What I watched this month: February 2023

You People:

Started the month as seems to be the trend with a poor start. This film has one joked, stretched out to the absolute maximum. The one joke goes on so far beyond the point of being funny, that it sorts of almost became funny but then the joke went on even longer and become completely unbearable. I get where the were going for with the social commentary but the delivery and writing style is straight out of an early 2000s low budget film that was only marginally funny then. The message of the film is important and obviously something I agree with, but that does not excuse the mess of a film that is used to make this point. This just comes across as a huge misdirection and a strange choice for all involved. The characters are all awful, there is no chemistry and again, the jokes are not funny. I am struggling to say anything about this and rather than drone on, making the same point, time and time again, I am just going to say: avoid this one.

Black Panther Wakanda Forever:

The sequel to one of the better Marvel films to exist has been something I have sort of anticipated but not with much hope since the unfortunate passing of Chadwick Boseman. I really did not want them to tarnish a memory to progress their cinematic universe. Thankfully, Boseman’s character’s death is handled incredibly well and there is genuine emotion and care put into the tribute and it actually develops the story well. However, the rest of the story takes a long time to develop to a point of interest and unfortunately the story feels a bit of a mess. I did like the self-contained aspect of the story; I just wish it was a more engaging one. It really feels like the Marvel hype train is starting to lose steam.

Drive:

This is one of my favourite films. It is so stylish, so mysterious, so unique. Ryan Gosling is the perfect lead here and the glamour and violence coupled with the neon-soaked atmosphere and car chases pay homage to classic Hollywood. I have much, much, more to say on this that will come in a full review and so, like anything the Driver says, I will keep this short and sweet.

Velvet Goldmine:

I cannot remember the last time I watched a film as unorthodox and interesting as this. The clear Bowie and Iggy parallels drew me in initially, but the story itself is very much its own. A young Ewan McGregor and Christian Bale do fantastically in telling a story f acceptance and expression in a less than tolerant time. The story is told with as much glamour and extravagance as is fitting for the persona of Bowie. A really unique film that is well worth a watch.

Another Round:

In a month featuring some strong rewatches, this was a standout new experience. A Danish film about maintaining a constant slow level of intoxication in a group of middle aged men in what can only described as mid life crises. The relationship between the men, their families and their careers and how these are impacted by their raised confidence and mood levels is fascinating and surprisingly emotional in ways that I do not want to spoil. This is definitely the standout film of the month.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri:

I am yet to watch a Martin McDonagh film that I have not loved, the fact that this is only my third favourite of his is testament to the quality of his work. This is a troubling, miserable story with some really messed up and unlikeable characters. Yet, it is absolutely engrossing and hard not to find comfort in the rather messed up ending to the events. McDonagh’s exploration of pain and grief as well as the complicated nature of bad people trying to good results in a truly captivating story. Francis McDormand does an incredible job leading the film as the grieving mother that stopped caring for others a long time ago and Sam Rockwell plays the scumbag police officer awfully well. These two being mediated by Woody Harrelson’s fed up Sheriff leads to a great exploration of the grey area of morality, revenge, desperation and redemption. The story presents disturbing facts to you but does not try to lead you a certain way and there is no big happy ending to justify and celebrate the actions of the characters. Rather it is a film that focuses on that situation, and the reality of life in small town, Southern America. This is a very well handled, incredible bit of film making.