibly intricate and layered film whilst at the same time being bizarre bloodbath. Walking out left me feeling confused and a bit exhausted.

Like most of Dario Argento films, it's a thinker and on first viewing I straight up did not get it. (His most accessible film is Call Me By Your Name - I recommend it to all people everywhere.)

I was sat on the bus on the way home and felt like I really wanted to know more about that old man actor who broke my heart throughout the entire film. (My affection for old people definitely clouded my vision). I googled the guy and then read some reviews and discovered the old man was Tilda Swinton in prosthetic and my brain nearly exploded. I don't recommend having such an experience on a late night bus.

Anyways the whole idea of a coven of witches running a dance school and doing voodoo dance routines is the most fascinating idea to me. My only concern about the original and the Dario Argento's remake is that there is simply not enough dancing.These women should be dancing constantly and making voodoo magic happening while doing it and the music must always be Thom Yorke.

Best Blockbuster crafted by a serious art-house auteur starring a very good dog
Widows

I'm very easily distracted but before I begin with my thoughts on the film I feel I must give a round of applause for Olivia the delightful West Highland terrier. Not only has she stolen the best acting award in this particular movie, she also went ahead and stole every scene she appeared in during her performance in Game Night. She has worked very hard and shown poise and charm and deserves a tasty treat and pat on the head.

Picture this, Viola Davis is in a beautifully appointed apartment in the late evening. Nina Simone is playing, she's standing staring out the window into the night viewing her reflection in the window. Her deceased husband embraces her in her reflection and she soaks in the moment and we watch her caught in a memory. It's a beautifully rendered scene and it builds on a feeling.

Steve McQueen working with a script with complex female driven storyteller Gillian Flynn have crafted a beautifully layered action film. Everything in this film works together fantastically and makes something entertaining and also thoughtful. It's hard to shrug it away when you walk out of the cinema and that is an achievement in itself.

We at the Hendys believe that everyone who worked on the film named Widows deserves a pat on the back and a nice glass of Cava (budgetary restraints prevented us shelling out for the fancy tipple - watch this space for our advertising funds to come through).

Best Movie of 2018
Sorry to Bother You

Give me creativity, give me rage, give me bags of personality and give me Danny Glover saying he's too old for this shit*. This film is magical escalating wheel that turns faster and in new and unexpected ways.

I have made such an effort to not ruin it for anyone I've somehow managed to remove all words about it from my brain. I want to enthuse endlessly about it. A man starts a job at a base level call centre job and from there things escalate with layers of humour and anger and creativity screaming off the screen.

It's such a fun and offbeat film which also explicitly rages at the state of of the way things are in the world but creates a colourful magical world in which to express itself. It's so charming and so delightfully weird but without a doubt the most memorable and outright entertaining film I've seen this year. Come on down and collect your Hendy!

*He makes an appearance in The Old Man & the Gun but doesn't say the line - he does however scream it from his eyes.)

Resolutions (replay)

I posted this in January 2013.

At least past me has familiar ideas.

They make sense.

·  Help more people.

·  Earn more money.

·  Lose belly fat.

· Watch more films/read more books/learn more things.

·  Be less upset.

December 2018

Happy New Year!!

I want to say so many things! The past month has been a roller-coaster. The slow-burn panic attack returned, the fact that I'm singing out-loud and I'm back to binge-watching has become apparent. Am I regressing or growing? Am I happy or sad? Do these things matter?

I finished the year of 2018 watching New Girl and watching the seasons I gave up on previously. Adding Megan Fox to a sitcom is a very strange idea but also weirdly compelling...

December
1/12 A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) Outlaw King (2018) Strictly Come Dancing (1) Bright Young Things (2003) I Am Love (2009)
2/12 It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2) Doctor Who (1) The Post (2017)
3/12 The Americans (1) Breathless (1960)
4/12 The Americans (1)
5/12 The Apprentice (2) The Hungry Empire: How Britain’s Quest for Food Shaped the World Lizzie Collingham (2017) 276p
6/12 The Americans (1) The Marvellous Mrs Maisel (Season 2 – 2 episodes)
7/12 The Marvellous Mrs Maisel (4)
8/12 The Marvellous Mrs Maisel (4)
9/12 Strictly Come Dancing (1) A Star is Born (1937) Doctor Who (1) A Star is Born (1954) Riverdale (1)
12/12 Consider the Fork: A History of How We Cook and Eat Bee Wilson (2012) 364p The Old Man and the Gun (2018)
13/12 Riverdale (1) The Apprentice (1) Lovers of the Arctic Circle (1998)
14/12 The Americans (1) Gremlins (1984)
15/12 Gremlins 2: A New Batch (1990) Strictly Come Dancing Finale (1) Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (1) It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (3)
16/12 Walkabout (1971) The Americans (1) Sunderland Til I Die (3) It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (1) Love Actually (2003)
17/12 The Apprentice: Finale (1) Love Island: Christmas Special (1)
18/12 It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (3) Sunderland Til I Die (1)
19/12 Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse (2018)
20/12 The Americans (Season 2 – 1 episode) Thelma & Louise (1991)
21/12 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
22/12 Win It All (2017) Tag (2018) Bridge Jones Diary (2001) Elf (2003) Tumbledown (2015)
23/12 The People: The Rise and Fall of the Working Class Selina Todd (2015) 408p The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) It’s Always Sunny in Philadephia: Christmas Special, New Girl (Season 2 from Cooler onwards  - 9 episodes)
24/12 New Girl (3) Mission Impossible: Fallout (2018) Scrooged (1988) The Holiday (2003)
26/12 New Girl (28) The Americans (1)
27/12 New Girl (12 episodes finishing season 4, 5 episodes of season 5) Aquaman (2018)
29/12 Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2018
30/12 New Girl (17 episodes season 5, 6 episodes season 6)
31/12 New Girl (11)