Matthew’s Letterboxd Watchlist
It was finally the week of Godalming Film Festival, so I spent a lot of the week wrapped up in the cinema experience – setting up venues, taking tickets, answering questions etc. I actually saw 3 more films than listed below, but since I’ve already seen them this year I’m not logging them (Amelie, Blood Simple, and Breakfast at Tiffanys).
The Red Balloon
This is a favourite short film of the festival committee, which I think we’ll show every year. It’s a very delightful little story, reminiscent of something like the Snowman, but still perfect for its run-time.
The Sting
I was recommended to watch this as Robert Redford retired from acting. For whatever reason it just didn’t hold my attention and took several attempts to get through. I think the problem is the film wants us to root for the criminals without giving us any redeeming qualities of them, and the heist itself is not particularly interesting.
Rear Window
One of the last ‘major’ Hitchcock movies I hadn’t seen, and easily the best of his films and very well told.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
I saw this once and enjoyed it, but wasn’t so well versed in the characters at that point. Now I’ve still enjoyed it, but it’s less of the political thriller people lauded it for – there’s a lot of superhero stuff in here that actually detracts somewhat. Still seeing Jenny Agutter (And stunt double) doing some action stuff was incredibly worthwhile.
The Big Lebowski
This is the third time I’ve seen TBL and I still do not really like it. The story is a bit all over the place, the best characters do not get enough screen time, and everything with John Goodman irritates me. Particularly I can’t see why they’d spend time with him or listen to anything he says. But all the pieces are there for a decent film, it just doesn’t come to anything (for me).
Babe
Seeing this in a screening with 100 others, mostly children, was a lot of fun. The first half is fairly hit and miss, rushing through lots of ‘adventures’ Babe has before settling into the story of Babe the Sheep-Pig, but once we get to that plot it’s a much more solid film.
Thelma & Louise
I think I always give this film more credit than it possibly deserves, because it is beautifully shot, and the performances from the two leads are so strong.
Oblivion
Another recommendation from recent conversations. The reveal was more interesting than some other sci-fi I’ve seen, but there’s a distinct lack of ‘why’ during the film, especially around the revealed antagonist.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Finally getting time to see films in the cinema, and I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel. Ludwig Kietzmann described the original Ant-Man as sorbet for the MCU, and this sequel was exactly that again. Fun, refreshing, but utterly inconsequential.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
It’s really hard not liking TLJ. I don’t like it for different reasons than a lot of why the outraged fans on social media don’t like it, but I feel like if I complain too much I end up in their camp. I wish we kept the film as a tense, claustrophobic chase without the distraction of Canto Bight. I wish Ren made a decision other than ‘join me and we’ll rule’ that we’ve seen done in two other trilogies. I wish Finn was allowed to make a sacrifice (although I get they’re setting up the ‘saving what we love’ concept). But there is a lot to love – the lightsaber fight in the middle is sublime, and in all the second half is pretty solid. But like with Rogue One by the time we get there it’s already done a lot to turn me off.
Recommendation
I think Rear Window is the best film I saw this week that I’m logging. I really loved the quiet tension; how every scene was in his room; and the unfolding story without need for major peaks.
The best film that I’m not logging is still Amelie. I recommended it earlier in the year and I’ll do so again – it really is a wonderful film.