Deep Red - Starting to think that giallo isn't really my bag. It's not like I hated this, but I find myself thinking stuff like, "Well it was nice that it was coherent." It looks and sounds incredible, but like pretty much every other Argento I've seen, I just couldn't get that invested for some reason.
The only Argento films I've watched are Deep Red and Suspiria, and I sort of feel the same way. I'd like to watch at least one or two more some day before coming to an opinion, though. At the very least, I'd like to watch more of his films if only to listen to Goblin. Personally, I found myself enjoying Deep Red far more than Suspiria since the story for the latter is so underdeveloped. Deep Red is also the only giallo film I've watched, but I remember there being elements I really liked that maybe are just representative of the genre but still not being overly thrilled by it. It's often regarded as the genre's best, but I have a feeling there are lesser-known contemporaries I'd better connect with.
Today just happens to be Argento's birthday! I've also seen
Inferno and
Tenebrae, and I've got the same general opinion on those as well. Lots of style, not quite enough substance, but killer soundtracks.
Return of the Jedi - Sure, it's a little messy narratively (Leia being Luke's sister really does come out of nowhere), and it has probably taken a bit of a reputational hit because a lot of the issues with the modern state of the franchise originate here, but it is still maybe the most purely watchable of the original trilogy. The throne room confrontation is probably my favorite material in Star Wars, while Jabba's Palace and the final space battle are two of the best setpieces of all time, let alone in Star Wars.
Wild Wild West - Jesus christ. It's not without its merits, like some aspects of its production design, Kenneth Branaugh's delightfully unhinged performance, and I laughed at a couple of jokes, but I generally found it unpleasant and mostly unfunny. Jonah Hex has mostly the same plot, if not as stupidly outlandish, and while that film rather cowardly avoids the fact that the villains are ex-Confederates, this one at least puts a spotlight on it. I just really did not like this.
Erin Brockovich - I know I've watched this before, but I was probably a whiny little shit teen, and literally all I remembered was the trailer. Razor sharp screenplay that deftly balances being a single mom rom-dram and a smart, fast-paced legal thriller that is edited together masterfully. Julia is at the absolute pinnacle of her powers here. On fire in every scene, and the movie is smart enough to know that her brassy nature doesn't always get her way, which sometimes makes her feel like a bully.
Inglourious Basterds - Still feels like a series of great, but unrelated, vignettes, and a couple of performances that don't quite work for me.
The Thursday Murder Club - Delightful and cozy murder mystery. Doesn't really do anything special, but it doesn't need to. Did find it a little hard care about the retirement home's potential closure because these people obviously have enough money to live comfortably anywhere.
Caught Stealing - I think this might be first time I actually enjoyed myself while watching an Aronofsky film? Basically just an airport thriller with an incredibly talented filmmaker behind it, which I don't think I realized until the last 5-10 minutes.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale - It's more Downton! For all the good and bad that comes with. It looks incredible, has great performances, occasionally feels a little tone deaf with how much it wants you to sympathize with these obscenely rich people, and makes Molesly suffer. You know, Downton! The very end felt like it was trying to hard too make you feel really sad it's over, which felt lame because it had been doing such a good job doing naturally before then. Maybe I should start The Gilded Age?
