Movies

So my girlfriend and I set out to the theatre today to see Knives Out. When we got to get tickets and discovered it was sold out, we opted for Little Women.

It’s so refreshing to watch a period drama that doesn’t just play like set and costume dressing and allows the audience to do some of the thematic lifting. Great acting from top to bottom, and Greta pretty much solidified herself in the conversation with Jordan Peele, Taika Watiti, and Damian Chazelle for visionary young filmmakers.
 
Of the 2019 campy, class-conscious thrillers that take place in a weird, creepy, dark mansion, I have to give Ready or Not a nod over Knives Out. I liked both a lot and Knives Out has a more weighty cast and complex script machinations but Ready or Not was fun and breezy and very entertaining without the excess, which feels like an unintentional but fitting extra critique of the obscene wealth lavishness it is lampooning.
 
swamp jazz box set said:
Of the 2019 campy, class-conscious thrillers that take place in a weird, creepy, dark mansion, I have to give Ready or Not a nod over Knives Out. I liked both a lot and Knives Out has a more weighty cast and complex script machinations but Ready or Not was fun and breezy and very entertaining without the excess, which feels like an unintentional but fitting extra critique of the obscene wealth lavishness it is lampooning.
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I prefer Knives Out as a film but I have to agree there's something in the simplicity of Ready or Not which I think was one of the most underrated films this year. I don't think either film really pokes too hard at the class issues (compared to something like Parasite) but Ready or Not seems to just assume you already know rich people suck, which is more than agreeable to me. It's a perfect balance of stupid plot and smart protagonist, and the lead actually gets to use her intelligence to survive rather than it being a cheap character trait a la Laurie in Halloween. The family's relative stupidity throughout seemed to send the strongest message about privilege.

I only really had two critiques of the film, I think it could have had a more interesting house / coherent sense of geography, something that Knives Out and especially Parasite do much better. Thematically I was also a bit conflicted with how the servants were portrayed, as sort of straight up evil accomplices / class traitors in comparison to the much more realistic Fran and Marta in Knives Out who seem to weigh moral issues against their employers wishes.
 
zombie.modernist said:
I prefer Knives Out as a film but I have to agree there's something in the simplicity of Ready or Not which I think was one of the most underrated films this year. I don't think either film really pokes too hard at the class issues (compared to something like Parasite) but Ready or Not seems to just assume you already know rich people suck, which is more than agreeable to me. It's a perfect balance of stupid plot and smart protagonist, and the lead actually gets to use her intelligence to survive rather than it being a cheap character trait a la Laurie in Halloween. The family's relative stupidity throughout seemed to send the strongest message about privilege.

I only really had two critiques of the film, I think it could have had a more interesting house / coherent sense of geography, something that Knives Out and especially Parasite do much better. Thematically I was also a bit conflicted with how the servants were portrayed, as sort of straight up evil accomplices / class traitors in comparison to the much more realistic Fran and Marta in Knives Out who seem to weigh moral issues against their employers wishes.
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The servants were middle class centrists stanning for the 1%. Willing to give their lives and be accomplices to murder for a group that considers them disposable and less than. (Jk. I agree with you on that point. I think both Knives Out or Ready or Not made their points in brief moments of pointed satire amidst their fun and, of the movies I saw this year, only Parasite made an entire, consistent point that you can stand back and marvel at as a filmgoer and budding socialist/progressive. Parasite is probably my favorite film of the year and decade, at least.)
 
Recently saw two movies:

Little Women - Probably the most beautiful movie I've ever seen. This sent me on an emotional roller coaster, which only one other movie has done that, Manchester By The Sea.

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker - I enjoyed this movie a lot. Wished it had moments of breathing room since there was something going on at all times.
 
swamp jazz box set said:
The servants were middle class centrists stanning for the 1%. Willing to give their lives and be accomplices to murder for a group that considers them disposable and less than. (Jk. I agree with you on that point. I think both Knives Out or Ready or Not made their points in brief moments of pointed satire amidst their fun and, of the movies I saw this year, only Parasite made an entire, consistent point that you can stand back and marvel at as a filmgoer and budding socialist/progressive. Parasite is probably my favorite film of the year and decade, at least.)
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Yeah funnily enough I saw some murmuring online from socialist critics of Parasite that the film was too friendly to the 1% POV, which I did find to be humorous in the context of his other work. I've always liked that he sort of presents things as they are and exposes their absurdity, the narrative is guiding you to his viewpoint but he's not overtly moralizing / propagandizing. In that way I think it is actually much more effective than propaganda as the conclusions you draw feel like your own. I have a feeling with the subtle and sneaky approach that film changed some minds.

The house in that film is just so well done, it's goes right up there on my list with the Mon Oncle house (which Tati used to critiquing class as well) and the Buster Keaton one from One Week, for sheer number of gags and blocking opportunities packed into the construction. And somehow it feels more real than those so you buy it even more.
 
Well I didn't have much interest in Ready or Not, but now I think I'll give it a watch tonight.

That or Joker. I had a little interest in Joker, but with all that followed I just didn't care anymore. Now more or less want to watch just based on curiosity.
 
chris_d_cole said:
the list was made by me. I’m pretty sure year by year stats are only available for pro users. after my first year of using the service, I bought in because of how much I loved and used it. plus the stats are a definite bonus :)
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Ahhh I see I thought it was auto creating your list like Spotify. haven't gone pro yet but I guess the stats are a compelling reason to.

I really do like the app / site more than anything else I've used for films. I use TV Time to track TV shows and they just added films this year. A thought crossed my mind to just use that for everything, but I like Letterboxd too much to move over, especially considering the large number of cinephiles and critics on the platform mean the ratings align with my test
 
As an aside to my all-encompassing best of list, I put together an N&G Movies thread exclusive Top 10 list of great relatively under-the-radar films that may not have made the top of my list, but that I feel are totally worth seeking out (and streaming services that currently have them):
1. Wrestle (Kanopy/rent anywhere else)
2. Diamantino (Criterion Channel/rent on Amazon)
3. Greener Grass (rent anywhere)
4. Plus One (Hulu/Hoopla/rent anywhere else)
5. Harpoon (rent anywhere)
6. Monos (rent anywhere)
7. Family (Starz/rent anywhere else)
8. To Dust (Amazon Prime/Kanopy/Hoopla)
9. Little Monsters (Hulu)
10. Give Me Liberty (Rent starting 1/28)
 
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