Rob Christopher's Blog, page 39

What I Watched in 2023: My 11 Favorite Films

ANATOMY OF A FALL [2023, directed by Justine Triet]
A THOUSAND AND ONE [2023, Directed by A.V. Rockwell]
INSPECTOR IKE [2020, directed by Graham Mason]
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON [2023, directed by Martin Scorsese]
MONICA [2022, directed by Andrea Pallaoro]
NO BEARS [2022, directed by Jafar Panahi]
OPPENHEIMER [2023, directed by Christopher Nolan]
REPEAT PERFORMANCE [1947, directed by Alfred L. Werker]
SHOWING UP [2022, directed by Kelly Reichardt]
TÁR [2022, directed by Todd Field]
THREE MINUTES: A LENGTHENING [2021, directed by Bianca Stigter]

3 things about Celine Song’s PAST LIVES

Past Lives [2023]

1. Written on the wall near the front door:
WALLET
PHONE
KEYS
2. “That’s just something Koreans say to seduce someone.”
3. Pasta.

3 things about Todd Haynes’ MAY DECEMBER

May December [2023]

1. A nearly-there lisp.
2. “This is just what grownups do.”
3. She urgently requests and is granted another take.

3 things about Frank Capra’s IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

It’s a Wonderful Life [1946]

1. Chocolate ice cream with coconut.
2. “My mouth’s bleedin’, Burt! My mouth’s bleedin’!”
3. It’s Mr. Gower who cables Sam Wainwright.

3 other things.

3 things about W.S. Van Dyke’s THE THIN MAN

The Thin Man [1934]

1. Frying pan juggler.
2. She discreetly adjusts her hot water bottle headpiece.
3. “Gosh, darling, I thought they’d never leave.”
Cut to a different bedroom.
“I thought you’d never leave.”

3 other things.

3 things about Alfred L. Werker’s REPEAT PERFORMANCE

Repeat Performance [1947]

1. “Dear William. You’ve had a bad year too, haven’t you? A terrible year.”
“It hasn’t been good.”
2. Giant rainshadows across the wall in the asylum’s visiting room.
3. Alone in bed in the dark, tensely awaiting the strike of midnight.

Where has this movie been all my life? I love its atmosphere. Can’t wait to rewatch it.

3 things about Kon Satoshi’s TOKYO GODFATHERS

Tokyo Godfathers [2003]

1. Memorializing select moments with haiku.
2. She salvages a book on parenting.
3. Trolling the cemetery for nourishment.

3 things about Sam Esmail’s LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND

Leave the World Behind [2023]

1. “No one is in control. No one is pulling the strings.”
2. Paper straws and free-range chicken.
3. Video images give the illusion of a world outside.

3 things about Frank Capra’s MEET JOHN DOE

Meet John Doe [1941]

1. Capra laying it on awfully thick: “You want to be honest, don’t you? Well, you don’t have to die to keep the John Doe idea alive! Someone already died for that once! The first John Doe. And He’s kept that idea alive for nearly two thousand years.”
2. The butler brings him a glass of sherry on a tray. He takes the drink and leaves a gratuity on the tray.
3. White-haired minister spattered with rain.

3 things about Robert Montgomery’s LADY IN THE LAKE

Lady in the Lake [1946]

1. “I wonder how it would be to discuss this over a couple of ice cubes. Would you care to try?”
2. Dragging himself along on his hands and knees.
3. “Kill him! Hello, honey. Won’t you speak to me, honey?”