My ten favourite films I saw this month that didn’t feature a certain tall Australian singer/actor

Oh yes, my recaps are back, and believe or not I did watch enough films that weren’t X-Men related to do a list. But I did watch *a lot* and to narrow it down to ten… difficult. How do I do it? Rank? Eh, I don’t really do numerical rankings anymore especially seeing how these films are so different. Watch date? Alphabetical? Release date?

Release date. Let’s do release date.

Paths of Glory

This was the film that made Stanley Kubrick well known, and it’s probably the first film to really see his style emerge. It’s primarily a star vehicle for Kirk Douglas as a commanding officer in World War One who decides to defend his own soldiers against accusations of cowardice in a court martial. The film fits Kubrick’s incredibly cynical, cold world view perfectly and the opening act features an incredibly realistic for the time battle scene. There’s no more fighting after this, just the trial, but it’s very captivating, exploring the power dynamics of the generals and how the humanity of common soldiers were stripped away during the conflict. The opening long takes of the trenches show the technical competence of Kubrick even early in his career.

Lawrence of Arabia

Skipping the musical overture and going straight to the film itself for my own sanity – yes, this really is as good as people say it is. This is the film that made Spielberg become a filmmaker. David Lean’s epic is packed with gorgeous iconic cinematography and a rousing score, but it’s Peter O’Toole’s nuanced and layered performance as the complicated and flawed TE Lawrence, divided between his identity and loyalties, that makes the film hold up all this time. It’s a LONG film and thank god for the interval so I could take a break, but every minute is thrilling. If anyone says you have to watch films at the cinema to enjoy them “properly”, they’re lying. I saw this on my laptop and was fully engaged. Other than the use of non-Arabs to play Arabs it’s basically not aged at all.

Tenebrae

Of course I’m including a giallo, although yes I did technically start this film in 2021 I finished it on New Year’s Day so we’re counting it. Tenebrae is Dario Argento in full meta mode, as his author avatar is a literal author whose latest book has become the basis of a murder spree in Rome. It is genuinely impossible to figure out what the next twist will be, as Argento’s tight storytelling is never better than here, as he’s exploring the very nature and structure of his own films and the giallo genre. The cinematography and score are just sublime, and it’s an incredible thrill ride with sharp turns in the narrative you’ll never see coming and, yup I think I’ve seen all the Argento’s considered good now.

Glory

As a European the American Civil War is a bit of a blank spot to me – I know *of* it, but not really the full details. I especially didn’t know the battles were so brutal and the true scale of the war until Glory, which is about the Union Army’s first black battalion which includes Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington’s Oscar winning performance, and Andre Braugher’s first film role. These three carry the film, as do the outstanding production values and the historical attention to detail that makes the Civil War era feel incredibly bleak but also full of individual acts of heroism and nobleness. Glory makes this period come to fully detailed and really engaging life, and it’s a big budget film with a lot to say.

Almost Famous

A road-trip buddy coming of age story set in the early 70’s as a young boy decides to pursue his dreams of becoming a music journalist to follow his favourite band on the road. A great soundtrack, great humour and very, very watchable. It really captures the zeitgeist of that era perfectly if you know your rock and music history but the Oscar winning script is also packed with nuance as William comes of age on his travels as he befriends Penny Lane and realises that the world he wants to follow isn’t really the one for him as it’ll ultimately leave him empty. It’s also a great look at the excesses of fame and the drive for personal ambition in the form of William’s cover story being his driving factor before he starts to grow and mature.

Drive

OK, so this *shouldn’t* work for me. It’s pretentious, it’s artsy, the main character has no name and has no character BUT. That score. THAT SCORE. Oh, and Ron Perlman. Yeah that’s gonna get me watching. And the film is actually about something, from its exploration on masculinity and violence in a world full of shady businessmen and people out for their own profit, contrasted with the ordinary people just trying to survive but getting caught in the middle. Ryan Gosling is the perfect choice for the sullen tall nameless protagonist and whilst I didn’t quite *get* Drive I certainly vibed with it. A lot. And vibes get you a long way. Although the infamous “really violent” scene? Come on, I’ve seen way worse.

Molly’s Game

This film is based on the utterly insane true story of Molly Bloom, who ended up running a gambling ring which caused her to get involved in the criminal underworld. Yeah, it’s insane, and the structure of Molly’s Game is fitting, as she narrates everything that happened whilst in the “now” of the film she is working with Idris Elba’s lawyer on her case. It actually reminded me of The Wolf of Wall Street. Jessica Chastain is great but you won’t expect… OK, and this is true… Michael Cera playing Tobey Maguire. No I will not elaborate or give context. Michael Cera. Plays Tobey Maguire. That alone puts it on the list.

The Father

Anthony Hopkins really, really deserved the Oscar he won for this film, and it’s a shame his win is overshadowed by the Academy’s stupid attempt to get ratings. Regardless, The Father fits nicely into the category of films I really loved but will not watch again at least not for a long time. It’s about an old man whose daughter is trying to help him but he refuses because he doesn’t know how bad his dementia and his illness is as he can’t even remember things correctly. I’m serious, Hopkins in this film is so good it puts all the method actors who use gimmicks to get headlines and award bait TO SHAME. This is a genuine actor who puts his heart into every performance and it shows. This is a *stunningly* performed piece of cinema.

Tick Tick Boom

So… a musical is actually my favourite film I saw for the first time this month. Yeah, I’m as surprised as you are. Film musicals based on stage shows rarely work for me, but the source material isn’t a full Broadway ensemble, it’s more a rock monologue by Jonathan Larson and his struggles with success, failure and friendships to create his dream musical. The film is expertly directed by Lin- Manuel Miranda who as a theatre creative knows how to translate this to film, and I’m now vouching for Andrew Garfield as Best Actor for playing Larson. It’s endlessly imaginative and creative, the songs are excellent and it really spoke to me regarding how to approach personal achievement and embracing change and failure. Go watch it.

Nightmare Alley

Guillermo del Toro’s latest is a noir thriller where Bradley Cooper’s mysterious main character works his way up through a carnival of eccentrics to become a confidence trickster in an attempt to escape his past. It’s a long film and sometimes feels like it but the film’s two halves are distinct, with the carnival half being very “del Toro esque” as the world comes to life whilst the second half concerns the psychological mind games between Stanton Carlisle and therapist Lillith. Every frame oozes style and flair – Dan Laustsen has done wonders with del Toro’s last three films, and the script is rich and dense and packed with small details and a tightly woven story. Loved it, but that’s to be expected – I wouldn’t be studying film if it wasn’t for del Toro.

Right, another month of film to go, and no Huge Jacked Men for me in February. But hopefully a huge variety, as great a variety as this month.