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January & February Movies - 2018

After a mediocre January, I'm back to a lethargic movie watching start. Work, situation and adult ADD has taken control of my life. I need more movies!

  1. Across the River - More interesting in how it looks than in the content. Meh!
  2. Kong Skull Island - Silly, poorly acted and a set up for sequels. John C Reilly almost saves it.
  3. La Jetee (Re-watched) - Chris Marker's short is one of, if not the greatest Sci-fi film ever made.
  4. The Earrings of Madame De ... - One of the most perfectly shot films. Fun, simple and brilliant.
  5. A Ghost Story - Great idea, but comes of as a youthful, amateurish attempt to be profound.
  6. 47 Meters Down - May have taken the title of worst movie ever made.
  7. Der Samurai - Bizarre film about sword wielding nut. An odd take on a werewolf film!
  8. Dunkirk - A rare short war film. Without a doubt Christopher Nolan's best film. 
  9. Sawdust and Tinsel - A rare Bergman film that is simply good. Bibi shines!
  10. Our Friend, Martin - Animated. MLK, time travel and changing times. Doesn't always work.
  11. Dig Two Graves - Looks great and the lead gives it her all, but the film lacks depth.
  12. Russian Ark - Sokurov's incredible 90-minute, single shot, is remarkable, but incredibly boring.
  13. The Passion of Anna - Bergman uses four characters to show us the cracks in all of us.
  14. Throne of Blood (RW) - Kurosawa's brilliant Macbeth adaptation. Mifune shines!
  15. Mother! - Aronofsky's biblical tale will confuse many. This one will take another viewing.
  16. Pi (RW) - Aronofsky's first is revered, but I still believe is his weakest effort.
  17. The Lion King - After many years I finally watched and unimpressed. Worst Disney film.
  18. La La Land - Beautiful. Stone and Gosling are this generation's dynamic duo. 
  19. Deep Red - Argento's film feels like a scene by scene homage to past films, artwork and music.
  20. Red Beard - It seems unthinkable to suggest this, but it may be better than Seven Samurai.
  21. Manhunter - Rewatched cinema's introduction into the world of Hannibal Lecter. Still great!
  22. The Killing Of A Sacred Deer - Bizarrely perfect. Kidman is amazing. Lanthimos' best so far.
  23. Chungking Express - Kar-Wai Wong's film feels like a how-to on film making. Beautiful!
  24. Godzilla: Planet of the Monsters - Animated. Great anime, but 30 minutes in, it was too boring.
  25. Force Four aka Black Force - It as sentimental value.
  26. Ashes of Time Redux - Wong Kar-Wai's dreamlike tale. Good? Not sure it matters/
  27. Hell or High Water - Brilliantly acted, and thank goodness, because Sheridan's script is gold.
  28. Born in China - Despite my love of animals and nature, the narration is so dumb, it's awful
  29. Evolution - Feels like a low budget version of A Cure for Wellness. Better in every way.
  30. Mindhunter (Series) - Snappy dialogue, likable characters and fascinating subject matter.
  31. Le Ballon Rouge - Revisited my favorite short film of all-time. Still beautiful!
  32. Jackie - I adore Portman, but this was a drag. Sarsgaard and the accents were perfect though.

Top Three: Dunkirk, Red Beard, The Killing of a Sacred Deer
Bottom Three: 47 Meters Down, The Lion King, Kong: Skull Island
Biggest Surprise: Dunkirk
Biggest Letdown: The Lion King 

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