This was so freaking funny and I wasn’t expecting it to be. I hadn’t laughed out loud like this in so long. It was all just an homage to Chaplin and the Marx Brothers. The whole thing is a farce in the best way possible. The world is insane and somehow I think this is Woody Allen’s best acting. I’m so used to his films being heady and thoughtful and when I’ve seen him do slapstick I’ve never been a huge fan (for some reason I just don’t care for SLEEPER). Howard Cosell was easily my favorite part of this.
Quarantine Watch #30: Oh, Hello On Broadway (2017)
“It’s showtime!” This is the first thing on my Quarantine Watch that is a rewatch. After my day I needed something funny. I did a quick Netflix scroll looking for something that would just be broad and not so heady. When I came across this I thought, “yeah, let’s do this.” If you don’t know, OH, HELLO is a comedy act with (charmed I’m sure) Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland — elderly characters from the KROLL SHOW as they recount their lives in the Upper West Side. It’s long, but worth it. I caught it live when they put shows up in Los Angeles after the initial Broadway run. It’s silly, but fun and that’s exactly what I needed right now.
Quarantine Watch #29: Tremors (1990)
My roommate really wanted me to watch this with him since I hadn’t seen it before. I’ve always been aware of it, and honestly I thought it was only going to be okay. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would. I mean — don’t get me wrong, some of these actors are straight up, bad — but it kinda adds to that B-movie feel. Kevin Bacon is the man (as always) and so is Fred Ward. I honestly was waiting for a gigantic Godzilla sized version of the worms (like on the poster) and was shocked when it didn’t come. I thought that would have been a cool twist. This definitely also reminded me of so many movies like EVOLUTION and EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS that came after it, so it’s nice to see how TREMORS influenced them.
Quarantine Watch #28: The Platform (2020)
Jumped on the bandwagon of everyone watching this one. It was a cool concept that comes off the heels of films like ELYSIUM and SNOWPIERCER. I’ve always liked watching movies like this — a group of people in an enclosed environments with harsh rules that could lead to death — films like EXAM, CIRCLE, THE CUBE, SAW, and UNKNOWN (2006). The production design is simple, but effective and allows the camera to make some pretty nice compositions. It’s weird, the film is an oxymoron: it is both claustrophobic and open at the same time. The socio-political commentary wasn’t anything new and was a little too obvious, but it was also somehow clever. I keep going back and forth on this point. That being said the movie does things I didn't expect at times and was overall a fun thing to watch.
Quarantine Watch #27: Cronos (1993)
I had no idea what this was going into it and honestly it was not what I expected. There are so many great little moments here. Ron Perlman’s face when it’s covered in blood on the roof. The little girl wailing on people with a stick. All of this also feels like a Twilight Zone episode, in all the best ways. Guillermo del Toro does a lot of stuff that reminds me of movies like GREMLINS, RE-ANIMATOR, THE FLY and other imaginative movies of the 80s. You see a lot of techniques and ideas that de Toro would explore later in things like MIMIC and THE STRAIN. You also get to see early stages of del Toro experimenting with prosthetics and make-up that would become his signature style. The inside of the device is also really cool. I need to look into how he made it.
Quarantine Watch #26: The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)
I’ve never been a fan of surrealist films, for instance David Lynch films rarely do anything for me. However, I knew this was a weird one going into it and it was interesting to watch though. I knew it would be weird, but I didn’t expect it to be as funny and as dark in specific areas. It really is a vignette-type film so it’s easy to break this down into different segments. I’m actually shocked on how short some of these segments are, which helps with the pacing. Parts of the film bored me while others we’re really engaging. Still it was so well constructed and reminded me of what Roy Andersson’s ‘Living Trilogy’ would become. It is also works because it’s with these high class people. It just adds to the absurdity. Maria Gabriella Maione is also GORGEOUS (she plays the “terrorist”). I haven’t been taken with an actress’s beauty since I saw in Ali MacGraw THE GETAWAY (1972) a year or two ago. I know she is in THE DECAMERON which has given me some incentive to check it out down the line since they just put it on Criterion Channel.
Quarantine Watch #25: George Washington (2000)
I always thought it was interesting when David Gordon Green started doing films like STRONGER, PRINCE AVALANCHE, and HALLOWEEN when I first knew him as a broad comedy director. This is his first film and it is very pretty. The world feels super lived in and the color just makes everything feel rusted. It’s a similar sepia look to what the Coen Brothers would later implement digitally the same year with O’ BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? It’s also cool seeing Paul Schneider a) young and b) in role unlike anything I have seen him in. It is such a patient film that really deals with regret and the concept of what it means to be a good person. This is one of those movies I wish I made.
Quarantine Watch #25: Crip Camp (2020)
It’s amazing that I hadn’t learned about any of this. I’ve grown up in a world where the physically disabled have always had equal rights as anyone else. It made me angry at times seeing how politicians care more about money than human dignity and moral ethnics. It also really shows how hard it is to get stories out in the world pre-internet. The camp stuff all resonated with me. Even though it’s all black and white film from the 1960s, I know how all those cabins, dining halls, and woods smell. I’m a sucker for anything about camp since going to sleepaway camp was an important time in my life. I didn’t expect this to turn into a civil rights documentary, but it really was informative and it should be a part of school history curriculums.
Quarantine Watch #24: The Foot Fist Way (2006)
This is one of those gems that shows what you can do on a real low budget and just a camera. It’s the movie that gave us Danny McBride and Jody Hill. You can sense Hill and McBride are channelling the style and humor of Christopher Guest’s films or something like CLERKS. The whole thing feels homemade, like a mockumentary at times — mostly due to it being shot on 16mm as well as being done on the cheap. You get the typical style we’ve come to expect from Danny McBride and his delivery and humor, stuff that will come out in his roles in HOT ROD, PINEAPPLE EXPRESS, THIS IS THE END, and EASTBOUND AND DOWN. It’s also the type of humor you’d expect from Dwight in THE OFFICE (US series). l’d love to see a fight between Fred Simmons and Dwight Schrute. There’s also a scene early on that had me on the floor laughing — when a grown man punches and kicks a kid as hard as he can.
Quarantine Watch #23: Two for the Road (1967)
The camera work and the transitions between scenes are so well done. The direction and editing reminds me of something out a Truffaut or Godard film. I liked both actors in this a lot (especially Albert Finney's performance) and it was an interesting idea, however this kinda made the pacing drag. I probably wasn’t in the best mindset when I watched this.I can see where things like MOONRISE KINGDOM, BEFORE SUNRISE, LOST IN TRANSLATION, and PHANTOM THREAD could have possible been inspired by it. It’s also cool seeing William Russ (Mr. Feeny!) so young, I didn’t recognize him for about half the movie.
Quarantine Watch #22: Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Okay — this was a lot of fun. At times it feels like a Zucker/Abrams/Zucker or a Mel Brooks film (and the comedy in this is at their level). Other times the sets remind me of big time musicals like WEST SIDE STORY (1961) or CHICAGO (2002). At other times it’s THE MATRIX. Other times it’s THE LOONEY TOONS or WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT. It’s all over the place, so well crafted, and just a ride. I can only imagine how long it took to make this thing.
Quarantine Watch #21: Kid Blue (1973)
I love Westerns and I realized that I just haven’t seen that many of them so I needed to watch one. I had only ever heard of this film because I heard Noah Segan (who played a character in the film LOOPER named Kid Blue) talk about it on I Was There Too. It’s a movie not oft seen, which is surprising considering the cast and how young everyone is. Even though this after EASY RIDER, Dennis Hopper just feels so youthful in this. There are just so many good actors in this: Peter Boyle, Ben Johnson, Warren Oates, M. Emmett Walsh, etc. The pacing isn’t great, but man is Dennis Hopper charming in this. There are also interesting ideas at play that are still relevant today: Can a criminal go straight and will society accept him? Not being racist and coming together as people. It’s also the only Western I’ve seen that shows factory work in an Old West environment.
Quarantine Watch #20: White Girl (2016)
I remember seeing this trailer the same time I saw the trailer for the Safdie Brothers’ movie HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT and I knew I wanted to see both of these. One just always seemed to remind me of the other. Mainly cause they both involve a white girls of around the same age dealing with drugs in New York City with unique color palettes. It is that color in the scenes really sticks out. They feel fluorescent and exaggerated, but are realistic at the same time. The whole film just feels authentic and natural — even though I’m not sure about the amount cocaine a college girl realistically does. I liked Morgan Saylor a lot on HOMELAND and I barely recognize her in this. The supporting cast are also a real interesting pool of actors. I’ve always liked Justin Bartha. It’s also nice to see a pre-Hamilton Anthony Ramos, I just wish there was more for him to do. I also wish the director had made more movies, but I’ll be intrigued on what she makes next.
Quarantine Watch #19: The Blob (1958)
As a kid, my Mom always said to me the movie that scared her the most when she was a kid was THE BLOB. She knew it was a stupid fear, but she was terrified nonetheless. Later I had a teacher in the 6th grade who would show us clips from old horror movies throughout history like NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD and the works of Vincent Price. One of the films included in this VHS compilation he had was THE BLOB. I also caught a little of the 1980s version on cable back in high school. I had only ever seen clips of this one and was surprised to see that it was in color. It’s campy like most of the '50s B-movies and there is a lot of padding. I’d like less filler with the people and more of Blob doing its thing. They did a great job on the effects for the era, but I can’t get over the fact that Steve McQueen is playing a teenager when he is basically 30.
Quarantine Watch #18: Under the Skin (2013)
I didn’t love this (not as much as all the people who go gaga over it), but I was enthralled by it. The work they did on that black void with the water floor is amazing. I read up on how they did and I wish I was there to see it filmed. The craftsmanship is just great across the board. Scarlett Johannsen also adds a lot of humanity to this not human character through doing very little. It takes a while to get through it, but I’m glad I finally got around to watching it.
Quarantine Watch #17: From Here to Eternity (1953)
The only thing I knew about this movie is the thing that everyone knows about it: the beach scene with Montgomery Clift and Donna Reed kissing in the water. The movie is so much more than that. There were some moments that dragged a little but Montgomery Clift and Frank Sinatra are really good in this. I haven’t seen a Montgomery Clift film before this, but I know his story thanks to the You Must Remember T’ podcast. I am very interested in seeing more of his films. I also love his character in this. It’s like a precursor to Ned Stark in GAME OF THRONES and Virgil Hilts in THE GREAT ESCAPE.
Quarantine Watch #16: My Blueberry Nights (2007)
In high school I remember my film teacher having this on DVD on his desk. It was one of the few movies I saw him have and he was kind of a movie snob, but in a good way. I had never heard of it or knew anyone that knew of it except for one girl I knew in college who also had the DVD. I never saw it on any streaming services (except on Netflix back in the early 2010s, but I just didn’t watch it then). I finally tracked it down since I was in the mood for a romance. Jude Law is usually a hit or miss for me, but I really liked his character/performance in this. It looked beautiful and I know that is really due to IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE’s Wong Kar-wai as a director. I like some segments more than others, but I really did like Norah Jones in this. She really should act more.
Quarantine Watch #15: Wendy and Lucy (2008)
This is the best thing I’ve watched so far this quarantine. I just started getting into watching Kelly Reichardt films (I watched MEEK’S CUTOFF earlier this month) and frankly I need to see more. This film has been on so many “best” and “favorite” lists, but I can’t remember why it took me this long to see it (a real theme of my quarantine watching). Michelle Williams is outstanding in this and it’s basically like watching a one woman show. It’s also about a dog — so you get it me. It’s super sad; I was tense the whole time and crying by the end, but not for the reasons you may think. It’s also really short. There is no reason that anyone should have for not seeing this one.
Quarantine Watch #14: [•REC] (2007)
I’ve going through a list of horror movies I haven’t had a chance to see yet and that’s why me and my roommate sat down and watched this. Again — really simple premise and film overall. The amount of things that actually happen in this, is minimal and feels like a video game most of the time, but it was a really effective found footage movie. It made me jumpy at times and I really liked the lead actress — Manuela Velasco. I guess she is a host/personality in real life which ads so authenticity to the reporter role she plays.
Quarantine Watch #13: Kim Possible (2019)
Ever since Disney+ came out I’ve been rewatching the fantastic animated series KIM POSSIBLE. Last year they made this Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) based on the series. I had a friend tell me they had one of the worst experiences watching it. I’ve gotta say I didn’t hate it. There are things I thought didn’t work: I didn’t care for Sean Giambrone’s performance of Ron including his lisp (which I don’t know if is real or something he added for the character), the introduction of the Athena character, and some of the props — however it was a lot of fun. I was afraid they wouldn’t be able to be able to nail the type of fight moves the cartoon had, but they did a good job. I loved that Patton Oswalt reprised his role of Professor Dementor and the actress who played Shego actually channelled Nicole Sullivan’s personality. The casting of the supporting players is also on point including Alyson Hannigan and Connie Ray as Kim’s Mom and Nana respectively. The girl who played Bonnie was also just like the cartoon which I appreciated. If they make a sequel, I’d watch it. This was fun.
