March 2025
Heyo!
Been a weird month, still depressed lol. Went to go visit my sister-in-law in Texas which slowed down my viewings a bit. Still saw 33 films this month, which feels more sustainable long term than January and February were.
Rhymes for Young Ghouls [2013]
An odd but thought provoking Indigenous story.
It's boarding school moments made it more horrific than the supposed horror film Clearcut was imo (this was a perfect follow up to that movie btw). I admire Aila's strong spirit and empathize with her struggle to express her rage, but I do feel the movie needed some more attention in the editing room.
7/10
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person [2023]
How is this the most adorable vampire movie I've ever seen?
8.5/10
Michael [1996]
I liked this movie more in theory than in execution (the aloof archangel on a roadtrip moments are peak). No hate on MacDowell, but Travolta and Hurt were the wrong casting choice. Travolta at least seems happier here than I've ever seen him on screen before so he sells his comedic moments well, but Hurt is an unconvincing supporting actor and love interest.
Shout out to the shoehorned in dog, I almost forgot it was a 90's movie.
4/10
The Wizard of Oz [1939]
Over the Rainbow / The Lollypop Guild / If I Only Had A Brain: 🤩
You're Off to See the Wizard / We're Off to See the Wizard / We're Off to See the Wizard (Reprise): 😒
8/10
Beaux Score: "Drop a house on her and steal her shoes"
Double Indemnity [1944]
Los Angeles, USA.
Sometimes you dance with a dame, and sometimes she dances you. The trick is to get out before she spins you straight down to Khyber right along with her, but that's hard for a man like Neff with his eyes on ankles and his mind on money. Unfortunately for this felonious fraud, there's his friend Mr. Keyes.
Now I have no respect for insurance men, and as far as I'm concerned they're a collection of crooks that just so happen to have legal standing, but damn if that claims investigator Barton Keyes isn't my idol. He has a little man inside of him that guides his gut straight to the truth. I want to be that little man, only outside of him, walking the streets, and unraveling the truth for truths sake—not to save my boss a bag of coin.
The banter in this film spoke to me on a spiritual level, I just wish I liked it's story more.
7/10
The Man from U.N.C.L.E [2015]
Just a peak action spy movie with a great cast and very much to my taste! Huge ménage à trois energy from the main trio tho
9.5/10
The Shop Around the Corner [1940]
After viewing You've Got Mail for the first time, I had some mixed thoughts to say the least. I am delighted to say this movie is just a much better version of the story, having everything I loved about it's successor minus all of my critiques.
10/10
Mickey 17 [2025]
An astute eye might have noticed a message of anti-colonialism, anti-capitalism, and anti-fascism in this movie. These complex themes are actually a subtle reference to how fucked we are.
9/10
Beaux Score: "How many Robert Pattinsons will it take to defeat Trump?"
The Hopi Prophesy [1987]
The southwest is sacred land!
A Japanese documentarian comes to Hopi territory. Two cultures separated by an ocean express a hope for a world free of nuclear harm, having both been victims of the US nuclear project. The message is an important one, and I hope we can learn from it. I've never seen my homeland put to synth music before, so that was fun.
No rating because it's hard to judge this as a film in my opinion, but you can find it free on YouTube here
Crank [2006]
There’s no way everyone involved in this film wasn’t on brain hemorrhaging levels of drugs.
This movie is better than Speed, and that’s about all the praise I can give. Low bar, I know.
3/10
Beaux Score: -4/10 "I watched in passing and it took braincells from me"
The Last Black Man in San Francisco [2019]
Mixed feelings.
I think there need to be more movies about people loving places, and I mean really loving them. Ownership of the place in question here is messy from the start, gets messier the further you go (#LandBack) but the love was real. "It's their loss" you'll say, but it's mine too—tenga el camino de mi alma.
I'm failing to see the end goal of the film? It was very beautifully shot, but it screamed white people writing black characters as I watched it. When I confirmed that it was, it made it's ending feel icky and hollow. No answers to the frustrations it poses and no reflections for the self, other than to shut the fuck up and get over it—this shit ain't yours, chinga tu alma.
6/10
The Maltese Falcon [1941]
San Francisco, USA.
I know I always say this, but I had a break up that was almost like this.
Mr. Spade is who we follow. I liked him, he's a one punch wonder who tells it how it is and shovels his way deeper into the rabbit hole that is the mystery of the missing Maltese Falcon. Snappy and stubborn, Spade is enticed into into all this trouble partially for the prize and partially to save his own skin. I also have to give praise to Elffie, and I'm wondering if there's a right way to treat secretary's to get this dependable. Mine keeps complaining of being overworked.
All that I liked, but I wanted more from this story. Where's the conspiracy that constantly put him in the right place at the wrong time? Where was the climax? I also suspected a dame was behind this the entire time, and I screamed as much at my friend—ask them! That ending was cold as face fill of sidewalk in an empty midwinter street. For a supposed classic, I was underwhelmed.
6/10
The Iron Claw [2023]
And suddenly the supposed "inspirational movie" felt like a cautionary tale.
I don't know... It was good, can't even say it wasn't unique which is usually my critique about this type of movie. I really liked the dynamic with the brothers. Zac Efron's face weirded me out the whole time. Also despite its R-rating, it's really rather tame; some of its writing makes this feel like it was supposed to be a PG-13 drama for the family.
6/10
Little Chief [2020]
And so the boy ran
Towards a simpler life
Perhaps
10/10
Sense and Sensibility [1995]
I do think the british are such silly creatures, but even I can't deny that this was cute as hell. How do I become Mr. Palmer but without having to marry manic Dolores Umbridge?
8/10
Beaux Score: "It's chewsday innit?"
What's Opera, Doc? [1957]
I almost wrote a paper in college arguing that this is what Nietzsche dreamt of when he wrote The Birth of Tragedy. How heavy his steps as he ascends what is left of the destruction he so carelessly wrought, knowing that bringing this innocent wabbit to heaven will not redeem his soul. The perfect blend of Apollonian harmony and Dionysian chaos, and therefore the truest piece of art in existence—I will die on this hill.
11/10, IT DEFINES WHO I AM!
Beaux Score: 10/10 "Genuinely better than the Marriage of Figaro, and I mean that"
Down By Law [1986]
Bob deserves the world!
8/10
Stand By Me [1986]
Boys being boys (trauma).
Maybe the first rated R movie I was ever shown. Anyway it's about the death of innocence. I cannot get the deer scene out of my head.
9/10
Beaux Score: "Me at the beginning of the movie: Where are these kids parents? Me four minutes later: Oh..."
Gather [2020]
Even my seasonal depression couldn't stop this from being a douse of hope to my soul.
9/10
Beaux Score: "I want eight more of these movies"
Van Helsing [2004]
In the first two minutes of this film, I laughed when I saw Dr. Frankenstein and Dracula in the same room; I laughed twice more in the last four minutes. There is 126 additional minutes of content between these moments, just to do the math for ya there.
2/10
No Other Land [2024]
You can't be Land Back if you aren't also Free Palestine.
As far as filmmaking is concerned, it doesn't get much better than this. Regarding its content, I am too tired and too angry to find the words...
10/10
Dracula Untold [2014]
Needlessly dramatic and not good, but the more I zoned out the more I started vibing with it. The ending upset me greatly however.
Charles Dance, what are you doing here bud?
4/10
The Boondock Saints [1999]
The catholic imagery, incredible comedy, judicious and brutal violence, Willem Dafoe. It isn't a question of what more could you want. The question is, do you possess the constitution—the depth of faith—to go as far is as needed?
9/10
Beaux Score: "Irish people are just like that"
American Fiction [2023]
Pretty good satire, and maybe perhaps the most important black story ever told. It makes it's point well and isn't too preachy about it, and I love to see Jeffery Wright in a leading role
8/10
The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day [2009]
It is the same chaotic gratuitous violence that you love from the first film, but it fails to capture it's predecessor's magic—especially in it's gun fights. Benz is a fine replacement for Dafoe, but I wanted something more from Detective Bloom the character: she's an FBI agent, she's intelligent, she's just like he was, but her unique thing is she's.. hot? Cinematography unfortunately takes a hit with Kane not returning.
May Saint Duffy one day complete the work of the this most holy trinity.
6.5/10
Beaux Score: "Catholics are just like that"
The Quiet American [2002]
One of the greatest love triangle situations I've ever seen (I'm just a sucker for the two guys getting along despite the girl). Fraser plays the most lawful good american, wanting to save the world. Caine also gives one of his better dramatic performances, narrating this quiet cold war film with a perceptive journalistic eye. And quiet and cold it is, with the war being something defined mostly by distant off screen grenades and the tension of constant military activity. But this film is hardly about all of that—it's about Phuong being caught in the middle of our two leading men. Do Thi Hai Yen plays the enticing woman who's character embodies Vietnam: full of potential both past and present, while foreign and domestic interests burn her from the inside like a fire fueled by her very soul.
There are only a small handful of moments I did not enjoy, such as some overly dramatic slow motion and some strange editing choices. But overall, I really enjoyed it and I'd like to see it again (and maybe I'll even read Greene's original novel)!
8/10
Beaux Score: "I only wish you were quieter, American"
Blood Quantum [2019]
Indigenous down to the bone, this zombie gore film sets its tone perfectly and right away managing to keep surprising me throughout. I loved it's premise and grab bag levels of unspoken sociopolitical commentary—I have so many questions about this world and it's lore!
Campy at times, but not too bad. After seeing Rhymes for Young Ghouls earlier this month, it's clear to me that Barnaby has vision for some great Indigenous stories, but he needs some more help. The cinematography was great, editing was better this time even, but that screenplay was rough.
8/10
Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World [2017]
"The secret to Indian Country is: when you're losing your mind, only lose the parts that need losing"
8/10
Little Bird [2023]
My wife is currently pregnant with our first child, and this kickstarted my paternal instinct like a car battery. Easily makes it's way onto my list of Essential Viewing, even though it broke me.
10/10
Black Bag [2025]
My wife said “That’s so hot” 2 seconds before a character on screen said the exact same thing.
Spy thrillers are always hit or miss with me and this one was a witty and romantic hit!
9/10
Beaux Score: "Like a sexy Agatha Christie but you want to wipe the lens the whole time."
Death of a Unicorn [2025]
“You know, this is Blackfoot land and…”
“Hush daring, no one needs to hear about that—now or ever.”
Predictable top to bottom but genuinely a very funny movie with good creature design. Put Will Poulter in more comedy immediately!
6/10
This Is Spinal Tap [1984]
Obligatory "AND WHO SAYS WHITE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CULTURE"
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