Movies are still a big part of my life, though I struggle to write about them. It is obvious what sort of material would work well in discussion, but how do I summon those details of experience to the fore? There are some recent projects I want to touch on.
Deeply anticipated
The Holdovers - Payne - Classical American artist
Killings of the Flower Moon - Leo/Scorsese - I haven't revisited The Irishman, but I frequently fantasize about it. I have towering optimism about this project since Scorsese is clearly getting better with age. Leo may be my top movie star as well. I saw glimpses of the trailer… my God
Anticipated
Afire - Petzold/Beer - This has to at least be what Undine was; I hope it’s more fully formed
Dune: Part Two - the novel/Villeneuve/Zendaya/Rebecca Ferguson/Chalamet (reluctantly) - The world of Dune is a great place to be. A great case for reading a novel so its residual follows you for the rest of time. I didn’t like BR2049, but I think a re-approach is possible
Ferrari - Mann - We have not had a Mann in nearly a decade. I recall tragically finding out about him a couple weeks after Blackhat released (and had already vanished from theaters)
Murder Mystery 2 - Sandler - I saw the original before I re-discovered Sandler as an adult. I was aware of the weird Sandler corner of the internet, but didn't find myself in step with them until more recently
Oppenheimer - Nolan/process-oriented - Classical American artist
Showing Up - Reichardt - I have some optimism this will be about modern American life (so few movies are)
Viduthalai: Part I - Vetri Maaran
Somewhat anticipated
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret - I have pivoted away from Sundance-adjacent material (e.g. CODA), but I faith in this one since KFC did Edge of Seventeen
Beau is Afraid - Hereditary was a good experience in the theater. Midsommar was an awful one at home (excepting the whole-house garage-suicide). I feel like Joaquin should hold this one over, and the 3-hour runtime is promising
Copenhagen Cowboy - I haven't kept up with Refn since Neon Demon, but I feel like it will go similarly now
Dhruva Natchathiram: Chapter One Yuddha Kaandam - GVM - I suppose it may not release, but I can’t leave it out due to its spiritual connection to Enai Noki Paayum Thota
Eureka - Viggo/Alonso/modern western with classical look
The Killer - Fincher - Cozy director for me; his first since Gone Girl (does Mank count?)
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 - Cruise
Napolean - Scott/historical
No Hard Feelings - JLaw - I would have thought the run she is on is worse than it is. She is not great in Don’t Look Up, but it’s more a fault of the screenplay; the movie is good overall. I am a Dark Phoenix defender–though that’s more Sophie Turner’s movie. Red Sparrow was awful, but not a Serena-level situation. mother! was respectable choice; Aronofsky is on a stunning run up to now. After that we have the X-Men movie that followed her peak in 2015–so not too shabby!
Ponniyin Selvan 2 - Ratnam - I saw this a week or two ago. I’ve struggled a bit with this series, but there were 2 moving songscapes, and I saw it on a fantastic screen. I hope he steps back a bit from these epic scales and returns to the basic romance structure
Thuramukham - Epic
Non-negligibly anticipated
Challengers - Zendaya/Luca (I guess)
Jawan - SRK
Maamannan - Selvaraj
May December - Haynes
Music - Schanelec
Tiger 3 - Maneesh Sharma