weekly digest: just look up!
everything that happened at Flick Filosopher from Monday, January 10th, to Sunday, January 16th
Welcome to Blue Monday, allegedly the most depressing day of the year (at least in the Northern Hemisphere, since it’s related to winter weather), which is probably bullshit and is absolutely a PR invention, but which definitely hangs on because the idea of it rings true with so many people. If anything, I think it’s not going far enough to pinpoint just a single awful day at this time of year. For me, it’s weeks of low mood after the Christmas decorations come down yet while the days are still so short. (I totally get taking the specifically Christmassy stuff down, like Santas and whatnot, but why not leave some twinkly lights up to chase away the long hours of darkness?)
Anyway, at least we have movies to get us through…
—MaryAnn
new at flick filosopher, Jan 10–16
new and ongoing cinema releases, US/Can, Jan 11–14
Indie oddities The Pink Cloud and Potato Dreams of America; more… [get the full rundown]
new and ongoing cinema releases, UK/Ire, Jan 14
Lots of documentaries this week: Mothers of the Revolution, Ascension, and Cow; more… [get the full rundown]
new and ongoing dvd/blu/vod releases, US/Can, Jan 11–14
Eternals is free on Disney+ and a premium VOD option on other services; The Tragedy of Macbeth debuts on Apple TV+; more… [get the full rundown]
new and ongoing dvd/blu/vod releases, UK/Ire, Jan 10–14
Eternals is free on Disney+ and a premium VOD option on other services; The Tragedy of Macbeth debuts on Apple TV+; more… [get the full rundown]
would love to get rid of Disqus for commenting
Please share any suggestions or feedback you might have, readers! [read more]
I’m guesting again on movie podcast Ribbon of Memes
I join hosts RogerBW and Nick Marsh to talk about the 1988 Oscar winner Cinema Paradiso. [read more]
Don’t Look Up movie review: is the sky falling? (#Netflix)
I laughed a lot while also feeling sick to my stomach. As subtle as a sledgehammer, almost obnoxious… and yet it might as well be a documentary. Is it elegant? Is it art? Who the fuck cares? [read the review | globally on Netflix]
curated: why are movies and TV shows so muddy-looking these days?
Emily VanDerWerff at Vox explores several possible reasons for this, including a deep dive into how digital cameras and, even more importantly, digital postproduction have impacted how movies look. [read more]
I’m guesting on movie podcast SpyHards
I join special agents Scott and Cam to talk about the 2012 Kathryn Bigelow film Zero Dark Thirty. [read more]
loaded question: does Disney animation belong in the Metropolitan Museum of Art?
And if it is going to appear there, does the museum have an obligation to engage in robust criticism of it (not necessarily negative, just analytical) to avoid it feeling like, as a New York Times critic termed it, “a sponsored content post”? [reply at Flick Filosopher | reply at Substack | reply at Patreon]
what I’m bingeing
Station Eleven [HBO Max US; coming to Starzplay UK Jan 30]: Finished! Oh my god, I sobbed so much at the end. So much. Absolute perfection, and for all that it’s about apocalypse, oddly comforting and uplifting, with its message that not only will life go on should the worst happen, but that it will still be worth living.
The Book of Boba Fett [Disney+ globally]: just watched the first episode last night, and I’m not sure this guy needs to be rehabilitated, but Ming-Na Wen (she plays his lieutenant) is always worth watching; staying with it for now
Tweet of the week…
“Who will life to escaping?” may well be the great question of our time.
coming up at Flick Filosopher…
The Matrix: Resurrections (leaving HBO Max on Jan 21st!)
psychological neo-noir Nightmare Alley, from Guillermo del Toro
French freak-show Titane
Munich: The Edge of War (coming to Netflix Jan 21st)
Cyrano, starring Peter Dinklage
action-adventure fantasy The King’s Daughter
And more!
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