I used to create video journals to keep up with what I watched each month on YouTube but now I changed the format, so here we are. Welcome to my first issue of What I watched this month, blog format, November and December edition.
The reason why I combined these two months is that I was too busy with my study, therefore, the number of films I watch in November was too limited to even be reported.
SERIES
The Queen's Gambit (2020) (5/5)
I finished watching this spectacular series in only one day. I think it's one of the best series of 2020 so far and one of the best series I've watched this year. For most people, the topic of chess doesn't interest them, but for me, though I don't play much and obviously not good at it, I find it riveting. Bolstered by a world-class performance by the lead cast, marvelous visual language, clever dialogue, and informative chess terms. I don't want to give away too much but please watch this series, it's mind-blowing!
The Vampire Diaries (2009 - 2017) (3.5/5 - Sentimental score 5/5)
It's a teenage drama about vampires, werewolves, and many other supernatural creatures, also love, friendship and family. I find myself lingering at the adulthood threshold (pun intended - watch the show, you may understand it), trying to relive my youth by watching this series. The plot is quite simple and easy to follow, there are many plot holes throughout the film but I chose to ignore them all since all I wanted was a great time. The music choices in this series are perceptive, I picked up a few great songs along the way. Fortified by some incredible acting performances, witty yet humorous and sarcastic lines, family-loving vibe and theme are all the great things about TVD. For some personal tribute to the show, visit this.
FEATURE FILMS
The First Wives Club (1996) (4/5)
I believe many ladies will enjoy this film. Like the title, the film revolves around 3 divorced women who seek revenge on their ex-husbands for leaving them for younger and hotter women after the tragic death of their best friends. Does it sound familiar to real life? I know it does. A classic rom-com that I crave every day. These three powerful comediennes brought a fairly delightful mess and I'm here for it. The vibe is also exhilaratingly woman-positive and funny. The movie also condemns the fact that older women are being dismissed in Hollywood and some sugar daddies don't bother to check the age of the girls they slept with, as long as they are consensual.
Tinker, tailor, soldier, spy (2011) (4/5)
Another adaptation by the late great John le Carré. I have never read the book or watched the BBC's TV series, I came to the movie with a blank canvas and it amazed me. The movie is beautifully executed and visually absorbing, however, it's very slow, thus, not suitable for many people (Honestly, I dragged myself to finish it in 2 days, very unlike me). The plot centered around spy and their undercover network but the movie is not all about that, it also about what this job did to the characters. The thin line between loyalty and betrayal in a world that no one can be trusted, is depicted perfectly. All performances are spectacular, especially Gary Oldman's Smiley or Kathy Burke's blowsy Connie. Again, it's not for everyone, thus, consider yourself before watching it.
The iron lady (2011) (4.5/5)
A beautiful depiction of former PM Thatcher, in my opinion. The movie has a very interesting storytelling style, integrated the past and the present altogether so that we, the audience, could witness, experience, and understand her life better. It focused more on her personal sides (emotions and relationships) than her political career and I like that, especially her marriage with Denis. Meryl Streep, as always, is absolutely amazing. Her mannerism, voice, look, everything was perfect since I have watched a few clips of Mrs. Thatcher before watching this film so that I can fairly criticize Meryl's performance and I assure you, it doesn't look like an impression or acting, she did nail it.
A bad moms Christmas (2017) (3/5)
Finally a Christmas movie on the list. That score is absolutely biased because the movie gave me a very good time. The movie is neither about Christmas for bad moms nor a bad Christmas for moms, it's about Christmas and moms. They raised some very interesting questions as well such as why husbands cannot buy their mom's presents, why moms have to buy everyone's presents? I laughed so hard at some scenes because it's either funny or very witty. Check it out, guys!
From Paris with love (2010) (3.5/5)
I was looking for a movie based in Paris for a cold afternoon, then I found this. It's not From Russia with love (a Bond film), it's not a perfect film but an entertaining one, thus I believe my score is a bit biased. The plot centered on agents, cocaine, terrorists, drug cartel, and so on. It's pretty easy to follow, according to me. The action scenes are very satisfying, I also enjoy the chemistry between Travolta and Meyers, and also the fact that a US government employee walking around Paris with a Chinese vase full of cocaine next to a completely bold and seriously fucked-up dude who is so damn good at his job. The thing I don't enjoy here is the motive of the antagonists in the film is so unclear and I was completely distracted from the plot by the duos' comic vibes.
AVA (2020) (2/5)
I think this movie wasted a totally amazing cast for nothing, like most Hollywood movies nowadays. Off-topic: I ADORE Ava's platinum short wig in the beginning, absolutely adore though I can never pull it off. The fighting scenes in this are mostly satisfactory. However, I find the plot to be quite vague and poorly executed. The family trauma and the primary character's backgrounds were too much to absorb and many other supporting characters or subplots were created to make the story whole but then failed to develop into something resonant. I think Jessica Chastain's acting is the highlight of the film, definitely compensated for the ridiculous plot.
The invitation (2015) (4/5)
I certainly do not know what I feel about this film. It's a slow-burn thriller about grief and depression. As I said, it's a slow-burn so it's very slow and not suitable for many people, I included. However, I think they have succeeded in establishing a very skeptical and tense atmosphere among old friends on a supposedly fun night. I tried to pick up details in everything, I know something was up but instead of other thrillers with adrenaline rushing through your veins every second, The Invitation gave you something else, an answer, an escape from pain which I don't like very much. I tried to find the central plot of the story, then I figured it was about grief and severe depression and how those negative feelings can do to human minds, desperate and unexplainable things I believe. The acting was amazing and so was the color. It's a must-see movie for slow-burn film enthusiasts and people who like to experience uncomfortable feelings.
Mortal engines (2018) (2.5/5)
It has an interesting vibe and looks but it turns out to be not as good. The movie gave me a Howl's Moving Castle and Snowpiercer vibe combined. Mortal Engines does a decent job in mixing all my favorite books, movies, and TV series at once for a second but then the result is pretty disappointing. I find the plot tasteless, and vague. I only like the female protagonist's scarface, I know, pretty lame to like something that not even worth mentioning twice but that scar speaks more about her than her actions do the entire runtime of the film. That score is generous since I like the background and the idea.
How to build a girl (2020) (5/5)
First of all, Beanie Feldstein's British accent is astonishing, I had to google to ensure she is American and I was even more surprised to find out that she is 27, what the hell, she played a 16 years old girl convincingly. The movie is another beautiful coming-of-age movie that reminds me of 2017 Lady Bird. The question "What do you do when you build yourself, only to realize that you build yourself with the wrong things?" is haunting me until now and maybe forever. Every girl, no, everyone who went through their adolescent years encountered this, the hardship of figuring out who we are, what we're capable of, what we like, and why we like it, etc. We try different identities until we find the right one, the one we know, well, that's me and I'm keeping it. We fail, multiple times trying to find that identity miserably. Like the movie illustrates, we build ourselves with things we are surrounded by and believe that we are those things until we realize, we have been building ourselves in a very wrong way. But that's life, we must be wrong, not once, not twice, maybe many to know which one is right and that's just fine.
I find myself too sentimental for this film haha.
That concluded my list of watched films in November and December 2020. Happy new year everyone! I'll see you on January's list.
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