Weekly Watches
Hey everyone, it’s Saturday, somehow. I know for everyone this has been a long week, but somehow we made it through. In the past, I have talked about how clean slates, in regard to time, is a weird thing. A new week, month, quarter, or year doesn’t reset the day that happened before it. Really, time is a construct we use to organize our lives, but things fade or change day after day after day, not with a clean break. So yeah, this week was hard. And this upcoming week will be hard, too. I’m not sure there will be an easy week any time in the near the future but all we can do is continue on, day by day, and eventually, tides will shift—hopefully for the better.
When it comes to Weekly Watches, I do break things down. I measure them from everything I watched after the last Weekly Watches post, and usually, I have a decent amount to share. There weren’t many this week. Current events, a stressful week at work, a trip to northwestern Pennsylvania last week, and a lot of Zelda: Breath of the Wild got in the way. I did manage to see a few though, and everything I did manage to fit in this week was really good. Some of them are politically relevant, some of them aren’t, but for the most part, I recommend all of them. So let’s not waste any more words and get into it.
The Watermelon Woman (1996)
This film was one I kept seeing recommended for weird 1990s DIY films and so I thought, okay, well I need to watch this for my Top 100 of the 1990s list. It did make it, even if it isn’t for EVERYONE. However, just one day after I watched it, it became VERY relevant and quick. Not only is June 1st the start of pride month, but it also was when last week’s tense atmosphere skyrocketed. This movie isn’t about riots or anything (we’ll get to that) but it does explore underrepresentation on film. The director, Cheryl Dunye, made a semi-documentary style movie about a woman (herself), who works in a video store. Cheryl wants to make a documentary about an actress who took roles in the 1930s that fall under the “mammy” stereotype, which is the main roles offered to black women during that time. The film captures a lot of those hallmark 90s qualities that films like Clerks and Mary Jane Isn’t A Virgin Anymore had as well—low budget, not a lot of locations, a spirit of disillusionment, and a heavy focus on identity and finding it (this was the first feature film directed by an “out” black lesbian). There’s a lot to learn in this movie about topics most people don’t know much about. If you’re making a list of movies to watch the Pride Month this one NEEDS to be on it.
Fireworks (1947)
This one is only thirteen and a half minutes. Normally, I don’t include short films (or actually watch any, really) but this is another historically significant one, especially for the month of June. Kenneth Anger was the first openly gay filmmaker, which was a crime during the time most of his films were released. He stuck to shorts and was prolific. This is the first film and it is devastating. This is the one I don’t recommend to MOST casual movie viewers because like many short films it leans into its arthouse/avant-garde elements and that can be kind of a lot for people who just want to watch a good movie on a Saturday night. HOWEVER, if you are someone who likes to challenge themselves and sees movies as an interesting look into the world around them and insight into many different types of people and culture and struggle (and you don’t mind weird and symbolic artsy films) then I really do think this is a film you should watch. Again it’s under 14 minutes so it won’t take up much of your time, but it’s so impactful, especially when you remember that it’s from 1947.
The Vast of Night (2020)
This is a Scifi feature debut from Amazon Prime. It’s really good, and I actually reviewed it here, so if you’re interested then read that!
Honey Boy (2019)
Last year I heard a lot of rumblings about this one. However, it was indie and only playing at festivals for the longest time but I was dying to see it. Eventually, it made it’s way to streaming and then this week I finally sat down and watched it. SOOOO EMOTIONAL. The story is written by Shia LaBeouf, who we have all come to see as a bit of a psycho at this point. It’s based heavily on his childhood as a kid star being raised (unconventionally) by divorced parents, one of which is incredibly abusive. LaBeouf is playing the character based on his father in this film which is…clearly supposed to be cathartic for him. And I would imagine the entire film is supposed to be. And it probably was. I recommend this because despite how cartoonish it could have been LaBeouf’s clear love for what he is trying to do and director Alma Har’el’s delicate touch make this film human and beautiful. It never feels self-indulgent and you’re left with a broken heart and a tear in your eye (in a good way).
Attica (1974)
I don’t have a lot to say about this that I already haven’t. Just watch this, especially after this week. I like this one because it doesn’t lecture you or tell you how you have to feel about it. It just tells you what happened at Attica State Prison in 1971. And it’s uncomfortable to watch. It’s enraging to watch. But it takes the story head-on and makes you face it. There are some things that we should make a real effort to remember and pass on throughout history. This is one of them. 13th is a well made, pretty decent mainstream documentary to pass around right now. But if you want to watch something that is actually going to engage you, challenge you, not spoonfeed you, and make you really think—this is the better place to start. Seek it out.
The Trip (2010)
I needed a laugh and something easy going yesterday. So I watched a movie I have been meaning to forever and here’s the feedback: 1) no one is funnier than a deadpan, self-deprecating, narcissistic Brit. NO ONE. 2) You won’t stop laughing. Even during more “emotional” scenes, the music is so melodramatic it’s HILARIOUS. Oh my God. I was in TEARS. Watch this.
That’s all I have this week. Next week I’ll have more since I’m working from home for three days and not planning any trips. I hope everyone reading stays safe in the coming days.