2021 First Watches

Thomas
Jan 10, 2022
32 min read

Hi Folks! 2022 marked my most (aka least) productive year to date. I have watched a total of 436 films for the very first time. I think it's cool even though it means I spent at least 18 full days watching movies. I will almost certainly never reach this level of movie watching again unless a) I get paid for it or b) the pandemic continues for another whole year. No way either of those things will happen right? Right?

So in total: 467 Movies. 45 Short Films. 13ish Stand-Up Comedy Films. 409 Feature Films.

Here are the 48 movies I think I liked the most from this year:

I stopped at 48 because that's when narrowing it down became more difficult.

Here is the full list with notes on (almost) every movie. They are sometimes one word, sometimes several words. I also repeat a lot of words. If you have a ton of time on your hands feel free to peruse:

1. Bad Hair (2020)

It’s a neat concept, not always well executed.

2. The Woman who Ran (2020)

I don’t really get Hong Sang Soo. This was better than Right Now, Wrong Then, but it’s still so slow.

3. Minari (2020)

My favourite movie from 2020 holds up very well. It’s a beautiful film.

4. Nomadland (2020)

I didn’t connect with it the way others did.

5. Bad Education (2020)

This was very good.

6. Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

One of my minor annoyances is any title with “Searching for” or “Finding”. This movie is perfectly not bad.

7. Sound of Metal (2020)

Really great. Everyone is so good in it, the style and construction so thoughtful.

8. Cut Throat City (2020)

Solid if unspectacular crime thriller.

9. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Exactly what you think it would be. Not very good.

10. An Easy Girl (2020)

Bittersweet coming of age movie.

11. I’m Your Woman (2020)

Cool crime thriller.

12. Rocks (2020)

Crushing, the performers are so good.

13. Mangrove (2020)

My 2nd favourite of the Small Axe movies. Very good.

14. Selah and the Spades (2020)

Very much didn’t like this. It’s like Brick if none of it worked.

15. Midnight Sky (2020)

Trash. Not a single original idea in this movie. Stop giving Clooney money to make movies.

16. Fyre (2020)

Relatively well made documentary, schadenfreude abounds.

17. Another Round (2020)

Lovely movie about growing older.

18. Wolfwalkers (2020)

Still listen to Aurora’s “Running with the Wolves” from this all the time. Great movie.

19. The Wild Goose Lake (2020)

One of the better of them, but I’m not super into these very pretty but incredibly slow-moving Chinese crime dramas.

20. The Painted Bird (2020)

Miserable experience. Some admirable elements, but unpleasant.

21. Vitalina Varela (2020)

Fascinating and gorgeous. Vitalina is what makes this work. After watching Horse Money later in the year, it’s a stark difference in quality. That one has far less Vitalina and is way worse.

22. Guns Akimbo (2020)

Fun but flawed.

23. The Mortuary Collection (2020)

Great little horror anthology with fun connective segments.

24. Shithouse (2020)

Really lovely movie.

25. What the Constitution Means to Me (2020)

Really lovely one-woman show.

26. One Night in Miami (2020)

Great theatre adaptation that doesn’t feel too stagey. Four great performances as four titans of Black culture in the 1970s.

27. Promising Young Woman (2020)

There’s so much I don’t like about this movie. The insistence on punishing women is foremost. The film’s fear to dip its toes into exploitation territory which would’ve made it more interesting. The erasure of the victim. Just didn’t like this.

28. Let Them All Talk (2020)

The actors are wonderful and do their best to inject life into Soderbergh’s lifeless direction.

29. The Surrogate (2020)

Difficult, sad, frustrating. But in a good way.

30. News of the World (2020)

So much talent behind such a dandelion puff of a movie.

31. Gods of Egypt (2016)

Enjoyed this way more than I should have.

32. Your Face (Short, 1987)

Not going to say a lot about these animated shorts, suffice to say Bill Plympton is weird and his animation is very hit and miss. This was me getting use out of my Criterion Channel Subscription.

33. The Dissident (2020)

Humanity is the worst sometimes.

34. Bride of Re-animator (1990)

Good sequel to a good B-horror movie.

35. How To Make Love to a Woman (Short, 1995)

36. Santa: The Fascist Years (Short, 2008)

37. The cow who wanted to be a hamburger (Short, 2010) by

38. Guard Dog (Short, 2004)

39. Guide Dog (Short, 2006)

40. Horn Dog (Short, 2008)

41. Hot Dog (Short, 2008)

42. The Black Cat (1934)

Cool horror movie. Would not have imagined open occult themes this early in cinema, but pre-Hayes Hollywood is neat.

43. The Big Country (1958)

Excellent.

44. Mile 22 (2018)

Standard issue.

45. You Cannot Kill David Arquette (2020)

I hate that so many wrestling-world fictions always try to pretend to some degree somewhere that it’s real. That comes up towards the end. Otherwise, a good documentary, though often uncomfortable. I hope David’s okay.

46. Piranha (1978)

Solid trashy monster movie.

47. Mortal Engines (2018)

Wacky!

48. My Fellow Americans (1996)

The stars make this hard not to like.

49. Money Movers (1978)

Too slow to really grip you, but interesting.

50. Never Surrender: A Galaxy Quest Documentary (2019)

Galaxy Quest is great, hearing from the cast is cool. But this is sappy and oversells the love for the film.

51. The Last Witch Hunter (2015)

Reasonably entertaining junk.

52. The Paperboy (2012)

Plain old junk. Gross and not in a good way.

53. Hansel & Gretel: Witchhunters (2013)

Again, reasonably entertaining junk!

54. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)

Again, plain old junk.

55. Old Joy (2006)

So calm, and the conflict is so low key, but still very engaging. Old friends grown apart.

56. The Raven (2012)

Kind of enjoyed it. Poe’s pet raccoon, Cusack entering the Nick Cage phase of his career, at least one infinitely creepy scene. It’s not that bad.

57. Dragon Wars: D War (2007)

There is a flood of pretty unremarkable movies this month because I was catching up on movies they talk about on The Flophouse Podcast (my favourite podcast!) and interested me a bit. This was very stupid, very inept. I don’t usually enjoy things because they’re “So bad they’re good” but this came close.

58. The Three Musketeers (2010)

The excellent cast keeps this afloat.

59. In Time (2011)

High-concept, low-execution. It’s a perfectly passable afternoon movie.

60. Mortdecai (2015)

Paul Bettany is almost enough to make this actually worth while.

61. The Lion King (2019)

The NFT of movies.

62. Butt Boy (2020)

Insane premise, and actually kind of good. John Waters liked it a lot.

63. Hellraiser II: Hellbound (1988)

Gory madness.

64. We are Still Here (2015)

Genuinely creepy, moves a tad too slow. Performances aren’t terrific all around.

65. Ishtar (1987)

The recent re-embrace of this movie is utter nonsense. This is obnoxious garbage. Elaine May deserved better, she deserved to make movies until the day she died. But that doesn’t make this good.

66. Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)

From creepy to crazy. It’s not good, but it’s enjoyable.

67. Ava (2020)

I don’t entirely understand Jessica Chastain’s career choices. She’s a phenomenal actress but has focused a lot on mediocre action movies.

68. Phantasm: The Ball is Back (1988)

This series becomes increasingly unhinged, but there’s a charm to it.

69. The Stuff (1985)

A lot to like. A lot to dislike.

70. Ape (2012)

There’s something here, and you can see all of the anger of Joel Potrykus later work. He’s a unique voice in film and I hope he gets to keep making movies.

71. Distant Voices, Still Lives (1988)

A gutpunch.

72. Squirm (1976)

Such a nonsense premise that could make for a crazy horror movie, but doesn’t quite capitalize on it.

73. Funny Ha Ha (2002)

One of my first mumblecores. There’s a lot to like here if not the whole package.

74. Deathdream (1974)

Grim.

75. Robots of Brixton (Short, 2011)

76. Scanners (1981)

Great.

77. Hudson Hawk (1991)

Utter nonsense, often annoying, but has some redeeming qualities (mostly from the supporting cast)

78. The Devil and Daniel Johnston (2003)

Fascinating and incredibly sad.

79. Greenland (2020)

Surprisingly, no, SHOCKINGLY good.

80. Angst (1983)

It was everything it was built up to be. Grim, unpleasant, creepy. Not a masterpiece by any means but grotesque in an interesting way.

81. Thou Wast Mild and Lovely (2014)

Very unexpected turns, really good.

82. Conan the Barbarian (2011)

Jason Momoa is reliably good, but this slid right off my brain.

83. Rabid (1977)

There are some admirable qualities but you can tell Cronenberg is just starting to figure his shit out.

84. The Crazies (1973)

I’m trying to find a way to say, like, not half as good as it is smart. I love every idea in this, and there is a lot that is magnificently executed, but it does drag more often than it should.

85. Driller Killer (1979)

Incredibly unpleasant, and not in a good horror way. I don’t know if Abel Ferrara is satirizing the kind of artist he’s portraying, but it comes off like the thoughts of an angry teenager. It’s also heavily padded to reach its runtime.

86. Humanoid Monsters from the Deep (1980)

Exceptional 80s monster movie.

87. Buck and the Preacher (1972)

The stars are great, and there’s a lot of good in here. Could have used another run in the editing room.

88. The Mouse That Roared (1959)

Very middling.

89. The Foul King (2000)

Kang ho-Song (from Parasite) is terrific. But this is another wrestling story that doesn’t understand or doesn’t want to portray the reality of wrestling. It makes it so weird. It’s also 1h52 when it should be 90 minutes at most.

90. Deathline (1970)

Such a great premise, but just doesn’t pull it all together.

91. Lake Mungo (2008)

Creepy, smartly made.

92. Session 9 (2001)

Creepy, a little long, but pretty good overall.

93. The Gallows (2015)

Very predictable, just not great.

94. Butter on the Latch (2013)

I think I need to rewatch this. I remember liking it when I saw it, but it’s so vague in my memory.

95. Peeping Tom (1960)

A fascinating thing to exist from that time period, but not all it was cracked up to be.

96. Posse (1993)

Pretty standard 90s action movie with a little more to it from the racial politics.

97. Damsels in Distress (2011)

Can’t remember a damn thing about it.

98. O, Fantasma (2000)

Interesting, but not quite enough there.

99. Universal Soldier (1992)

Disappointing. I was excited to jump into this series but the first one took some of that gusto away.

100. Saint Maud (2021)

Creepy, intelligent, and sad.

101. Black Christmas (1974)

Kind of the perfect slasher.

102. Z (1969)

Shouldn’t be as relevant as it is. It’s infuriating.

103. Ministry of Fear (1944)

Wild ride that manages to not get too crazy to follow.

104. Redes (1936)

It’s obviously hampered by it’s age and the inexperience of it’s creators but there is a ton to admire here.

105. A Bay of Blood (1971)

Not particularly good, but there are good things in it.

106. Viy (1967)

Wonderful, creepy, just great.

107. White Zombie (1932)

Pretty cool.

108. 1 Dimension (Short, 2013)

109. Beware the Blob! (1972)

I really didn’t like this.

110. Lords of Salem (2013)

All mood, no… food? It’s insubstantial despite it’s substantial runtime. The look, feel, and sound of it are great though.

111. Skin Game (1971)

I really liked this. It was super provocative for it’s day, and is likely not really kosher now. But it’s terrific.

112. Cat Ballou (1965)

There’s a ton to like here. It’s not perfectly executed, but enough to make it watchable.

113. Long Weekend (1974)

It didn’t work for me. Felt overlong at 92 minutes.

114. Harlan County, USA (1976)

Brilliant, shocking, seminal work.

115. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)

The director is an utter piece of shit, but this is a masterpiece.

116. The Cars that ate Paris (1974)

Absolutely mad, but not all I wish it would have been.

117. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

Just perfectly executed.

118. Gushing Prayer (1971)

I tried a Japanese “Pink Film” I did not like it.

119. The Whole Shootin' Match (1978)

My first Eagle Pennell movie (thanks Mubi!). Very down to earth, very real, very thoughtful.

120. Town Bloody Hall (1979)

Thoroughly enjoyed this.

121. Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

I’m not sure I could remember any of this at gunpoint besides Alfred Molina continuing to elevate everything he’s in. Went in the eyes and out the ears.

122. Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002)

A cool thing to exist. Not necessarily for me, but I respect it.

123. Nosferatu: Der Vampyr (1979)

The plague backdrop is brilliant, and the movie is so much calmer than I would have expected. Not the best Dracula, but a good Dracula.

124. Romance (1999)

Very smart, shocking, and sad.

125. Hearts and Minds (1974)

Unflinching.

126. Crisis: Behind a Presidential Commitment (1963)

Interesting.

127. Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist (1979)

Very interesting profile of a fascinating man who was done wrong.

128. Never Let Go (1960)

Like Peeping Tom, it’s shocking something this gritty would exist in 1960. Very good.

129. Barbarella (1968)

Not the goofy fun sci-fi movie I expected. Boring and juvenile.

130. Monterey Pop (1968)

Neat! Otherwise kind of standard concert film.

131. Bad Trip (2021)

Hilarious, if you are into it.

132. Godzilla vs. King Kong (2021)

Utter nonsense. But still kind of worked for me.

133. The Hills Have Eyes Part 2 (1984)

Nowhere near as good as the first, but better than a lot of slashers.

134. Eyes Without a Face (1960)

Creepy and cool.

135. Images (1972)

Also creepy and cool.

136. Duck Soup (1932)

I don’t think I entirely get the Marx Brothers.

137. Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)

A lot of good in this movie. Great performances. An important and under-told story but over all a tad bit underwhelming.

138. The United States vs Billie Holiday (2021)

An absolute mess that wastes Andra Day’s terrific performance.

139. Near Dark (1987)

Cool vampire classic.

140. Stage Fright (1987)

Feels so much older than it is. For how unintentionally funny it can be, it can be pretty creepy too.

141. Carrie (1976)

As good as advertised. So much sadder though.

142. Maximum Overdrive (1986)

As bad as advertised. About as funny too.

143. The Strangers (2008)

It doesn’t break any new ground but is effective at what it does.

144. Oculus (2013)

A tad goofy, but the creeps work.

145. Love and Monsters (2021)

A lot of fun. Not super-duper original, but it’s fun and well put together.

146. Spring (2014)

Creepy and engaging. More emotionally affecting than expected.

147. Victim (1963)

Very good, incredibly sad, and way a head of it’s time.

148. The Father (2021)

Heartbreaking. Phenomenal performances and very clever construction.

149. One False Move (1992)

I feel like 90s thrillers are their own genre, and this is a higher-level entry in that genre.

150. Edge of the City (1958)

Really good but that ending takes a lot of wind out of the movie.

151. Monkey Shines (1988)

Ridiculous but still kind of works.

152. Ma (2020)

Dopey-ass movie that isn’t boring, but is far from good.

153. Martin (1977)

Like The Crazies, it’s kind of brilliant, but it’s so unpolished.

154. The Silent Partner (1977)

Cool thriller, just a fabulous cast. Darker than expected too.

155. Dave Foley: Relatively Well (2013)

Not great, but not bad. I’m glad he was working during a difficult time.

156. Mortal Kombat (2021)

There are worse things to be on in the middle of the day when home sick from school.

157. Christmas in July (1940)

Not a great introduction to Preston Sturgess.

158. MLK/FBI (2020)

Important, upsetting, sadly not surprising.

159. Fake it so Real (2011)

Excellent wrestling documentary.

160. The Comedians of Comedy (2005)

A few of the best comics to have ever performed. And Brian Posehn. Sorry Brian Posehn. You’re good, but not Maria Bamford/Patton Oswalt/Zach Galifianakis good.

161. The Tillman Story (2010)

A crazy and upsetting true story in a very good doc. Look it up if unfamiliar.

162. The Coal Miner's Daughter (1980)

It kind of set the mold for musician biopics, but the initial mold worked really well.

163. How to Survive a Plague (2012)

Harrowing and crushing at times, but it’s primarily a talking-head documentary which limits it.

164. Slay the Dragon (2020)

It’s important information, the documentary is not bad. But something about it feels slight.

165. Nate Bargatze: Greatest Average American (2020)

Bargatze is a solid comic. Solid work.

166. 1913: Seeds of Conflict (2014)

Extremely interesting.

167. Network (1976)

Maybe it’s position as a cultural touchstone spoiled the experience a bit, but I didn’t quite fall for it. The love-story feels so separate and kind of unnecessary.

168. No Blade of Grass (1970)

Very interesting in concept, execution is hit and miss but a neat apocalypse movie.

169. The Mitchells vs The Machines (2021)

It’s funny in spurts, and pretty fun, but it is also quite irritating and over-kinetic at times.

170. Thunder Road (2018)

Jim Cummings seems to only really play one character, but he’s so uniquely good at it.

171. The Ice Storm (1997)

Very good, but god what a bummer.

172. Lenny Cooke (2013)

Super sad. Capitalism will suck you dry.

173. Army of the Dead (2021)

A pretty good cast in a pretty shit movie.

174. A New Leaf (1971)

It lays it on a bit thick, but it wins you over.

175. Come to Daddy (2020)

Crazy in the best way.

176. Thelma & Louise (1991)

Finally watched the whole thing after seeing the first act in film school in like 2015. I did it Elana! It was good!

177. Ordinary People (1980)

Sad. Mom gets a raw deal.

178. Bo Burnham: Inside (2021)

Smart and funny but it was completely overblown as the internet tends to do.

179. Sahara (2005)

I remember Iko Iko played over the credits. I think JK Simmons is in it?

180. Psycho Goreman (2021)

If it reeled in the silly just a tiny bit, this could’ve been great. I’m glad it exists though, a lot to like here.

181. Burn! (1969)

Terrific.

182. Miss Bala (2011)

I always remember this being advertised as an action-thriller but it’s way darker.

183. Short Eyes (1977)

Shocking and really good.

184. Blues Brothers (1980)

I was not expecting much but it was actually a lot of fun. Usually when the Blues Brothers weren’t on screen.

185. Meeting the Man: James Baldwin in Paris (1970)

Baldwin is one of those people where everything they say is interesting. The filmmakers are lucky to have him.

186. The Wise Kids (2011)

A very gentle coming out story. Well done.

187. Frantz Fanon: Black Skin, White Masks (1995)

A fairly solid introduction.

188. Nightwatch (1997)

Weird and creepy, good but not quite great.

189. Performance (1970)

I need to watch this again.

190. Clemency (2019)

Heavy.

191. Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

Inconsequential. 192. Captain Conan (1996)

I’m a sucker for a war movie and was not a sucker for this. 193. To Sleep With Anger (1990)

It’s like 10% away from being a folk horror movie. 194. Bitch (2017)

I respect its existence, but I didn’t enjoy it.

195. Ashes & Diamonds (1954)

Great.

196. A Few Good Men (1992)

Understandable why this is a classic.

197. Breaking the Waves (1996)

It can be tough to get through but there’s something wonderful here.

198. Women of the Resistance (1965)

Bad-ass.

199. Pressure (Short, 2006)

A funny bit, just so poorly shot.

200. Archangel (1990)

I didn’t get it.

201. A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

Breaks very little new ground since the first one, also relies on some character stupidity for scares in the worst way.

202. A Brief History of Time (1990)

Ennio’s first movie! He took a nap on me while Lucas and I watched this. Hawking is fascinating.

203. Without Remorse (2021)

Nothing special. Action is solid. But how about that Brett Gellman cameo?

204. Luca (2021)

Lovely.

205. Fast 9 (2021)

Sheer nonsense like the rest. The wrestlers keep outclassing the actors.

206. Streets of Fire (1985)

One of my local drive-in operator’s favourite movies apparently. It’s weird, kind of cool, often boring though. Michael Paré isn’t a very good actor but Willem Dafoe has some sex appeal in this.

207. Philadelphia (1993)

“Powerful” like they say about movies but for real. Very good.

208. The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Saw bits and pieces when I was younger and didn’t get it. Looking back I can see why. Fascinating look at local mythologizing.

209. Black Widow (2021)

One of the lesser MCU movies which is a shame. Black Widow has always been great and I’ve been waiting for her to have her own movie. The main villain being another “guy in a suit” takes some of the super hero joy away.

210. The Tomorrow War (2021)

Dopey fun. Always love to see Sam Duvet of Cramblin Duvet Advertising.

211. The Last Unicorn (1982)

So odd, and hasn’t aged spectacularly but still mostly works.

212. Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Fuck Woody Allen, but his movies are still pretty good.

213. Fish Tank (2009)

Very rough to sit through, but feels very honest.

214. Street Fighter (1994)

Come for the Raul Julia, stay because you started the movie and why not? You’re just going to waste the time anyway.

215. Wind Chill (2007)

Solid if unspectacular horror movie.

216. The Grand Seduction (2013)

Cute.

217. Chyna (2021)

Very sad.

218. The Ear (1970)

Very tense.

219. Merchants of Doubt (2014)

Very upsetting.

220. Careful (1992)

Wacky but infinitely more scrutable than Archangel. I liked it.

221. The Conformist (1970)

Fascinating look at the insecurities that breed a fascist.

222. My Dad is 100 Years Old (Short, 2005)

*Loved* this short from Guy Maddin and Isabella Rossellini.

223. Glorious (Short, 2008)

Bizarre. Louis Negin hangs elderly dong if I remember correctly.

224. Spanky to the Pier and Back (Short, 2008)

He’s a good dog.

225. How to Take a Bath (Short, 2008)

A funny fragment from Forbidden Room.

226. Sinclair (Short, 2010)

It’s unnerving, but I didn’t get what it was about. Reading now what it’s about it’s very sad.

227. Only Dream Things (Short, 2014)

Very neat experimental film. Like a lot of experimental film, better with context.

228. The Hall Runner (Short, 2014)

An okay fragment from My Winnipeg.

229. Louis Riel for Dinner (Short, 2012)

I liked this.

230. New Mutants (2020)

Not very good. It was edited to death, but there’s some hint of something interesting in there.

231. Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)

Well put-together thriller from Tye Sheridan. Nothing exceptional, but solid.

232. The Discrete Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972)

I don’t get it. Like I think I get the bit, but I don’t get the humor in it. Just real boring.

233. Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)

Extremely tense for the first half, then a tad too long in the second. Was surprisingly respectful and kind to the Chinese who helped these Americans survive.

234. A Screaming Man (2010)

Fuck Capitalism.

235. I Am Somebody (1970)

See the above.

236. Odds Against Tomorrow (1959)

This is the beginning of my Robert Ryan kick. The film feels a bit unpolished but it’s very good. This year’s No Sudden Move reminded me a lot of this. And what a face Ed Begley has. Good Lord. It’s a shame everyone in movies has to be so pretty nowadays.

237. Test Pattern (2021)

Kind of a great hangout movie until it turns into a stomach churning drama. First rate.

238. Accidence (Short, 2018)

Really neat.

239. Stump the Guesser (Short, 2020)

It’s said to be “based on early Soviet cinema tropes.” I don’t know those so it mostly feels kind of directionless.

240. The Rabbit Hunters (Short, 2020)

It’s very pretty but I don’t really get it.

241. The Living End (1992)

It’s not great, but it has some redeeming qualities.

242. Sun Don't Shine (2012)

Well done, you feel grimy after watching it.

243. California Split (1974)

A lot of fun, very thoughtful.

244. The Missing Picture (2013)

A very interesting and engaging way to tell the story. Excellent.

245. The Green Knight (2021)

First movie I saw in theatres since Emma the year before. A beautiful fairy tale.

246. Comedians of Comedy: Live at the El Rey (2006)

It’s weird to see Patton Oswalt as the weakest set, but his early work wasn’t that great.

247. The Wrath of Man (2021)

Brutal. Brutal. Brutal. More hardcore than I thought Guy Ritchie had in him.

248. The Killing of Two Lovers (2021)

It’s kind of a paper-thin story that is stretched out bit, but there’s a lot of good here including some terrific performances.

249. The Ice Road (2021)

Absolute trash. But kind of fun trash? Yay for Manitoba representation and evil capitalism. Good cast too including the second Lloyd Braun and Amber Midthunder who steals the show.

250. The Life and Times of Harvey Milk (1984)

Beautiful and crushing portrait of a vital human being.

251. Twilight of the Ice Nymphs (1997)

Even if I don’t get all of his stuff, I want Guy Maddin to continue making whatever he wants however he wants because even if it’s not “good” it’s always interesting.

252. Moffie (2021)

Good little war/LGBTQ+ movie.

253. Old (2021)

This is such an out-there concept that I couldn’t not see it. Part of me wonders what a better filmmaker could have done with the material, but then part of me wonders of M. Night Shamylan is maybe the only director with enough lack of self-awareness and skill to handle this coherently.

254. Annette (2021)

The first ten minutes are perfect, the music is largely excellent, the film itself takes wild swings and some land, some don’t, but it’s wild, and interesting, and I’m glad it exists.

255. The Long Goodbye (1972)

Loved it. Not just for the cat, but at least partly for the cat. Every neo-noir aspires to be this.

256. Maria Bamford: The Special Special Special! (Short, 2012)

Maria Bamford is one of my favourite comics and has to be one of the best working today. She also refuses to do straightforward comedy specials, filming this one in front of only her parents. It’s wonderful.

257. Pink Flamingos (1972)

This is about the least I got anything all year. I guess I get what he’s doing, but it’s mostly just a mix of obnoxious and unpleasant.

258. Diamonds of the Night (1964)

Excellent portrayal of a terrible story.

259. The Suicide Squad (2021)

One of my biggest pet peeves is the graphic killing of sympathetic characters in movies. There’s like a de-personing that happens when you do that. You remove the humanity and the individual and render them to meat and it never sits well. It outright ruins movies for me. That happened with Captain Boomerang in this. As much as I hated Suicide Squad 1, I always have kind of liked Jai Courtney, and Captain Boomerang was one of the very few and very dim bright spots of the original. This movie improved significantly on second viewing when I skipped that moment. It’s a really good action comedy even if that one moment really soured it specifically for me and no one else.

260. Honeydew (2021)

It’s a clever plot, but it’s almost 30 minutes too long at 1h46. I like some slow-burn horror, but this doesn’t invest you enough. Both of the leads seem like miserable people to be around so the pre-horror turn portions are a slog. Everything is kind of telegraphed too. I wanted to like this more than I did.

261. The Man Who Would Be King (1975)

Has some fun parts, but can be pretty slow moving at times.

262. Bloodthirsty (2021)

Kind of oozes “made for TV” vibes, but it works overall. Creepy and effective.

263. Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

It can verge on being obnoxious, but it’s kind of part of the charm I think. Such a miracle of a movie to have ever happened. The shoe scene is still haunting.

264. Black Narcissus (1947)

Hauntingly beautiful.

265. Another Year (2010)

There’s some truly heartbreaking stuff, but it feels so slight.

266. King of the Ants (2003)

Absolutely crazy and brutal. Surprisingly good. Also has anyone ever written about what a bizarre career George Wendt has had?

267. Four Roads (Short, 2021)

Pretty little pandemic short, everything is so close but so far.

268. The Power (2021)

Not all of it works, but a lot still does and it’s very creepy.

269. A Report on the Party and Guests (1966)

It loses it’s way a bit towards the end, but surreal, tense, and very smart.

270. Eighth Continent (Short, 2011)

Could’ve accomplished in 3 minutes what it does in 11 minutes. But very affecting.

271. The Above (Short, 2015)

Crazy and enraging.

272. The Retrieval (2013)

Excellent and deeply sad.

273. Space Sweepers (2021)

A tad too rambunctious for me, but overall pretty entertaining.

274. An Exercise on Discipline: Peel (Short, 1982)

Boy aren’t kids great?

275. Dementer (2021)

Awful title, but surprisingly smart and effective low-budget horror movie. It won’t knock your socks off but it’s smart and creates some interesting imagery.

276. Free Guy (2021)

Has its charms, but the further from it I get the more I dislike it in hindsight.

277. This is not a Burial, it is a Resurrection! (2021)

Beautiful and deeply sad.

278. Jungle Cruise (2021)

In an abstract kind of way, the design and adventures are neat, but everything being computerized it just kind of blends together into something unmemorable. Like in the Pirates of the Caribbean movies had those sea-monster pirates. Eventually despite the fine and extensive work creating them, they kind of blend together.

279. Backcountry (2014)

It’s a bit of a slog to get through, but there’s an all-timer gore shot in this.

280. The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)

Having a man and child brutally killed in front of another child in the family early in the movie for no real reason set the mood. Gross, unpleasant, not entirely coherent. Really didn’t enjoy it.

281. Phantasm III: Lord of the Underworld (1994)

I kind of think this is the best one. The last one that I would call “good” eventhough the last two are enjoyable on their own terms.

282. Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998)

Begins to stray wildly and lose coherence but I still like the characters and the world.

283. Maria Bamford: Old Baby (2017)

She’s just fantastic.

284. The Stylist (2021)

Could be tighter (maybe I’m just losing my patience?) It doesn’t always hold you, but there’s some good stuff here.

285. Summer of Soul (...or When the Revolution Could not be Televised) (2021)

Very cool, very interesting. I think it’s an unpopular opinion, but I liked the interview segments. They added more context to the concert.

286. The Night Train Murders (1975)

Reprehensible.

287. The Bedroom Window (1987)

Not bad 90s thriller version of the neo-noir.

288. Anthem (Short, 1991)

I appreciate what it is doing.

289. I Nomine Patris (Short, 2019)

This is how you make a ‘talking over a still shit’ movie work. Damn.

290. Affirmations (Short, 1990)

Beautiful and bittersweet.

291. Blue Diary (Short, 1998)

I like dit.

292. Machine Gun McCain (1969)

I don’t remember it super well despite that memorable title. I remember liking Peter Falk and John Cassavetes a lot.

293. 575 Castro St. (Short, 2009)

Interesting tribute to Harvey Milk.

294. Ethnic Notions (1986)

Excellent documentary.

295. Colour Adjustment (1992)

Not quite as effective follow-up to Ethnic Notions, but still has a lot of important things to say.

296. Apparition (2012)

Difficult watch. Sometimes for the intended reason, sometimes not.

297. Starry Eyes (2014)

Pretty solid and underseen horror movie. It’s not all successful, but it works for the most part.

298. Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii Director's Cut (1972)

It’s cool. I’ve been there too!

299. Les 3 Boutons (2015)

I’m sorry Agnès. I didn’t really get it.

300. The Vigil (2021)

Very cool idea. I love when occult horror moves away from Christian spirituality. Some creepy stuff and interesting ideas even if it doesn’t all come together quite perfectly.

301. The Mend (2014)

Josh Lucas should have a better career.

302. Bernie (2011)

It’s quite alright.

303. I Blame Society (2021)

There’s a lot to like here. Horvat is convincingly awkward and authentic. Not all successful but there’s just enough there.

304. Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021)

Has none of the ingenuity of the original. The deaths come off as if they forgot to write them and just tossed them in at the last minute. Where the original was so careful, this one is so sloppy. It focuses on the grander storyline of the “Escape Room Universe” which NOBODY GIVES A SHIT ABOUT at the expense of watching these folks fight for survival. Apparently the loss of the first one’s driving force, Bragi Schut, was fatal.

305. New Order (2021)

Seemed like such an interesting premise, a wealthy exorbitant wedding reception interrupted by protests. But then the impoverished protesters, all brown, are portrayed as bloodthirsty monsters? Then the director calls pointing this out “anti-white racism”? Good Lord. It starts out very interesting but when shit hits the fan, it just gets grim, racist, and unpleasant.

306. Nobody (2021)

It doesn’t break any new ground, but it puts very likeable actors into these typical action roles and films the action with a clarity and excitement that makes it thoroughly enjoyable.

307. Lucky (2021)

It’s a real risk to make a whole movie a metaphor, because it really lives or dies on the “ohhh, that’s what’s going on” moment. This one succeeds.

308. The Superdeep (2021)

A lot of neat, gross, monster stuff. Feels very B-level, but some neat stuff here.

309. I Care a Lot (2021)

Ugh. Unpleasant. The performances are all good, and Dinklage makes a despicable character engaging, but Pike doesn’t. There’s some meagre catharsis in the end, but mostly it just puts you in a bad mood.

310. Super Mario Bros (1993)

EVERYONE IS YELLING ALL THE TIME AND I HATE IT.

311. Wrong Turn (2021)

Surprisingly, no, shockingly good reboot of a long-time straight-to-video series.

312. It's Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

Just beautiful.

313. Identifying Features (2021)

Just painful. Very well done, but God it’s painful.

314. Lapsis (2021)

Clever takedown of the gig economy.

315. Malignant (2021)

So stupid. So incredibly stupid.

316. Cop Shop (2021)

Solid contained action-thriller. Has a great cast, a meaty role for Toby Huss, and I think Alexis Louder is a star in the making.

317. Pete Davidson: Alive from New York (2020)

Solid stand-up. But is that his real voice? Or is he making it deeper on purpose?

318. Shang Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings (2021)

I’m a sucker for the MCU

319. Titane (2021)

Absolute madness. It gets mixed up and doesn’t hold together terribly well, but a hell of a committed performance from Vincent Lindon. My favourite description of the movie was to paraphrase: “It tries being a few different movies before settling on the absolutely weirdest one.”

320. The Many Saints of Newark (2021)

It’s like another episode of the show, and I mean that in the best possible way. Good performances/impressions in some cases. There are some weird edits though, and Alan Taylor is such a boring director.

321. Chris Gerhard: Half my Life (2021)

Gethard is great.

322. Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 (2021)

Interesting if limited doc.

323. Phantasm V: Ravager (2016)

The most bizarre of the series, but a nice ending to the series.

324. Arbitrage (2012)

Solid thriller of a rich guy who doesn’t face consequences trying desperately to evade consequences.

325. Beyond the Hills (2012)

Mungiu’s movies are so slow and low-key, but still kind of work. It’s gorgeous, and deeply troubling.

326. Ride Lonesome (1959)

Pretty cool.

327. Me the Terrible (Short, 2011)

I enjoyed this a lot.

328. To the Unknown (Short, 2017)

I can’t remember this movie. I can’t figure out via google what movie it is. *shrugs*

329. The Happytime Murders (2017)

There’s a good joke or two but is mostly not good.

330. Venom: Let there be Carnage (2021)

It’s fine.

331. 1941 (1979)

Awful, awful movie.

332. The Card Counter (2021)

A logical follow-up to First Reformed. A patient and detailed story of a man who can’t forget his past.

333. Zola (2021)

A crazy ride based on a crazy source (a series of tweets) but it’s excellent. It’s fun, exhilarating,

334. Night Raiders (2021)

A neat idea, is well executed in some regards.

335. Quo Vadis, Aida? (2021)

Very painful and frustrating. It really gets across the feeling of powerlessness in the face of crisis.

336. White Material (2010)

The meltdown of imperialist entitlement. Very interesting watch.

337. Southbound (2015)

All horror anthologies are kind of hit and miss, no exception here.

338. In the Earth (2021)

Interesting and creepy, could have been a little tighter but overall pretty good.'

339. After Love (2021)

Brilliantly performed. Joanna Scanlan is great.

340. The Night House (2021)

Creepy and engaging. Some lovely imagery.

341. Cabin Fever (2002)

Just unpleasant, but not in a good horror-y way.

342. They Look Like People (2015)

Very smart low-budget brutally effective horror movie.

343. There is No Evil (2021)

You don’t know why you’re watching what you’re watching until you do and boy does it leave a mark. Brilliantly thought out.

344. Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005)

Didn’t love this as much as Kajillionaire or The Future, but there’s the same core of love for people and all their flaws.

345. Open to the World (Short, 2017)

Interesting project and documentary.

346. High Tension (2003)

Quite brutal, the twist doesn’t really make sense, and also kind of guts the movie a little.

347. Pig (2021)

Beautiful and unexpected.

348. Akilla’s Escape (2021)

Interesting texture to the film, though it feels kind of amateurish.

349. Sweat (2021)

A few killer scenes but doesn’t feel fully realized.

350. All Light Everywhere (2021)

I read something recently of someone saying that if you want to say something important, couching it in esoteric academic language is an unnecessary barrier to engagement. That’s kind of how I feel about this. There are great pieces, and important thoughts, but they feel kind of lost in a muddled grasp at poetry.

351. Gaia (2021)

Simple, straightforward, and effective. It’s very good, very creepy, some great make-up effects. Carel Nel is terrific as a hermit shaman.

352. The Cremator (1969)

Strikes a bit broad at times, but it’s another super interesting look at the wormlike personality of a good fascist. All is born from insecurity.

353. Audition (1999)

A tad overrated. The first half before the famous turn is kind of boring. The turn, then, is tamer than its reputation. If they cut that first hour down to 30 minutes. This might be a great movie.

354. Mountains May Depart (2015)

Very slow. There’s some interesting stuff here, but it’s very slow.

355. Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970)

Bizarre and largely incoherent, but there are some beautiful, and some creepy images.

356. Uncle (Short, 1956)

Funny little short.

357. Tabu (2012)

More interesting than arresting. There’s a bit of beauty here.

358. Sator (2021)

I talked about this on Dan’s show, but it’s excellent. Takes the few resources available and ads a lot of ingenuity, and filmmaking knowhow to make a scary and uncomfortable movie.

359. Horse Money (2014)

I really liked Vitalina Varela, but without that muse, this one feels dead on the screen.

360. Poetry (2010)

Sad.

361. Paradise: Love (2012)

Sad and thoughtful, never disrespectful to the characters despite sharply criticizing them and their imperialist minds.

362. The Last Duel (2021)

There’s a lack of an emotional core that keeps this film from getting to the next level, but it’s excellent overall. Very smart construction and beautifully put together.

363. Censor (2021)

Moody, colourful, neat, and creepy.

364. Last Night in Soho (2021)

I agree with the criticisms of the ending, I had the exact same thought while watching it. If you can kind of tuck that in your back pocket and ignore it, this is a pretty fun thriller with two terrific leads.

365. Clockwatchers (1997)

The extremely likeable cast and capitalist anxiety root this low-key low-laugh comedy.

366. Antlers (2021)

There’s so much cool shit here, so why was it such a fart in the wind?

367. Dune (2021)

In my 6 month old’s favourite words for a few weeks: “BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG.” Villeneuve is so focused on scale that he forgets there are people in this world.

368. The Bay (2012)

Not a bad idea, some terrific gore-work, some tense scenes. But mostly not good at all.

369. Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)

Dated, cheesy, but not bad.

370. Shiva Baby (2021)

Really funny, deeply uncomfortable, and just enough of an emotional core.

371. Harold and Maude (1961)

I thought I would hate this, it seemed like it would be Patient Zero of quirky, twee indie movies, but it works. There is a grounding here that makes this story so much more engaging despite some of the aggressively quirky surroundings.

372. Western (2017)

Very low-activity, nearly to a fault. A lot of interesting interactions and parallels to frontier westerns.

373. On the Edge (Short, 1949)

Neat.

374. The Assignation (Short, 1953)

375. The Signal (2007)

Cool idea, hit and miss execution. There’s a long sequence in an apartment that feels overstretched.

376. Zombeavers (2014)

It wants so badly to be a cult classic comedy-horror, but it just isn’t. I also always assumed this was Canadian. How is it not Canadian?

377. Monster Party (2018)

They had me, despite myself, until they rang a bell and a deformed cannibal came up from the basement. It was a kind of hokey and stupid the movie hadn’t been before and just killed it.

378. Crocodile Dundee (1982)

The subway scene near the end is cute, but the rest is forgettable. How did this take the US by storm?

379. The Midnight Meat Train (2008)

Goes for broke. I respect the audacity and the gore, but the attempts to put together characters and plot are feeble.

380. I'm Going to Bite Someone (Short, 2012)

Steve Dildarian is great. Eddie Pepitone is brilliant. A funny short.

381. Dead Alive (1993)

I was mildly diverted for the first half of this, the gore was wacky but it was really annoying. But it just kept getting crazier and crazier and gorier and gorier. Really blood-dgeoned me into liking it.

382. The Devil and Daniel Webster aka All that Money Can Buy (1941)

An oft recommended film by Elliott Kalan of the Flop House Podcast, and it was well worth it. It has some of the aww-shucks 30s style of acting that feels very cheesy and dated, but the story, the anti-capitalist themes, and the excellent unassuming but deeply creepy devil played by Canadian Walter Huston (father of John, grandfather of Tony, Angelica, and Danny, great grand father of Jack).

383. 350 Days (2019)

Not a bad documentary. Insubstantial but you get to hear from some folks you don’t hear from in the usual docs. RIP to half the interviewees.

384. The Beta Test (2021)

Nobody gets in over their head and melts down like Jim Cummings. It’s terrific.

385. Kiss me Deadly (1955)

I’m still fairly resistant to noir, I’m not sure why, but they’ve never fully gripped me. This one is pretty good though.

386. In the Mouth of Madness (1994)

Cool, crazy, and full of Sam Neil.

387. Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Often uncomfortable, not sure it’s a cohesive whole.

388. The Eternals (2021)

Again, I’m a sucker for the MCU. This is a bizarre movie, kind of messy, and if you think too long about the goals behind the Eternals it gets kind of gross ideologically. But there’s enough here to enjoy.

389. The French Dispatch (2021)

Stunningly beautiful, but largely cold and feels soulless.

390. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Speaking of cold and soulless!

391. Belfast (2021)

Feels kind of artificial. The performances are good, but the movie is overwrought.

392. Children of the Corn (1984)

It’s hard not to get a little kick out of this nonsense.

393. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)

The energy of Donald Pleasance keeps this thing moving. It’s nice to see a horror movie where the police actually believe the guy raving about a killer.

394. Society (1989)

Weird and crazy, it’s not perfect, but the dedication to grossness and weirdness is fantastic.

395. Halloween 5: Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)

Still surprisingly not terrible.

396. Holler (2021)

Sad and rough without falling into exploitation. Good performances all around.

397. Return of the Living Dead (1989)

Funny and good.

398. Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)

Probably best to pretend this never happened.

399. Tig Notaro: Happy to Be Here It (2018)

Excellent!

400. Spencer (2021)

It’s very interesting, and at times very emotionally effective.

401. Moshe Kasher: Live in Oakland (2012)

The first half of this is terrible, but he picks it up towards the end.

402. Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)

Way better than it should have been.

403. Halloween: Resurrection (2002)

Terrific premise. Horrible movie. Nice to see Luke Kirby though.

404. The Harder They Fall (2021)

A wonderful cast, some great characters, but it takes forever to get moving. Once it does it’s a lot of fun. Lakeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, and RJ Cyler are the show-stealers here.

405. Bad Day at Black Rock (1955)

An odd little movie, but tense and interesting. (On Robert Ryan kick)

406. The Naked Spur (1953)

Cool stripped down straight forward western. (On Robert Ryan kick)

407. Benedetta (2021)

Fascinating story, peppered with some bad CGI. It’s also interesting that Verhoven, despite I think having a specific perspective on the story, leaves just enough to question it. Isabelle Huppert is fantastic as usual.

408. Crossfire (1947)

Robert Ryan made a lot of good movies. This one has the added benefit of Robert Mitchum. Just want to be cool like Mitchum. (On Robert Ryan kick, last one for a bit I think)

409. No Time To Die (2021)

I haven’t enjoyed the Daniel Craig bonds very much outside of Casino Royale. This one, however, seemed to reach back a bit. Less focus on gadgets and junk, more on a sad old man fighting a desperate battle. The villain is basically a non-entity so a lot falls on Daniel Craig and his great supporting cast, and they are uniformly great.

410. Muppets: A Christmas Carol (1992)

I had never actually seen this all the way through. Just bits and pieces, really odd. Anyway it was great.

411. The House of Gucci (2021)

Ia don’ta thinka thata thisa moviea isa verya gooda. That’s in the House of Gucci accent. Want to watch a bunch of rich people squabble over money? Like Succession but with bad accents, bad performances, shallow writing, and way lower stakes for the rest of mankind.

412. Rory Scovel Tries Stand-Up for the First Time (2017)

I like Rory Scovel and this is a terrific special.

413. My Own Private Idaho (1991)

It vacillates between insufferable and moving. Not for me but I respect it.

414. Come True (2021)

Some neat ideas, some creepy images and sequences, not quite a total success.

415. Bergmann Island (2021)

I couldn’t get into it. Very low-stakes, very boring.

416. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021)

This follows, from what I understand, the original game much closer than the Paul W.S. Anderson adaptation. It’s not bad, the cast is fairly engaging, there are some creepy monster-works, but it feels neutered.

417. Michael Che: Shame the Devil (2021)

Che is “problematic” and is overseeing SNL at the moment, some of the blandest comedy possible, but he’s a good stand-up.

418. The Humans (2021)

A family gets together and secrets are outed. This but with the bones of a grimy apartment and some horror techniques. Doesn’t make it more interesting though.

419. The Velvet Underground (2021)

Great documentary.

420. Anne at 13,000 Feet (2021)

An interesting and often tense look at a young woman losing balance, and it doesn’t seem like the first time. Deragh Campbell as the titular Anne, is excellent. She feels so honest and fully realized. She’s so good it’s hard to watch sometimes.

421. Procession (2021)

A powerful and painful documentary. Will likely talk more about it in my best of 2021.

422. Petite Maman (2021)

It’s very cute, and I admire the feelings behind it, but it’s so tiny and slight. It’s delicateness is perhaps a feature, not a bug, but I didn’t connect.

423. Bad Luck Banging or Looney Porn (2021)

I can respect what this is going for, and there’s a lot of good here, but I don’t entirely get why this filmmaker chose film. The first half is a pretty much real-time follow shot of the main character walking from one place to another. It’s absolutely interminable. It’s awful. I get it, look at modern Romania, look at what life under the pandemic is like. You can do that with editing and time compression. The second half is a PTA meeting, that while often funny, is people arguing with each other. It’s so anti-cinematic. The ending is absurd and really funny. But you it’s a trial to make it that far.

424. The Power of the Dog (2021)

It looks great, and the performances are all on point. But the sections ahead of a certain reveal don’t always work. Once the reveal is made it gets much more interesting.

425. Rose Plays Julie (2021)

Deeply sad, and very interesting. Well made, well performed.

426. West Side Story (2021)

Absolutely wonderful. One of the best of the year. Will talk more about it in my best of 2020.

427. C'mon C'mon (2021)

Mike Mills writes beautiful movies filled with real people dealing with real life and they’re terrific. Joaquin Phoenix is excellent.

428. Nightmare Alley (2021)

The beauty of the craft is undeniable, and you have a great cast that, for the most part, give terrific performances (David Strathairn specifically), but there’s something at the heart of the film doesn’t quite work. Maybe it’s the too-twisty noir plotting, or the miscasting of Bradley Cooper. But it’s not all there. It’s not bad, but some errors keep it from being great.

429. Cry Macho (2021)

If you watch the trailer you get the movie. No surprises here. Simple, unchallenging, not terribly interesting. But I like the rooster.

430. Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

I was very much looking forward to this despite the internet trying desperately to tell me everything that happens in it in the months leading up to it. There’s a lot of lively fan service, and a lot of fun seeing characters return and be re-used, but this is the first of the MCU movies that really kind of felt empty to me.

431. Don't Look Up (2021)

It’s neither as bad, n’or as good as anyone has said. It’s an entirely middling film. It’s definitely condescending and it’s pointing the finger at wacky personalities rather than capitalism itself is pretty shallow. Very glad Rob Morgan got such a big role in a high-profile movie. He’s great and he deserves it.

432. Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

I really don’t get it. I’m glad something this unabashedly weird was able to get made, but it was extremely unpleasant to sit through.

433. Azor (2021)

Interesting existence at the fringes of a fascist dictatorship. My viewing was being interrupted constantly by a rude baby so I don’t think I got everything out of it I could have.

434. Drive My Car (2021)

Absolutely beautiful. I was really dreading this, a 3-hour human drama felt like homework. But it was wonderful.

435. Chris Gerhard: Career Suicide (2017)

Excellent first-rate stand-up/one man show. Touching and really funny.

436. Licorice Pizza (2021)

The last movie I will be seeing in theatres for the foreseeable future.

437. Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted (2015)

She’s one of the greats, this one starts off a bit slow.