Here’s a list of everything I’ve been watching this month, for no particular reason besides that it’s fun and that it’s important to check in. You can lemme know what you’ve been watching this month too.
Black Mirror
Rating: Solid
Better than the last season. I find it strange a few of the episodes have shifted focus to more grounded horror and/or even something really out there - if you’ve seen all the episodes, you know what I’m talking about, that one most surprising (not necessarily a compliment, just a statement) plot-twist in any Black Mirror episode - my jaw dropped, and I still think about the randomness of that episode late at night. Overall, I’ve enjoyed the season, but it’s still not on the same level as seasons 1-3. I’m not sure it ever will be - it’s a different show now, and I’m enjoying it for what it is. And it’s making me have those 3a.m. philosophical chats with my sister about the shape of the universe, so there’s that.
REWATCHED: My Big Fat Greek Wedding & Fight Club
Rating: Awesomeness
My Big Fat Greek Wedding: guilty pleasure, but not really, as I think it’s genuinely a super solid comedy. Great time. Had some food. Remembered what it’s like to be Eastern European. 10/10 would do again.
Fight club: better on a rewatch. Been a few years since I’ve seen this Fincher bag of goodness, and it holds up. I’m shocked this got made in 1999, feels super modern. Twist still hits. Great sequences and fantastic story structure. 10/10 would do again.
Ted Lasso
Rating: A Darn Good Time
Just finished Ted Lasso - took me a while to get myself to start the first episode, then things kept coming up, so I couldn’t really binge through, but I’ve completed it now! Great show - super fun & really great for unwinding after a heavy day. Season 1 is the best - that’s like a warm hug on a cold day. Season 2 doesn’t hit as hard, maybe it’s because it gets a bit heavier and the change of style is a bit daunting. Season 3 picks it back up, still not to Season 1 levels, but super solid anyway. Great finale. Awesome characters. I can see myself rewatching this one day - and that’s massive praise, if I’ve given any.
The Idol
Rating: TBD
Haven’t actually watched any of The Idol since I saw the first two episodes in Cannes, but it’s on my watch list and I intend to catch up. Really curious how everything unwinds. Could go totally off the rails (in a positive way) or could also totally deteriorate (in a negative way) - tbd.
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (REWATCHED) and Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse
Rating: INCREDIBLE
There should be some combination of words that describe what these films are; I could try - full body goosebumps, or best animated films of all time, or perfect, a masterpiece maybe, one of the best movie theatre experiences - I’d fail still. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse already blew me away in 2018, so expectations for Across the Spiderverse were really high, and the sequel delivered. This film is insane. If the third one sticks the landing, the trilogy could go down as one of the best of all time. It’s surreal saying that, but I really mean it.
Reality
Rating: Interesting
I loved that the script was verbatim - really made the story feel real. Unlike anything I’ve seen before really - I loved how detailed it was and keeping true to the recordings - with every um, uh, but, yeh, and eh - maintained the film super insightful. Wouldn’t go back to it, but happy I saw it and that it exists.
The Bear
Rating: TBD
As of writing this, I haven’t actually started season 2 of The Bear, but I will very soon (today/tomorrow?) and can’t wait. Probably most excited for this one. Planning on making a video essay, maybe? We shall see how it goes.
Anyway, lemme know if newsletters like this are interesting and if you’d like me to share random film thoughts more.