Strange Thoughts on Films. Turn Off Your Mind, Relax & Float Downstream.
Thursday, June 30, 2022
Films That I Saw: June 2022
“O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave”
Well that is a load of fucking bullshit. America, a country that is meant to be the best of everyone in the world. Yet, we’re going backwards in terms of what is right and what is wrong. What happened in the decision from the Supreme Court that overruled the decision of Roe vs. Wade that was decided on January 22, 1973 as that was a decision that made abortion legal until June 24, 2022 as a whole lot of shit is going down. For women, this isn’t a slap in the face. This is a fucking kick in the gut and an indication of how things are in this supposed land of the free. In Ireland, it is a country that is largely dominated by Catholics yet abortion is legal there. Here in America, it’s no longer OK to have an abortion but it’s OK to buy a gun and kill a bunch of people including kids. This is beyond fucked up.
It is upsetting and also insulting as I do feel for all of these women who have every right to be pissed off. No law should say what they should and what they shouldn’t do with their bodies. No law should do what they have to do if they want to have an abortion. It’s their decision. The conservative government and those in the Supreme Court claim they’re pro-life but… that’s not what the late, great George Carlin thinks:
“There’s life in those fetuses” is what a pro-lifer says. BULLSHIT!!!!! My mother is God-fearing Catholic and doesn’t believe in that bullshit. The fetus is just nothing until it comes out of its mother’s womb as life. This is just a bunch of shit is that really pissing me off and for every political official who is celebrating all of this. Drink that piss you’re putting into your body. You’re going to grovel when this law gets overturned and to Glen Jacobs aka former WWE superstar Kane. You’re a real monster and I hope we burn you to fucking death and make sure you and your former boss Mr. Meekmahan get fucked along with his bitch-boys in People Power and Bucktooth Beaver-bitch!
In the month of June 2022, I saw a total of 32 films in 22 first-timers and 10 re-watches with three of the first-timers directed by women as part of the 52 Films by Women pledge as it is a big improvement over the last month due to more time without my niece and nephew around as they’re set to go on a big trip to Boston with their parents to meet their grandparents from their father’s side of the family. The biggest highlight of the month is definitely my Blind Spot choice in Celine and Julie Go Boating. Here are the top 10 first-timers that I saw for May 2022:
A preview documentary short from Disney+ that explore the creation of the comic series/graphic novel and how its popularity lead to the creation of the TV series. Featuring interviews with the cast, filmmakers, and the creators of the comic/graphic novel series, it does serve as a nice teaser of what is to come for the TV series.
Assembled: The Making of Moon Knight
The newest entry in the Disney+ documentary series on the TV series for Moon Knight is definitely one of the best entries in terms of the attention to detail they went through in the production. If anything, the art direction and visual effects team deserve a lot of credit for the work they put in and should be considered for some serious accolades as well as credit to showrunner Jeremy Slater, directors Mohamed Diab and the duo of Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, and the ensemble cast including Antonia Salib and Karim El Hakim who do motion-capture work for the characters Taweret and Konshu respectively. It’s something fans of the show need to see as it goes into the amount of dedication the creators of the show do with every amount of detail.
The Actress
One of many shorts that I watched on MUBI this month with some of it dedicated to LGBTQ subject matters involve actress Isabel Sandoval portraying different film icons and performances to display the evolution of cinema. Notably in the way she portrays certain iconic performances from films by Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch, Douglas Sirk, and Terrence Malick. It is truly a must for film buffs to watch.
Terror Sisters!
One of two short films by Alexis Langlois that is presented as part of a double feature from MUBI definitely play into the world of LGBTQ themes. The first of which involve a group of transgender friends at a restaurant where they deal with their identities but also the need to conform to gender norms. It is a short that is filled with a lot of humor but also ideas of fantasy of how to deal with those that want them to conform. Even as it would play into ideas of violence and revenge as it is a whole lot of fun.
The Demons of Dorothy
Langlois’s second short that also feature his sister Justine in the lead role rather than a small role in the previous short has her playing a wannabe filmmaker who has ideas and dreams of the stories she wants to tell. Yet, she also has to deal with the fact that there’s those who want her to compromise her vision in this mixture of glittery fantasy and perverse body horror. It is queer cinema that isn’t afraid to be confrontational but also dangerous as this is a true gem.
The Little Deputy
Another queer-inspired short film that is about a young man reminiscing his time when he went to a mall in Edmonton where he took a picture with his father where the photographer makes a suggestion to the boy as it play into his identity. It is shot on VHS home video as if it was set in the 80s yet it would play into the boy’s relationship with his father and the identity he eventually accepted as a man where he would travel in time to take a picture that he feels is more appropriate of who he really is.
Fermiere a Montfaucon
From Eric Rohmer and producer Barbet Schroeder that was made as part of series of documentary shorts for French television in the 1960s is about the life of a woman farmer in the span of a year. The short is fascinating to show what a woman is doing throughout an entire year amidst changes outside of her world but also her need to maintain a lifestyle that she only knows. It’s a short that fans of Rohmer need to see if they haven’t seen it.
Land of My Dreams
From Yann Gonzalez is a short film about a woman who reunites with her mother as they travel through Portugal to perform in front of men as it is this fascinating strip show. Yet, it is a short that is filled with gorgeous visuals and an entrancing music soundtrack as it definitely play into the idea of longing but also wanting to find a life outside the world of traveling shows.
Get Ready
From Peter Tscherkassky is a one-minute short that consists of found footage that is filled with dazzling imagery that serves as a trailer of sorts for a film festival in Vienna. Yet, it is an indication of why Tscherkassky is a big discovery for me right now.
Trofim
A short by Aleskey Balabanov as it play into cinema’s history where a man travels to Petersburg after killing his younger brother for sleeping his wife. Upon his arrival, he finds himself in front of a camera where a filmmaker is filming people stepping out of a train as it would then play into this man dealing with his actions and a role he would unknowingly play as it is shot entirely in sepia except for the last few minutes as it set in modern times as it relates to the footage that was filmed in the past.
Huh?
From Mike Judge is his first short film as it is this animated short about a dumb hick who watches a thing in which a hippie is trying to get dumb people to eat awful veggie food and organic crap. It is hilarious in terms of how ahead of its time it is as it play into the need of trying to get people to eat healthy but through heavy-handed bullshit.
Hidden
From Jafar Panahi is a short in which Panahi and his daughter picking up a theater producer as they travel to a Kurdish village. There, they encounter a young woman who sings but she prefers not to be seen in order to hide her identity due to the fact that she is unable to get permission from people in her village. It is an incredible short as it play into the fact that it was shot on 2 iPhones by Panahi and his daughter as it is another gem worth seeking out.
Horse on a House
A surreal short film from Hungary about a man trying to find a horse inside this apartment building is one filled with unique animation but also lots of odd imagery. Notably as it play as a weird detective story yet there is a lot more happening as it shows why MUBI is a streaming service worth having because content like this.
My Fat Arse and I
An animated short by another Hungarian filmmaker except in a woman is an exploration of not just body-shaming but also the need to conform to this false idea of beauty. All because a woman couldn’t fit in her new jeans and is being called a fatty. It is an inventive short that really is body-positive and play into the idea of what beauty could be no matter how thin or fat anyone is. Plus, I do like some big ladies.
Atlantique
From Mati Diop is a documentary short about a trio of men who are hoping to get a boat out of Senegal to go to Europe for a better life. Yet, they ponder in what they’re going to leave behind as it is a short rich in its imagery but also the dangers of what they’re about to embark on as this short is definitely another film worth seeking out.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (episodes 3-6)
Definitely the best thing to come out of the Star Wars franchise since The Mandalorian as this series not only made me appreciate the prequels a bit more despite its flaws but it also brought out some amazing work in terms of the visual effects, set design, Deborah Chow’s direction, and the ensemble cast. Notably as there are elements of suspense including a flashback sequence of Attack of the Clones-era Anakin Skywalker in a duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi as it serves as a metaphor for Darth Vader’s own lack of patience who reacted to Kenobi’s trick with humility and respect. The guest performances from Indira Varma, O’Shea Jackson Jr., and Kumail Nanjiani are superb with Vivien Lyra Blair and Moses Ingram delivering standout performances with the latter providing a great performance as Reva Savander who has her own arc including some back story of why she joined the Sith.
The final duel between Obi-Wan and Vader in the season finale is phenomenal but is also touching in terms of how far gone Anakin has gone into the dark side with Obi-Wan remorseful what has happened. The show’s ending is touching as it doesn’t just feature an expected cameo from Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine but a massive surprising appearance from an old friend. Ewan McGregor gives a phenomenal performance in the titular role also employing some of the vocal traits of Alec Guinness for those famous words. It is a show that is reason why I love Star Wars when it is good as it’s going into an incredible path. If there’s a second season coming, I’m all for it.
Ms. Marvel (episodes 1-4)
I FUCKING LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!! Four episodes in so far and wow, this is a breath of fresh air in terms of not just exploring a different culture but also a young girl just trying to find herself. Iman Vellani is perfect as Kamala Khan and is always a joy to watch in every scene she’s in. It is a show that is about this young Pakistani girl living in New Jersey who loves comic books, superheroes, and all sorts of pop culture with a fondness for Captain Marvel as she gains her own powers due to a bangle that her grandmother mailed from Pakistan. Yet, it is more than just some superhero show but it’s really a show about family as the performances of Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, and Saagar Shaikh as the Khans are a joy to watch as well as Matt Lintz as Bruno, Yasmeen Fletcher as Nakia, and many others. The ensemble in this show is strong as it has a lot of life and color while also exploring some things that not many western audiences know about.
The subject of the Partition of India and Pakistan is discussed as that is something I didn’t really know much about and shame on Britain for what they did to those two countries. The first three episodes are set in New Jersey as they all have something to offer while the most recent episode is set in Karachi, Pakistan as it does play more into Kamala’s Pakistani roots as well as some revelations from her grandmother who is still trying to find herself. The final shot of the fourth episode is just astonishing as the episode does feature a guest appearance from Bollywood icon Farhan Akhtar as a man who helps Kamala over what is at stake for her but also the universe as it also relates to the multiverse. Two more episodes are coming and already, this show leaves me wanting for more.
Wrestling Match of the Month: Will Ospreay vs. Orange Cassidy-AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door
An inter-promotional event from All Elite Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling was announced a few months ago as it had been in the works for months as there were also planned matches including CM Punk vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship but Punk’s injury changed everything leading to a battle royale and matches to determine a main event for the interim AEW World Heavyweight Championship between Tanahashi and Jon Moxley. Both companies have wrestlers who are injured as it changed a lot of things up until the day of the event yet everyone who worked that night on June 26, 2022 at the United Center in Chicago ended up delivering. From the main event between Tanahashi and Moxley with the latter being the new interim AEW champ while FTR won the IWGP World Tag Team Championships and PAC becoming the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic Championship as well as the debut of Claudio Castagnoli (formerly known as Cesaro) replacing Bryan Danielson in a match against Zack Sabre Jr.
Yet, the match of that night was meant to be the current IWGP U.S. Champion Will Ospreay vs. Andrade El Idolo but due to politics between two Mexican companies in CMLL and AAA with the former in a working relationship with NJPW and the latter with AEW. It forced to change things as it lead to Orange Cassidy to replace Andrade as it was a match met with low expectations considering that Cassidy is often considered to be a comedy wrestler. However, this match ended up being a massive surprise in terms of clash of styles as well as wrestling psychology and move sets. Though it wasn’t surprising that Ospreay would win but it was Cassidy who was the bigger surprise while the post-match stuff that involved members of Ospreay’s United Empire faction and Cassidy’s allies in Chaos was fun but not as impactful as the arrival of Katsuyori Shibata who would help Cassidy out and became a new friend of Cassidy.
Well, that is it for June. Next month, I will be seeing Thor: Love and Thunder as well as a different array of films from my different watch lists including a few westerns, films from A24, and a few other things including my next film in the Blind Spot Series. Other than that, that is it as I want to send my condolences to legendary WWE referees Tim White and Dave Hebner as well as actors Philip Baker Hall and Jean-Louis Trintignant, musicians Alec John Such of Bon Jovi, Jim Seals of Seals and Croft, and singer Julee Cruise as they will all be missed. Until then, this is thevoid99 signing off…
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