150 Films/150 Days #04: Films 19-26

To open the new year, I began this series, 150 Films in 150 Days, as a means of returning to my screening habits of old. Click the link to read the Series Introduction.  The general idea is to return to my film school roots of obsessively watching all the films from all the places all the time.  

The Comprised List is over 150 films deep with integral films missed from the past 10 years and beyond, as well as a few just for popcorn giggles.

I'll be making regular posts of 5-10 films at a time, including my screening notes, random and unedited.  Each film will be listed with the release date, relevant creative contributors, the means of screening, and a written response.

After the screening, I will assign a level of recommendation to each film as follows: 

HR-highly recommended, R-recommended, N-neutral, F-failings too extensive to appreciate (hopefully never or rare).

The first film watched was February 1, and the final day will be June 30 (exactly 5 months).  

All are welcome to watch along.

Films 19-26:  Screening Notes added soon - need time to transcribe and decipher my scratch ;

Note:  Films 19-54 are predominately from 2021, as we have simultaneously been comprising our 

Top Films of the Year List.  The first 50 films of the Series, in large, have been pointed toward recent releases and contemporary films, with a few cult classics sprinkled in.  Moving forward, we will broaden the range of cinema explored and grow back thru time, as well as continue with current films.

19.  The Power of the Dog (2021):  Watched on Netflix, 02/18.  Directed by Jane Campion, Performances by Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-Mcphee, Cinematography by Ari Wegner. 

Screening Notes:  

Recommendation Level:  HR

20.  Nightmare Alley (2021):   Watched on HBO, 02/19.  Directed by Guillermo del Toro, Performances by Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Willem Dafoe, Rooney Mara, Toni Collette, Richard Jenkins, Ron Perlman, and any damn actor del Toro wants, it would appear - nice and rare heights to reach as an auteur, and he well earned it.  

Screening Notes:

Recommendation Level:  HR

21.  Knives Out (2019):  Watched on Prime, 02/20.  Written and Directed by Rian Johnson, Performances by Daniel Craig, Michael Shannon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Ana de Armas, Don Johnson, Toni Collette (yes, this cast is absurd - meant in the best way).

Screening Notes:

Recommendation Level:  R

22.  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (US, 2011):   Watched on Netflix, 02/21.  Directed by David Fincher, Performances by Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer.

Screening Notes:

Recommendation Level:  R (Barely, and predominately due to a strong performance from Rooney Mara and a cool concept.  I suspect the original is more worth the watch)

23.  Kimi (2022):  Watched on HBO, 02/22.  Directed by Steven Soderbergh, Cinematography by Steven Soderbergh, Edited by Steven Soderbergh, Performance by Zoe Kravitz. 

Screening Notes:

Recommendation Level:  N

24.  The Host (2006):  Watched on DVD, 02/23.  Directed by Bong Joon Ho, Performances by Kang-ho Song, Byun Hee-Bong, Park Hae-il, Ko Asung.

Screening Notes:  

Recommendation Level:  HR

25.  Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021):  Watched on Prime, 02/25.  Directed by Andy Serkis, Produced by Tom Hardy, Performances by Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Woody Harrelson. 

Screening Notes:

Recommendation Level:  R (Yep, that's right.  It was damn fun and I stand behind it with no shame)

26.  Cloverfield (2008):  Watched on HBO, 02/26.  Directed by Matt Reeves, Performances by umm?...

Screening Notes:

Recommendation Level:  N