A “stone cold” masterpiece in both senses! Charlie Kaufman’s “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is a five star film and places in my Top 3 of this past year!
by Sam Juliano
It was an earlier-than-usual Easter Sunday but here we are enjoying the one week break that comes after with a return to work set for almost half way through the month. We remain in a kind of functional limbo, what with the COVID-19 numbers still rising in some areas including my home state. Our dear friends and site co-editor Jim and Valerie Clark are in the Toronto, Canada area that went into lock down a few days ago. We are concerned deeply for their security and continued well-being.
Tribeca programmers are thrilled to announce that the 20th-anniversary edition of the Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, will take place in New York City from June 9 through June 20, 2021 — new dates to ensure the Festival moves forward in the safest environment. Lucille and I are figuring we will again be attending but as to the volume we can’t say with any certainty just yet. It is far off enough to be able to sort things out in tune with the health situation. The Major League Baseball season is underway as well.
This past week has been a torrid one for us on the film scene as we have managed to watch seven (7) films, which is the most “new” releases we’ve seen in one week since maybe 16 months ago, though it could be even longer than that.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things ***** (Wednesday) netflix
Soul *** 1/2 (Tuesday) purchased blu-ray
My Octopus Teacher **** 1/2 (Monday) netflix
Crip Camp **** 1/2 (Thursday) netflix
Collective **** 1/2 (Friday) netflix
The Wolfwalkers **** 1/2 (Friday) Apple-TV-streaming
Concrete Cowboys *** 1/2 (Saturday) netflix
Pixar’s SOUL was fine but the Celtic-inspired THE WOLFWALKERS which was superlative is easily the better animated film. I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS (Charlie Kaufman) is a staggering masterpiece and one of the Top 3 films of the year for me. MY OCTOPUS TEACHER edges out SCHEME BIRDS, CRIP CAMP and COLLECTIVE for my #1 documentary this past (hybrid) year.
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Wonders in the Dark 
Happy to hear that you and Lucille are back to enjoying many new stimulating films! Thank your for your concern. Valerie and I are doing well. Happy Easter!
Thank you so much for the spirited words about our accelerated at-home movie watching, Jim! Yes, I was quite concerned over the lock-down but am relieved to hear that you and Valerie are doing well. I trust you both had a memorable Easter as well!
What a movie week you and Lucille enjoyed! it is also sounding like things are looking up overall. But I am still concerned about these “variants” which I think even those vaccinated need to be keeping watch on. A Belated Happy Easter!
Aye Ricky, quite a week as far as recently-released films are concerned indeed my friend! Yes the “variants” always give us pause, sad to say. Yes a vaccination must not deter any of us from staying the course with vigilance! Trust you and the family has a wonderful Easter!
Have you seen the Snyder cut yet?
A superhero movie that’s almost as long as Dr. Mabuse the Gambler and longer than The Leopard, and that has been compared to Metropolis and Intolerance. What’s wrong with people anyhow?
Correction: In the DeMille spectacular Anne Baxter plays Nefertiri not Nefertiti. The two queens were born 50 years apart.
So I don’t know from Egyptology, but I do recall a classic pun from John Crosbie’s Dictionary of Puns that relates to ancient Egypt: “A father sent his two children off to an expensive Ivy League school. When they informed him they intended to concentrate their studies in the field of ancient Egyptian plumbing he blew up. ‘You mean I’m paying $20k (it’s an old pun) a year to graduate a pair of pharaoh faucet majors?’ ”
I know, I know. It’s a groaner just like all the best puns.
The Killing of Sister George (Aldrich) > Todd Haynes’s mink-swaddled Carol, which sadly lacks Beryl Reid and Coral Browne.
(Like Midnight Cowboy, it’s hard to believe the Aldrich film was once X-rated.)
Have a good week, Sam. Watch a lot of movies.
I have seen it Mark, but I wish I hadn’t. LOL!!!! Yes people are batty sometimes!!! The reviews however were rightly mixed. Good eyes there on Nefertiri! Hahahahaha on the Pharaoh faucet majors paragraph!!!!! I thought is was better than a “groaner.” Ooooh you are taking quite the minority position there on CAROL, but I greatly respect you for speaking out on it! But yes bizarre that SISTER GEORGE (and MIDNIGHT COWBOY) were ever X rated! I remember seeing the latter at 16 years old on Manhattan’s 42nd Street in one of those dingy theaters populated by some perverts. I was permitted to buy a ticket as my cousin was a few years older and they didn’t differentiate. Have a great week my friend!
Headline from 2018: Handsome ‘Psycho’ Actor Dies
Sane hunk John Gavin was born on this day in 1931.
Ah John Gavin, Happy Heavenly Birthday indeed!