what did matt watch?

May 22

Screening Log: 21 May 2012 1. The final two episodes from this season’s Community. Sad, as they may be the last classic era episodes, given Dan Harmon’s shitcanning. [Hulu] 2. I Wish (2011, Hirokazu Koreeda) Review forthcoming, but short version: liked it more, in its way, than Still Walking. [screener] 3. The latest episode of Veep

Screening Log: 21 May 2012

1. The final two episodes from this season’s Community. Sad, as they may be the last classic era episodes, given Dan Harmon’s shitcanning. [Hulu]

2. I Wish (2011, Hirokazu Koreeda) Review forthcoming, but short version: liked it more, in its way, than Still Walking. [screener]

3. The latest episode of Veep

May 21

Screening Log: Weekend of 18 May 2012 1. The first of the three Community episodes that aired last Thursday as its 90-minute season finale. I.e., the one with Gus Fring and an Adventures of Link-style video game. [Hulu] 2. Heartburn (1986, Mike Nichols) [Netflix Instant] 3. /Celine and Julie Go Boating/ (1974, Jacques Rivette) [repertory screening]

Screening Log: Weekend of 18 May 2012

1. The first of the three Community episodes that aired last Thursday as its 90-minute season finale. I.e., the one with Gus Fring and an Adventures of Link-style video game. [Hulu]

2. Heartburn (1986, Mike Nichols) [Netflix Instant]

3. /Celine and Julie Go Boating/ (1974, Jacques Rivette) [repertory screening]

May 18

Screening Log: 17 May 2012 1. Antonio Gaudí (1985, Hiroshi Teshigahara) Utterly transporting, as advertised: a series of perfectly composed journeys of and through Gaudí’s work, with nothing on the soundtrack save Japanese avant-garde music and, only thrice, some commentary. Like its subject, essentially perfect and sadly unique. [DVD] 2. Some Ghostbusters on Instant. Did you know Ghostbusters is now on Instant? I haven’t seen it the whole way through since like, fucking gosh, 1999? Also, anyone who says Ivan Reitman is utterly without talent would be right save this movie. Anyone who would direct that shot where Sigourney Weaver first goes up to Annie Potts’ desk, prompting Bill Murray to pop up into frame and suddenly leap over to her isn’t totally worthless. [Netflix Instant]

Screening Log: 17 May 2012

1. Antonio Gaudí (1985, Hiroshi Teshigahara) Utterly transporting, as advertised: a series of perfectly composed journeys of and through Gaudí’s work, with nothing on the soundtrack save Japanese avant-garde music and, only thrice, some commentary. Like its subject, essentially perfect and sadly unique. [DVD]

2. Some Ghostbusters on Instant. Did you know Ghostbusters is now on Instant? I haven’t seen it the whole way through since like, fucking gosh, 1999? Also, anyone who says Ivan Reitman is utterly without talent would be right save this movie. Anyone who would direct that shot where Sigourney Weaver first goes up to Annie Potts’ desk, prompting Bill Murray to pop up into frame and suddenly leap over to her isn’t totally worthless. [Netflix Instant]

May 17

Screening Log: 16 May 2012 1. Polisse (2011, Maïwenn) Review forthcoming, but short version: takes a refreshingly skeptical look at an extremely sensitive subject, although surely not everyone in CPUs screams and rages this much. [screener] 2. The Intouchables (2011, Olivier Nakashe & Eric Toledano) Review forthcoming (maybe), but short version: has moments, he’s loath to say. Too likable to fully resist, although even for a bald crowd-pleaser it’s quite thin. Having trouble even sussing out a storyline beyond “unlikely friends instantly click, continue clicking until there’s something like an ending.” Does avoid being simply ”rich guy cheered up by funny black guy.” So it’s not The Toy. [advance screening with charmed crowd] 3. Oslo, August 31 (2011, Joachim Trier) Nearly as depressing as advertised; as with Reprise, I’m close enough to this subject that, even as I have “problems,” I could never come close to resisting. (I’ve never done hard drugs, but the lead’s junk habit is a stand-in for anyone who has made it into their mid-30s without ever traditionally settling down nor even finding a robust life path.) And while I’m okay with Trier jettisoning the energy of Reprise, I did miss the details. This seems kind of basic, almost generic in a way, when his gift is really his specific personality. Montages, especially the opening one, devastating, though.

Screening Log: 16 May 2012

1. Polisse (2011, Maïwenn) Review forthcoming, but short version: takes a refreshingly skeptical look at an extremely sensitive subject, although surely not everyone in CPUs screams and rages this much. [screener]

2. The Intouchables (2011, Olivier Nakashe & Eric Toledano) Review forthcoming (maybe), but short version: has moments, he’s loath to say. Too likable to fully resist, although even for a bald crowd-pleaser it’s quite thin. Having trouble even sussing out a storyline beyond “unlikely friends instantly click, continue clicking until there’s something like an ending.” Does avoid being simply ”rich guy cheered up by funny black guy.” So it’s not The Toy. [advance screening with charmed crowd]

3. Oslo, August 31 (2011, Joachim Trier) Nearly as depressing as advertised; as with Reprise, I’m close enough to this subject that, even as I have “problems,” I could never come close to resisting. (I’ve never done hard drugs, but the lead’s junk habit is a stand-in for anyone who has made it into their mid-30s without ever traditionally settling down nor even finding a robust life path.) And while I’m okay with Trier jettisoning the energy of Reprise, I did miss the details. This seems kind of basic, almost generic in a way, when his gift is really his specific personality. Montages, especially the opening one, devastating, though.

May 11

Screening Log: 10 May 2012 1. Losing Control (2011, Valerie Weiss) Review forthcoming, but short version: jesus. [screener] 2. Episode 2 of David Attenborough’s Life on Earth [DVD] Also crossed something off the Bucket List: consumed, with friends, half a smoked suckling pig at the Jose Garces joint Amada. We feasted upon ears, tongue, snout, crispy skin and goddamned brains. See above for pieces of the head. You’re welcome.

Screening Log: 10 May 2012

1. Losing Control (2011, Valerie Weiss) Review forthcoming, but short version: jesus. [screener]

2. Episode 2 of David Attenborough’s Life on Earth [DVD]

Also crossed something off the Bucket List: consumed, with friends, half a smoked suckling pig at the Jose Garces joint Amada. We feasted upon ears, tongue, snout, crispy skin and goddamned brains. See above for pieces of the head. You’re welcome.

May 10

Screening Log: 9 May 2012 1. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012, Joss Whedon) Sorry to join the ranks of those amused but generally underimpressed by this, but these recent Marvels seem to only moderately divert because they lack strong storylines. Iron Man, the apparent best of this lot, at least had charm and an RDJ performance that was more than quips. This is more of a machine, and while I don’t have the heart of stone that would allow me to resist its geeky high points — Thor vs. Hulk, Hulk vs. Loki, Hulk basically doing anything — I still spent most of the film twiddling my thumbs in anticipation for these moments. Joss Whedon made this? [theatrical screening] 2. [something I can’t talk about or the studio might claim my first-born child or something] Review forthcoming, but short version: there’s a reason I can’t talk about it. [advance screening] 3. First episode of Life on Earth, David Attenborough’s famed 1979 13-episode nature series. I needed something science-y and godless with which to chase Cosmos, which I recently completed, and this looks like it will do just fine. [DVD]

Screening Log: 9 May 2012

1. Marvel’s The Avengers (2012, Joss Whedon) Sorry to join the ranks of those amused but generally underimpressed by this, but these recent Marvels seem to only moderately divert because they lack strong storylines. Iron Man, the apparent best of this lot, at least had charm and an RDJ performance that was more than quips. This is more of a machine, and while I don’t have the heart of stone that would allow me to resist its geeky high points — Thor vs. Hulk, Hulk vs. Loki, Hulk basically doing anything — I still spent most of the film twiddling my thumbs in anticipation for these moments. Joss Whedon made this? [theatrical screening]

2. [something I can’t talk about or the studio might claim my first-born child or something] Review forthcoming, but short version: there’s a reason I can’t talk about it. [advance screening]

3. First episode of Life on Earth, David Attenborough’s famed 1979 13-episode nature series. I needed something science-y and godless with which to chase Cosmos, which I recently completed, and this looks like it will do just fine. [DVD]

May 09

[video]

May 08

Screening Log: 7 May 2012 1. Rewatched The Thick of It Special “The Rise of the Nutters.” I have to do this at least once a year. And don’t tell anyone, but this show — which might be my favorite ever — is back on YouTube where, unlike on BBC America, it’s uncensored and fucktastically profane. [YouTube] 2. Dark Shadows (2012, Tim Burton) Review forthcoming. Is there still an embargo? Can I at least say I’m pro-Eva Green? [advance screening] 3. First Position (2011, Bess Kargman) Review forthcoming, but meh? Respectful comp doc but rarely much more, and ye gods that twinkly score. [screener]

Screening Log: 7 May 2012

1. Rewatched The Thick of It Special “The Rise of the Nutters.” I have to do this at least once a year. And don’t tell anyone, but this show — which might be my favorite ever — is back on YouTube where, unlike on BBC America, it’s uncensored and fucktastically profane. [YouTube]

2. Dark Shadows (2012, Tim Burton) Review forthcoming. Is there still an embargo? Can I at least say I’m pro-Eva Green? [advance screening]

3. First Position (2011, Bess Kargman) Review forthcoming, but meh? Respectful comp doc but rarely much more, and ye gods that twinkly score. [screener]

May 07

Screening Log: 3-6 May 2012 1. A Little Bit of Heaven (2012, Nicole Kassell) Ye gods. Reviewed here. Reminded me how happy I am I skipped Kassell’s The Woodsman. [online screener] 2. Changing the Game (2012, Rel Dowdell) Review forthcoming. [special advance screening, with Irma P. Hall and Tony Todd in attendance] 3. Elles (2011, Malgorzata Szumowska) Review forthcoming. [screener] 4. The latest Parks and Rec and Community [Hulu]

Screening Log: 3-6 May 2012

1. A Little Bit of Heaven (2012, Nicole Kassell) Ye gods. Reviewed here. Reminded me how happy I am I skipped Kassell’s The Woodsman. [online screener]

2. Changing the Game (2012, Rel Dowdell) Review forthcoming. [special advance screening, with Irma P. Hall and Tony Todd in attendance]

3. Elles (2011, Malgorzata Szumowska) Review forthcoming. [screener]

4. The latest Parks and Rec and Community [Hulu]

May 03

[video]