Every Film I’ve Watched in 2024: February
Greetings friends! This is a record of every film I’ve watched in 2024, including rewatches, repeats and first viewings. Each film is accompanied by how / where I watched it, and my thoughts in 100 words or less. Welcome to part 2: February
15. What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - I’ve always liked and admired this film. It’s an unabashed love letter to horror cinema and pop culture vampires, but it’s also a top tier comedy. It reminds me why I fell in love with Taika Waititi’s work. It’s the product of a filmmaker who boasts an adventurous indie spirit, exciting creativity and a unique sense of humour. I hope we see this side of Taika again, where he’s not lost in the maze of big studios. Films like What We Do in the Shadows prove he’s at his best when dancing to his own tune and defying expectations.
16. Kick-Ass (2010)
Where? - DVD [rewatch]
Thoughts - For the most part, Kick-Ass is still pretty good. It’s energetic and fun, with bombastic action sequences. It’s also impressive how the film satirises and celebrates superhero comic books in equal measure. Unfortunately, the film falls down slightly due to its use of insensitive words, stereotypes and caricatures. However, this problem stems from the source material which, like other Mark Millar comic books, is problematic in many ways. Unsurprisingly, the film is an improvement on the comics. Overall, Kick-Ass is entertaining and rebellious, and the excess is part of its offbeat charm.
17. The Wolverine (2013)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - In the grand scheme, is this film great? Not really. Is it the worst of the X-Men franchise? Not at all. It fits comfortably in the middle of the road, as a remarkably unremarkable film. It’s clumsy and inconsistent, but also quite fun at times, and it’s at least an attempt to do something different by taking Wolverine on a gap year. Also, there’s a silver lining. This was the first Wolverine film directed by James Mangold, which laid the groundwork for better things to come. The way I see it, The Wolverine walked so Logan could run.
18. The Banker (2020)
Where? - Apple TV+ [first viewing]
Thoughts - I liked The Banker but I wasn’t totally sold on it. I’m not familiar with the true story so I can’t say how accurate the film was, but I found the story constructed worked relatively well. The central performances are great, particularly Anthony Mackie. It reminded me of various films throughout, like BlacKkKlansman, although it doesn’t have the same bite or impact. Based on how much ground they had to cover, I can’t help but think this would’ve worked better as a limited series. Ultimately, the performances and some key moments are better than the overall picture.
19. The Big Lebowski (1998)
Where? - DVD [rewatch]
Thoughts - Of all the comedies made by the Coen Brothers, this is my favourite; an outrageous story where a simple case of mistaken identity spirals into chaos. It’s full of oddball characters, quotable lines, and a central character whose cultural significance extends well beyond the film’s runtime. It’s less concerned with telling a cohesive story and more with selling a wild experience, which is elevated by a jukebox selection of songs, trippy sequences, and impressive cinematography from Roger Deakins. It’s the type of film which gives you more value with every rewatch, and it just keeps getting funnier.
20. Uncharted (2022)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I’m a big fan of the video games, but I’d lowered my expectations, because I wasn’t confident a two hour film could capture the same magic. Sadly, this film violated my incredibly low standards. I would’ve been happy if it were just disappointing, but it’s like someone set out to deliberately make the most thunderously stupid film. It’s joyless, lazily written, and lacks any form of passion. Even removing any attachment to the video games, Uncharted fails to entertain as a standalone adventure film. I can forgive Tom Holland, because not even a good actor can save this car crash.
21. Lady and the Tramp (1955)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - I can’t approach this film with any form of harsh criticism, because I have many happy memories watching it on VHS as a child. I wouldn’t say it ranks among my favourite Disney films, but it’s simple and light-hearted. The story is short and engaging, and it’s not trying to be anything more than it is. I’m well aware it’s a product of its time, so it’s littered with outdated cultural representations and values, but it’s important to identify and discuss them rather than ignore them.
22. Love Wedding Repeat (2020)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a good time with this film. It has an unconventional narrative structure and a sharp sense of humour. I also like that the film features dysfunctional characters but it doesn’t pretend they’re flawless. The characters have baggage, make questionable choices and speak in a way which disrupts social harmony, but the film allows them to wallow in their disgrace rather than gloss over events for the sake of a happy story. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it made me laugh more than the average rom-com.
23. Nimona (2023)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I absolutely loved Nimona. Like the graphic novel, it’s an exciting adventure which subverts conventions and plays with genres. The visual style is unlike anything I’ve seen before, so on a technical level I was mesmerised. It’s immensely funny and thoroughly entertaining, with room for subtlety which helps explore the depth and complexity of the characters. Most importantly, it’s a progressive film about understanding people and celebrating differences. It’s impressive that the film is able to have fun and tell an emotional story, whilst having the confidence, maturity and heart to explore its key themes in a really profound way.
24. Foe (2023)
Where? - Amazon Prime [first viewing]
Thoughts - I enjoyed Foe, right up until the point I didn’t. It’s a wonderful sci-fi drama which is slow and ponderous, there’s a curious visual mismatch of near-future spectacle and minimalist apocalyptic desolation, and Paul Mescal and Saoirse Ronan deliver spectacular performances. However, when the film plays its hand in the third act, the magic is completely lost. The mystery and ambiguity are replaced with clunky reveals and thoroughly underwhelming answers. The film worked so well when it was trusting the audience to think for themselves, so derailing the experience in the third act is a tremendous shame.
25. Lady Macbeth (2016)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I wasn’t prepared for how brilliant this is, nor was I prepared for my nerves to be rattled to such extremes. It has the setting and attention to detail which you’d expect of a costume drama, but everything is skewed and off-colour. The atmosphere is tense, the characters are nasty, and events descend into shocking levels of darkness. The tone is pitch perfect, the dialogue is razor sharp, and the story is layered, haunting and totally captivating. It’s an exceptionally well written film, and Florence Pugh delivers an unbelievably powerful performance.
26. The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Where? - Amazon Prime [rewatch]
Thoughts - Even after thirty years, the magic of this film hasn’t faded. There’s many reasons why this film holds such an iconic status. The acting is terrific, the score is wonderful, and Roger Deakins once again delivers stunning cinematography, which brilliantly captures the claustrophobic nature of prison and the freedom of open spaces. However, the main reason why it works is because the storytelling is so damn good. The story is geographically limited, but it shows a friendship nurture and grow over decades. It’s a film about unwavering hope in the face of despair, and it’s both timeless and incredibly moving.
27. Fargo (1996)
Where? - Amazon Prime [rewatch]
Thoughts - This definitely ranks as one of the best Coen Brothers films, and it’s one of the best crime thrillers of all time. It rides a tight line between horror and humour, in a way that only the Coens can achieve. It blurs the line between genres, offering comedic elements, moments of shocking darkness, and scenes which are uncomfortably funny and dark. Holding the film together is a triumphant performance from Frances McDormand, as a warm and likeable character who is trying to understand the trail of darkness they’re following. After every rewatch, it’s still fresh, exciting and gripping.
28. Dune: Part One (2021)
Where? - Blu Ray [rewatch]
Thoughts - I love Dune, and I think Denis Villeneuve is quite clearly a genius. To adapt something as dense as Dune and make it accessible is impressive enough, but he went further and delivered a sci-fi masterpiece. On every single level, it’s polished to perfection. The cast are superb without a single weak link, the VFX are stunning, Hans Zimmer’s score is so powerful it hits you in the chest, and Greig Fraser’s cinematography brings everything to life in stunning fashion. It’s such a bombastic and ambitious film, but it succeeds in all of its endeavours and is totally airtight.
Favourite new film of the month
Nimona
Thank you for checking out part 2, hopefully you’ll find yourself back here soon for part 3! If you’ve enjoyed this article, please check out my other recent articles:
