The Criterion Challenge 2023: Heartbreak Heaven: Films to Watch When You’re Questioning Love
"That's not her. That's only her in a movie. A long time ago . . . "
I grew up seeing this film around the family home, either out by the TV or tucked away in the DVD shelf. Its title perplexed me as a kid. Do they know that Paris is in France and not Texas? What's the…
The Kieślowski Three Colours movies were my introduction to arthouse, as they are some of my parent's favorite films. Three Colours: Blue is my favorite, and is a major reason why I ended up down the rabbit hole of cinephilia.
I remembered Red the least of the trilogy, and suggested my family and I boot it up tonight while I am home visiting them. I have a giant framed poster of it above my childhood bed, so…
So sad I missed this in theaters. I think I almost made the short theatrical window here in Chicago, but I got sick. Excuses.
A couple of these songs genuinely had me teary eyed. I never thought I'd say that about a CGI singing monkey movie. Everything gets navel gazey at points but the beautiful visual effects, choreography, and music keep you engaged.
Better Man deserved a better marketing campaign and release strategy. Let's all support it on streaming.
I just visited First Avenue, Minneapolis, and Paisley Park for the first time. A first time Purple Rain viewing was in order. Streets of Fire is the rock musical of 1984 in my book (yes it counts as a musical because of the opening), but Purple Rain is a lot of fun. It's really a visual showcase for the amazing songs on the album, but there's nothing wrong with that. The Lake Minnetonka scene stood out to me and I liked the rivalry with Morris Day.
On the Paisley Park tour we learned that Prince loved Finding Nemo. Eat that up Letterboxd.
Basket Case is oh so special to me. Deeply deeply personal. It is all connected to my ulcerative colitis. I would like to share why. Heads up, I am going to be graphic.
My colitis developed in high school, at a time in my life where I already had plenty of challenges. Girls, SATs, independence from my parents . You know the drill. Colitis comes along junior year and adds to the party. It chains me to the toilet night…
The film ends and the theater is silent. No one immediately stands up to leave. There is a collective air of "What the actual fuck just happened?"
When movies end like this, I always know I've seen something extraordinary. Sometimes the extraordinary is pretentious try hard material, but most often it is breathtaking, original art.
The latter is the case with The Green Knight. I had no idea what happened after my second post-lockdown theater experience, and needed a solid…
