Films That I Saw: November 2022

 

It’s the holiday season approach as it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year but there is a valid reason to not be happy considering that there’s been a lot of shootings all over America as some didn’t even get the chance to have Thanksgiving while a 12-year old kid was killed at Atlantic Station in Atlanta in a shooting that left many people wounded. A fucking 12 year old is dead and for what? What is the point of all of these shootings? A lot of this could be avoided with laws for gun control but unfortunately here in America. We live in a democracy in which stupid people vote for stupid people that allow this kind of shit to happen which is exactly why democracy is bullshit. Here’s someone that will agree with me:



Aside from all of the chaos that has been going on here in Georgia and other parts of the country where it is clear that no one can get their shit together when it comes to common sense. The world is also going through chaos as China is dealing with protests over COVID while there’s protests in Iran and other parts of the world as it is clear how chaotic the 21st Century is so far. Yet, I’ve been focused more on just being home and getting my niece and nephew ready for the Christmas holidays as they’re just excited as I’ve been able to get them a few presents. I’ve been also keeping track on what’s going on in the World Cup despite my own issues with FIFA and the fact that it’s set in a small country in the Middle East that is a pure example of the corruption within FIFA. Even with the stories over slave labor that has been going on for years and their ban towards LGBTQ things and on alcohol.

Still, there is that part of me that wants to watch because of the game as I love watching futbol as it’s something I grew up on because of my dad as I feel like I have to watch some aspects of the game just for him. So far, it’s been exciting with some upsets so far but also some realizations into why this year’s World Cup hasn’t gotten a lot of excitement despite the ratings for the U.S.-England game a few days ago. Notably for the fact that it’s set in a country in the Middle East where it’s host lost three games in the group stage as it raises questions into why Qatar was even the host in the first place? Thankfully, there will be the World Cup coming to the U.S. in 2026 with Atlanta being one of cities to host a few games as it is something that my mother and I are hoping to go to.

In the month of November 2022, I saw a total of 24 films in 14 first-timers and 10 re-watches as it is down from last month largely due to the fact that I’m out with my mother for Christmas shopping and such as well as having to get a new furnace. One of the major highlights of the month has been my Blind Spot film in The Merchant of Four Seasons. Here are the top 10 first-timers that I saw for November 2022:

1. Bones and All

2. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

3. The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special

4. A Married Woman

5. Code Unknown

6. Cul-de-Sac

7. 24 Hours in the Life of a Clown

8. Director by Night

9. Zen-Grogu and Dust Bunnies

10. Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium

Monthly Mini-Reviews/What Else I Saw

Assembled: The Making of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law

The next entry in the MCU documentary series about not just the series but also in how it relates to the comics as well as internet culture. Yet, it is more about wanting to create a show that is different from other shows in the MCU as it borrowed elements from other shows but also explore the single life of women in their thirties. Featuring interviews with much of the show’s cast and crew members, it does play into this mixture of law-based shows with elements of comedy which was something the show’s star Tatiana Malsany wanted to do as it gave the show’s writers and directors more freedom to be out there and comical.

Starfuckers

A short that premiered on MUBI by Antonio Marziale has him play a former lover of a filmmaker who has hired a male escort to be this date for the filmmaker who is unaware of its intentions. It is a short filled with some dark humor and entrancing visuals with a climax that is total fucking camp. It is among the reasons why MUBI is a great service as it does a lot to showcase short films and often bring in gems that are worth seeking out as it also does a lot to bring voices for everyone including the LGBTQ community.

Zen-Grogu and Dust Bunnies

A short film made to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Disney+ comes in the form of a collaboration between Lucasfilms and Studio Ghibli with the latter bringing in Katsuya Kondo to direct this incredible animated short. It revolves around Grogu encountering dust bunnies as it is told in this rich hand-drawn animated style that Studio Ghibli is known for as it is something that subscribers of Disney+ would definitely enjoy.

Director by Night

Though it’s not really part of the Assembled documentary series, the documentary is still part of it in spirit in not just the behind-the-scenes work into the making of Werewolf by Night but it also showcases Michael Giacchino’s passion for filmmaking since he was a teenager as there’s clips of his many short films that he did as well as what he would do for this project for Marvel. Directed by his brother Anthony, the documentary doesn’t show Giacchino’s enthusiasm for this project but also a look into his life with his parents as well as reuniting with old friends to showcase some of the locations they used for the shorts they created. It is definitely one of the best entry in the documentary series for not just being something of its own but also go into great depth into what Giacchino does for the TV special.

Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium

An exclusive on Disney+ is a live concert presented during the Thanksgiving holidays at Dodger Stadium where Sir Elton John played what might be his final concert in the U.S. and what better way to end it than in Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. With guest appearances from Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee, and Brandi Carlisle, the concert was incredible as I watched it my mother as it was an incredible show as Elton and his band played the hits but also some deep cuts. It was a great show and if this is really the end for Elton in the U.S. and will do a finale in 2023/2024. At least he’s going out in style.

Andor (episodes 9-12)

If this show doesn’t get any kind of recognition for accolades in not just the technical front but for the acting, writing, and directing. Then these awards don’t mean shit. The last four episodes of this season so far has fucking delivered and then-some that includes a phenomenal guest appearance from Andy Serkis as the tenth episode where Andor, Serkis’ character Kino, and others go on a prison break as it is one of the most intense moments ever captured on television. Its follow-ups are just as gripping in its drama and suspense with a finale that didn’t just deliver visually but also leaves the audience wanting for more as I am eager for what they will do in the second season.

Acapulco (season 2, episodes 3-7)

It’s been a while but I’m glad this show is finally getting an audience here in the U.S. while I’m happy to learn that it’s doing really well in countries in Latin America as it’s a show that more people need to see. It’s something my mother and I are enjoying as the last four episodes into the second season far have been delightful. I really enjoy the arc that the young Maximo is going through as he’s going through his own moral conundrum while there’s been some serious things that are happening as his sister Sara leaves home after their mother discovered she’s a lesbian and couldn’t accept it. Don Pablo chooses to leave Las Colinas to attend his grandson’s Baptism while there is also a lot that is happening. I love the performances from the cast while I also enjoyed the development of the characters including Chad as Chord Overstreet definitely reveals a lot of depth to him as someone who does mean well despite the fact that he’s an idiot yet he really does care about Julia and Las Colinas. As much as Ted Lasso has been this massive hit for Apple TV+, this show deserves to be in that pantheon.

Tales from the Territories (2-8)

While it’s not as compelling nor, thankfully, as dark as Dark Side of the Ring, this series has a unique format of getting four or five people sitting in a table just talking about the old days as there’s been some hilarious stories. There are also some disgusting bits that it’s best to not be heard from again and other things as it is an incredible show for wrestling fans. So far, they’ve covered the AWA, Championship Wrestling from Florida, World Class Championship Wrestling from Texas, the wrestling scene in Portland, Stampede Wrestling in Canada, the Polynesian wrestling scene, and the feud between Jerry Lawler and Andy Kaufman in Memphis. There’s two more episodes to go with the next one on Jim Crockett Promotions in the Carolinas and the last one being about Mid-South. This show is just a joy to watch as it showcases what it was like before American pro wrestling with national through WWE.

Wrestling Match of the Month: Toni Storm vs. Jamie Hayter for the AEW Women’s Championship at AEW Full Gear



With one more month in the year to go, there are several who can be called the best wrestler of 2022: Sheamus, Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley, Sami Zayn, and MJF. Yet, Jamie Hayter deserves to be in that conversation not just for her in-ring work but also her personality and how she’s managed to connect with the people through her work as she was able to get the chance to face longtime friend Toni Storm for the AEW World Women’s Championship at the Full Gear pay-per-view event. Though it was meant for the interim title, this past Wednesday made the announcement that due to Thunder Rosa’s injury and still being unable to compete until sometime next year. Toni Storm has been retroactively been named the undisputed champion as the match she and Hayter had was intense. It got a lot of crowd reaction as these two women really went at it despite the interference of Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. and Rebel in Hayter’s favor. Hayter would win the match and the championship as it was a big surprise but a surprise that paid off as Hayter is definitely a shining light in a division that is still dealing with issues in relation to booking and creative issues.

Top 10 Re-Watches

1. Police Story 2

2. Steamboat Willie

3. Riley’s First Date?

4. BURN-E

5. Jack-Jack Attack

6. Ye Olden Days

7. Thru the Mirror

8. Private Obsession

9. The Computer Who Wore Tennis Shoes

10. The Tigger Movie

Well, that is all for November 2022. The final month of the year will begin with an announcement for the 2023 Blind Spot Series as I’m set to watch my final Blind Spot choice for the year in Pedro Costa’s Letters from Fonthainas trilogy as well as whatever 2022 releases I can watch theatrically or at home. There’s also whatever films I have in my DVR that I will watch as my mother and I made the decision to just nuke the whole thing and be done with cable. Before I depart, I want to express my condolences to the friends and family of those who had passed away such as Irene Cara, Kevin Conroy, Clarence Gilyard, Albert Pyun, Charles Koppelman, Wilko Johnson, Jason David Frank, Nicki Aycox, Gallagher, Keith Levene, Leslie Phillips, and earlier today, Christine McVie. Until then, this is thevoid99 signing off…

© thevoid99 2022