100 Films: Lots of Highlights, Even More Lowlights
Stop Sleeping, Start Watching
Setting goals in life is crucial to success. Many a person will enter into the new year with hopes of improving health, kicking bad habits, or possibly overcoming financial hardships. Like many of you, I looked myself in the mirror and decided it was time to improve. After much thought and meditation, I wrote down five simple words: watch 350 movies this year.
I didn’t actually write those words down, but I did think them. Now, there’s really no reason to undertake the task of watching this many films in a year—all while maintaining a full-time job, social life, and other extracurriculars—but my reason is a simple one, I like movies. This endeavor goes beyond just consuming roughly one month’s worth of content; it’s an opportunity to expand the depths of film knowledge and be forced to intentionally select each film watched. Over the course of these 100 films, I’ve watched 63 movies for the first time—9 of which were released this year.
In hopes of sharing my journey with all of you, I wanted to take this checkpoint as an opportunity to recommend five of the best films I’ve watch so far this year.
Crimes of Passion (1984):
This psycho-sexual erotic thriller pairs a sexually liberated Kathleen Turner with a straight laced, repressed former football star, and just oozes nothing but sexual tension. Some may find the overt and exhaustive dialogue about sex annoying, but this trippy ride into what seems to be a weird fantasy realm is quite captivating. If you’re not sold yet, this also features a truly unhinged performance by the original Norman Bates, Anthony Perkins.
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989):
There’s absolutely nothing I could say about Miyazaki that hasn’t already been said. This isn’t the first time I’ve watched Kiki’s Delivery Service, but each watch is more pleasant than the last. This movie isn’t just beautiful, charming, and inspiring, it gives off a sense of calm and comfort that transport you back to the feeling of Saturday morning cartoons. With almost no dramatic tension, it’s a chance to melt into this tranquil world.
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995):
You almost have to watch this movie more than once to notice anything but Denzel. Once you’re able to look past the sheer magnitude of his charisma, you’ll be delighted to find a gorgeous noir thriller that features a number of great performances and a winding storyline that traces the Los Angeles streets on which it takes place.
Gosford Park (2001):
This is Clue (1985) with a pinky up. A whodunnit that features a staggering cast of talented actors. I’d imagine that Rian Johnson had to of taken inspiration from this movie, because it’s laden with class commentary and sardonic dialogue.
John Wick 4 (2023):
Simply the most radical three hours of movie theater experience I’ve had in a long time. With every new John Wick film there comes a cavalcade of character introductions and new lore, and I’ll simply never tire of it. Each set piece carries the weight of a climax, all building up to the truly stunning Arc de Triomphe car fight scene and the brutal Sacré-Coeur step climb. The additions of Donnie Yen, Hiroyuki Sanada, Shamier Anderson, and Rina Sawayama knocked this movie out of the park. Bill Skarsgård plays this villain almost as well as he dresses in the movie.
Holy Shit! I almost forgot about the explosive overhead shot scene. This movie rocks.