This was for the record books. I am really proud, and it was really fun, but it was ultimately challenging and exhausting. And totally worth it.
I watched as many films as I could possibly watch in July. No phone, no distractions (for the most part), and a commitment to the joy of cinema.
THE RAW LIST OF FILMS
Jaws
Underwater
Sideways audio actor commentary
Tropic Thunder actor audio commentary
Annihilation
28 Days Later
Heads of State
The Italian Job
12 Monkeys
The Hunt for Red October
Tarkovsky’s Stalker
Prospect
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
Black Mountainside
Weekend at Bernie’s
Beverly Hills Cop
Django Unchained
Jurassic Park
Tucker & Dale Vs Evil Special Features
C.H.U.D. actor audio commentary + special features
C.H.U.D.
The Invisible Man
Glengarry Glen Ross
The VVitch: Salem opening night Q&A panel
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Hunter S. Thompson audio commentary
Atomic Blonde
The Fugitive
Barry Lyndon
Children of Men
Drop
The Running Man
Dirty Work
Inglourious Basterds
Sicario
War of the Worlds
The Thing audio commentary
Galaxy Quest
The French Connection
The French Connection II
Black Bag
The Gorge
Danger: Diabolik
Danger: Diabolik 4K restoration Q&A video podcast
Danger: Diabolik (reprise!)
I Didn’t Come Here to Die
American Psycho
Casablanca
Singin’ in the Rain
Harvey
The Meaning of Life
Ninja Scroll
Predators
The Sting
Zero Effect
Get Out
Ravenous
Contagion
Yojimbo
A Fistful of Dollars
Sneakers
Touch of Evil
The Maltese Falcon
Cry Wolf
Jeopardy
Call It Murder
Le Samouraï
The Dark Crystal
The List of Films by Each Day in July
1st: Jaws, Underwater
2nd: Sideways audio actor commentary
3rd: Tropic Thunder actor audio commentary
4th: Annihilation
5th: 28 Days Later
6th: Heads of State
7th: The Italian Job (2003)
8th: 12 Monkeys, The Hunt for Red October
9th: Tarkovsky’s Stalker, Prospect
10th: Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Black Mountainside
11th: Weekend at Bernie’s, Beverly Hills Cop
12th: Django Unchained
13th: Jurassic Park
14th: Tucker & Dale Vs Evil Special Features, C.H.U.D. actor audio commentary + special features, C.H.U.D., The Invisible Man
15th Glengarry Glen Ross, The VVitch: Salem opening night Q&A panel, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Hunter S. Thompson audio commentary
16th: Atomic Blonde, The Fugitive
17th: Barry Lyndon, Children of Men
18th: Drop, The Running Man
19th: Dirty Work, Inglourious Basterds
20th: Sicario, War of the Worlds (2005), The Thing audio commentary, Galaxy Quest
21st: The French Connection, The French Connection II, Black Bag, The Gorge
22nd (my bday!): Danger: Diabolik
23rd: Danger: Diabolik 4K restoration Q&A video podcast, rewatch Danger: Diabolik, I Didn’t Come Here to Die
24th: American Psycho
25th: Casablanca, Singin’ in the Rain
26th: Harvey, The Meaning of Life, Ninja Scroll
27th: Predators, The Sting
28th: Zero Effect, Get Out, Ravenous, Contagion
29th: Yojimbo, A Fistful of Dollars
30th: Sneakers, Touch of Evil, The Maltese Falcon
31st: Cry Wolf, Jeopardy, Call It Murder, Le Samouraï, The Dark Crystal
Brief Commentary and Data on the Films
Starting out, I hadn’t thought I would be able to move past “one movie a day”, a concept undoubtedly been done to death. My wife traveled extensively in July for work, and not having kids and knowing I’d be alone a bunch, I tried to create something fun to make time go faster, for her return! It’s also the birthday month, and I never get to watch enough films to my liking… life gets in the way, I DJ, obviously there’s work in the daytime, and I actually have a social life. Couple that with wife’s early bedtime and we can sometimes take 2 or 3 days to watch a film together. I no likely stopping films!
Some housekeeping, in case people have questions.
I kept focused!
This was not a “I am holding a phone” festival. I really didn’t. There were a few times, here or there. I am human, but I was truly focused! I list the format in the below notes. I think maybe 5 films were from a MOVIES! channel on TV, possibly 2 or 3 streaming, but I’ll denote below. I love classics, I love black and white and foreign, but this summertime blockbuster film fest quickly became an unpretentious exploration through my collection. Near the end, you’ll note my insecurity towards the final days of the month as I dove back into some quality historic stuff. Let me tell you, there’s a reason Kurosawa is GOAT. His films look glorious, and every aspect of his films and their legacy is beautiful. But Spielberg really creeped in… I knew I loved him, I knew he’s the best, I knew I think Jaws is one of my favorites, but this guy’s output is something else.
The Process of Selecting Films
The selection was left to the universe’s single second in time. It was a wild gut check, there was no thinking about it, no pressure, no planning. I just said “What should I watch?”. I’d say that this got through at least 25% of my collection, and I aim to keep those separated to I know I’m not one of those people with a unwatched film that I purchased, which is a thing for us.
THE RUNNING FILM COMMENTARY
Jaws: 50th anniversary 4K – this scan is absolutely ridiculous. Reference quality through the roof. It’s easily the most likely film to be denoted as “perfect” or near perfect. Enough has been said about this film, I have little to add. I will try and add new thoughts, and here’s one never talked about… Watching Martin Brody go from HATING the ocean and water, to slowly appreciating it, to the point of loving it and at the end having a bromance swimming to land on floaties like something out of the Victorian era of leisure? It’s the cutest thing ever. Also, the efficiency of the film is something to marvel at.
Underwater: Blu-ray (no 4K *yet?) – MAKE THIS A FRANCHISE. MORE KRISTEN STEWART IN EVERY DIRECTION PLEASE. I won’t spoil it, but please have more films that start like a bat out of hell, and then just keep unfolding into worse and worse chaos? If you’re a Lovecraft (evil dude made a crazy universe that cannot stop) fan or body horror and cosmic horror fan, the first act won’t make sense to you vs a sci-fi action film, but just buckle up.
Sideways: Blu-ray – audio actor commentary of Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church have a wonderful time and great chemistry in rewatching the film together. It’s really fun, with some great anecdotes and tidbits, and jokes and stories from the set and production. I feel like Michael Clayton, Sneakers, Die Hard, Chinatown, Back to the Future, No Country For Old Men have the best scripts, and Sideways is absolutely in the top 3 there. Clayton, Chinatown and Sideways.
Tropic Thunder actor audio commentary: 4K – It’s SO FUN with all the inside chatter about the film, but the point is in the film Robert Downey Jr’s character is an Australian playing a black guy who “doesn’t break character until after the DVD commentary”. He says that in the film, AND THEN HE DOES THAT IN THE COMMENTARY, and when he finally goes from being black to Australian, he drops the black accent and does Aussie rest of the commentary. It’s a work of art. Jack Black and Ben Stiller are on it as well, and it’s just so fun.
Annihilation: 4K (streaming) – My favorite film? For my dad’s bday our family got together, and when people went to bed, my nephew wanted to watch a horror film with his girlfriend who had never seen one. I would say it’s a fair onboarding film for the genre? I don’t even consider it horror, vs a work of goddamn fucking art.
28 Days Later: 4K (streaming) – Was planning on seeing Garland / Boyle’s new film in the theatre, which didn’t happen nor has it happened yet.
Heads of State: 4K? (streaming) – Come on. It’s Sunday of July 4th. Popcorn throwaway silly comedy with Cena and Elba? It turned out to be far cuter than I expected. And more Die Hard vs Comedy than I expected. It’s worth some fun time with a mid teen audience or something. Good message overall as well. Pretty good script, all in all for the genre.
The Italian Job (2003): 4K – this is a delightful film. It’s a fair example of what could be used to justify interpretations of older films into modern remakes. Ocean’s 11 might be one of those as well. But I am a giant Charlize fan, and the ensemble cast is amazing. The locations also… AMAZING. Norton is a favorite, and he plays seedy really well, but greedy killer felt a bit of a stretch, even for him.
12 Monkeys: 4K – Gilliam always feels timeless, and I do like when you can see a frame from a film and know who directed it, like knowing one note from Coltrane. I can’t say enough about the film. This remaster is gorgeous as well. Brad Pitt is absolutely standing ovation brilliant in this film. His best work. Willis is so put upon in this film, the pathos and exhaustion has me physiologically feeling bad for the character. Arthur Dent from BBC Hitchhiker’s Guide makes an appearance as well! Looper and Primer do time decently, but I’d be curious out of Triangle, and Time Crimes: what’s the least flawed time travel film?
The Hunt for Red October: 4K – This film is important because of how fun it is, that Connery doesn’t even try a Russian accent (I do love that switch from Russian to English tho)… but, outside of Denis Villeneuve, McTiernan has the greatest 3 film run in the history of cinema: Predator, Die Hard, and Hunt for Red October. That’s the best triple feature in history. Hunt is a delight, and Baldwin is a great lead. I forget why he was replaced by Harrison Ford, but I think Paramount simply wanted to push Baldwin out. It worked to the benefit of the franchise, but Red October is a CLASSIC at this point.
Tarkovsky’s Stalker: Janus 4K rescan film restoration (although I’m not entirely clear) – I went to Berkeley and saw this in the theatre. It’s important to me, obviously, as inspiration for so much inclusive of Annihilation. It’s a ponderous, LOooong, beautiful film. It’s comedic at many points, and existentially claustrophobic. It is a beautiful film of a broken world and people. My joke is, with vary slight spoilers, it is a 2 hour and 43 minute film about a family adopting a dog. https://bampfa.org/event/stalker
Prospect: 4K – DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS SPACE WESTERN FILM. I sort of feel there’s a Western revival, that comes along with Kurosawa, Leone, and Tarantino, Ziegler, Coens, etc… it underpins so much of American history, and along with Moby Dick, something like Blood Meridian is just vital in telling the sordid, twisted tale of our bloodlust and violent intent in the name of capitalism. Well, the neo-westerns have evolved into space, and we’ve seen many examples of sci-fi westerns. Prospect is an absolutely beautiful, and thoughtful, entry into this category, with expert world building (If you’ve not seen Vesper, for sci-fi world building, go find it now), well developed characters, customs, and reactions. Put Pedro in everything, I’m fine with it. Sophie Thatcher is on fire: Heretic, Companion, Maxxxine, Yellowjackets, Mr and Mrs Smith? Sheesh.
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil: Blu-ray – It’s not just horror comedy, it’s the best written genre flipping send up script in history. Yes, there’s winks and nods like Cabin Fever and Cabin in the Woods to the genre itself, but Tucker and Dale vs Evil is a LOVE note to the genre, concept, and flips the cabin in the woods story so expertly. Although Alan Tudyk is going to win an Oscar someday and is one of my favorite people on earth, Tyler Labine sort of steals the show with his pathos and empathy.
Black Mountain Side: Blu-ray – Lovecraft vs Native American Wendigo folklore as a John Carpenter The Thing homage with cosmic and body horror. It’s a bunch of researchers finding something extremely ancient, in the middle of nowhere, and it’s possible some cosmic force is unleashed and the men slowly go insane. It’s a bleak film, and as a low budget independent it’s quite shocking the green actors were able to really pull this film off with a great script, awesome cinematography and lighting, and pretty awesome set design.
Weekend at Bernie’s: Blu-ray – I am not embarrassed? This was such a damned phenomenon too. It quickly has me talking about the worst sequels in history that seemed deliberately awful, and yes I am looking at Dante and his fever dream of Gremlins 2. That story is hilarious.
Beverly Hills Cop: 4K – I know we always talk about the fact that Eddie Murphy was 23 when he filmed this, but EDDIE MURPHY WAS 23?!?!? His charisma rival Tom Cruise, I guess? And he’s not a Scientologist? Lovely. I love Judge Reinhold. Also, the 4K scan of this seems reference quality. Super impressed.
Django Unchained: Blu-Ray (WHERE IS THE 4K???) – Waltz obviously is one of the greatest living actors, and alongside his giddy portrayal of Hans Landa in Inglorious Basterds, his role here is one of the most satisfying roles of all time. And it finally really clicks for me how much I do love all Westerns, and the way this film simply delivers massive homage, while moving the genre forward. The resonating thrill of accountability, revenge, and comeuppance is so life sustaining. In our world, it seems less justice is apparent, and Quentin’s revisionist trilogy is a fascinating look at “what if” the Civil War, World War 2 and Late 60s Hollywood all went differently? What would now be like? Also, we need to note the bizarre comedy that was so hilarious, about the masks and not being able to see out of them? Holy heck that got a giggle.
Jurassic Park: 4K – Spielberg is absolutely mind blowing. It’s funny, Jaws is in my Top 10, but I didn’t watch Close Encounters this time around, which is rare… it’s truly one the best and most gripping films ever. As for Jurassic Park, it’s almost unfair how he flexes his muscles effortlessly. It’s aged perfectly, and this would be reference quality, I assume. The other part of the physical media experience is simply the SOUND. It’s so fun.
Tucker & Dale Vs Evil Special Features: Blu-ray – just the making of, featurettes, etc. It’s pretty charming, and they had a lot of fun on the set. It’s likely about half the run time of the 88 minute film with features, behind the scenes etc. Didn’t listen to the comedy but we’ll get there!
C.H.U.D. actor audio commentary + special features: Blu-ray – It starts like this so you know it’s going to be fun… it’s nice to be validated about John Heard, John Hurt, and William Hurt. LOL Also, they start complaining about not getting paid and actually get a big comically upset. It’s super fun, and I think there’s a beer or drink involved. =) https://www.tiktok.com/@unclefishbits/video/7520810049522912526
C.H.U.D.: Blu-ray – One of my first horror films as a kid that onboarded me to the genre. It’s completely part of my favorite legacy: VHS store vhs tape box cover art.
The Invisible Man (2020): 4K – another brilliant, gripping, and frankly terrifying remake with updated sensibilities, Elisabeth Moss is absolutely brilliant as a frantic and stalked domestic violence victim being gaslit and driven insane while fearing for her life. It’s an unbelievable metaphor for the modern challenge of women feeling safe, not only in society, but with people they love, and then conversely not feeling seen, heard, or believed due to misogyny and tropes of women being “crazy”, etc. This might be one of my highest recommendations of outlier films, of this list.
Glengarry Glen Ross: Blu-ray – How does Alex Baldwin steal the film in his brief scene? Jeez. You know, easily one of the greatest ensemble casts in film history. Jack Lemmon is gold. Spacey, his failings and weird creepy stuff aside, perfectly plays… uhh.. an ineffectual guy. Pryce and Pacino is fantastic. Ed Harris is electric, and Alan Arkin rounds out this mile a minute play. Mamet actually worked as a typist in a NY Real Estate office in the late 60s and that was the inspiration. Must have SUCKED back then. Sucks now, sucked then too. Hey Mitch Hedberg!
The VVitch: Salem opening night Q&A panel: 4K – panel likely not in 4K, it was interesting with Eggers and Anya Taylor Joy, but also some historians of the period and experts on witches. Very interesting, and about 30 minutes.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Hunter S. Thompson audio commentary: 4K – This was insane. I mean, he’s intermittingly screaming like he’s slapped a horse on its ass and he’s catapulted into space time. I believe it was blow. I’m assuming a lot of drugs were involved. There was a lot of insight, and it was interesting, funny, but difficult, and harrowing.
VOLUME WARNING I AM NOT JOKING VOLUME WARNING
Atomic Blonde: 4K – I like to pretend its in the John Wick universe, because stuntman turned Director Leitch, also responsible for Nobody, Bullet Train, John Wick, and Deadpool 2, etc, made a film about the spy craft during the fall of the Berlin War in the late 80s that is pure vibe, and GenX soundtrack heaven. It’s so goddamned sexy, and it’s well paced, edited, framed, shot, and the plot / script is great, and Theron COMMITS and McEvoy is INSANE and chews the scenery and steals the show, if not Charlize just killing it.
The Fugitive: 4K – What an iconic film. I’d seen it when it was released, in the theatres. Not many times since then, and not in a long while. I love the cast. I love the premise and overall bonkers plot. So many memorable scenes, and the best definition of an action film outside of Die Hard, etc. Just perfect summertime blockbuster fun for the whole family. =) About a murdered wife. Well, sure… but, yeah. ok. =)
Barry Lyndon: 4K – Look, it’s stunning. It’s captivating. Every frame a painting. This restoration print is absolutely MARVELOUSSSSsssss. But, I’ve nothing to add, YET… beyond what is one of the best film reviews I’ve ever read: Barry Lyndon’s doomed world Kubrick’s masterpiece has found a new audience https://unherd.com/2025/07/barry-lyndons-doomed-world/
Like few other films, Barry Lyndon is not so much watched as analysed, frame by painterly frame. It is well known that, to achieve the look of the 18th century, bathed in candlelight and grey shafts of natural light, Kubrick resorted to the technology of the contemporary space race. Yet the ultra-fast and ultra-rare Zeiss f/0.7 lens, built in tiny quantities for space photography, had such a shallow depth of field that, when used, the actors could not move for fear of drifting out of focus. Already painterly in its composition — its cinematographer, John Alcott, is pointedly listed as “photographer” in the credits — the result was a further level of distancing, knitting a film from a series of cool and mannerly tableaux vivants, broken up by bursts of vivid, handheld violence.
Children of Men: Blu-ray – You know, this is interesting at this point. I admit I had picked up a bunch of films I was anxious to see in 4K, but unsure if we’ll ever get the honor. A good example here is me buying the blu-ray of Harvey, and 5 weeks later, VOILA THERE IS A KINO LORBER 4K ANNOUNCEMENT. OF COURSE. But that’s beside the point. I’m surprised how many blu-ray films I’ve watched vs my 4K UHD. I sort of love the concept of doing a monthly post like this, because I feel real real bad how many films I didn’t watch that are gorgeous, etc… and this film bums me out there is no 4K. It’s masterful… one of the best films, most innovative, most creative, with powerful subtext and humanity, or just film techniques and direction and cinematography and you bet that one shot driving scene was insane. =) What a brilliant movie. In my top 10 of the 21st I believe (yeah, it just happened and I can’t remember off hand). =)
Drop: Streaming – New 2025… What a fun film. It should be called “One really bad date” but I think they anchor the phone interruptions to the worried mom with PTSD. This is an adrenalin fueled and awkward whodunit in motion, and it’s leads carry the film really well. It’s just fun, and it’s psychological thriller vs action, and about a worried single mom on a first date. I won’t spoil the tension or mystery.
The Running Man: 4K – This film is BONKERS FUN and aged so amazingly well. I think it’s a great double feature with Idiocracy because we… are… almost… here. Squid Game ramps this concept up, but the metaphor of American government turning into entertainment, lacking real justice, etc… it’s so fun. I absolutely, and I mean this, love Richard Dawson, and he’s so fun in this role. The cast is great, always one of my favorites in Yaphet Kotto. This would be a big recommendation, especially in lieu of whatever the new one is and does… and tries to say.
Dirty Work: 4K – Restoration cut. Directed by Bob Saget, with Norm Macdonald and Artie Lange, Chevy Chase, and a cavalcade of goofs… this movie is a guilty pleasure to a niche audience, and for those who enjoy this pleasure it’s laugh out loud ridiculously funny. I just miss Norm, and seeing this love note come out now is pretty delightful. The Vinegar Syndrome restoration explained by Bob Saget:
Inglourious Basterds: 4K – Man, as simple as this… Quentin seems like a good dude who loves cinema and history, the sweet goofy dude he is makes me forgets he makes some of the greatest films of all time. Hans Lanza is one of the greatest villains in history. The opening is one the most tense in history. The overall story as vignettes makes the film fly by. The multiple plots, the different characters, and the acting in each scene… it’s all a masterstroke and it’s so enjoyable to watch this dude work. I really do hope he chooses not to do one more film and hang up his hat.
Sicario: 4K – Sicario 2 is good but it’s also Clear and Present Danger with Jack Ryan back in the day. The parallels are bonkers. That being said, this is one of the best films ever made, and the idea this is left off the top 100 films of the 21st century, but something like Oppenheimer is on there, is absurd. The story, the pacing, editing, cinematography, acting and directing… this gift of a film is a miracle. Denis Villeneuve Directing, Jóhann Jóhannsson Score, Roger Deakins Cinematography, Joe Walker editing, etc. Super great. The tension and reality of this story is so vital. Well done. One of my all time favorites.
War of the Worlds: 4K – Spielberg wins again. I wanted to eat some popcorn. I’ll say the first and second reel are awesome and I sorta check out on the third from time to time. It could be stronger, but I’m not hater. This came out post 9/11 as the yang to the Spielberg positive Yin of ET. He wasn’t sure Aliens would be friendly, anymore. At this time I was hating hard on Scientology thinking I could make a difference, but in the end the guy just wants to entertain and I finally became inured to his flaws and appreciate the actor for the acting. If you know me, it’s hard for me to seperate art and artist, even for mildly complex. No Michael Jackson or Kanye on the Dancefloor, there’s no Rosemary’s Baby or Chinatown no matter how tight the latter script is. Neil Gaiman fucked up a lot of good stories I won’t ever think about again. But Tom seems to be doing his best to be a helpful, nice guy who delivers some entertaining stuff. This film was fun. We’ll leave it at that. The daughter was chef’s kiss perfectly annoying, as she should have been, and killed it. Tim Robbins was cuckoo. I do wonder how much Peele’s Nope was informed by the blood juicer scenes in this?
The Thing audio commentary: 4K – John Carpenter and Kurt Russell, far more subdued that their Big Trouble in Little China commentary, but hilarious, off the cuff, genuine, friendly, and with great insight on the film, the process, effects, the challenges, and the entire production. Really worth a listen whether you like the film, Carpenter, Russel, or all of it!
Galaxy Quest: 4K – I remember this film’s release not going that well, and understand the genre and cult film audience really loves and adopted this film as a classic. It makes me miss Alan Rickman SO MUCH. It makes me want to Sigourney about whether this role was somewhat cathartic, as she’s spoken about being trapped in Ripley and typecast here or there, to some extent? Big Night, 13 Ghosts, Monk, Wings, Ms. Maisel I know it’s cross platform but Tony Shalhoub… GIVE THIS MAN AN OSCAR ALREADY. Tim Allen is Tim Allen. I have a feeling about 45 minutes prior to film wrapping he got “it” and his character. He nailed it, really, on all fronts. I don’t have to like him. I worked with his brother at Jones Drugs on the Hill in Boulder Colorado. The pharmacist brother was also a world award winning jitterbug dance champion. He said his brother was an asshole that continually and seemingly committed to bailing on, and bashing, their family. This was 1996? His family disowned him after getting busted for a half kilo of cocaine and snitching to get out of trouble:
After being caught with more than half a kilo of cocaine, Tim Allen faced life imprisonment in 1978. So he decided to make a deal — which eventually led to fame and fortune. https://allthatsinteresting.com/tim-allen-cocaine
The French Connection: MOVIES! on TV, LITERALY bunny ear antennas – this doesn’t count to all you purists already doubting this whole thing as some bizarre charade for a non-monetized blog to get one-up on the everyman cinema goer. But I’ve always admired Friedkin making a loud walking simulator before Tokyo Decadence could steal the throne. And having a played out car chase even before played out car chases were played out car chases?
This is in my little baby satchel of sad, brutal, broken words that society shrinks around, wide eyed with side eyed panic, that someone could have an opinion on a film like this or The Godfather as more than “IT INSISTS UPON ITSELF”, ending in actual violence.
Okay, this is a great point in the review, because I am surly and cantankerous during the two least important films because it wasn’t a fine 4K print, nor was it in the pitch black of night. This was daytime viewing, and the only time I was distracted with a different glowing rectangle in front of my face, my work laptop. Still… I watched it. People really love this film. My thoughts?
Look, I can have criticisms of classics that are less of an opinion, than it simply is my philosophy: THERE IS SO MUCH ELSE OUT THERE. WHO CARES IF PEOPLE LIKE SCARFACE AND THINK IT IS GOOD OR THINK YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE GODFATHER IN YOUR TOP 10. Make room for outliers. I do love this film, but it’s on a pedestal we should all be able to reach, bring it into our arms, coddle it and coo to it, while you secretly put a new movie up there newer generations haven’t been aware of.
Do you think I want to waste this post THAT NO ONE IS GOING TO READ BUT TOOK ME GREAT EFFORT on talking about fucking Friedkin with French Connection? You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
I will talk to you about the batshit insanity of Sorcerer for 17 hours, and maybe sober, but I doubt it. Frankly. We’re friends, why be dishonest?
This movie is really important, and next time I’ll watch something else.
The French Connection II: MOVIES! on TV, LITERALLY bunny ear antennas –
Go to hell. This is a pastiche of surreal notions, and less of a review. Don’t really go to hell, it was faux edgy.
Frankenheimer, tho… seriously. What an interesting take, moving from non-fiction to a less procedural and more psychological film, essentially moving into a fully fictional narrative. Obviously Hackman had more to work with, but I’ll tell ya… watching that grown man sob addicted to smack isn’t a fun time. Hence, a quality actor.
It strikes me as cool, that this errantly became the first version of “Mission: Impossible Cruise thing where they experimented with directorial styles picture over picture. I really hope they do this with Amazon’s Bond. I was going to joke “If you don’t follow film, but I realize… the only eyes I control, in this moment, by bending and owning future ocular cavities, are those who would know film well enough to end up here with some errant search, or some sad allegiance to this lonely man. But here’s the deal…
Frankenheimer seemed to have made a film about filming Hackman crying a bunch. But, that this Frankenheimer was director of both Manchurian Candidate and Ronin, we expect sophisticated talk about filmmakers with vision? But, NO WE DO NOT. We will not, because he sounded like an asshole. What we’re talking about is actually the Island of Dr. Moreau, and hero Richard Stanley sneaking back onto the set of the film he was fired from as DIRECTOR, becoming an extra during infighting between the producers, Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, and the magic that is production hell. That documentary is pure joy, linked below.
Can’t think of Franky without that movie. So apologies, but OH BACK TO THE FILM. French Connection 2? Nope… still on Moreau. Frankenheimer was a big jerk on set replacing a visionary young man hobbled by studio interference, and this is in the pantheon of top 3 best films about making a movie and the nightmare studio or prophetic problems attached.
INTERLUDE: The 3 greatest films about the pain of filmmaking?
- Hearts of Darkness about Apocalypse Now.
- (this is the greatest and best IMHO) WRECKAGE AND RAGE: MAKING ALIEN 3 https://moviesanywhere.com/movie/alien3/bonus/alien-3/extras/wreckage-and-rage-making-alien-3
- BUT, this film will blow your mind, and so much for nice guy French Connection 2 Director: Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lost_soul_the_doomed_journey_of_richard_stanleys_island_of_dr_moreau
SO… is French Connection the first IP to trial multiple directors right?
We have others, but Mission Impossible is the only I can think of that did this with 1 through the final run this last year: Brian De Palma, John Woo, J.J. Abrams, Brad Bird, Christopher McQuarrie?
What if they did this with Bond? Or rebooted Bourne and Jack Ryan?
IT WOULD LITERALLY KEEP THE FRANCHISES FRESH WITH THE MODERN INTERESTS, DIRECTORS, METHODS, etc???
(OR SHOOT EVERYTHING INTO THE VOID; WE HATE TEXTURE WE HATE REAL EXPERIENCES; IT IS ALL A BEAUREGARD SIMULCRAM THROUGH A SCREEN; IT SHOULD ALL BE VIRTUAL ALWAY VS FEELING HOPE.)
Okay, sobered up and back to the reviews:
Black Bag: Streaming / not sure quality – Man I freaked out above, right? I love this because I imagine these people really this cold, but I do think I need a Spy Glengarry Glen Ross vs Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf. I love Soderbergh’s experimentation throughout the changing medium appetite for about 15 years. It’s unreal how visionary he is to stomach the complex landscape of how to deliver his art. It’s bizarre, frankly. Hard Target it something I think of much, outside of the delicious notion that someone who could have been a BILLION DOLLAR STAR in the Star Wars universe is too indignant in their own silent stupidity to stay quiet enough to cash a few checks, so to speak. Gina could have gone to the STRATOSPHERE. Anyhoo… this is a delight. People check in for a spy caper of intrigue, and we’ve a dinner party of neuroticism. It’s the greatest spy movie that is also Glengarry Glen Ross. Who has the leads?
The Gorge: Streaming – With films like this, it’s a joy to not care about critic or audience opinion. I loved this like Underwater… It’s just a fun action flick that descends into cosmic horror and Lovecraft unknowns as a trick. It’s fantastic, and it’s a joy. Miles is GREAT. I know… I know him from many things that I also forgot. You catch my drift? He’s carrying his own stardom into the future, and it seems he can go full marquee but he could dial it back and do a Andrew Garfield, shortly. Get that blockbuster awareness that lets you disappear back into storytelling. I will say, it’s neat to see younger actors understand the math and do the spreadsheet bottom line numbers on whether to accept a decade of commitment to superhero interrelated projects that keeps you from auteur work, or indie jobs to whet your acting purist muscle?
I feel like a protective uncle to Anya Taylor now… I literally saw The VVitch in the theatre. Pretty sure it was 2016ish… but it’s like crazy to watch this human grow up… Queen’s Gambit, Northman, The Menu, New Mutants. Gambit is truly one of my best pandemic memories.
Danger: Diabolik: 4K – This is one of my favorite films of all time.
Off topic, but I’ll throw this out now: I think Marvel’s X-Men reboot with Deadpool and the New Mutants might possibly shoulder a future X-Force version of Fantomex. That will be the most marginalizing and alienating comment of the post…
I really love this film. Ennio Morricone’s score alone has done more for my DJ career than almost any other uploaded recording. I know Mystery Science Theatre 3000 aka MST3K did a version of this film as well.
But, I need to tell you… this film made me cry. My comment that made me friends with the person who restored the print:
I received my copy the day before my birthday, and watched it Tuesday night. This film has meant a lot to me, and the score itself is a big reason I ended up a DJ. This restoration, not to be dramatic, made me cry. It reminds me of the proper aspect ratio of the Abyss finally being resolved, and feeling like you’re seeing the film for the first time, truly, since the theatre. I wasn’t alive for this, but the restoration made me feel like I was in the theatre and seeing it for the first time in my life. I’ve seen it 50 times… and now I’ve finally seen how rich, how experimental, how bonkers stunning and beautiful it is. In my mind, this is the greatest restoration I have ever seen. Blade Runner 2049, Vertigo, The Wizard of Oz, and The Shining, 2001… I mean it. This was the first time I’ve seen a restoration that actually shocked me, caught me off guard, and (after a few birthday martinis) absolutely made me cry. Thanks for making a hulking brute of a 49 year old get caught off guard and sob for a few seconds. LOL =) Cheers.
Then, I watched:
Danger: Diabolik 4K restoration Q&A video podcast: Youtube clip
SO, the next day… I WATCHED IT AGAIN, aka my Danger: Diabolik (reprise!)
I Didn’t Come Here to Die: streaming – amidst random internet film chats, this popped up. It was a super low budget attempt at horror storytelling. Yay! It’s nice to support creativity at this level. It’s also fun, like seeing a new standup comic who may become one that sells out arenas in a few years, to say you were on the ground floor of a budding career. =) Always neat to see talent grow and flourish. But I might not recommend this film to you unless I know you really well.
American Psycho: 4K – I lived in LA 2000-2002 and was in a bad relationship at the time, and as an ex film-school nerd… let me tell you, I saw all the films. There are a few films I remember in that period that I *KNEW* would be cult classics. American Psycho, Donnie Darko, Mulholland Drive, Reign of Fire, Royal Tenenbaums, Gladiator, Cast Away, LOTR, Ocean’s 11, Spiderman, Minority Report… it was such a delightful run for me!
I’d read Ellis’ book and had absolutely zero idea how they would get this maniac on the screen, and it truly is one of those few scintillating moments where the movie can last the 10 rounds with the book. It’s truly impressive how developed that script is, with as much nuance and subtext, irony, humor, and easter eggs that it stands up to countless rewatches. This 4K scan is gorgeous by the way. The only way this movie could have made better history is if Bale went full ham method on Leto in that one scene.
One note is I finally saw that when Paul calls Patrick Marcus, Marcus is there and looks up when his name is said. LOL
Casablanca: 4K – This films blows my mind.
A) I love the cardboard plane at the end and that they hired midgets to work around it for forced perspective. Here’s looking at them, kid.
B) This film was about 1941, written in 1941, began filming in 1941 (from an unproduced play that Sony picked up for a WHOPPING $20K, major money at the time), and was rushed to release in 1942 due to the Allied invasion of North Africa. The script was being written as the film was shooting. You’ve got to realize, this film is about refugees, and only like 3 of the cast were even from the USA. When they’re singing La Marseillaise to drown out the Nazis, ACTUAL TROOPS AND REFUGEES WERE IN THE AUDIENCE WATCHING SOMETHING THEY JUST EVADED… and it was an amazingly emotional thing for so many.
C) Like Kurosawa, casual film fans or modern cinephiles may poo-poo older movies, black and white movies, etc… but this was HILARIOUS, riveting, and such a human story that people could relate to, as it just happened and *was* happening… it kills me when people deny themselves the full body of cinematic history over assumptions. This film is so quick, tight, witty, and charming, it’s one of my biggest recs in this whole thread, for those who have not experienced it.
Singin’ in the Rain: Well, we could talk about specific production facilities, like the DVD plant in Mexico, that is famous for bad quality control. I got a Jurassic Park that looked like someone scraped infinite orbital scratches into it. But this disc doesn’t show physical damage, but the 4K got wonky here or there, so I moved back to the blu-ray. I will say the working version of this 4K is so beautiful, the colors alone!
Donald O’Connor not winning an Oscar for this role may be the biggest theft in Oscar history.
Harvey: Blu-Ray – WELL I AM DOING MY PART. Less than 3 weeks after purchase, VOILA: the 4K is announced. So I am getting some of my faves lately. Now do Blake Edwards The Party, Capra’s Mindwalk, and Bogondavich’s Noises Off.
This movie is over the top charming and has always had my heart, and I think seeing it so young was freeing. I may not have understood the subtext of defying social convention to feel more comfortable in your own skin, living your authentic life, but it resonated so deeply with me, as did the revolutionary act of being kind. I get goose pimples of joy! =)
Also, this is a play, and I’m tall. I’d love to play Dowd if anyone is planning a production.
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life: 4K – It’s somewhat charming this could have even possibly aged well as it did. What a delightful string of vignettes. My dad and I LOVED the show on PBS as a kid, so I got the wonderful chance to see this so young I didn’t have a clue what was happening. But it was quite the education, and I am sure my father wilted and died inside with some of the jokes about rubbers and sperm, women’s periods, or being so fat you explode. But, I’ll say… when I was figuring out my thoughts on religion, and specifically why I always felt an absence of belief… Dr. Demento playing this song made things very clear to me… like Harvey, I can just be my kind self. The Galaxy song? It’s okay, we’re all here, and you define meaning or purpose on your own timeline, and in your own way.
Ninja Scroll: Old data file, pretty low quality – Outside Akira or Ghost in the Shell, name me something more important than 1993’s Ninja Scroll that popularized Asian martial arts, art, and culture more than this film? Well, the answer might be John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China that is a hoot, aged beautifully, lovingly brought Kung-Fu to wider American audiences, and subverted the hero trope by making the asian sidekick the real hero, and Russel was just a dumb John Wayne knockoff. And there aren’t any unsavory or dated Asian stereotypes in it. But I didn’t watch that film…
Boy is this an NC-17 masterstroke. I remember it being difficult / challenging to watch with my younger sensibilities. That the film is *entirely* hand drawn is remarkable, and it’s probably my next purchase to watch it in greater detail, as a Jan 2025 release has been lauded.
Predators: 4K – Scan looked great. I cannot look at Adrien Brody without thinking he has the WEIRDEST career, or his agent is high and he is game, but his roles are always all over the place! This didn’t scratch the itch for franchise fans at the time, but in retrospect I think this is easily the 3rd best, possibly 2nd best, of the franchise. I’m too nostalgic for Glover, and the hot LA sticky scene. I also think the arctic Alien v Predator is better than we all thought at the time, and this was a nice bit of popcorn munchin’.
The Sting: 4K – this film plays longer than I remember, but it’s pretty easy to look at these two hunks, and enjoy the caper. Robert Shaw is also just fantastic! =) It’s fun, and the soundtrack is the soundtrack to end all soundtracks, except maybe for Harold and Maude.
Zero Effect: Old Digital File – This doesn’t even have a blu-ray? What? Bill Pullman as an OCD and autistic super private eye with a tightly wound Ben Stiller as his handler, this is a wildly fun and underrated film by a normally Jumanji Kasdan. Actually, it’s so unknown, here’s the write up:
Zero Effect follows private investigator Daryl Zero and Steve Arlo, his reluctant representative, through one particularly tangled case involving blackmail, murder, revenge, and a set of lost keys. Zero is the world’s best private investigator, suave and totally in control while on a case, but socially inept when off the job. The diversely talented and prolific Bill Pullman is excellently cast as Zero, switching seamlessly from one persona to the next, and the ever-charming Ben Stiller is his perfect sidekick. In a deadpan description of his method, or the “Zero Effect,” Zero details his brilliance for Sherlock Holmes-like deductions, based on his strict adherence to objectivity and observation, or, in Zero parlance, “the obs.” Somewhat predictably the obs falter when the case of the missing keys brings Zero to Gloria Sullivan, a winsome and mysterious paramedic played by Kim Dickens. Thankfully, writer-director Jake Kasdan is no less brilliant than the Zero he creates, and the potential corniness of the developing romance is balanced by a razor-sharp wit and the nail-biting suspense of the unfolding plot. –Laska Jimsen
Get Out: 4K – Having not watched his sketch show, Peele has always been a horror lover and aficionado to me, and his craft and skill is top of the game in the industry right now. My love for horror has everything to do with the subtext, and what is REALLY frightening us. The allegories of race and discrimination, stereotypes and social structure is brilliantly woven into this film that continues it’s inescapable decent into gaslighting madness. I could go on, but don’t want to mansplain to you, goodly readers. I’ll just say if I could have voted for Obama a 3rd time, I would have.
Ravenous: Blu-ray – Yet another wildly underrated film with a WONDERFUL ensemble cast, and just so you know as much as he would have been respectfully included in that, Jeffrey Jones can suck a rock. Guy Pearce and Robert Carlyle each kill with their performances, a retelling of a non-fiction story of Alfred Packer, a guy that not only ate some people in the mountains back in the 1800s, but they named by USC Grill after him, which is sort of ridiculous. But another film that came out of this story, and got Matt and Trey kicked out of my alma mater University of Colorado, “Cannibal: The Musical!”. This film merges the Wendigo mythology with a subtext on war, PTSD, vegetarianism commentary in the vein of Texas Chainsaw, and ratchets up tension with a really tightly crafted 3 reels. Although somewhat of a bomb upon release, not even recouping $11M budget or so, and plagued by production issues, this has become a cult favorite over time.
Contagion: 4K – This film handed us the future on a platter. For some reason, this film was pure comfort food for me during the pandemic. It’s a road map, an infallible bible, that so closely replicated what we were seeing, it did a few things for me… it taught me that science isn’t magic, but it can keep us safe, that the bizarre behaviors of people in the experience made sense, and that we’ll never be able to circle the wagons to save ourselves. Our best tool is science, and I am all about it. It’s also crazy how it predicted the clickbait influencer MAGA pipeline, on top of all else. A revelatory, cautionary film with a tale we did not heed. If you’ve not watched this since the pandemic, I’d say it’s my number one recommendation in this thread.
Yojimbo: 4K – This film is everything. Kurosawa was light years in front of everyone. The style, the framing, the blocking, the composition… this man got so much about the art form of film before other people, namely that it is the unification of every form of art from writing to lighting to painting to audio, etc… he married everything with his sensibility that his movies are timeless, and could have been shot yesterday. It’s funny how some film fans sleep on him. If you like Westerns, thank him. If you like Tarantino, watch him. Everything will make sense if you’ve kept this hero at bay. Watch Akira Kurosawa. Enough said.
A Fistful of Dollars: 4K – For example, I’m in my silo, but I’ve recently found out that people don’t realize Sergio Leone’s film is a direct remake of Yojimbo? The Magnificent 7 is Seven Samurai? Anyways, I tried to become thematic during the end of the film fest, and wanted to sort of have double features and call backs, etc. I’ll be doing that far more in future fests. I thought Jaws and Underwater was a nice link, but I really can’t wait to watch the baffling 1988 quadruple feature, all released the same year: The Abyss, Leviathan, Deep Star Six, and Lords of the Deep. But I am most proud of the next run: tying Sneakers, Maltese Falcon and Touch of Evil together!
These Arrow Remasters of the Dollars Trilogy are quite the love note, and it’s wonderful to see these films brought back in a way that you could actually have outlier or younger audiences connect with it, on the sheer visual quality alone. A lot of old film, black and white, film grain stuff is trapped behind poor enough quality people *think* they don’t like it. This brings art back to new generations, and I am happy to support all they do!
Sneakers: 4K – One of my favorite films, one of my favorite ensemble casts, and watching in 2025 with AI and clickbait, it is wild how there are “Too Many Secrets”, and none of them seem to want to get out. Robert Redford predates our obvious fascination with Brad Pitt, clearly. Poitier is a maestro. It’s sad to see River Phoenix, but his comedy in this is sort charming. Dan Aykroyd getting second billing in this is so interesting, after the 80s with Ghostbusters, Spies Like Us, Blues Brothers, Trading Places, and the like. He was a POWERHOUSE. Strathairn is a great example of why people should be able to act as people they are not. McDonnell, Donnie Darko’s Mom, has so much pathos in this, she’s delightful. Ben Kingsley is wonderful, and we cannot forget Tobolowsky with the iconic “My voice is my passport, verify me”. Setech Astronomy is a great name for an SSID, by the way. Along with Sideways, Michael Clayton, and others mentioned above, this is one of the tightest scripts ever. It ratchets up tension with amazing buddy comedy throughout.
Redford’s character is named after a character in Touch of Evil, and a bank employee was watching the film on a TV, so easter eggs within film festivals encouraged…. Touch of Evil was next!
Touch of Evil: 4K – Heston charts the top of my “famous cinematic racism” post, in that you can play a blind person as someone with sight, but maybe you shouldn’t play a Mexican, when you are a Mexican’t. That post is linked below, but Welles is in full control of delivering beautiful Noir, and the way this film is shot is truly one of my favorites. What’s more, Mancini’s score is one of my favorites as well, and this film just vibes time and place. Also, another “old film” that would surprise people who think they don’t like them. As for an actor, Welles was only supposed to act, but Heston demanded he direct. But as an actor, Welles played that cop so disgustingly well.
To open with a 3 1/2 minute tracking shot that introduces you to everyone and tells you everything you need to know is just a level of intentionality and bravado I’d care to see more often. I often wonder if Welles’ shot was mimicked by Soy Cuba in 1964?
Famous Cinematic Racism – the roles you hate to admit that are, honestly, *Just not right*.
The Maltese Falcon: Possibly the second greatest Film noir? Greatest? I watched this after Sneakers, and Touch of Evil. The San Francisco parallel to Sneakers, obviously is the draw, that then ties to noir. It was a great way to wind down the fest. Funny about self-fulfilling prophecies, the Maltese Falcon prop has it’s own real life noir to talk about!
The Mystery of the Maltese Falcon, One of the Most Valuable Movie Props in History A statuette from the John Huston–Humphrey Bogart classic The Maltese Falcon is one of the most recognizable, and sought-after, pieces of movie memorabilia in history. In fact, Steve Wynn paid $4.1 million for it. But was it the genuine article? Bryan Burrough tracks down a flock of Falcons, with links to both Leonardo DiCaprio and a famous Hollywood unsolved murder. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/02/mystery-of-the-maltese-falcon
Cry Wolf: MOVIES! on TV, LITERALLY bunny ear antennas – 1947 Film Noir in Barbara Stanwyck trying to learn more about her husbands mysterious heart attack and death, also with Errol Flynn, she’s embroiled in a sinister plot surrounding a secret lab! It’s not a conscious choice to watch, but it was a fun way to pass the time.
Jeopardy: MOVIES! on TV, LITERALLY bunny ear antennas – 1953 Another Stanwyck vehicle, this is just a fun race against time film. On vacation in Baja, a collapsed pier lands on the husband, and the tide is coming in! WHAT WILL HAPPEN? Will she save the day and the vacation? Is there an escaped convict possibly? TUNE IN TO FIND OUT!
Call It Murder: MOVIES! on TV, LITERALLY bunny ear antennas – 1934 pre-code Bogart film. It was a tiny role, and called “Midnight”, but when he got famous they gave him top billing and re-released it… even tho he has a TINY role. LOL It’s about a man who has a job to send someone to the electric chair, and then has to face his decision as his daughter is put on trial for crimes of passion, and she may be sent there as well. Probably the earliest film to deal with the death penalty?
Le Samouraï: 4K – Criterion version FWIW, my goodness this film is jaw droppingly beautiful. I’d not seen this remaster, but it’ll be watched over and over. This titanic piece of film history has influenced so many films and characters. This 1967 film has inspired: Woo’s The Killer, Refn’s Drive, Jarmusch’s Ghost Dog, Mann’s Collateral, John Wick, Taxi Driver, French Connection, Fincher’s recent “The Killer”. You like those? Watch this French film.
The Dark Crystal: 4K and boxset which came with a crystal shard – These remaster is stellar, and this joins all the films that scarred me as a kid that had me asking “should I be watching this psychedelic fever dream fantasy movie that is draining cute critters of life juice with these horrifying ugly weirdos that have big scary beetle monsters chasing some fairies and aggro dog. Funny enough, that dog reminds me of a dear pup of mine I had 2000-2014. Pavlov was quite the fizzgig. This is a legendary work of art, and directed by none other than that charming couple that is Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, Frank Oz and Jim Henson. Just a beautiful and imaginative work of art.
RAW CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF FILMS
- Call It Murder (1934)
- The Maltese Falcon (1941)
- Casablanca (1942)
- Cry Wolf (1947)
- Harvey (1950)
- Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
- Jeopardy (1953)
- Touch of Evil (1958)
- Yojimbo (1961)
- A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
- Le Samouraï (1967)
- Danger: Diabolik (1968)
- Danger: Diabolik Rewatch (1968)
- The French Connection (1971)
- The Sting (1973)
- Jaws (1975)
- The French Connection II (1975)
- Barry Lyndon (1975)
- Tarkovsky’s Stalker (1979)
- The Thing (1982) – The Thing audio commentary
- The Dark Crystal (1982)
- The Meaning of Life (1983)
- C.H.U.D. (1984)
- C.H.U.D. actor audio commentary + special features (1984)
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
- The Running Man (1987)
- Weekend at Bernie’s (1989)
- The Hunt for Red October (1990)
- Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
- Sneakers (1992)
- Jurassic Park (1993)
- The Fugitive (1993)
- Ninja Scroll (1993)
- 12 Monkeys (1995)
- Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas – Hunter S. Thompson audio commentary
- Dirty Work (1998)
- Zero Effect (1998)
- Galaxy Quest (1999)
- Ravenous (1999)
- American Psycho (2000)
- 28 Days Later (2002)
- The Italian Job (2003)
- Sideways (2004) – Sideways audio actor commentary
- War of the Worlds (2005)
- Children of Men (2006)
- Tropic Thunder (2008) – Tropic Thunder actor audio commentary
- Inglourious Basterds (2009)
- Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010) – Tucker & Dale Vs Evil Special Features
- Predators (2010)
- I Didn’t Come Here to Die (2010)
- Contagion (2011)
- Django Unchained (2012)
- Black Mountainside (2015)
- Sicario (2015)
- The VVitch (2015) – The VVitch: Salem opening night Q&A panel
- Atomic Blonde (2017)
- Get Out (2017)
- Annihilation (2018)
- Prospect (2018)
- Underwater (2020)
- The Invisible Man (2020)
- Heads of State (2025)
- Drop (2025)
- Black Bag (2025)
- The Gorge (2025)
- Danger: Diabolik 4K restoration Q&A video podcast (2025)