Every Film I’ve Watched in 2024: May
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 5: May.
58. Belfast (2021)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I’ve spoken many times of how much I dislike Kenneth Branagh, and how his work hasn’t resonated with me. However, I’d be a fool if I said Belfast didn’t showcase his talents as both writer and director. It’s well written, the characters are three dimensional, the performances are excellent, it balances lightness and darkness brilliantly, and the story juggles comedy, drama, tension, the joy of childhood memories and the severity of real world events. It’s not only a realistic depiction of family life, but it captures the complex historical context in great detail. It’s a truly remarkable film.
59. The Simpsons Movie (2007)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - Despite being a huge cultural moment upon release, it’s hard to talk about this film in 2024. It’s not a classic, but it’s not forgettable, it’s just somewhere in the middle. It has the same strengths and weaknesses as the TV series; it’s funny in places, it has some emotional beats, it plays by its own rules, but it also has a lot of dated humour and questionable cultural depictions. Ultimately, your opinion of the series will likely match how you feel about the film. For me, it’s a fun bit of nostalgia, but not something I see as coveted.
60. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
Where? - 25th anniversary cinema screening [rewatch]
Thoughts - The prequels have a bad reputation, but I’d argue this isn’t the worst of the bunch. Yes, there are sections which are slow and baggy, some of the dialogue is jarring, and some characters are annoying. However, it has some good elements, like the performances, the action, and the classic John Williams score. It’s worth sitting through the film just to get to the epic Darth Maul fight scene at the end. Also, there was something special about seeing this in a cinema screening full of fans. The film itself is a mixed bag, but this experience was fantastic.
61. Living (2022)
Where? - Amazon Prime [first viewing]
Thoughts - Living is the type of film which isn’t necessarily enjoyable, but it tells an engaging story. It’s slow and poignant, but it knows exactly what it’s trying to achieve. Bill Nighy gives a subtle and layered performance, which is counterbalanced by a vibrant supporting performance from Aimee Lou Wood. While the film is incredibly emotional, I expected it to go further than it did. Living seems to get stuck on a low gear, then doesn’t vary enough to carry the film through. Perhaps this is my own fault for expecting something different, but I was left feeling slightly underwhelmed.
62. Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - It’s easy to see why this is still held as one of Tim Burton’s best films. It’s a dark fairy tale brought to life in glorious fashion. It has all of the aesthetic wonder you’d expect from Burton, but it’s also one of his most engaging and layered stories. Most impressively, the film’s visuals and themes are perfectly in tune with each other. It contrasts the warmth and vibrant colours of busy suburban life, with the cold, monochrome isolation. It’s a story about trying to understand the unknown and finding friendship in unexpected places, and it’s wonderful.
63. Fantastic Four (2005)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - I’ve got a soft spot for this film because of childhood memories, but I’m not about to pretend it’s high quality. Even though the Fantastic Four are my favourite Marvel team, this film doesn’t annoy me. Yes, it feels like it was written by someone whose knowledge of the Fantastic Four came from one drunken interaction with a friend of a friend several years ago. But it’s fine. It’s cheesy, but also kind of fun in places, and it comes from an era where we didn’t take comic book films so seriously, so it’s not worth overthinking.
64. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
Where? - Disney Plus [rewatch]
Thoughts - Whatever you think about the first film, the sequel makes it look like top tier MCU content by comparison. It’s an incredibly goofy and dated film which isn’t worth taking seriously, as it doubles down on every misstep made by the first film. Unfortunately, they didn’t stop there. This isn’t just a loud, silly sequel, but a film which makes some seriously big errors that can’t be forgiven. Most notably, the decision to turn Galactus into a faceless cloud monster will go down as one of the biggest sins in comic book movie history.
65. Unfrosted (2024)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I don’t mean to be blunt, but I thought this was absolutely pants. It’s not funny, it’s goofy in all the wrong ways, and it wastes both a great concept and a stacked cast. It’s not even worth getting fired up about, because it is so terrible. What’s worse is the film, or more accurately Jerry Seinfeld, seems to think they’re doing something far more clever than they actually are. The headline is that I sat through two hours of poorly delivered dad jokes and an awful performance from Jerry Seinfeld, and it made me question my decisions.
66. Men (2022)
Where? - Blu Ray [first viewing]
Thoughts - This is wild. It offers shades of folk horror, an uncomfortable atmosphere, and grizzly body horror. Jessie Buckley gives a terrific performance, and Rory Kinnear flexes his talents through multiple roles. While the film is subject to individual interpretation, there’s a clear throughline about toxic behaviours among men, which the film explores brilliantly. Even though the messaging isn’t subtle, it still requires the audience to actively think and engage with the film. It’s understandably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I liked it. Alex Garland is a fantastic horror writer, so it was nice to explore fresh territory.
67. All of us Strangers (2023)
Where? - Disney Plus [first viewing]
Thoughts - I really liked this film. It’s not a plot intensive film, but it’s grounded in the main character’s emotional and spiritual journey. The cast are excellent across the board, with a heart-breaking central performance from Andrew Scott, and outstanding support from Claire Foy and Paul Mescal. There’s also incredible musical accompaniment. There’s a jukebox selection of popular songs which vary in tone, and an original score from Emilie Levienaise-Farrouch which is haunting. It’s a delicate and sincere exploration of grief, living with loss, confronting the past, and trying to find a path towards healing, and it was superb.
68. Past Lives (2023)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thought - This is without a doubt one of the best films I’ve seen in years. From the central performances by Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro, to the wonderful score by Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen, every single aspect is polished to perfection. The real hero is of course Celine Song, whose writing is exquisite. Past Lives confidently spans 24 years and crosses between languages, and it’s an honest exploration of love, friendship, human connection, distance, life, fate and identity. I was left sobbing for a variety of reasons, and I sincerely thank Celine Song for such an emotional experience.
69. tick, tick… BOOM! (2021)
Where? - Netflix [rewatch]
Thoughts - Whether you know the true story or not, this film is informative and emotional throughout. It’s a vibrant yet tragic portrait of Jonathan Larson’s life and struggles, mixing dialogue and music to create a thoroughly engaging experience. Thematically, it feels like such a complete film. Both the story and main character have several ticking clocks hanging over them, which sets the perfect tone and atmosphere and helps drive the key themes and messages. Andrew Garfield’s performance is a tour de force, and it leaves me weeping every time. It’s a wonderful film, and it’s clearly made with so much passion.
70. The Killer (2023)
Where? - Netflix [first viewing]
Thoughts - I can see why this divided audiences. It’s a film of two levels. At surface level, it’s slick, stylish and fairly intriguing. However, underneath the surface, there sadly isn’t a lot happening. It’s a film which doesn’t dig deep enough or actually get its hands dirty, or elevate itself above similar films. Between a constant barrage of Morrissey songs, and Michael Fassbender’s nonsensical narration, The Killer seems to make noise but without actually saying anything. Overall, it doesn’t have the same sharp edge as other David Fincher films, and the story’s lack of substance wastes Fincher’s keen eye for detail.
71. The Idea of You (2024)
Where? - Amazon Prime [first viewing]
Thoughts - I thought this was going to be an alternative romance film, which challenges ageism, sexism and double standards. While the film does explore that territory with confidence and eloquence, it also has a lot of cheese. There are moments when the narrative moves beyond the realm of fiction and strays into being utterly preposterous, which meant I wasn’t always sure if I was laughing with the film or at it. Overall, it offered a good balance of fun and absurdity, with some poignant comedy sprinkled throughout, and the end result is alright. Not good, not bad, just alright.
72. Gran Torino (2008)
Where? - DVD [rewatch]
Thoughts - Having not watched this film for about ten years, I’m pleased to say it holds up. There are dated moments and some questionable cultural representations, but the core message still works well. It’s a film which explores heavy subjects, like violence and revenge, and yet it’s not a typical film in any sense. In fact, it’s an anti-revenge film, because it’s far more about forgiveness, understanding, breaking down barriers, and laying down arms for a greater good. Thankfully, Gran Torino manages to explore those topics without being slow or ponderous, because it has the usual Clint Eastwood directness.
Favourite new film of the month
Past Lives
Thank you for checking out part 5, hopefully you’ll find yourself back here soon for part 6! If you’ve enjoyed this article, please check out my other recent articles:
