This year, I set out to watch one film each day. While I haven’t been completely consistent, as of April 3rd, I’ve watched 51 films, meaning I’ve averaged about one every 1.7 days. Anyways, here is my semester in review!
Unexpected Banger: The White Cat (1950)
Black-and-white Swedish thrillers always deliver, but this one just scrapes another level of decadence.
Unexpected Miss: The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
Unfortunately, the costumes could not save the story.
“Boring, yawning, sloppy, lazy”: Frozen 2 (2020)
Joked that I wanted Olaf to die and then it happened but it wasn’t funny.
Wait I watched that?: Operation Mincemeat (2021)
Babe look, the Mr. Darcy’s are fighting.
“It Insists Upon Itself”: The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Almost painfully abstract at times. Sorry, I don’t want to have to read multiple Twitter threads to “get” something.
“It’s Camp!”: Renfield (2023)
A passable alternative if your mother wants to watch Nosferatu with you. “I swear, it’s the same thing.”
Never gets old: A Knight’s Tale (2001)
Perhaps one of the films of all time. Killer soundtrack, wicked cast, Heath Ledger. What more can you ask for?
Don’t Watch this: Cocaine Bear (2023)
It isn’t worth it, I promise.
Do Watch this: Ghost (1990)
Beautiful and gut-wrenching and fun.
Mixed Emotions on this one: The Pod Generation (2023)
Emilia Clarke is great as always.
Lived up to the hype: Aftersun (2022)
Watched on my dad’s birthday (pure coincidence).
Was it problematic to enjoy this?: Rebecca (2020)
No comment.
Best Soundtrack: Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
And it’s not even Menken’s strongest.
Most Beautiful: Suspiria (1977)
Just don’t mind the bad dubbing.
Amazing! Never watching it again!: Atonement (2007)
Made the awful mistake of going in blind.
Most fun: Clue (1985)
Like Joey Graceffa but better.
Worst film: Yesterday (2019)
Zero stars, wasted potential. I actually thought of this premise in the car at 8 years old and now I’m mad I never copyrighted it.
Top film: Doubt (2008)
Stellar acting performs thematic battery on the psyche.
I’d really encourage anyone curious to pick up this challenge! I’ve noticed that films have transformed from something I must only enjoy when I worked hard enough to deserve it to now being my duty. It became part of my ritual unwinding, serving as a regulated allowance of indulgence. Life is suddenly bright and beautiful.
Photo by Noom Peerapong on Unsplash