This part of the listen harkens back to the first week of October. Several of my Halloween viewing choices are here, including a film that my boys watched on repeat for a while when they were younger.

231. Love In the Afternoon
232. Breathless
233. Rashomon
234. Strongman
235. Nothing But A Man
236. Mickey One
237. Horror Express
238. Teen Wolf
239. Equinox
240. The Black Cauldron

Love in the Afternoon (1972)

This is a wonderful film about long-term relationships, that nature of marital fidelity, and the difference between lust and love- if there is a difference. As opposed to other films that are about these themes, Love In the Afternoon never creates a villain out of any of its characters. It remains deeply empathetic towards all of the people it chooses to depict (a through-line present in all of Rohmer's work).

Standout Moment: The ending is quiet and understated, but perfect for the story.

Breathless (1960)

You've seen Breathless. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? It is one of the defining moments of film and pop culture. Without Breathless, many of the best modern films simply would not exist. It laid a foundation that artists continue to build upon decades after its release.

Standout Moment: I love that beautiful final shot.

Rashomon (1950)

It's crazy to imagine this film coming out in 1950. Not that there weren't any good films coming out during that period (in fact the reality is quite the opposite) but because of how thoroughly modern this film is. Kurosawa utilized the filmic medium to make a piece of art that could not be expressed in any other way. The subtleties of the filmmaking flesh out the different viewpoints and make a film that is essentially the same event told over and over again into a thrilling masterpiece. This is one of the most incredible films made in the first century of the medium.

Standout Moment: The ending is a perfect wrap-up of the rest of the film.

Strongman (2009)

Nothing But A Man (1964)

I find it insane that more people haven't seen Nothing but A Man. It was a brave and singular film when it was made, and it still holds up as one of the most important films about race ever made in America. What is beautiful and powerful about this film is the quiet way that it tells its story. There is so much empathy and beauty here. It is heartbreaking yet honest. Especially as our world grows more hateful and divided, I think this is an important film to remember.

Standout Moment: The performances are incredible.

Mickey One (1965)

This movie is so good. The imagery, the soundtrack (by one Stan Getz), and performances are all great. I could watch it over and over, especially the killer opening montage. If you are a fan of Beatty, film noir, or any modern film at all, check this one out.

Standout Moment: The first 10 minutes are just about perfect.

Horror Express (1972)

Horror Express is nuts. It is a weird premise that gets weirder and weirder. It involves energy beings, possession, zombies, prehistoric creatures, political intruige, and awesome performances by Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. It isn't exactly a great film, but it is a fun one to watch if you are into hammer horror or 70's weirdness.

Standout Moment: When the zombies come to life. I would bet that the makers of Heavy Metal watched this film before making their zombie bomber segment in the film.

Teen Wolf (1985)

Just look at that face. Do you want to watch this face for an hour and forty minutes?

Standout Moment: When the teen is a wolf.

Equinox (1970)

After watching this film for the first time, my boys and I watched it on repeat for several weeks after. It is not a great film, but it is a ton of fun. It began as a short made by a bunch of monster fanatics, and was then purchased and distributed by Jack Harris. The short was made by a young Dennis Muren, who would go on to work on a little film called Star Wars.

Standout Moment: "What are you?"

The Black Cauldron (1985)

As you can see from the screenshot, this is not your typical Disney film. It is one of my personal favorites (up there with Sleeping Beauty and Fantasia). It is a much darker film, and almost didn't see the light of day because of it. Structurally, it isn't the greatest, but it makes up for story issues with beautiful animation.

Standout Moment: The first foray into the Horned King's castle.

365 Films- Post 29