First-Time Watches of May ‘21
Was a solid month of old-timers on Criterion Channel and some long-anticipated greats
It was a quieter month in terms of movie-watching, lots of playoff hockey, but still some really quality first-time watches. My Criterion Channel subscription came through for most of these.
Top Five (in order of viewing):
First Cow (2019):
Watched with some friends over Messenger video call. We started with six viewers across British Columbia, but one left before the movie even started, then two more left halfway through, and another fell asleep, so by the end it was just me and another viewer. They missed out. Kelly Reichardt’s deliberate, slow style is top-notch and once you’re entirely immersed into her intimate Pacific Northwest worlds, you’re good. First Cow writes a pretty good yarn too, it has enough intriguing story points and the biscuit saga was ingenious.
Moonrise (1948):
Dane Clark is an ugly conflicted man, almost-despicable, which works great in this melancholic film. He doesn’t have the swagger of any of the great noir dudes, but that’s what works. Clark is a pre-James Dean type of authentic anxious “bad boy” perfectly cast in Moonrise’s dark southern gothic setting. According to Wikipedia Moonrise was not initially a success which I can understand — the movie is dour, gloomy, and grey as fuck, but deeply affecting and a real achievement in film. Also, Lloyd Bridges of Hot Shots: Part Deux fame is in this.
The In-Laws (1979):
Alan Arkin and Peter Falk as battling in-laws in this Arthur Hiller-helmed comedy, is fantastic. Not much else to say, but it is really funny, and has some crazy action set-pieces. They don’t make ’em like this anymore.
Meshes of the Afternoon (1943):
Incredible cutting, hypnotic repetition that seemingly breaks down how we interpret the world through action and changing perception — how we create realities. Maya Deren goes-in in this masterpiece. Deeply inspiring work, so much energy and passion in each moment, while also oddly quirky and funny at times. Builds on the surreal worlds of painter Rene Magritte.
Christmas in July (1940):
A movie entirely about a guy who makes a slogan for a knock-off Maxwell House chain called Maxford House. The film uses the English language, i.e. slang, play on words, magnificently and writer/director Preston Sturges sure knows how to turn a phrase. The movie is an hour seven, the length of your regular prestige TV, incredibly concise and focused which works to its benefit. Dick Powell is great and Ellen Drew is rocking a very knock-off Joan Crawford haircut. Pretty great cast of goofballs.
Honourable Mentions:
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021), Easy Living (1937), Crossfire (1947), The Set-Up (1949), The Woman in the Window (2021), The Booksellers (2019), Bend of the River (1952)
See ya next month for another list.
