listen—I fell in love with Finland

1. What was you first movie-going experience without your parents? 

    I don't recall going to a movie with my parents, ever. I'm sure I did, but I've no memory of it. I do remember watching movies at home with my dad, often classic westerns—with John Wayne—or mysteries like The Maltese Falcon (1941). We both like to get just a little bit scared, and I distinctly recall us scampering around the corner into the kitchen, where my mom was working on their tax return, to "hide" from whatever was happening onscreen. She told us to either shut it off or [not in so many words] suck it up and stop bothering her when she was busy. 

 

2. Do you still buy DVDs or Blu-rays, or do you just stream?

    I still buy DVDs, and still own some Blu-ray. My internet is a little spotty at times, especially during the school year (picture this valley with one little flow of internet and a majority of it being diverted so the pretentious, pampered pricks across the highway can stream while they "study"), so discs just make it a smoother and easier experience. 

    I also suffer from paralysis of choice, and often get too overwhelmed by a streaming menu to find anything worth seeing before I'm annoyed with the process. 

    Finally, I like special features like cast interviews and gag reels.

    In sum: I do stream, but prefer to have a variety of options on disc. 

 

4. You have compiled a list of your top 10 movies. Which movies do you like, but would not make the list? 

    this is a slightly awkward ask. 

    I rate the movies that I've seen (or DNF'd) on IMDB.com. I've added ratings for roughly 970 films and TV series. Of those, 39 are rated 10/10, and around 120 are 9/10. What follows are some of those 9's, chosen because I haven't already written about them ad nauseam.

    • One Night (2012), reviewed here; "this is a tense, uncomfortable, strange, sad little movie. I loved it."

    • Bodyguards and Assassins (2009), reviewed here; "an incredibly action-packed, surprisingly funny, sweet, enormously sad, heart-filled

epic. Definitely not for everybody, but for fans of the genre it's top-notch."

    • Safety Last! (1923), reviewed here; "nauseatingly realistic, this film is really something for someone with vertigo! Howard Lloyd is a brilliantly expressive physical comedian. It's so good!"

    • Albatross (2011), reviewed here; "the whole point of the film is a moral conundrum that is not
easily resolved. This one will make you think and may stick with you for a while. It certainly has with me."

    • Goodbye Again (1961), reviewed here; "this is a profoundly sad movie. If that doesn't appeal to you, then you should avoid it. If you like that nuance, though, it's marvelous."

    • The Water Diviner (2014), reviewed here; "a marvelous film. ... The subject matter is peculiar, and fascinating. The story is broad, sweeping, but still finely honed. ...this one had all of my attention from the start. It's also a visually beautiful film. Even the war scenes are stunning. ... I loved this movie."

    • The Revenant (2015), reviewed here; "if you like a movie that will knock your visual socks right the F off, keep you up at night, and make you think about something greater than yourself, this is highly recommended."

    • The Bishop's Wife (1947), reviewed here; "wonderful! Genuine and uplifting without any schmaltz. One of those movies that renew one's faith in Christmas, kindness, and Cary Grant."

    • The House of Flying Daggers (2004), reviewed here; "gorgeous film, engrossing story, wonderful action. The cinematography alone makes this worth watching--the climactic fight scene, toward the end, where the seasons change...that is mindblowingly beautiful and tragic all at once."

 

6. Classic(s) you’re embarrassed to admit you haven’t seen yet? 

    I am not embarrassed by anything I have or have not watched! 

    There are loads of "classic" movies I have not seen. Some are just the luck of the draw, what's (not) available when I'm ready to watch. Some are genre or temperament incompatibility—I'm not seeking out "the best movies of all time" regardless of my own personal taste. Life is too short to waste it living up to someone else's standards. 

    Among these: It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), The Miracle on 34th Street (1947), Lord of the Rings (2001), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002).... 

 

7. Do you have any movie posters hanging on your wall? If yes, which ones and why? 

    no, I think it's a little strange when grown adults geek out to that degree. I love movies, but not like that.

 

8. Tell about a movie that you are passionate about. 

     The Other Side of Hope (2017, reviewed here and here). It's unlike any movie I've seen. The closest equivalent might be Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) or The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), but it's funnier than the former and more intelligent and serious than the latter. Plus it's in a number of languages and leaves a mark when it's done. I really need to see it again soon.

9. What is a movie you vow to never watch? Why? 

     it's not a matter of "vowing," but there are a few that I won't seek out (besides those in #6, above). The ones that come to mind were recommended by someone who often tries to make me feel bad because I hadn't seen whichever blockbuster film they've thought of at that moment. I am regularly faced with a "you should really..." statement about "needing" to watch some excruciatingly long series of films that didn't interest me enough to seek them out. 

    So, yeah, that shit's not happening. 

 

10. Tell us about a movie that literally left you speechless.

     Gorgeous (1999, reviewed here). Unusual, fantastic (in the "it's a fantasy" sense), romantic, incredibly funny, and a little heart-wrenching. As indicated in the review, I paused the [library-borrowed] movie midway through so that I could order a copy for myself. When it was over, I seriously considered just popping it back in to watch again. That ought to count as speechless. 

 

[snatched from here and edited for length; the title quotation is from The Other Side of Hope]