weekly digest: a Christmas movie that suits my black mood this year...
everything that happened at Flick Filosopher from Monday, December 13th, to Sunday, December 19th
I’m not sure I’ve ever pondered Christmas movies as much as I have been this year, between my Festive Cheer streaming recommendations — continuing through January 2 via Patreon or Substack — and my curmudgeonly movie lover’s unpleasant Advent calendar (which of course wraps up on Christmas Eve). And I don’t think I’ve ever come across a Christmas movie as bleak as Silent Night, which I reviewed this week. If you’ve found this year as crushingly grim as I have, this one might suit your black mood as it did mine. (Fun and fluffy movies are good, though, too!) It’s available on demand in the US and the UK. If you do give it a look, let me know what you think…
—MaryAnn
new at flick filosopher, Dec 13–19
new and ongoing cinema releases, US/Can, Dec 17
Netflix’s The Lost Daughter debuts in cinemas; more… [get the full rundown]
new and ongoing cinema releases, UK/Ire, Dec 15–17
Netflix’s The Lost Daughter debuts in cinemas; more… [get the full rundown]
new and ongoing dvd/blu/vod releases, US/Can, Dec 13–17
The French Dispatch is new on premium VOD; documentary Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street debuts on HBO Max; more… [get the full rundown]
new and ongoing dvd/blu/vod releases, UK/Ire, Dec 13–17
The French Dispatch arrives on premium VOD; Ron’s Gone Wrong lands on Disney+; more… [get the full rundown]
Silent Night movie review: house party at the end of the world [pictured]
Apocalyptically sorta-satirical, bone-deep terrifying slap in the face that humanity has properly earned. Formidable, intense… and funny, in a very dry way that is nevertheless difficult to laugh at. [read the review | VOD US/UK]
the curmudgeonly movie lover’s unpleasant Advent calendar: December 19
Oh-o, click or tap for tidings of bitterness and melancholy… [open the virtual door]
the curmudgeonly movie lover’s unpleasant Advent calendar: December 18
Click or tap for season’s gratings… [open the virtual door]
the curmudgeonly movie lover’s unpleasant Advent calendar: December 17
Wreck the halls (then click or tap)… [open the virtual door]
the curmudgeonly movie lover’s unpleasant Advent calendar: December 16
All humbug, all the time, for just a click or tap… [open the virtual door]
the curmudgeonly movie lover’s unpleasant Advent calendar: December 15
All the tinsel too bright and cheery? Click or tap for some holiday anti-cheer! [open the virtual door]
the curmudgeonly movie lover’s unpleasant Advent calendar: December 14
Click or tap for a taste of the cynicism of the season! The perfect antidote to all the fa-la-la-la-la! [open the virtual door]
loaded question: how long does a film have to be before it’s too long for you to sit through?
Tell us about the really long films you have endured, either at home or in theaters. [reply at Flick Filosopher | reply at Substack | reply at Patreon]
the curmudgeonly movie lover’s unpleasant Advent calendar: December 13
Oh-o, click or tap for tidings of bitterness and melancholy… [open the virtual door]
what I’m bingeing
Hawkeye [Disney+ globally]: all caught up, with just the finale this week left to go; really loving this! who’da thunk one of the most gripping scenes in superhero story would be two people — Hailee and, ahem, the visitor in her burned-out apartment — sitting and talking?
The Wheel of Time [Amazon Prime globally]: still not gripping me, and I’m not sure how much longer I’m going to give this…
Tweets of the week…
couldn’t decide so I chose two
coming up at Flick Filosopher…
The Matrix: Resurrections, obvs
historical religious drama Benedetta
Ghostbusters: Afterlife
Romanian satire Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn
Last Night in Soho, from Edgar Wright
King Richard, starring Will Smith
Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast
Netflix’s Passing and Red Notice
Marvel’s Eternals
grim Icelandic fairy tale Lamb
Wes Anderson’s latest, The French Dispatch
French freakshow Titane
biopic The Eyes of Tammy Faye
crime thriller Copshop
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
The Green Knight
Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins
Mark Wahlberg as Joe Bell
Old, the latest from M. Night Shyamalan
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