Well, this weekend I tried to make up for the abysmal job I have been doing this month. In fairness, it has been a very busy month, but that doesn’t make me any less sad about it. Anyways, here’s a brief overview of what I squeezed in over the past weekend (and maybe a few other days).
Jingle Bell Heist – I recognized it’s December, so I should probably try to watch something festive. I don’t know why I assume that like Hallmark or Lifetime, that Netflix’s original movies are going to be bad, but this wasn’t! And Rotten Tomatoes agreed! Sophia is a petty thief just trying to score some extra cash to help pay some of her sick mother’s mounting medical bills. When she learns that she’s got an even bigger expense coming, she teams up with Nick, a guy who’s trying to rebuild his life after her boss ruined it, to score an even bigger prize. While there are several moments of disbelief in this film, it’s still practical and fun in a lot of ways. They manage to blend comedy, with cleverness, and a bit of heart. My only gripe is that the two leads didn’t really have any romantic chemistry, which is what I know they were aiming for.
Anatomy of a Fall – In this re-watch for my workplace’s movie club, I was drawn into the details of this lengthy crime drama even more than before. The only thing is, last time I was absolutely positive that she killed her husband and got away with it, but this time around I was a little less certain. Yes, she’s got the cold affect that most German’s do, and her lack of knowledge of the French language doesn’t help any outward appearances. I also have doubts about the son more this time around. Is he just saying these things for fear of losing his only other living parent? His statement at the end of the film that he was nervous for her to come home has me questioning his story. But overall, still a great film!
10DANCE – The Japanese adaptation of the manga of the same name came to my attention while I was over in Japan, and the wait since then has been almost unbearable! In this film, Sugiki is a world champion in ballroom dance, while Suzuki is a star in Latin dance. Both men are inspired by each other and challenge one another to train and compete in the 10DANCE competition. As their differing styles and personalities clash, in time they come to fall for each other, though it seems like totally surrendering to their feelings would prevent them from performing their best. The way this movie ended was hopeful, but it also seemed like a total cliffhanger! I learned that there are several mangas to this story, so maybe there is a sequel in our future? I sure hope so! The tension in this film was some of the best I’ve ever seen.
The Housemaid – Having only just read this book in the spring, a lot of the details were still fresh on my mind, so I was curious how it was going to play out on screen. Do I think Sydney Sweeney has range? No. But for this particular film, she does just enough to not completely bum me out that she was casted. Amanda Seyfried slays as Nina, a housewife seemingly on the brink of a schizophrenic episode, but as I learned in the novel, there is more than meets the eye. For both of these women! In the end, they are no damsels in distress, and it’s almost comical how the handsome Andrew really doesn’t stand a chance. There’s a bit of a departure in the final strech, but not enough so to make me mad at the choice. If you want to watch something with a neat twist, I recommend checking this one out!
Silent Night, Deadly Night – I had absolutely no clue that this film was the second remake of an original that came out in the 80s. And apparently that original had a slew of other sequels that never made it to the big screen. And even since the last iteration of this film a lot of time has passed. As a child, poor Billy witnesses the graphic death of his grandpa, along with the brutal death of his parents by a man dressed as Santa Claus. Cut to however many years later and apparently the Santa Claus killer, Charlie, is now basically Billy’s imaginary friend. Together, every December, they follow the Advent calendar to kill one bad person every day. Yes, he has to wear the Santa suit, and yes, he might meet his match in a small town with a cute girl who seems to be just as strange as him. There was something bare bones about this movie, but it was entertaining to watch, and I know I will be sat for a likely sequel.
Frankenstein – I think initially sold as “Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein,” this project has been in the works for quite some time. However, when it finally dropped on Netflix at the beginning of November, I just couldn’t bring myself to watch this two and a half hour horror drama. I finally did so this weekend, and I can see why my fear were confirmed. Apparently, this is the most faithful adaptation of Mary Shelley’s work out there, so I can at least respect that, but man was this thing slow. In the first half of the film we get Victor Frankenstein’s version of events, where his creation is a monster. But in the latter half, the creature gets to tell his own tale, where he’s treated as garbage and meant to be the most sympathetic character. All I really take away from this is that Victor was not ready, or fit, to be a parent. I like most all of del Toro’s work, so I was a little bummed with this, but if Frankenstein is your jam, definitely add this to your viewing collection.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – After the letdown of Frankenstein, I decided I wanted to pop on one of my favorite and kind of seasonally appropriate comfort movies, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. I know I watched this earlier this year, but it’s been long enough that every scene made me laugh, or grin like a giddy idiot. This is peak rom-com to me, and in the face of all of the other romance things I’ve been checking out this year, it really makes me want to revisit the novel. Stay tuned!