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837 Views Share:Movies the giraffe watched in 2016: August
Movie list created by the giraffe 
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The breakdown: 30 movies watched, 18 via Netflix, 1 on DVD, and 11 in the theatre. Of those 27 were first views, 3 were re-watches, and they came from the following decades: 1950s, 60s, 70s, 00s & 2010s.
Didn't realize until I sat down to write my month-end wrap-up that I didn't watch any films from the 80s or 90s. That's not usual for me. But then again the majority of what I watched was from the current decade, thanks as much to my determination to clear out my Netflix queue as the fact there were some new releases I was itching to see.
And how about that...I made 11 stops at the theatre for 11 films. While I did see Don't Think Twice and The Wailing on the same day, they played in separate Drafthouses. And the films I saw on the big screen were definitely my favorites this month, so much so that deciding which was my favorite among them took some serious thought & deliberation. Looking ahead I can tell that next month won't see me at the theatre nearly as often, as most of what I want to see is repertory screenings.
Going into next month I have around 20 movies & documentaries to get watched before I'm down to TV shows & a handful of options for October. I can't guarantee I'll get them all watched before October, but I'm going to do my best. I definitely made progress this month, however, and found some pleasant surprises as well as a handful of disappointments along the way. I won't be too surprised if that's the case for the remaining films as well.
Best new-to-me film for August: The Wailing
Best hidden gem: Danger Diabolik (I'm not counting new releases or there would be a hell of a tie)
Worst film: A Pigeon Shat on a Branch and Blah Blah Blah
Didn't realize until I sat down to write my month-end wrap-up that I didn't watch any films from the 80s or 90s. That's not usual for me. But then again the majority of what I watched was from the current decade, thanks as much to my determination to clear out my Netflix queue as the fact there were some new releases I was itching to see.
And how about that...I made 11 stops at the theatre for 11 films. While I did see Don't Think Twice and The Wailing on the same day, they played in separate Drafthouses. And the films I saw on the big screen were definitely my favorites this month, so much so that deciding which was my favorite among them took some serious thought & deliberation. Looking ahead I can tell that next month won't see me at the theatre nearly as often, as most of what I want to see is repertory screenings.
Going into next month I have around 20 movies & documentaries to get watched before I'm down to TV shows & a handful of options for October. I can't guarantee I'll get them all watched before October, but I'm going to do my best. I definitely made progress this month, however, and found some pleasant surprises as well as a handful of disappointments along the way. I won't be too surprised if that's the case for the remaining films as well.
Best new-to-me film for August: The Wailing
Best hidden gem: Danger Diabolik (I'm not counting new releases or there would be a hell of a tie)
Worst film: A Pigeon Shat on a Branch and Blah Blah Blah
47
5.6
6
First viewing - Aug. 1st
Decided to kick off the month with this release from Drafthouse Films that I've been kinda wanting to see. I thought it did an excellent job of capturing a potentially real situation during the Civil War and how these characters might have handled it. It's especially cool to see such strong female performances at the center of the film. There are some very intense moments that play out and overall it's pretty entertaining. I wouldn't go so far as to call it great though, and it's doubtful I'd watch it again but I thought it was worth checking out.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Decided to kick off the month with this release from Drafthouse Films that I've been kinda wanting to see. I thought it did an excellent job of capturing a potentially real situation during the Civil War and how these characters might have handled it. It's especially cool to see such strong female performances at the center of the film. There are some very intense moments that play out and overall it's pretty entertaining. I wouldn't go so far as to call it great though, and it's doubtful I'd watch it again but I thought it was worth checking out.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
200
6.3
6.3
The Fury (1978)
First viewing - Aug. 4th
Thanks the documentary that was recently released about De Palma & all the press I've encountered related to it, I've been wanting to check out other films of his. The Fury is the only one on Netflix currently that I haven't seen, so I figured I'd give it a look.
Overall the film is solidly entertaining with a decent cast. It's got some very funny moments mixed in among the drama, and the effects have mostly held up well (not too surprising given they're handled by Rick Baker). And the ending is pretty amazing. Only trouble is there's almost too many characters to deal with, and all the hopping around between them yields uneven results. As a result it's never great, but it's definitely worth seeing.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Thanks the documentary that was recently released about De Palma & all the press I've encountered related to it, I've been wanting to check out other films of his. The Fury is the only one on Netflix currently that I haven't seen, so I figured I'd give it a look.
Overall the film is solidly entertaining with a decent cast. It's got some very funny moments mixed in among the drama, and the effects have mostly held up well (not too surprising given they're handled by Rick Baker). And the ending is pretty amazing. Only trouble is there's almost too many characters to deal with, and all the hopping around between them yields uneven results. As a result it's never great, but it's definitely worth seeing.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
1701
7.2
7.3
Across the Universe (2007)
First viewing - Aug. 7th
Hey, it's one of the rare musicals I actually enjoyed...no doubt largely due to the fact that the music is all Beatles songs, but to be fair there was always the chance they'd make poor decisions for how to present the songs. Fortunately that never happened. Between the visuals and the various cast members the songs are given their due and I thought it mostly worked, the sole exception being Eddie Izzard's vocals which I thought were off. It's a minor complaint though compared to the overall performance of his song which is easily my favorite scene. So yeah, overall I highly enjoyed this & will even watch it again some time. The only thing that kept it from crossing the line into greatness is that the romantic story is nothing original & thus fairly predictable.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Hey, it's one of the rare musicals I actually enjoyed...no doubt largely due to the fact that the music is all Beatles songs, but to be fair there was always the chance they'd make poor decisions for how to present the songs. Fortunately that never happened. Between the visuals and the various cast members the songs are given their due and I thought it mostly worked, the sole exception being Eddie Izzard's vocals which I thought were off. It's a minor complaint though compared to the overall performance of his song which is easily my favorite scene. So yeah, overall I highly enjoyed this & will even watch it again some time. The only thing that kept it from crossing the line into greatness is that the romantic story is nothing original & thus fairly predictable.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
1200
7.1
7
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
First viewing - Aug. 10th
I've been wanting to see this since it was released to theatres, but back then I didn't get to the theatre as often as I can now & I think the mixed reviews convinced me to wait. The film has an outstanding cast who all turn in solid performances. The story is intriguing enough that it kept me interested in what was going on & it's fairly entertaining. I figured the mystery out early on, though at one point the film had me reconsidering what I'd guessed so it gets points for that. Overall though while it is worth seeing it's not amazing enough that I'd go out of my way to watch it again.
Currently streaming on Netflix
I've been wanting to see this since it was released to theatres, but back then I didn't get to the theatre as often as I can now & I think the mixed reviews convinced me to wait. The film has an outstanding cast who all turn in solid performances. The story is intriguing enough that it kept me interested in what was going on & it's fairly entertaining. I figured the mystery out early on, though at one point the film had me reconsidering what I'd guessed so it gets points for that. Overall though while it is worth seeing it's not amazing enough that I'd go out of my way to watch it again.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
412
7.4
7.6
Philomena (2013)
First viewing - Aug. 11th
This was among the recommendations for last year's Netflix project, so I want to give a shout out to VierasTalo for recommending it. I enjoyed this more than I expected to, mainly because of the interactions between the two leads. The story is fairly simple yet I enjoyed the ways it played out plus that it's based on true events. I didn't think it was great, but I'd be willing to watch it again at some point.
Currently streaming on Netflix
This was among the recommendations for last year's Netflix project, so I want to give a shout out to VierasTalo for recommending it. I enjoyed this more than I expected to, mainly because of the interactions between the two leads. The story is fairly simple yet I enjoyed the ways it played out plus that it's based on true events. I didn't think it was great, but I'd be willing to watch it again at some point.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
147
6.7
7.1
Ip Man 3 (2015)
First viewing - Aug. 12th
The Ip Man series takes a small step down here. As usual the fight scenes are all epic & the cast is mostly excellent, but this time around there's at least one plotline too many. Having multiple plot threads in a film isn't a bad thing in itself, but here there's not enough time devoted to each so that they're connected together in a satisfying way. This especially diminishes the emotional impact of one of the major tales the film deals with (the one I decided to think of as "Ip Man: Our Cancer Year"). The film is still entertaining overall, it just could have been better. This was intended to be the end of the series, but I don't think anyone would be disappointed if they made one more that's better handled.
Currently streaming on Netflix
The Ip Man series takes a small step down here. As usual the fight scenes are all epic & the cast is mostly excellent, but this time around there's at least one plotline too many. Having multiple plot threads in a film isn't a bad thing in itself, but here there's not enough time devoted to each so that they're connected together in a satisfying way. This especially diminishes the emotional impact of one of the major tales the film deals with (the one I decided to think of as "Ip Man: Our Cancer Year"). The film is still entertaining overall, it just could have been better. This was intended to be the end of the series, but I don't think anyone would be disappointed if they made one more that's better handled.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
2255
6.2
6.7
Blade II (2002)
Re-watch - Aug. 13th
So the good news is that while watching this I did recall parts of it from when I saw it before. The bad news is that that means I'm likely to forget a lot of this again in the future though. Heh. Blade II is consistently entertaining and gets points for some of the creative character designs. Ah, but it wouldn't be a del Toro film without creative characters now would it? Too bad the CGI effects look obviously fake for most of the film & thus occasionally break the spell. Anyway, my rating of this has definitely improved from the 4/10 I'd originally given it, but I don't agree that this is the best of the Blade series.
Interesting how things are connected: Totally not intentional, but I was amused to find that Donnie Yen was in this which makes two of his films I've watched this weekend.
Currently streaming on Netflix
So the good news is that while watching this I did recall parts of it from when I saw it before. The bad news is that that means I'm likely to forget a lot of this again in the future though. Heh. Blade II is consistently entertaining and gets points for some of the creative character designs. Ah, but it wouldn't be a del Toro film without creative characters now would it? Too bad the CGI effects look obviously fake for most of the film & thus occasionally break the spell. Anyway, my rating of this has definitely improved from the 4/10 I'd originally given it, but I don't agree that this is the best of the Blade series.
Interesting how things are connected: Totally not intentional, but I was amused to find that Donnie Yen was in this which makes two of his films I've watched this weekend.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
15
8.1
7
First viewing - Aug. 14th
Possibly I've told this tale before, but whatever...back in the 90s I remember seeing Bill Plympton's "Plymptoons" on MTV when they ran some of his shorts, and I really dug his style. He's got a twisted sense of humor at times & his art is really enthralling. However I don't recall ever seeing his work anywhere else in the years that followed, up until the past year or so when his films have gradually found their way onto Netflix.
I thought this was even better than Idiots & Angels, first off. That one eventually lost my attention but this one held it throughout. There's almost no dialogue, which means the visuals tell most of the story, propelled by music that's mostly in the background. By turns the film is funny, thoughtful, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking. It's especially cool to see animation clearly aimed at adults too. I don't know that it quite crossed the line into greatness, but I'd gladly watch this again.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Possibly I've told this tale before, but whatever...back in the 90s I remember seeing Bill Plympton's "Plymptoons" on MTV when they ran some of his shorts, and I really dug his style. He's got a twisted sense of humor at times & his art is really enthralling. However I don't recall ever seeing his work anywhere else in the years that followed, up until the past year or so when his films have gradually found their way onto Netflix.
I thought this was even better than Idiots & Angels, first off. That one eventually lost my attention but this one held it throughout. There's almost no dialogue, which means the visuals tell most of the story, propelled by music that's mostly in the background. By turns the film is funny, thoughtful, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking. It's especially cool to see animation clearly aimed at adults too. I don't know that it quite crossed the line into greatness, but I'd gladly watch this again.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
867
6.9
6.8
First viewing - Aug. 24th
I'd meant to watch one of the films waiting for me at the bottom of this list instead, but other responsibilities delayed me from getting an early enough start to justify a 2-hour movie. So instead I went with Primer because it was under an hour & a half, thus guaranteeing I'd be in bed at a decent time.
I've heard some great things about this movie, but I can't say I agree with them. While the film does deliver a fresh take on a time travel film, the structure makes it really difficult to hang with at times. The film kicks off with information overload and no clear idea of where we're going with it all, and expects us to hang in until things make more sense. So you wait for more clarity, and when you finally get some they maintain enough mystery about how things are happening that you're still kinda lost. It doesn't help either that the central duo aren't given enough character development to relate to them very much. So ultimately I decided that I liked some of the ideas presented, but the whole thing could have been far better.
Currently streaming on Netflix
I'd meant to watch one of the films waiting for me at the bottom of this list instead, but other responsibilities delayed me from getting an early enough start to justify a 2-hour movie. So instead I went with Primer because it was under an hour & a half, thus guaranteeing I'd be in bed at a decent time.
I've heard some great things about this movie, but I can't say I agree with them. While the film does deliver a fresh take on a time travel film, the structure makes it really difficult to hang with at times. The film kicks off with information overload and no clear idea of where we're going with it all, and expects us to hang in until things make more sense. So you wait for more clarity, and when you finally get some they maintain enough mystery about how things are happening that you're still kinda lost. It doesn't help either that the central duo aren't given enough character development to relate to them very much. So ultimately I decided that I liked some of the ideas presented, but the whole thing could have been far better.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
127
6
6.1
Devil's Knot (2014)
First viewing - Aug. 26th
Between the mixed reviews, lower ratings on here & IMDb, and the fact that Netflix was convinced I wouldn't like this, my expectations for this film were really low. I've been interested in the West Memphis Three case for many years & followed it closely. I've read Mara Leveritt's book (which shares a title with this film), watched the first Paradise Lost documentary, and even supported all efforts to free them (which eventually paid off). So I'm very much familiar with the story.
I thought this did an okay job of covering it all. It definitely hits the key points, and the fact it focuses only on the original investigation and trials helps. The story alone is interesting enough to hold one's attention consistently too. Unfortunately there's not enough depth to evoke any strong emotional response, and the fact that it rushes through the initial events doesn't help matters. The acting is a mixed bag, though nobody is as out of place as Colin Firth stumbling to maintain a southern accent. So yeah, I totally could have skipped this in favor of revisiting the original Paradise Lost doc or checking out its sequels. If you're curious about this movie, just watch that first doc instead and you'll get a better appreciation for the events.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Between the mixed reviews, lower ratings on here & IMDb, and the fact that Netflix was convinced I wouldn't like this, my expectations for this film were really low. I've been interested in the West Memphis Three case for many years & followed it closely. I've read Mara Leveritt's book (which shares a title with this film), watched the first Paradise Lost documentary, and even supported all efforts to free them (which eventually paid off). So I'm very much familiar with the story.
I thought this did an okay job of covering it all. It definitely hits the key points, and the fact it focuses only on the original investigation and trials helps. The story alone is interesting enough to hold one's attention consistently too. Unfortunately there's not enough depth to evoke any strong emotional response, and the fact that it rushes through the initial events doesn't help matters. The acting is a mixed bag, though nobody is as out of place as Colin Firth stumbling to maintain a southern accent. So yeah, I totally could have skipped this in favor of revisiting the original Paradise Lost doc or checking out its sequels. If you're curious about this movie, just watch that first doc instead and you'll get a better appreciation for the events.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
1145
7.4
7.7
Re-watch - Aug. 29th
Under different circumstances I would have watched another film from my queue, but the loss of Gene Wilder could not go unrecognized. I almost reached for Young Frankenstein instead since that's my favorite film he ever made, but it hasn't been long since I last watched it whereas it's been longer since I last watched Blazing Saddles.
This is still one of the funniest films ever made & justifies its high placement on the AFI's comedy list. The ways it pokes fun at westerns and skewers racism while also breaking film rules at the time, plus the stellar cast...I mean, I can't think of anything that doesn't work here. It's all golden. And I love that the ending takes part of its cue from Looney Tunes. And of course Gene Wilder is one of the elements that elevates the entire film. While other actors were originally considered to play the Waco Kid I think it's safe to say anyone who's watched the film can't imagine anyone else in the role. He owns it, and delivers as many laughs with his dialogue and antics as he does in the moments he sits there silently. That takes talent.
So farewell & R.I.P., Gene. Thank you for all the cinematic joy you left behind for us. You won't be forgotten.
Under different circumstances I would have watched another film from my queue, but the loss of Gene Wilder could not go unrecognized. I almost reached for Young Frankenstein instead since that's my favorite film he ever made, but it hasn't been long since I last watched it whereas it's been longer since I last watched Blazing Saddles.
This is still one of the funniest films ever made & justifies its high placement on the AFI's comedy list. The ways it pokes fun at westerns and skewers racism while also breaking film rules at the time, plus the stellar cast...I mean, I can't think of anything that doesn't work here. It's all golden. And I love that the ending takes part of its cue from Looney Tunes. And of course Gene Wilder is one of the elements that elevates the entire film. While other actors were originally considered to play the Waco Kid I think it's safe to say anyone who's watched the film can't imagine anyone else in the role. He owns it, and delivers as many laughs with his dialogue and antics as he does in the moments he sits there silently. That takes talent.
So farewell & R.I.P., Gene. Thank you for all the cinematic joy you left behind for us. You won't be forgotten.
the giraffe's rating:
243
7.3
7.3
Force Majeure (2014)
First viewing - Aug. 31st
I chose to end the month with Force Majeure, and as such ended on a bum note both story-wise and with regard to my feelings about the film. I won't argue that the cast does an excellent job throughout the entire thing, nor would I argue with anyone praising the visual presentation or even the fact it tackles an interesting & mature subject. Hell, I was even enjoying it for the first third to halfway point. But as it went on I got annoyed with it and started wishing I'd been given more reasons to relate to the family or been more impressed with any of the characters. Because if you're going to drive your cast to tears you need to bring the audience in with you, and for me it failed to do so. When it ended, I silently cursed Netflix for not having an "I watched it but am left indifferent" option...because overall I didn't like it or dislike it, despite the presence of aspects that could push me toward either of those options. Ah, but that's just my little opinion...doesn't mean you won't like it more.
Currently streaming on Netflix
I chose to end the month with Force Majeure, and as such ended on a bum note both story-wise and with regard to my feelings about the film. I won't argue that the cast does an excellent job throughout the entire thing, nor would I argue with anyone praising the visual presentation or even the fact it tackles an interesting & mature subject. Hell, I was even enjoying it for the first third to halfway point. But as it went on I got annoyed with it and started wishing I'd been given more reasons to relate to the family or been more impressed with any of the characters. Because if you're going to drive your cast to tears you need to bring the audience in with you, and for me it failed to do so. When it ended, I silently cursed Netflix for not having an "I watched it but am left indifferent" option...because overall I didn't like it or dislike it, despite the presence of aspects that could push me toward either of those options. Ah, but that's just my little opinion...doesn't mean you won't like it more.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
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August short focus - Musical documentaries
Making this a short focus so I'm more motivated to get them watched
90
7.6
7.6
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
First viewing - Aug. 7th
Thanks to the girlfriend I had at the time, I got into Nina Simone shortly before she left us. And while I've listened to her music a lot over the years, I haven't made the effort to dig into her personal history and that makes this documentary totally worthwhile. Now I have a better understanding of who she was and how her music came together, aside from the obvious influence of the Civil Rights movement in the '60s. Best of all this doc is composed from interviews with her during her life as well as interviews with friends and family after her death. It's a wonderful, in-depth look into her career, and well worth seeing if you're a fan of her music to any degree (or even if you're just curious about her).
Currently streaming on Netflix
Thanks to the girlfriend I had at the time, I got into Nina Simone shortly before she left us. And while I've listened to her music a lot over the years, I haven't made the effort to dig into her personal history and that makes this documentary totally worthwhile. Now I have a better understanding of who she was and how her music came together, aside from the obvious influence of the Civil Rights movement in the '60s. Best of all this doc is composed from interviews with her during her life as well as interviews with friends and family after her death. It's a wonderful, in-depth look into her career, and well worth seeing if you're a fan of her music to any degree (or even if you're just curious about her).
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
103
7.4
7.8
Lemmy (2010)
First viewing - Aug. 14th
I've always respected Lemmy & Motorhead, yet I never bothered to dig into their music beyond the few songs of theirs I've heard over the years. I don't really have a valid reason for it, and given my love of metal & punk & rock 'n roll you'd think I would have. Hell, I even went to a festival they played & wound up skipping them in favor of other bands. To be fair though, at the time I passed them up they still had about 25 years left to go.
Anyway, given Lemmy's passing this year I wanted to watch this & I thought it did a good job of giving insight into who he was. The film is full of musicians I respect talking about their experiences with him & his music, plus scenes where the filmmakers are just hanging out with Lemmy wherever he goes & a handful of live performances. And while I now regret not seeing Motorhead back when I had the chance, I found the whole thing quite fascinating & am now finally motivated to dig deeper into the music he left behind.
Currently streaming on Netflix
I've always respected Lemmy & Motorhead, yet I never bothered to dig into their music beyond the few songs of theirs I've heard over the years. I don't really have a valid reason for it, and given my love of metal & punk & rock 'n roll you'd think I would have. Hell, I even went to a festival they played & wound up skipping them in favor of other bands. To be fair though, at the time I passed them up they still had about 25 years left to go.
Anyway, given Lemmy's passing this year I wanted to watch this & I thought it did a good job of giving insight into who he was. The film is full of musicians I respect talking about their experiences with him & his music, plus scenes where the filmmakers are just hanging out with Lemmy wherever he goes & a handful of live performances. And while I now regret not seeing Motorhead back when I had the chance, I found the whole thing quite fascinating & am now finally motivated to dig deeper into the music he left behind.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
113
7.5
8
Marley (2012)
First viewing - Aug.
Wrapping up my musical documentary trilogy for the month with this one about good old Bob. I got into his music back in high school through a friend of mine, and have even made sure the kiddo knows some of his songs. It was really enjoyable watching this trace his life from humble beginning to unfortunate end, pieced together through interviews from those who knew him and a few with the man himself. We tend to overlook the details of his life in favor of the songs he left behind, and yet they're so intertwined that the songs mean even more when you realize what he went through. So if you dig the man's music and haven't seen this, I'd say give it a look.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Wrapping up my musical documentary trilogy for the month with this one about good old Bob. I got into his music back in high school through a friend of mine, and have even made sure the kiddo knows some of his songs. It was really enjoyable watching this trace his life from humble beginning to unfortunate end, pieced together through interviews from those who knew him and a few with the man himself. We tend to overlook the details of his life in favor of the songs he left behind, and yet they're so intertwined that the songs mean even more when you realize what he went through. So if you dig the man's music and haven't seen this, I'd say give it a look.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
Add items to section
Big screen attractions
Films I caught in a theatre
285
5.8
6.3
First viewing - Aug. 5th
Lights Out is effectively creepy when it counts, and they keep it under an hour & a half which prevents the story from dragging on beyond its welcome. The effects work pretty well too, and there are some creative, clever moments that I appreciated. The horror elements aren't handled with the expert skill of James Wan, but they're still the best parts of the entire film and thus make it worth seeing. The film stumbles when it tries to provide a back-story for Diana, which really wasn't needed, and some of the character interactions throughout the film could have been better written. Still, it's worth seeing once and I might even watch it again if someone hasn't seen it yet.
Just a thought: Too bad this wasn't released this month...it'd be perfectly paired with the upcoming Don't Breathe, but will likely be gone from the first-run theatres by then.
Lights Out is effectively creepy when it counts, and they keep it under an hour & a half which prevents the story from dragging on beyond its welcome. The effects work pretty well too, and there are some creative, clever moments that I appreciated. The horror elements aren't handled with the expert skill of James Wan, but they're still the best parts of the entire film and thus make it worth seeing. The film stumbles when it tries to provide a back-story for Diana, which really wasn't needed, and some of the character interactions throughout the film could have been better written. Still, it's worth seeing once and I might even watch it again if someone hasn't seen it yet.
Just a thought: Too bad this wasn't released this month...it'd be perfectly paired with the upcoming Don't Breathe, but will likely be gone from the first-run theatres by then.
the giraffe's rating:
58
6.5
6.7
Don't Think Twice (2016)
First viewing - Aug. 6th
Smart, funny, & heartfelt. I dig the hell out of this ensemble & look forward to hanging out with them again down the road. Birbiglia has improved as a filmmaker since his debut Sleepwalk With Me, and I feel it's safe to say he'll be a director to keep your eye on in years to come.
Smart, funny, & heartfelt. I dig the hell out of this ensemble & look forward to hanging out with them again down the road. Birbiglia has improved as a filmmaker since his debut Sleepwalk With Me, and I feel it's safe to say he'll be a director to keep your eye on in years to come.
the giraffe's rating:
229
7.3
7.4
The Wailing (2016)
First viewing - Aug. 6th
Third theatre stop this weekend, and still haven't seen Suicide Squad. Unsure at this point whether I'll see it in theatres or wait until I can watch it via some streaming service, but I'd much rather watch a Korean offering than another superhero/villain movie. After all, it's far less often I get the opportunity to see Asian films on the big screen.
And guess what? This was totally worth the trip. I've seen the director's previous film, The Chaser, which was good but I'd have to say this was even better. It's unpredictable, complex, and there are scenes that just might give you nightmares. If the film has a weakness it's that I was aware during the last third or fourth of the film that it was feeling long. And it IS a long movie, which fortunately I realized going into it...but long movies are at their best when you're not conscious of how long they are. Ah, but it wasn't a nagging kind of thing, more of the "is this the ending? No? Oh, ok, it's still going" sort. And given where the film winds up I'm glad it didn't end when I thought it was.
All of which is to say this is well worth your time, especially if you get the chance to see it on the big screen. It's found a spot among my favorites for this year for sure.
Third theatre stop this weekend, and still haven't seen Suicide Squad. Unsure at this point whether I'll see it in theatres or wait until I can watch it via some streaming service, but I'd much rather watch a Korean offering than another superhero/villain movie. After all, it's far less often I get the opportunity to see Asian films on the big screen.
And guess what? This was totally worth the trip. I've seen the director's previous film, The Chaser, which was good but I'd have to say this was even better. It's unpredictable, complex, and there are scenes that just might give you nightmares. If the film has a weakness it's that I was aware during the last third or fourth of the film that it was feeling long. And it IS a long movie, which fortunately I realized going into it...but long movies are at their best when you're not conscious of how long they are. Ah, but it wasn't a nagging kind of thing, more of the "is this the ending? No? Oh, ok, it's still going" sort. And given where the film winds up I'm glad it didn't end when I thought it was.
All of which is to say this is well worth your time, especially if you get the chance to see it on the big screen. It's found a spot among my favorites for this year for sure.
the giraffe's rating:
308
7.3
7.7
The Little Prince (2015)
First viewing - Aug. 13th
Well, for once my procrastination paid off...I'd planned to watch this shortly after it was added to Netflix but decided to wait a little longer. Then Drafthouse announced free screenings for the weekend after it was added, and since I'd wanted to see it in a theatre anyway I grabbed my food voucher to secure my seat.
The animation in The Little Prince is stellar, a wonderful mix of 3D and stop-motion that works brilliantly. Add to that a winning story about keeping your inner child alive populated by endearing characters, and you've got a great film. It didn't quite hit perfection for me for some reason, yet I can't think of anything I didn't enjoy about the film. Looking forward to watching it again over the years.
Currently streaming on Netflix
Well, for once my procrastination paid off...I'd planned to watch this shortly after it was added to Netflix but decided to wait a little longer. Then Drafthouse announced free screenings for the weekend after it was added, and since I'd wanted to see it in a theatre anyway I grabbed my food voucher to secure my seat.
The animation in The Little Prince is stellar, a wonderful mix of 3D and stop-motion that works brilliantly. Add to that a winning story about keeping your inner child alive populated by endearing characters, and you've got a great film. It didn't quite hit perfection for me for some reason, yet I can't think of anything I didn't enjoy about the film. Looking forward to watching it again over the years.
Currently streaming on Netflix
the giraffe's rating:
155
7.1
6.5
Danger: Diabolik (1968)
First viewing - Aug. 17th
I've heard about this film for a few years now, so when I found out Drafthouse was screening it as part of their Super Krime! series I kept an eye out for the tickets to go on sale & bought mine the day they popped up. Man, this is a fun film. The art of it is wonderful, the soundtrack is full of perfection, and it's solidly entertaining. As is typical of low budget Italian films there are some unintentionally funny moments throughout and occasionally weak acting which keeps this film from being a masterpiece. But if you set that aside it's a great time from beginning to end, which makes those flaws forgivable. I'm so glad I finally watched this and hope I get more chances to revisit it in the years to come.
Just a thought: I'm going to have "Deep Deep Down" in my head for the next few days. Also, that Marisa Mell was gorgeousness & gorgeousity made flesh.
I've heard about this film for a few years now, so when I found out Drafthouse was screening it as part of their Super Krime! series I kept an eye out for the tickets to go on sale & bought mine the day they popped up. Man, this is a fun film. The art of it is wonderful, the soundtrack is full of perfection, and it's solidly entertaining. As is typical of low budget Italian films there are some unintentionally funny moments throughout and occasionally weak acting which keeps this film from being a masterpiece. But if you set that aside it's a great time from beginning to end, which makes those flaws forgivable. I'm so glad I finally watched this and hope I get more chances to revisit it in the years to come.
Just a thought: I'm going to have "Deep Deep Down" in my head for the next few days. Also, that Marisa Mell was gorgeousness & gorgeousity made flesh.
the giraffe's rating:
630
7.6
7.7
First viewing - Aug. 21st
I had family stuff going on all weekend, so I didn't get many movies watched. However since this had just come out & is my most anticipated film of the year I insisted on going & took the kiddo & my mom along. All three of us enjoyed it.
Laika has made another stellar piece of art with Kubo, full of scenes that inspire wonder and awe especially when considering they're made with stop-motion work. The story may not be original but it's certainly a fresh take on the tale, full of heart & humor. It didn't quite earn a perfect 10 in my book, but it came damn close & I'll gladly add this to my collection to revisit in the years ahead.
I had family stuff going on all weekend, so I didn't get many movies watched. However since this had just come out & is my most anticipated film of the year I insisted on going & took the kiddo & my mom along. All three of us enjoyed it.
Laika has made another stellar piece of art with Kubo, full of scenes that inspire wonder and awe especially when considering they're made with stop-motion work. The story may not be original but it's certainly a fresh take on the tale, full of heart & humor. It didn't quite earn a perfect 10 in my book, but it came damn close & I'll gladly add this to my collection to revisit in the years ahead.
the giraffe's rating:
108
6.9
6.5
First viewing - Aug. 23rd
Seems like I may have seen parts of this on TV at some point, but I definitely never saw the whole thing before. And so, what better way to see it than at a Rifftrax screening? I must have missed the fine print, because I thought the Rifftrax dudes would be present...unfortunately it was a satellite broadcast thing instead. But hey, I still got to see them tear Mothra apart and it was so much fun. As is often the case with these things their jokes hit the mark more often than not, and I even thought of some of my own they could have used. I'd definitely go to another one (next month they're doing Carnival of Souls for Halloween evidently, which may be the only way I'd watch that one again), though I may hold out for an opportunity to actually be in the same theatre with them instead next time. We'll see.
If you set aside their jokes I think I'd still need to poke fun at the film to get through it all. Several scenes are poorly edited together, and they put off actually using the titular character until late in the film which is kind of a lame choice. Might be better if the characters were engaging instead of unintentionally laughable to forgettable. But clearly the whole cast is dedicated to making the best of what they're given to work with, which I can respect. Too bad they can only do so much.
Rifftrax rating: 8/10
Seems like I may have seen parts of this on TV at some point, but I definitely never saw the whole thing before. And so, what better way to see it than at a Rifftrax screening? I must have missed the fine print, because I thought the Rifftrax dudes would be present...unfortunately it was a satellite broadcast thing instead. But hey, I still got to see them tear Mothra apart and it was so much fun. As is often the case with these things their jokes hit the mark more often than not, and I even thought of some of my own they could have used. I'd definitely go to another one (next month they're doing Carnival of Souls for Halloween evidently, which may be the only way I'd watch that one again), though I may hold out for an opportunity to actually be in the same theatre with them instead next time. We'll see.
If you set aside their jokes I think I'd still need to poke fun at the film to get through it all. Several scenes are poorly edited together, and they put off actually using the titular character until late in the film which is kind of a lame choice. Might be better if the characters were engaging instead of unintentionally laughable to forgettable. But clearly the whole cast is dedicated to making the best of what they're given to work with, which I can respect. Too bad they can only do so much.
Rifftrax rating: 8/10
the giraffe's rating:
516
6.7
7.1
Don't Breathe (2016)
First viewing - Aug. 25th
The trailers for this definitely caught my attention, and my interest grew after seeing what Fede Alvarez did with Evil Dead. So I figured I'd go ahead & catch it the first night I could, which should also guarantee I'd be in an audience who was most enthusiastic to view it.
Well, I'm glad to say this one is totally worth your time, especially if you're into horror movies. I spent most of the film on the edge of my seat, and the film has plenty of inventive ways to keep things interesting right about the time you assume you've figured out how it'll play out. Jane Levy once again proves what an excellent actress she is & makes me want to watch more of her films in the future. Stephen Lang also impresses as "The Blind Man", but the rest of the cast is just OK. Alvarez certainly knows how to set up each piece and deliver what's needed, and at times the film had me recalling Wait Until Dark, Aliens, and Cujo.
There are some minor gripes I won't go into which ultimately made me feel like it fell just short of being great, but it's definitely among the best horror movies of 2016 & I'll gladly watch it again.
Just a thought: Sometimes Jane Levy looks like Gillian Jacobs.
The trailers for this definitely caught my attention, and my interest grew after seeing what Fede Alvarez did with Evil Dead. So I figured I'd go ahead & catch it the first night I could, which should also guarantee I'd be in an audience who was most enthusiastic to view it.
Well, I'm glad to say this one is totally worth your time, especially if you're into horror movies. I spent most of the film on the edge of my seat, and the film has plenty of inventive ways to keep things interesting right about the time you assume you've figured out how it'll play out. Jane Levy once again proves what an excellent actress she is & makes me want to watch more of her films in the future. Stephen Lang also impresses as "The Blind Man", but the rest of the cast is just OK. Alvarez certainly knows how to set up each piece and deliver what's needed, and at times the film had me recalling Wait Until Dark, Aliens, and Cujo.
There are some minor gripes I won't go into which ultimately made me feel like it fell just short of being great, but it's definitely among the best horror movies of 2016 & I'll gladly watch it again.
Just a thought: Sometimes Jane Levy looks like Gillian Jacobs.
the giraffe's rating:
1609
8.2
8.3
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
First viewing - Aug. 27th
I've seen part of this on TV several years ago, but never managed to finish it at the time which I'd kinda forgotten about. For the past few years living in Austin, the Paramount Theater has screened it regularly as part of their summer films series but I've never been able to attend before. Kinda tough to get about 4 hours all at once to be at the theatre. This year, however, things worked out so I could attend and see it not just on the big screen but in the original 70mm as it was meant to be seen.
This is definitely a great film, no question about it. The characters are interesting, Peter O'Toole delivers a rich performance, the visuals are captivating, and the story is engaging. I especially appreciated the sense of humor that runs throughout the film, though it's not as present in the second half as it is in the first. Probably that makes sense though given how much darker the second half is. Anyway, I really enjoyed the entire film and would certainly watch it again. The only thing missing for me was that magical 10/10 feeling, but given its acclaim it certainly earns that rating from others.
I've seen part of this on TV several years ago, but never managed to finish it at the time which I'd kinda forgotten about. For the past few years living in Austin, the Paramount Theater has screened it regularly as part of their summer films series but I've never been able to attend before. Kinda tough to get about 4 hours all at once to be at the theatre. This year, however, things worked out so I could attend and see it not just on the big screen but in the original 70mm as it was meant to be seen.
This is definitely a great film, no question about it. The characters are interesting, Peter O'Toole delivers a rich performance, the visuals are captivating, and the story is engaging. I especially appreciated the sense of humor that runs throughout the film, though it's not as present in the second half as it is in the first. Probably that makes sense though given how much darker the second half is. Anyway, I really enjoyed the entire film and would certainly watch it again. The only thing missing for me was that magical 10/10 feeling, but given its acclaim it certainly earns that rating from others.
the giraffe's rating:
441
7.3
7.6
First viewing - Aug. 28th
Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Chris Pine, and a score by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis? Of course I was going to watch this. And I've got to say it's quite a pleasant surprise hearing such excellent dialogue so comfortably delivered in a bank heist film slash modern-day western that contains both social commentary and some unexpected yet well-earned story beats. And the sense of humor sprinkled throughout hit the mark every time, which isn't easy to do. Seems like hardly anyone has caught on to this film yet, so I'll encourage my fellow film-lovers to do so as soon as you get a chance.
Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Chris Pine, and a score by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis? Of course I was going to watch this. And I've got to say it's quite a pleasant surprise hearing such excellent dialogue so comfortably delivered in a bank heist film slash modern-day western that contains both social commentary and some unexpected yet well-earned story beats. And the sense of humor sprinkled throughout hit the mark every time, which isn't easy to do. Seems like hardly anyone has caught on to this film yet, so I'll encourage my fellow film-lovers to do so as soon as you get a chance.
the giraffe's rating:
665
6.4
6.7
Ju-on: The Grudge (2003)
Re-watch - Aug. 30th
When I found out Terror Tuesday was screening this I had to go. I never got the chance to see it on the big screen in the past, but I'm here to tell you that it's even more effective that way. The film isn't perfect, but I dig the odd construction of the story and the horror elements really hit the mark every time.
And just to keep track of it, this is the first time Terror Tuesday has screened a film made during this century. That was kinda cool.
When I found out Terror Tuesday was screening this I had to go. I never got the chance to see it on the big screen in the past, but I'm here to tell you that it's even more effective that way. The film isn't perfect, but I dig the odd construction of the story and the horror elements really hit the mark every time.
And just to keep track of it, this is the first time Terror Tuesday has screened a film made during this century. That was kinda cool.
the giraffe's rating:
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Netflix Instant Project for 2016
Netflix Instant Project for 2016
The ongoing Netflix Instant Project involves recommendations from my fellow Listalites of lesser-known/lesser-seen films that are currently streaming on Netflix. If you use Netflix Instant Watch & want to participate, please check out the list above & submit your recommendations.
154
6.9
7
First viewing - Aug. 7th
Well, this was a complete slog to get through. Even though I watched it in the afternoon I still had to fight to not fall asleep during it, and I kept hoping for something that would justify my sitting through it all. The entire film is shot from one point of view, a stationary camera that puts so much negative space between the audience and the film's events that it's impossible to connect with any of it. Obviously this is done on purpose, but it takes a special kind of audience to appreciate being shoved away from everything on screen. Clearly I'm not in that minority. And the characters in the film are so lifeless for the most part that they fail to cross that void, which also seems like a failed experiment to me.
I wish I could say I enjoyed this (sorry VT), and I DID try to find things to appreciate but the only complimentary thing I can say about it is that it's mostly visually interesting and clearly had decent production values. Too bad they were squandered on a film that in the end felt like a complete waste of my time.
Recommended by VierasTalo
Well, this was a complete slog to get through. Even though I watched it in the afternoon I still had to fight to not fall asleep during it, and I kept hoping for something that would justify my sitting through it all. The entire film is shot from one point of view, a stationary camera that puts so much negative space between the audience and the film's events that it's impossible to connect with any of it. Obviously this is done on purpose, but it takes a special kind of audience to appreciate being shoved away from everything on screen. Clearly I'm not in that minority. And the characters in the film are so lifeless for the most part that they fail to cross that void, which also seems like a failed experiment to me.
I wish I could say I enjoyed this (sorry VT), and I DID try to find things to appreciate but the only complimentary thing I can say about it is that it's mostly visually interesting and clearly had decent production values. Too bad they were squandered on a film that in the end felt like a complete waste of my time.
the giraffe's rating:
20
5.5
5.7
First viewing - Aug. 16th
As this ended I was left wondering if the overall experience would be improved if the scene it opens with hadn't been circled back to, and I'm leaning toward that it would. I mean, I guess it sets your expectations for what's to come but I feel like there's enough hints at horror elements throughout that it's not needed, plus it diminishes the impact when it happens the 2nd time. Aside from that this is pretty amusing throughout, the story & characters are engaging enough to keep things moving along, and I thought it was a fun approach to the found footage horror style. Unlike some other found-footage films they state early on that they film everything no matter what, which helps shrug it off when a situation seems too outrageous to have the camera still rolling. My only gripe is that the finale is marred by awful CGI which renders it fake & cheesy. But if you're looking for a lightweight horror movie, this one's worth a watch.
Recommended by moviewatcher122
As this ended I was left wondering if the overall experience would be improved if the scene it opens with hadn't been circled back to, and I'm leaning toward that it would. I mean, I guess it sets your expectations for what's to come but I feel like there's enough hints at horror elements throughout that it's not needed, plus it diminishes the impact when it happens the 2nd time. Aside from that this is pretty amusing throughout, the story & characters are engaging enough to keep things moving along, and I thought it was a fun approach to the found footage horror style. Unlike some other found-footage films they state early on that they film everything no matter what, which helps shrug it off when a situation seems too outrageous to have the camera still rolling. My only gripe is that the finale is marred by awful CGI which renders it fake & cheesy. But if you're looking for a lightweight horror movie, this one's worth a watch.
the giraffe's rating:
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Netflix exorcisms
Films I caught before Netflix removed them from my queue
3110
7.3
8
The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
First viewing - Aug. 23rd
This wasn't anything mind-blowing or life-altering, but I enjoyed it anyway. Sure, it's obvious where it's headed, but in this case the journey to get there makes it all worthwhile. Will Smith owns the role, and having his real-life son play his fictional son ensures they'll have good chemistry & believable interactions. I might even watch it again at some point, though I doubt I'll need to. Consider this a higher 7.
This wasn't anything mind-blowing or life-altering, but I enjoyed it anyway. Sure, it's obvious where it's headed, but in this case the journey to get there makes it all worthwhile. Will Smith owns the role, and having his real-life son play his fictional son ensures they'll have good chemistry & believable interactions. I might even watch it again at some point, though I doubt I'll need to. Consider this a higher 7.
the giraffe's rating:
1125
8.1
8.1
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
First viewing - Aug. 27th
Since I gave over my afternoon to one David Lean epic, I figured after dinner I'd let another one consume my night. This film largely succeeds thanks to the acting skills of Alec Guinness and William Holden as well as the arcs of the characters they portray. Granted the entire cast does a solid to excellent job throughout the film, but those two were the best reasons to hang with this movie. There's some great social commentary too, which fortunately isn't handled in an obvious way or spoonfed to the audience through dialogue. I just wish I could have caught this on the big screen too instead of having to watch it at home, as I'm sure the visuals are more impressive that way. For reasons I can't put my finger on this didn't quite cross the line of greatness for me, but I did enjoy it & would watch it again.
Since I gave over my afternoon to one David Lean epic, I figured after dinner I'd let another one consume my night. This film largely succeeds thanks to the acting skills of Alec Guinness and William Holden as well as the arcs of the characters they portray. Granted the entire cast does a solid to excellent job throughout the film, but those two were the best reasons to hang with this movie. There's some great social commentary too, which fortunately isn't handled in an obvious way or spoonfed to the audience through dialogue. I just wish I could have caught this on the big screen too instead of having to watch it at home, as I'm sure the visuals are more impressive that way. For reasons I can't put my finger on this didn't quite cross the line of greatness for me, but I did enjoy it & would watch it again.
the giraffe's rating:
Looking ahead August looks like a better month for new movies than July, which is a good thing. I've also set a personal goal regarding my Netflix queue. I'm determined to get every movie & documentary currently in my queue watched before October. I may hang on to the couple of horror entries contained within there, but otherwise we'll see if I can knock everything out. It's only 35 movies going into August, so if I divide them in half it seems like an achievable goal. Especially if I'm as productive as I was last month (which is doubtful, but still). I don't want to throw them all into this list right away as it's nice having some flexibility, but anything that's had a positive vote (even if it was cancelled out by negative ones) is definitely going down this month.
So if you haven't voted for anything in my IQ list yet, or haven't checked back on it lately, August may be your last chance.
So if you haven't voted for anything in my IQ list yet, or haven't checked back on it lately, August may be your last chance.
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