January 18, 2014

The Last Ten Movies I Saw

By michaelgloversmith

1. Her (Jonze)
2. Beau Geste (Wellman)
3. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Gilliam/Jones)
4. A Man Escaped (Bresson)
5. Two in the Wave (Laurent)
6. The Innkeepers (West)
7. Nebraska (Payne)
8. Cooley High (Schultz)
9. For Ever Mozart (Godard)
10. It’s Pat (Bernstein)

About michaelgloversmith

Filmmaker, author and Film Studies instructor. View all posts by michaelgloversmith
This entry was posted on Saturday, January 18th, 2014 at 11:31 pm and posted in The Last Ten Movies I Saw. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

3 responses to “The Last Ten Movies I Saw”

  • John Charet
    January 19th, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    I have seen all the films on this list. I am very sorry that you had mixed feelings about Her. I loved the film and I think you should give it three more viewings (not now of course). I had the same reaction back in early 2002 when I saw The King of Comedy, but shortly afterwards I read an old article by Jonathan Rosenbaum, who said something that implied that for some people, the film takes three viewings to be fully appreciated. In fact, another critic said the same thing, but I can’t remember the latter at this time. I started to view The King of Comedy once for three months in early 2003 and I started to love the film quickly afterwards. Now from a surface view, Her and The King of Comedy do not look like films that need multiple viewings, but trust me once you watch them, it will prove otherwise. For me however, it only took one viewing to fully love Spike Jonze’s Her. You are probably wondering why I want you to love Spike Jonze’s Her or at least appreciate it more? The reason is because it looks like the type of film that would be right up your alley, plus our good friend over at the Chicago Tribune, which is film critic Michael Phillips gave it * * * * out of * * * * stars. I do not usually tell people to watch a film again If it does not warrant multiple viewings. I can not guarantee that your mixed feelings about Spike Jonze’s Her will go away, but I think it is worth a shot to at least give it a few more viewings once in a while. Why? It worked for me on a considerable number of films I viewed which included The King of Comedy. Funny story, people are always telling me why I do not give the same advice on Paul Thomas Anderson’s films (all of which I give * * * 1/2 out of * * * * stars to). In a subtle way I actually do, but the reason I do not is because most of my friends are already giving them multiple viewings, which leaves me to leave it at that. The only thing that usually prevents Anderson’s film from being * * * * star films in my opinion is that he always looks as If he is trying too hard. This is not a bad thing, but he needs to be more sure of himself as a filmmaker. Regards:)

    Reply
    • michaelgloversmith
      January 19th, 2014 at 8:57 pm

      Wow, you recommend THREE more viewings?! I will give the film another shot if you feel that strongly about it — because I trust your opinion — but that probably won’t happen until its home video release. I think I have a problem with Spike Jonze as a director. Every film he makes strikes me as having a quirky and “innovative” exterior that masks a sentimental and utterly conventional core. I will have more to say when I write my Oscar post in a couple weeks.

      Reply
  • John Charet
    January 19th, 2014 at 9:44 pm

    Michael, please accept my sincere apologies. I had no idea that you were not really a fan of Spike Jonze’s films as a director. If that is the case than you are dismissed from the “three more viewings challenge” 🙂 If you want to though that is fine, If not, that is fine to. I had no clue that is how you felt about Spike Jonze as a director. Since I talk to a lot of people who do not focus on directors, I usually just tell them to give it three more tries, but since you know a lot about directors (probably surpassing me to an extent), than your reason carries more than a fair share of credibility. Of course, I disagree with your view of the film, but my opinion is mine and yours is yours. Keep up the great works as usual:)

    Reply

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