Strong agreement
My 4 movies of the year.
Tàr. Banshees of Inisherin. Triangle of Sadness. Empire of Light. Rich pickings for awards season.— Richard Armitage (@RCArmitage) December 15, 2022
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I’d put “Banshees” first — haven’t seen such a good film since “Parasite.” “Tar” is also excellent, although I left the cinema very undecided as to what to think. Haven’t seen the other two yet, but I think “Empire of Light” will come here and I do plan to see it.
Me + Richard Armitage 
I have to wait, not still in France.
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hopefully soon.
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I went to the theater for “Othello” , a great experience it was. Not yet in front of a movie for a while, I should be more adventurous, 8n front of Covid’s risks.
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I guess Covid’s getting worse here, too, at the moment. I actually probably would have gone to the movies tomorrow, but now I’ll stay in. LOL.
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Too cold outside, please say at home!
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Indeed, I’ve been at home for seven days now … but I’m going out tomorrow!
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Agree with you both about ‘Banshees’, it was truly great. The trailer for Tringle of Sadness put me off but I loved The Square and Force Majeure so I might watch it. Tár looks interesting . From the trailer Empire of Light has that Oscar enticing British mawkishness about it, which is off putting. All four films should increase their box-office takings now, with RA’s endorsement!(It’s lovely to hear from you, I hope you are fine.)
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Empire is getting mixed reviews. I’m sure all his fans will rush out to see these films (esp the ones that tweeted they had never heard of them). I’m just glad he didn’t say he loved “Avatar.”
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Ha! Yes!
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This is SO WEIRD but last night I was thinking, “I hope to read something from again Servetus sometime.” Hope you are doing well, and glad for your notes on the films, I hadn’t heard of them and now v curious; not seen many movies since pandemic. Clever of Richard to give a nod to them, another way he does good in the world! Loved your post on his shoes, it brought me to an old one, review of his eclectic footwear, ending with Thorin’s boots. You are still making us think and chuckle. All best!
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I’m surprised that you didn’t hear about “Tar,” it’s gotten a lot of buzz. In any case, thanks for the good words. I’m okay (nothing horrible has happened to me or mine lately). I do continue to have plans to post more, but in any case I’m glad you’re reading and that old news is still interesting to read!
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I would also add “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” which I loved.
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I also loved Banshees, also Everything Everywhere All at Once. Also, The Wonder. The Menu was pretty funny. Going to see Tar on Saturday. (It’s hard to remember earlier in the year, although there were probably some others.)
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I need to watch “The Wonder” — it’s on Netflex, I think? I enjoyed “The Menu,” too. Definitely my kind of humor, and the gore was within acceptable boundaries (for me). Let me know what you thought of “Tar.”
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I liked Tar a lot. Cate Blanchett really lost herself in the role. And it was interesting to see a woman in that sort of story.
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I agree that it was the performance of a lifetime (possibly) for Cate Blanchett. I have been trying to think about whether the film is a sort of whataboutitism script, i.e., “absolute power corrupts absolutely” (in which case, less interesting) or if it was trying to say something about the kind of people who become successful — also curious about the significance of scene where she throws up, and whether the stuff re: fandoms was a slap or not.
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Maybe it was both. I didn’t get the vomiting but my son pointed out that it was realization, as the choices were laid out before her like an orchestra. What I got most from the fandom was the idea that, for her, every engagement deserves the same intensity of preparation and focus.
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so, is fandom worth it? I mean, I know how I would answer that, I just wonder what the film is saying — is it trying to make her look ridiculous and she is resisting?
Vomiting: it’s like she thinks that buying a massage is disgusting, but the kind of sexual coercion that she’s done in her own life is not?
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I know how I would answer that too. But probably the film is trying to show that she can no longer get the work that are traditionally seen as most valued, but that she values and treats them all the same.
On the vomiting, I think that she has finally made a realization. through being offered to buy a massage from a likely exploited young woman, that the sexual coercion was disgusting. Or at least we hope that she has finally realized that.
I’m going to see Women Talking tonight.
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Would love to hear your thoughts. I tried to read the book when it came out, and could not get into it. It is supposed to come into the theaters here, but I suspect it won’t.
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We didn’t like it as much as we had expected to. It was good, but a little slow at the beginning. The young girls were quite funny and provided a distraction from just “women talking”. My son was mentioning that they missed opportunities for dramatic tension and action because they were so focused on only showing women (and Ben Wishaw, which seemed a bit odd but I guess necessary as he was taking minutes and the women couldn’t write). I was thinking that I might try reading the book, as I thought maybe something was missing in the translation to movie. But maybe not, given what you said.
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I don’t remember why I stopped reading it, but the most typical reason in the last three years is that it didn’t hold my attention well enough to make me want to pick it up again after 30 pages or so (my rule used to be 70 pp before discarding a book, but as I get older I get less patient). I see the film has been nominated for the Oscar so I will try to see it.
Something I really wonder about this film is that there’s been no talk of cultural appropriation. Toews is at least a Mennonite and from Manitoba. The project reeks of Oscar bait, which I also find increasingly annoying as I get older.
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I have the same problem. I have several books that I have tried to start but they didn’t hold my attention. A couple of them I think there may be hope for when I’m in full-on reading mode.
I’ve liked Sarah Polley’s directing work before (and acting, although she doesn’t act in this one), but just wasn’t as impressed as I was hoping to be. Her documentary about her family was really interesting in both its approach and content. (Stories We Tell)
I didn’t know that about Toews. I think I’ve read something of hers before, but I can’t recall what.
Tonight I’m going to see Infinity Pool with my two sons. It’s at our theatre with the armchair recliners and seat service — always a great experience!
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I saw three films today (Living, Women Talking, and Missing) — Women Talking was the worst of the three. Awful! Apart from the issues I have with the concept (IRL the women of Manitoba Colony did not organize a mass exodus), the film is just really uninteresting. I developed absolutely no investment in the resolution of the mainspring of the tension in the story, i.e., should they “stay and fight” or “leave”? I could not make myself care and so it was hard for me to follow who was arguing what, and my mind wandered. Also, it takes way, way too long for that film to end. It seemed like it was going to end three or four times and then they found another ten minutes of farewell to add to it. Claire Foy overacted obnoxiously, and the script was pretty awful. I would bet you any money that exactly no Old Order Mennonite woman has ever said the words “pernicious ideology.” Or “per se.”
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But what do you really think? LOL. I think Toews said it was her imagining of what a response could have been to the real-life events.
On the other hand, I thought Infinity Pool was a really good movie. (Warning for blood and violence and some weird sex.) Great tension and music; cool cinematography; an interesting concept; and good acting from Mia Goth and Alexander Skarsgard.
How were Living and Missing?
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I have to wait, too. I want to go to watch Tár and Empire of Light because I have heard a lot about. I was hooked with the trailer of The Menu so I watched the film.
I hope you are well and Happy Hanukka for tomorrow
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The Menu: I liked the element of criticism of foodie culture a lot!
Thanks for the good wishes, and Happy Fourth Sunday of Advent to you. How the time flies.
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Lots to catch up, one for the new year, to get round to cinemas more often! But really wanted to wish you Hanukkah sameach! Hope your minora is ready and you have some lovely candles. Enjoy this time of light and may it bring good things. And hope you get to have some lovely food xx
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and of course i meant menorah! the dangers of typing from a phone and autocorrect 😦
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Thanks! This synagogue does nightly lighting via Zoom, which has been surprisingly enjoyable. It’s also made it easier for me to make friends quickly.
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I’ve watched so little! Need to catch up…
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I feel that way, too. I was too tired to go to the cinema much this year (a full time job will do that to you, I guess). If I had to pick one of his films to see, I’d pick Banshees.
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Thanks for the tip!
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