Films That I Saw: December 2024

 

The year is nearly ending as everyone is making year-end lists, or some have started early as it has been a crazy year. This month has been chaotic as well as my washing machine went through some problems in late November as I had to spend some money to get that fixed and just around Christmas. The dryer started getting into trouble as I had to cough up more money. I am glad I had some money left over though the one thing I really needed for Christmas in a new bookshelf did not happen as I am still re-organizing my room and cleaning out my closet which is more than half-done so far. Still, there is a lot of work that needs to be done while I have been spending most of this month watching Berlin Alexanderplatz which has taken up a lot of my time. I think this will be the last Blind Spot that I will do for a while when it comes to projects longer than 5-6 hours.

In the month of December 2024, I saw a total of 18 films in 7 first-timers and 11 re-watches with three first-timers being films directed or co-directed by women as part of the 52 Films by Women pledge as I have failed to finish my quota. The obvious highlight of the month is Berlin Alexanderplatz as my final Blind Spot film for the year. Here is the top 5 first-timers that I saw for December 2024:

1. An Urban Allegory

2. The World to Come

3. The Making of Wild God

4. Spider-Ham: Caught in a Ham

5. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Monthly Mini-Reviews/What Else I’m Watching

Spider-Ham: Caught in a Ham



With the recent passing of Sony’s shitty Spider-Man spin-off cinematic universe that yielded some of the worst films ever made as its CEO claims that the films were unfairly maligned. It is a good thing that Sony’s animation department has created something great in relation to the Spider-Man in the form of a short film as it relates to Spider-Ham in an animated adventure. It is a simple story when all Spider-Ham wanted to do was eat a hot dog only to get into some trouble leading into the events of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse as it is necessary for anyone who loves Spider-Man.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

This was a good film although flawed in terms of its story as well in some of the execution as it is helmed by a different director in Gil Kenan who did a fine job but it isn’t as good as what Jason Reitman did though Reitman is on board as a producer in a film dedicated to Reitman’s father Ivan. McKenna Grace remains the big standout in the film as Phoebe Spengler who knows what she wants to do but is forced to sit things out because she is a minor while befriending a ghost as it relates to a mysterious deity that nearly caused an ice age to emerge in New York City. It is a fine sequel that has its moments, but it falls short of its predecessor.

The Making of Wild God



Megan Cullen’s 13-minute documentary short on the making of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ 18th studio album is a fascinating look into a band that still has something to say. Even when they brought in Dave Fridmann to help mix the album as well as Radiohead bassist Colin Greenwood to play bass on some tracks as he would join the live band to fill in for regular bassist Martyn P. Casey who is sitting out due to illness. Fans of Nick Cave will enjoy this where they get to see the creative process with members of the band having a say though the record is written and produced by Cave and Warren Ellis. It is one of the best records of 2024 proving that there are bands who have been around for a long time and can still provide the goods.

‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’-The Story of the Official Band Aid Video



This documentary released in 1985 is a companion piece to the recent documentary short that was released earlier this month as it highlights the making of the song and filming the video. There is a bit of humor in the documentary as it relates to Nigel Planer playing the role of Neil from The Young Ones jamming with a couple of the guys from Status Quo. It is something fans of the song would like to see or revisit if they had not seen it in years as it has been given a nice restoration for its 40th anniversary.

An Urban Allegory

In her second collaboration with the artist JR, Alice Rohrwacher creates a short film based on Plato’s Allegory of the Cave is a short film starring Lyna Khoudri and Naim El Kaladoui as a ballerina and her son where the former is late for an audition in a ballet staged by Leos Carax. It is a tremendous film that explores art and a boy’s fascination with his surroundings where he makes a major discovery as does the people in Paris. The artwork by JR is a key factor of the film with Rohrwacher doing amazing visuals in her presentation as this is a short film that people need to seek out.

The World to Come

Given the praise and awards for Brady Corbet and his film The Brutalist, people tend to overlook that the film was written with his wife Mona Fastvold who is a unique voice herself. Notably as her 2020 period drama about two women living in mid-19th Century upstate New York as they deal with not just unhappy marriages but also isolation where they would fall in love. Katherine Waterston and Vanessa Kirby are great in this film as is Casey Affleck as the former’s husband as he is a kind-hearted man that does know what is going on and does not approve of it but does not say anything. Christopher Abbott’s performance as Kirby’s husband is more of a monster who spouts religious ideals as he is suspicious about his wife and her time with Waterston. It is a great film that features a chilling score by Daniel Blumberg as it is a film that audiences need to seek out.

The Story of Top of the Pops: 1991



The Story of Top of the Pops: 1992



I am a sucker for BBC documentaries as the British has better taste than us stupid Americans (most of the time). Top of the Pops is a show that the British were lucky to have (minus the presence of Jimmy Saville) as I found two episodes about the years of 1991 and 1992 as it marked a serious change for the show in not just a new location but also to explore a sense of change emerging. Yet, for all the good stuff that was coming out such as the Orb, Seal, Take That (that is right, Take That is awesome), Stereo MCs, and what was emerging at the time. There was also some awful shit such the Wonder Stuff and fucking Bryan Adams. It also explored what was happening in Britain as there was a recession and how music was helping to reflect what was happening as well as provide an escape from those hard times.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (episodes 1-5)

Five episodes so far and this is already an amazing show. Way better than The Acolyte in terms of the writing and acting as well as the visuals where it is about these four kids living on a remote planet that is part of the New Republic as they find a spaceship and are suddenly taken to a galaxy. On their journey so far, the show also explores the world of space piracy with Jude Law as a mysterious figure as he is simply great to watch where you do not know whether to trust him or not. Already, the show has had cameos and appearances from Kelly MacDonald, Jaleel White, Mathieu Kassovitz, and Alia Shawkat that aren’t too distracting as they do provide weight to the story while the four actors who play the kids in the show are great to watch as they have a lot of depth as it is a show that bears reminders of some of the best things to come out of the 80s such as Indiana Jones and The Goonies.

Top 10 Re-Watches

1. Days of Heaven

2. Safe

3. Barbie

4. Party Girl

5. Home Alone

6. A Charlie Brown Christmas

7. Mickey’s Christmas Carol

8. The Good Dinosaur

9. Home Alone 2

10. Cars

Well, that is all for December and for 2024 with a grand total of 267 films in 151 first-timers and 116 re-watches with 45 first-timers directed or co-directed by women. Not a good year overall although it could have been worse with only 5 films that I saw in the theaters, which is disappointing. Here is the final ranking of films for the 2024 Blind Spot Series as I have no plans to do a year-end thing mainly because I don’t really want to do one as I think this was an underwhelming year as I will not post an unofficial best of 2024 list because I didn’t see too many movies and I think the whole year fucking sucked. What is ahead for next month other than finishing my Auteurs piece on David Lean and watching Nosferatu to start work on my Auteurs piece on Robert Eggers. Along with my first Blind Spot for the New Year, I have no idea what I will watch though I now have more access to various streaming services including MAX while I am also keeping my options open to whatever services that have something strong to offer.



Before I bid adieu, this month saw the passing of many famous people including our former American president Jimmy Carter at the age of 100 as he was a great humanitarian who did a lot of things in his post-presidency and survived a battle with a killer rabbit. He was among those that passed this month that include Olivia Hussey, Marisa Parades, Linda Lavin, Charles Dolan, British radio DJ Johnnie Walker, Greg Gumbel, Maltese singer Joe Grech, Eric Carlson of the Mentors, film producer George Folsey Jr., Dayle Haddon, Charles Shyer, wrestler Jax Dane, music producer Richard Perry, Burt from Crocodile Dundee, Angus MacInnes of Star Wars, Rickey Henderson, Rey Misterio Sr., Slim Dunlap of the Replacements, Alfa Anderson of Chic, Ruth McArdle of Lords of Acid, George Cummings of Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, Wolfgang Becker, Jill Jacobson, film producer Paul Maslansky, Niels Arestrup, Zakir Hussain, and Hudson Meek of Baby Driver. We will miss you all. Until then, this is thevoid99 signing off…

© thevoid99 2024

2024 Blind Spot Series: Berlin Alexanderplatz

 

Based on the novel by Alfred Doblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz is the story of a former criminal who tries to become a better person during the chaotic Weimar-era of Germany. Written for the screen, co-edited, designed, directed, and narrated by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, the 15-hour miniseries with 14 episodes explore a man’s attempt to redeem himself and start a new life as he struggles to adjust to a new society that overwhelms him. Starring Gunter Lamprecht, Gottfried John, Barbara Sukowa, Hanna Schygulla, Karin Baal, Annemarie Duringer, Elisabeth Trissenaar, Helen Vita, Barbara Valentin, Brigitte Mira, Roger Fritz, Ivan Desny, Buchriser Franz, Hark Bohm, Gerhard Zwarenz, and Volker Spengler. Berlin Alexanderplatz is an audacious and chilling miniseries by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

Set in 1928 Germany during Weimar Republic era, the film follows a man who has just been released in prison hoping to become a decent man unaware that he is living in a world where decency is hard to find. It is a sprawling film that explore the life of Franz Biberkopf (Gunter Lamprecht) as he was a former pimp that was put into prison for killing his girlfriend Ida (Barbara Valentin) in an act of rage. Upon his release, Biberkopf re-enters society with a promise that he will become a decent person only to encounter a world that is on the brink of collapse. Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s screenplay that includes his own narration that include events happening around Berlin during that year as it plays into the decline of the Weimar Republic is broken in thirteen episodes with the first episode with an 82-minute running time and the other 12 at around an hour. The script plays into Biberkopf’s willingness to become a good man and not get into trouble although he is an extremely flawed individual who is also naïve about the ways of the world as he also has a childlike demeanor in his facial expressions and drinks a lot to the point that he would descend into alcoholism numerous times.

Each episode opens with an operatic song with images of the Weimar Republic era where it plays into Biberkopf’s encounter with the new world as he has a few friends in a former lover in Eva (Hanna Schygulla) and Meck (Buchrieser Franz) as the former would often give him money and other things to help him out every once in a while, with the latter trying to help Biberkopf in getting a honest job. Biberkopf and Meck would often frequent at a bar run by Max (Claus Hom) who often observes a lot while also giving the former some advice on things. The first five episodes has Biberkopf struggling to find honest work while also beginning a relationship with a Polish woman in Lina (Elisabeth Trissenaar) as well as work with a friend of Lina’s father in Luders (Hark Bohm) in selling shoelaces where things go wrong leading to a mental breakdown for Biberkopf until he is helped by a man in Baumann (Gerhard Zwerenz) to get back on track. It is there where he would meet a businessman in Pums (Ivan Desny) who runs an illegal markets operation where Biberkopf would befriend one of his men in Reinhold (Gottfried John).

The two would go into a woman-swapping scheme to help curb Reinhold’s dependence on women where Biberkopf would engage into another relationship with another of Reinhold’s former girlfriends in Cilly (Annemarie Duringer). The happiness would be brief in the seventh episode where Biberkopf is asked to fill in for one of Pums’ men where some revelations occur and would leave Biberkopf dead and losing his right arm. Once Eva and her lover Herbert (Roger Fritz) learn what happened, Herbert decides to use his connections to bring problems to Pums though Pums eventually decides to pay for Biberkopf’s medical bills with contributions from his men minus Reinhold. After meeting Willy (Fritz Schediwy) at a cabaret club where Cilly was performing having not seen or heard about Biberkopf believing he had died from the accident. Biberkopf goes into business with Willy through dishonest means just as Eva would introduce Biberkopf to Mieze (Barbara Sukowa) who would become the love of his life.

Despite learning that she is a prostitute and going to political meetings that has him relapsing into alcoholism, he would still enjoy his time with Mieze though would get despondent over her job prompting him to go Pums for help despite reservations from people working for Pums. The script has Fassbinder often highlighting things where Biberkopf going into situations including bad ones where he would be too forgiving through those close to him are aghast over this. Even in the last two episodes where Biberkopf would go insane over a major incident leading to a two-hour epilogue as the 14th and final episode. It is an episode of its own where it is surreal in its overall presentation as it plays into Biberkopf’s own faults, naivete, refusal to see reality, and his lack of judgement towards those who are truly the worst.

Fassbinder’s direction is immense not just in its grand presentation but also in creating a world that is on the verge of collapse where it is dirty yet exciting. Shot on location at Bavaria Film Studios in Munich, Fassbinder creates a world that plays into a period as Fassbinder would also be the film’s production designer. The sets such as the apartment that Biberkopf lives in as well as the bar he often goes to are key set pieces in the film where Fassbinder’s usage of wide and medium shots cover a lot of space as there are a lot of scenes where Fassbinder shoots on a wide shot to play into Biberkopf’s disconnection with reality. There are also shots that would last longer than a few minutes in some of these wide shots where Fassbinder showcase something happening where Fassbinder would also narrate whatever a character is thinking about or an offscreen event that is happening outside of the scene.

Fassbinder would also maintain an intimacy in some of the settings where he would use some close-ups to play into some of the moments where Biberkopf would gain a semblance of happiness or engage into something hopeful. Even as it also play into moments of suspense such as a scene where Biberkopf fills in for one of Pums’ men as they make a getaway where Reinhold becomes uneasy over Biberkopf’s behavior. The direction would also have this dream-like element as it plays into Biberkopf’s own happiness that is fleeting where is unable to face reality. Yet, he would encounter it through a flashback in which he beats Ida to death as it would appear often as a reminder of him at his most inhumane. Even in a scene late in the eleventh episode where Mieze confesses to Biberkopf leading to a moment of violence that even shocks the sadistic Reinhold where he would intervene.

The film’s final two episodes plus its epilogue would be the emergence of the inhumanity that Biberkopf would be ignorant to where he succumbs to madness over a tragic event while those close to him are trying to make sense of his behavior. The film’s epilogue is where Fassbinder breaks all the rules where he create surrealistic sequences that play into Biberkopf’s troubled mind including his regrets, failures, and inability to see the dark side of humanity. Especially in set pieces where there are a lot of anachronisms in its setting and music soundtrack with a couple of angels (Margit Carstensen and Helmut Griem) commenting on what is happening with even Fassbinder himself making a cameo as an observer. The film’s ending is really about Biberkopf’s fate but also being disconnected from the world that has already fallen into total chaos where he has accepted his fate despite being in Hell on Earth. Overall, Fassbinder crafts an astonishing and visceral 14-part film about a troubled man’s attempt to become decent in an indecent world on the verge of collapse.

Cinematographer Xaver Schwarzenberger does brilliant work with the film’s 16mm photography stock with its emphasis on heightened lights for some of the daytime interior/exterior scenes as well as low-key lights for the scenes set at night with an emphasis on soft lighting in some parts of the film. Editors Julian Lorenz and Rainer Werner Fassbinder (in his Walsch Franz pseudonym) do excellent work in the editing in maintaining straightforward cuts as well as a few jump-cuts in some of the film’s montage sequences. Costume designer Barbara Baum does amazing work with the look of the clothes the men wear as well as the stylish clothing that the women wear during those times.

The visual effects work of Theo Nischwitz is terrific for the film’s epilogue as it adds to the surreal presentation such as a boxing match between Biberkopf and Reinhold. The sound work of Hans R. Weiss, along with sound mixer Milan Bor, is superb for its natural approach to the sound in the way music is presented from a gramophone and the way a pub or a club sounds. Music by Peer Raben is incredible for its music score ranging from brass pieces as well as elements of piano-based music like the late 1920s and some low-key electronic pieces to give the film its odd presentation while its music soundtrack also features many of the music from that period plus an operatic piece that opens each episode while its epilogue would feature some anachronistic music from the likes of the Velvet Underground, Janis Joplin, Donovan, Kraftwerk, Leonard Cohen, and Dean Martin.

The film’s tremendous ensemble cast feature some notable small roles and appearances from Udo Kier as a young cabaret club goer, Lilo Pempeit as Pums’ wife Peter Kuiper as a bald man who runs a decadent district full of prostitutes, Margit Carstensen and Helmut Griem as a couple of angels in the film’s epilogue, Karin Baal as Ida’s sister Minna whom Biberkopf meets and later rapes, Herbert Steinmetz as the newspaper seller Eddie that Biberkopf befriends, Axel Bauer as a former friend of Biberkopf in Dreske who is part of a communist group that Biberkopf dislikes, Jurgen Draeger as a Jewish sausage seller who politely asks why Biberkopf would wear the swastika, Helen Vita and Irm Herrmann as a couple of women who would date Reinhold as part of a swapping scheme with Biberkopf, Volker Spengler and Gunther Kaufmann in their respective roles as two of Pums’ men in Bruno and Theo, Gerhard Zwerenz as Baumann who would help Biberkopf recover from alcoholism, and Barbara Valentin as Biberkopf’s lover Ida whom he would kill in an act of rage and jealousy as she would often be seen in flashbacks.

Fritz Schediwy is terrific as Willy as a young criminal that Biberkopf befriends as he would align himself into some political causes that would put Biberkopf in trouble. Brigitte Mira is superb as the landlady Frau Bast whom Biberkopf is fond of as she always takes care of him. Ivan Desny and Hark Bohm are fantastic in their respective roles as the crime boss Pums and the salesman Otto Luders as two men who would give Biberkopf employment with the former being an illegal markets operator and the latter who would put Biberkopf into trouble and a mental breakdown. Elisabeth Trissenaar and Annemarie Duringer are excellent in their respective roles as two of Biberkopf’s lovers in the Polish woman Lina and the cabaret performer Cilly as these two different women who provide Biberkopf with a sense of purpose and care only for certain things to end the relationships abruptly.

Claus Holm and Roger Fritz are brilliant in their respective roles as the bar owner Max and Eva’s husband Herbert as two men who often bring advice to Biberkopf with the former being more patient while the latter has connections to help Biberkopf. Franz Buchrieser is amazing as Meck as an old longtime friend of Biberkopf who tries to help him find honest work while is a reluctant employee of Pums as he later feels regret for what happened to Biberkopf as he would also deal with a tragic event, he played a part of to his own regret. Gottfried John is incredible as Reinhold as a man Biberkopf befriends who also works for Pums as he is a man with a stutter but also a sadistic man that would take advantage of Biberkopf to the point of extreme measures. Hanna Schygulla is phenomenal as Eva as a former lover of Biberkopf who has become wealthy as she helps him whenever she can while also having some love for him where she also copes with his own views of the world and her concern for Mieze.

Barbara Sukowa is great as Mieze as a prostitute who becomes Biberkopf’s great love as she hopes to give him some hope while is also insecure thinking, she is not good enough for him where she later copes with his own activities and those he surrounds himself with. Finally, there’s Gunter Lamprecht in a spectacular performance as Franz Biberkopf as a former pimp who goes to prison for killing his girlfriend as he is released where he hopes to become a decent man. Lamprecht brings this childlike presentation as someone who is hopeful about starting a new lease on life unaware of the world he is in where he is brought down by his own naivety, lack of judgement, jealousy, and delusions about life as it is an intense performance that is also reserved at times but also dangerous once he goes into a rage as it is a career-defining performance from Lamprecht.

Berlin Alexanderplatz is a magnificent film by Rainer Werner Fassbinder that features a tremendous leading performance from Gunter Lamprecht. Along with its supporting ensemble cast, striking visuals, study of humanity during an inhumane time, an offbeat presentation, and a whimsical music soundtrack. It is a daunting film that is challenging in not just its 902-minute running time but also in its study of a man trying to fit in at a world that is constantly changing but on the verge of collapse during a crucial period in Germany’s history. In the end, Berlin Alexanderplatz is an outstanding film by Rainer Werner Fassbinder.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder Films: Love is Colder Than Death - (Katzelmacher) - (Why Does Herr R. Run Amok?) - (Rio das Mortes) - (The American Soldier) - (Whity) - (Beware of a Holy Whore) – The Merchant of Four Seasons - The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant - Eight Hours Don't Make a Day - (Jailbait) - World on a Wire - Ali: Fear Eats the Soul - (Martha (1974 film)) - (Effi Briest) - (Fox and His Friends) - (Mother Kuster’s Trip to Heaven) – (I Only Want You to Love Me) – Satan's Brew - (Chinese Roulette) - (Germany in Autumn) - (Despair) - (In a Year of 13 Moons) – The Marriage of Maria Braun - (Third Generation) - (Lili Marleen) – Lola - Veronika Voss - Querelle

© thevoid99 2024

Blog News: Blog Plans for 2025

2024 is coming to an end although right now I'm struggling to finish projects for the year as of 12/20/24, I've only watched five parts out of the 14 parts in my final Blind Spot in Berlin Alexanderplatz as it's been difficult to find timing while I am nearly half-done with my Auteurs piece on David Lean as it is now likely that it will be done for January 2025. It's been a difficult year as I haven't had a lot of time watching films as I've been dealing with various illnesses throughout the year as well as family and a growing lack of enthusiasm towards films this year as I think 2024 hasn't been a great year in cinema. Mainly because there hasn't really been a lot of exciting films as I've also grown disillusioned with several aspects of mainstream cinema. There has also been delays on projects as I was able to get a new laptop this past May though getting things started has been quite hard as I am also dealing with writer's block as it relates to my book project for Lost in Translation.

Getting back to the Auteurs series ever since I finally finished my piece on Kelly Reichardt the year before and having completed my two-part Auteurs piece on Michael Mann with David Lean still in the works. I have managed to create several lists relating to the Auteurs including a shortlist of future candidates for the Auteurs series as well as a list on the eventual 100th candidate for the Auteurs series. One of my original plans in the series as it relates to J.C. Chandor has been shelved indefinitely mainly because of the poor reception to Kraven the Hunter as well as a lot of uncertainty in what he will do next as I would rather wait for him to do something great as there's still a lot about him that I don't know about given the lack of major resources so he is offically out of the Auteurs series. With Lean set to be finished likely in January, here are the candidates that I will profile for the Auteurs series in 2025:

Robert Eggers-January/February

Damien Chazelle-March/April

Ryan Coogler-May/June

James Gunn-July/August

Rebecca Miller-September/October

Ari Aster-November/December

With the plans for the Auteurs set for 2025 as well as the films I plan to watch for the 2025 Blind Spot Series. There are still a lot of films that I hope to watching recently purchased several film box sets for the holidays as I have made many watchlists of films that I hope to see while I am taking more control of the streaming services I have including some that I plan to buy for the New Year. I still also plan to take part in the 52 Films by Women pledge though it is likely I will fall short for this year but thankfully two of the box sets I have recently purchased include films by two great women filmmakers that I have yet to watch including several short films. I think that is all that I hope to do for 2025 as I hope it will be a better year. Until then, this is thevoid99 signing off...

© thevoid99 2024

2025 Blind Spot Series Announcement

 

With 2024 coming to an end with Rainer Werner Fassbinder's epic near-15 hour miniseries Berlin Alexanderplatz being the last one to watch for the year. The time has come once again to make an announcement for the 2025 edition as I have chosen to do diversify myself again but also avoid doing grand epics as that is something I think I won't do for a while. At the same time, I wanted to avoid doing films by the same director as well as wanting to choose films that I've been wanting to see for a long time. Even based on discoveries I've made this year through the Blind Spot Series has forced me wanting to do more in terms of exploration. There is also the case for availability as not every can be found easily which was the mistake I made for the 2021 series as I nearly got into some legal trouble as that I don't want to do ever again. My choices for next year has me once again going further into the 20th Century as it will be spread around from the 1930s to the 1990s. Unfortunately, there won't be any films by women for the 2025 mainly because I didn't know what to choose as what is available aside from some of the Blu-Rays I've recently acquired as I would rather focus on doing small marathons based on those filmmakers. Most of the films that I have chosen are those that are currently available on Blu-Ray or will be released on Blu-Ray while other films that I don't have on Blu-Ray will be seen either through a streaming service or as a YouTube rental. Here are the 12 films in chronological order that I will watch for the 2025 Blind Spot Series:

The Public Enemy by William A. Wellman

Limite by Mario Peixoto

Notorious by Alfred Hitchcock

A Star is Born by George Cukor

The Misfits by John Huston

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Mike Nichols

Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song by Melvin Van Peebles

The Mother and the Whore by Jean Eustache

The Sting by George Roy Hill

Love Streams by John Cassavetes

Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki

Cure by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

© thevoid99 2024