Here we are again, just like old friends. We're not so different, you and I. We're both [insert concept]. Anyway, this post's films include:

73. The Witch
74. Amadeus
75. Rosemary's Baby
76. The Battle of Algiers
77. Blacula
78. Tim & Eric's Billion Dollar Movie
79. Turbo Kid
80. Pina

The Witch (2016)

I loved this movie. It is exceptionally rich and textured. The art design and performances are amazing. The story is terrifying and thoughtful. The film has a satisfying conclusion. Nothing that happens is expected. Go see this while it's in the theatre. I won't say much more because I don't want to spoil the film for you.

Standout Moment: This film has the best goat actor you'll ever see.

Amadeus (1984)

This film is gorgeous. The set, costumes, and cinematography or all sumptuous. The performances are very good, as well. Despite all of this, I found myself viewing from a distance throughout the film. This is because of the extreme liberties taken with the main character. Historically, he was one Mozart's closest peers, and even tutored Mozart's children after his untimely death. This film turns him into a monster hell bent on ruining Mozart. I think it is alright for historical dramas to take liberties with the characters in the story, but to turn a friend into an enemy and then making a movie about that non-existent aggression is extremely off-putting. It seemed like the author of the play the film was based on never even bothered to look up what actually happened. Perhaps they didn't care.

Standout Moment: The soundtrack, of course.

Rosemary's Baby (1986)

This is a film that I feel is tailor-made for me. It has all of the elements that I love: lush colors, great acting, geriatric satanists, and black magic. What's so good about this movie is that the terror never attempts to call attention to itself. It is telling a story that just happens to be scary. Although it is one of the greatest horror films of all time, it never attempts to look or act like a typical horror movie. Much like The Witch, Rosemary's Baby is more concerned with a being a good movie than a scary one.

Standout Moment: The big dream sequence in the middle of the film is one of my favorite scenes from any movie. 

The Battle of Algiers (1966)

You will never see a war movie like The Battle of Algiers, mainly because there has never been a war movie made quite like this either before or since. It uses mostly non-actors and people who were actually involved with the real event to tell the story. You could never tell that these were non-actors, though, with the performances having more nuance and power than most other war films. The determination to show the real harm done to and by both sides is also refreshing. What is used as a (admittedly effective) reversal in Full Metal Jacket, is the entire format of this film. We see how violence effects everyone involved, not just the soldiers, and not just one side. There is a real empathy built towards the rebels, but the film never tries to make it a one sided issue. People are dying, and filmmakers care about them no matter who they are. 

Standout Moment: The three women preparing to smuggle bombs is very powerful. 

Blacula (1972)

This movie is a contradiction. It has one of the most ridiculous titles and concepts, and yet rises above both to become really solid horror camp. The weight of this can be placed upon the well-deserved shoulders of William Marshall. The man is incredible! If you can take a character like Blacula and make him a three-dimensional, sympathetic yet terrifying character you know you have talent. It is a shame that he wasn't in more films. I would claim that he is one of the best actors of the last century. 

Standout Moment: The darkroom scene. 

Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012)

Most people who don't like Tim and Eric usually don't understand what they're doing. Personally, I get what they're doing, I just don't always like it. They have moments that are amazingly funny, and then a lot of stuff that just feels lazy. Basically everything they've done with John C. Reilly is amazing. This film is mostly kind of tedious with a few great scenes. There is a real embrace of ugliness in their work, and many of their actors are purposely gross looking. I have yet to determine whether they are celebrating ugliness or making fun of it, but either way it's great that they are hiring people who aren't models.

Standout Moment: John C. Reilly is yet again the very best part of this project. "Get some duct tape and some pizza."

Turbo Kid (2015)

Turbo Kid is a ton of fun, even if it isn't saying much. The art design is really incredible, and the concept is a lot of fun, although derivative (I would say, purposely so). The problem with it is the problem that every other movie of this genre has, the main character is corn flakes. There isn't anything inherently interesting about him. He was never really fun to watch. What makes this film fun is his sidekick, Apple. She steals every scene she's in. The scenes she isn't in, you wish she was there. The actress obviously had a lot of fun playing the part, and the character had a lot of dimension that most of the others didn't. There are also some extremely fun and weird fight sequences in this movie. 

Standout Moment: "This is my gnome stick!"

Pina (2011)

Wenders chose well when he decided to use Pina's own work to speak for her. This film is gorgeous and unlike any other biography film you will ever see. There are no real floating heads. We don't learn about the subjects life growing up. What we do see is her choreography, which is amazing. I was just a few minutes into the movie when my five year old came in to the room. He ended up sitting down and watching the rest with me. That's true artistry. He didn't understand it, but he didn't have to, it still spoke to him. 

Standout Moment: The piece set to "Rite of Spring" is chilling and primal. 

Here it is, the 2nd of my super-sized posts. Today I will be discussing films 67-72. There will also be a rundown of my favorites so far. Here we go!

67. Hail, Caesar!
68. The Art of the Deal
69. Vivre sa Vie
70. A Serious Man
71. Listen Up Phillip
72. Dope

Hail, Caesar! (2016)

Hail, Caesar! did not disappoint me. I was expecting a screwball comedy and that is exactly what I got. The film is not one of the Coen Brother's best (more on that when we get to A Serious Man), but it was definitely worth watching. There are very few wide release comedies that I can get into, so it's always refreshing when a good one comes out. The film boasts some really great performances from George Clooney, Scarlett Johansen, Josh Brolin, and the relatively unknown Alden Ehrenreich. Unlike many of the Coen's other films, the ending is life affirming and uplifting. It was a great Valentine's day date movie. 

Standout Moment: The big climax set on the water's of the Pacific was a great bit of comedy, and a fun callback to the films of the 40's and 50's. 

The Art of the Deal (2016)

Although this film had its flaws, I found it really exciting. It showed up out of nowhere, was available for free, and it didn't have to get the legal permission it would have needed if released traditionally. Digital entertainment is in it's infancy, and we will be seeing quite a few more long form pieces like this as the years go by. As far as the film itself, I found it quite funny. Depp is a great Trump, and there are a lot of great cameos from some of the best comedians working today. The reason the film works is because it sticks to the bit. This is supposed to be a film directed, written, and produced by one of the most famous narcissists of our time. We are supposedly seeing Trump through his own eyes. The ending feels a little out of place, but for the most part the film is solid. 

Standout Moment: The best man speech at Trump's wedding. 

Vivre sa Vie (1962)

This is one of Godard's best. Godard took experimentation in his art very seriously. Sometimes the risks fail miserably, other times they work beautifully. Vivre sa Vie is one of the examples of the experimentation working to the film's advantage. In my opinion Godard never made a "perfect" film, but I think that's exactly how he wants it. What good is perfection if it is at the cost of stagnancy? Narratively speaking, Ana Karenina plays a woman who turns to prostitution to take care of her money troubles. Like all of his other films, though, the movie is actually about the filmmaking art form. 

Standout Moment: This film is worth watching for the dancing scene, alone. 

A Serious Man (2009)

Speaking of the Coen brother's best... This film was tragically overlooked when it came out. Other than perhaps No Country for Old Men, this is probably the Coens at their most philosophical. In essence, this film is about existentialism, belief, and the concept of karma. The protagonist finds himself barely surviving predicament after predicament as his entire world crashes down around him. He desperately reaches for some sort of meaning in his misfortune, but finds that life is much more complicated than good or evil. The film is humorous, thought-provoking, and poetic. I would put this on my list of the ten best films released in the last ten years. It gets better every time I see it. 

Standout Moment: Fred Melamed should have won a best supporting actor award for his performance in this film. 

Listen Up Phillip (2014)

This film has its ups and downs. It starts off strong, loses its way, gains it again, loses it again, and then finishes fairly strong. Most of the waxing and waning of the film has to do with whether Jason Schwartzman is on screen. The first time he leaves the film is so we can follow his ex-girlfriend (played by Elizabeth Moss). Moss is a great actress, but her skills were mostly wasted in a fairly straightforward, and slightly twisted "getting over someone" storyline. The other weak point is Schwartzman's relationship with the French Professor. It doesn't quite fit the rest of the film. The cinematography is beautiful, and the points where we get to see Phillip's (and Ike's) true arogance and bitterness are all wonderfully engrossing. There is honestly a lot to like here, and although I wasn't totally with the film the whole time, part of me wants to see it again. 

Standout Moment: The last conversation between Ike and Phillip really demonstrates how horrible these guys really are. 

Dope (2015)

Dope took Sundance by storm last year, and it's not hard to see why. This is a really fun, high energy film. In a lot of ways, it feels like a new iteration of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. There are a couple of really fun sequences in the film, and the three main characters are endlessly likable. The issues I have with it are twofold: firstly, its treatment of women is mostly terrible. I don't think it's too much to ask to have female characters that have more than one dimension. Even Diggy barely rises above being the token lesbian, which is a shame because the actress is great, and her characterization is a lot of fun. Secondly, the film feels bloated in parts. What could have been a tight adventure about trying to get rid of some drugs keeps morphing and transforming into something too large for its own good. The end of the film has so many plot threads to tie up that it feels like it ends 5 different times. 

Standout Moment: The 4th wall break and essay reading is the most stylistically strong moment of the film. 

The Best So Far...

Every 35 films or so, I give the short version of what to watch (for those following along at home!). These "best of" lists do not necessarily denote my favorites of the bunch, but they represent a broad spectrum of films that I feel are essential to round out any cinephile's viewing knowledge. 

My last "best of" roundup featured the following: 

5. The Hateful Eight
4. Tangerine
3. The Man Who Fell to Earth
2. Call Me Lucky
1. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence

This post's top 5 are: 

5. Particle Fever
4. A Serious Man
3. The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
2. Lady Snowblood
1. The Conformist

That's it for now! Stick around to see if I can make it to 85 by the end of the month. 
Josh D.
5181 Productions

The Naked Kiss (1964)

The saga continues. The next post will have a recap of my favorites between 35-70. I have received several recommendations, and I hope to start mixing them into my list very soon! 

Today's Films:

62. The Naked Kiss
63. Ali: Fear Eats the Soul
64. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
65. Battle for the Planet of the Apes
66. Autumn Sonata
 

The Naked Kiss (1964)

Samuel Fuller walks the line between B-movie shlock and character drama better than any other filmmaker out there. He can take a pulpy, ridiculous premise and make something interesting and moving from the piece. This film is no exception. After a killer and mysterious opening, we are thrown into a small town that seems like a stereotypically normal place. The darkness and depravity that is crawling beneath the surface makes the facade seem twisted and gross by the end. Fuller's ouvre consistently returns to the dregs of society and shows them as human beings. In his world the outsiders and the sinners are usually more honorable than those at the top.

Standout Moment: The first scene in this film is so good that it basically forces you to keep watching. 

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)

Fassbender is one of the major directors that I have yet to really get into (Herzog is another, but I plan on rectifying that this year, as well.). He was an amazing artist and had a work ethic that seems impossible by any non-coke-fueled standard. I really enjoyed this film. It's amazing how so much made in this time period is still relevant today. The fear and loneliness that are explored here were brave to discuss in the 70's, and continue to ring true. Why can't these two just love each other? The answer to this is fear, and it is something that the film understands quite well. This movie gets to the heart of why racism exists without it trying to hit you over the head with the concept.

Standout Moment: The children's reaction to their mother's wedding announcement is heartbreaking.

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)

This is one of my favorites of the Planet of the Apes series. The riot sequence is very tense and the buildup is well paced. The film does a great job of creating a world that is ripe for upheaval. The society that the Caesar and his revolutionaries rise up against is on the brink of collapse, and it seems like things will fall apart one way or another. This film builds upon the nihilism that is evident in the rest of the series and concludes the feeling of hopeless inevitability that helps the series stand out from other franchises. 

Standout Moment: The opening credits and music give the audience a deep feeling of dread. It feels like the eve of something terrible. 

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)

This was the first time I had seen Battle. For the most part, it was a much weaker film than most of the others. It felt unsure with what it was trying to say through most of its story. There are some interesting elements of Shakespearian tragedy littered throughout the film, but they are largely lost through its meandering nature. This is also the first of the series that has an ending that demonstrates a bit of hope for the future of the planet. 

Standout Moment: Accusation of murder and the consequences of such an action. I don't want to be specific because it's the major turning point of the film. 

Autumn Sonata (1978)

As with all of Bergman's films, this is a performance lover's dream. If you enjoy watching great actors with meaty roles, this is a film for you. The show-stopping dialogue scene between Ingrid Bergman and Liv Ullmann is absolutely incredible. The story itself holds a deep feeling of hopelessness, even more so than many of his other films. I cried for most of the running time. This is a movie about people who have lost the only thing that would ever make them happy, or have never had the ability to find it in the first place. There is no question as to why many consider it to be one of his best.

Standout Moment: Ingrid Bergman's reaction to her daughter's piano performance should be watched and studied by all young actors. It is the epitome of the phrase "acting is reacting." She says more in a look than most say in an entire monologue. 

Venture Bros: All this and Gargantua-2 (2015)

Post ten! Can you believe it? This one takes us into the 60's. I was unable to hit my mini goal of watching 60 films before February, but I am still well on my way to completing the larger goal of 365 movies by the end of the year. My next mini goal is 85 films before March 1st. 

Todays films:
55. Venture Bros: All This and Gargantua-2
56. Black Mama, White Mama
57. L'Avventura
58. The Ladykillers
59. Children of the Corn
60. Z
61. The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975

The Venture Bros: All This and Gargantua-2

The Venture Bros began as a great spoof of Johnny Quest style adventure cartoons and has somehow evolved into one of the most touching shows with one of the densest mythologies on television. This TV movie basically wraps up the 5th season and launches the characters (pun intended) into a new environment for the sixth. The movie does not act like a good introduction to the characters, so do not start with this, but it is a very satisfying conclusion to quite a few of the shows ongoing storylines. I love this show, and this movie is a great chapter in the show's mythos.

Standout Moment: Hank Venture's fake mustache saga definitely got the most laughs from me. 

Black Mama, White Mama (1975)

Despite knowing this was going to be an exploitation film, I expected a little better from it. The best parts of the film all occur when the two main characters on the screen together. I was disappointed to see them less and less as the story wore on. Instead of watching a cross-country flight for their lives, the film decided to focus on a bunch of dudes that were connected in the loosest possible way. 

Standout Moment: Pam Grier is a national treasure. 

L'Avventura (1960)

What is there to say about L'Avventura that hasn't been said or written already? For me, the film gets better every time I see it. This time through, I really noticed the way that Antonioni treats men and the male gaze. Suffering under that much scrutiny would make anyone want to disappear. There is also a lot about the nature of the artist and the sacrifices the artist must make to do anything worth their own pride. 

Standout Moment: Knocking over a vial of ink has never felt more important. 

The Ladykillers (2004)

This movie was exceptionally bland. It wasn't terrible, but it never reached a point where I was truly intrigued by the characters or plot. The first scene is really good, and then the film just kind of meanders around for a while. There are a lot things that happen that don't make sense for the characters or for the world of the film. When we get to the IBS stuff, it seems tacked on instead of a true character trait. The ending is also ridiculous and lazy. The titular "lady" was also horribly underused. The Coen Brothers have made some of my favorite movies, but this is definitely one of their lesser outputs. It feels more like a ripoff of a Coen Brothers film than one of their actual films. This is what happens when artists start aping their own formula. 

Standout Moment: Tom Hanks' hammy character is the only real good thing about this movie. 

Children of the Corn (1984)

Children of the Corn is another entry in my list of horror films that I knew I should watch, but just never got around to viewing. This is a strange movie, but any minor knowledge of what it's about would reveal that. I did love the cult aspects of the film, and the assumed mythology of the dark presence that is controlling the situation. Also, the film does a great job of making the situation confusing and tense. I wish that Bert wasn't such an idiot, though. His assumed control over the situation may be realistic, but it wasn't very interesting. 

Standout Moment: The two kids who play Isaac and Malachi are amazing. Isaac really steals the show.

Z (1969)

I watched Z without really knowing what it was about. A friend suggested it as inspiration for a scene I will be shooting in a few weeks, and I didn't bother looking up anything else about it. As the plot unraveled, I found myself on the edge of my seat. This is a shockingly relevant political thriller. The film was made as a response to the fascist overthrow of Greece, and many of the themes have a terrifying parallel to the way business is run in America and around the world. This was the best film I've seen a while. 

Standout Moment: The night of the demonstration expertly heightens the intensity for what feels like an eternity. 

The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 (2011)

This film looks at a period of American history in a perspective that is rarely explored. The Black Power movement and Black life in the 60's and 70's is criminally underrepresented in history books and in historical retrospectives. There are people in this documentary that fundamentally changed the shape of American culture and society, yet you never hear their names outside of certain circles. The power of this film is that it explores the Black Power movement from the perspective of someone outside of America. The filmmaker takes footage from Swedish television storage and creates an underground history of the lives of people on American margins. This is one of the best docs I have ever seen, and should be required viewing in school. 

Standout Moment: The interview with Angela Davis in prison gives her a chance to show how powerful and intelligent she really is. It's no wonder that the powers-that-be wanted to keep her silent.