I came just a few films shy of my goal this year, but as you are probably aware, I did see a whole lot. Here’s the final push for 2024!
Babygirl – Only in the past few years have I decided to trek out to the theaters on Christmas. A lot of that has to do with less family events going on, but still. This is a new tradition I’d like to keep going. From the writer-director who brought us Bodies Bodies Bodies, we get an even more erotic thriller! Nicole Kidman plays Romy, a CEO and true boss-lady at both work and home. It’s clear though that not all of her needs are being met by her husband. Her life reaches its peak fulfillment when she starts a sexual affair with a new, very young intern at her company. He’s the boss when they’re together, and that is a major turn-on for her. Of course, with things like this, how could everything not come crashing down eventually? Harris Dickinson does an excellent job of playing a college-aged frat bro, with a perfect balance of pomp, cluelessness, childishness, and cockiness.
Nosferatu – This is Robert Eggers best film yet! I think most people are familiar with the story of Nosferatu, and I feel I was more wholly educated with the Dracula miniseries I’d seen semi-recently. I actually found a lot of similarities between those two materials, but the shots in this movie were out of this world! I have no clue how he could have achieved shots so beautiful, but they were really a thing of wonder. From an acting perspective, this cast brought their A-game. They sold the scares, but also managed to bleed in a little bit of silliness. I found the entire film compelling, so I hope new audiences who gave this oddball writer-director a chance came away just a pleased.
Small Things Like These – You’d think after a banner year and an Oscar win with Oppenheimer that anything Cillian Murphy does moving would be devoured by audiences. But, I’m sure he’s pleased that a small, Irish drama isn’t getting swarmed by media and fans. Not that he wouldn’t want success for projects he chooses, but I’m sure the attention he got last year was jarring. In this film, he plays a hard-working man in a small Irish town who’s come across a disturbing scene. While making a coal delivery, he finds a young woman in a freezing cold shed at a convent. He learns she’ll be having her baby there. Horrified by the inhumanity, he struggles with what to do when it’s clear that most of the town turns a blind eye to the goings-on at the convent. Pretty powerful.
Saturday Night – I was happy I got to watch this film again. The chaos captured in this film has to be what it’s still like at 8H, though I hope there’s a little more finesse in 2024. Everyone in this film is so strong, and though I really don’t have a frame of reference for the stars of that original season, I can’t help but believe that the actors nailed their real life counterparts. I found myself getting goosebumps in plenty of scenes, and seeing Willem Dafoe here again reminds me that he is a treasure. Jason Reitman can do no wrong in my eyes!
Sweethearts – While this film didn’t quite stick the landing for me, I did really appreciate the unconventional approach it took to what seemed like was going to be an obvious plot. Jamie and Ben are two co-dependent best friends trying their hand at long distances relationships in their first semester of college. Both of their significant others are back in Ohio, one at OSU, the other still in high school. They make a pact to help with each others’ break-ups, but those plans get derailed when there’s too much to drink and too many nerves. You’d think that they break up and then find out that they love each other, but I’ll just let you check it out if you’re really that interested.
A Mistake – I don’t know why, but I find medical dramas (real ones, not Grey’s Anatomy) very compelling. In this fictional story, Liz Taylor, a well-respected surgeon, really goes through it after a surgical patient dies in recovery. It all seems to stem back from a bad mistake her registrar made during the routine procedure, but things aren’t all as they appear. This is another excellent look at what hospitals do to cover up errors and try to keep their good name. Likewise, it shows the pitfalls of making the most basic statistics available to the public. Really engaging stuff!
Officer Black Belt – Based off the name and the film’s poster, I was kind of expecting this film to be full of gags. Which I love. Instead, while there was some comedy present, the film itself was overall a bit bleak. I have no clue if martial arts officers are a real thing, but that’s what Jung-do is asked to be in this film given his extensive martial arts background. He assists officers who aren’t physically able to interact with ankle monitor parolees. Things get serious when one such scum-bag tries to play the department and take part in a kidnapping and a slew of other heinous things. It really opens Jung-do’s eyes to the terrible things out there, but also his passion to help.