Letterboxd Friday #9

Ruby Moley
Nov 25, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Dec 3, 2024

Published on 11 / 25 / 2024

So, I know it is not Friday. However, there won't be another Friday before this blog is due. Therefore, think of this as your early Christmas present!

Colossal(2016)

To be honest, I loved the destruction of toxic masculinity in this movie. I never expected to be so frustrated by Jason Sudeikis. This man drove me crazy! Sudeikis deserved to get a role that isn't a comedian, and he proved his place in this film.

I didn't love this movie because of the lack of logic in some of this piece. Why did the bar owner do that to his bar? How did she know where to grab him? How did she afford to get to South Korea on a whim when she couldn't even afford her own furnished place? I am a stickler for logic.

But I do have to admit, I'd never seen a film like this and appreciated the plotline. Anne Hathaway is always a killer actress.

Rating:

2 stars

The Crow(2024)

This was one of those pieces you have so much faith in at the beginning and then you get a little lost. The Crow starts off with astounding visuals, a profound soundtrack, and a killer (and very attractive) cast. The whole setup gave me the same vibes as The Batman, with a combination of grunge and crime.

Near the end, without spoiling it, the film gets very graphic. And by this, I mean shotgun-to-the-stomach-over-and-over, machete-splitting-the-skull, pushing-intestines-back-inside kind of gore. Terrifier seemed elementary compared to this. I hadn't seen the originals that this film rewrites, but I'd heard about the discourse over this version's production value.

I wish the Crow would've been less fighting inclined, however, I could be deflecting from the original storyline too much. When the romance was tense and revenge high, I found myself enthralled by this piece. I wish the directors would've played into these parts more.

The production value was high and the piece started off strong, but the end lost me. I do not want to dislike this piece, but it did rank low.

Rating:

2 stars

Closer (2004)

Holy trauma. I have had conversations almost identical to those in the movie. After watching this, I couldn't stop thinking about those arguments and the dynamic relationships in this, so I asked my friends if they had seen it. Surprisingly, they had, but to my surprise, all felt very disconnected from the piece. I asked if they'd experienced any emotions or fights like this, and they shook their heads. I had the moment of realization that I was in a very toxic, painful, and theatrical relationship. The on-screen pain may be actors, but they portray a life that is all too real and close to home in an award-winning way.

While others may say "Oh yeah, Closer was good," I'll be the one to tell you Closer is so in tune with your romantic turmoil you might need to hold your tears. I felt like I was reliving some of the worst moments of my relationships on a large, colorful screen and I loved it. Why? Because I felt seen. I felt like every emotion I experienced was okay. It taught me to accept what I'd been through and how to move on, just like each character in the piece. Time can heal you, and from what I've been through I have made great strides in the right direction, but being able to find acceptance in its independence from time is what really healed me.

For those who do not know the concept of this movie, Closer follows four individuals who each experience infidelity through the tangle of relationships between them. Some experience being cheated on while others are cheaters. They speak lies and decipher truths. Every inch and crack that defines the emotions tied to infidelity is covered in this film. I see time and time again tv shows and movies skimming over the post-infidelity schemes with simple "He's not worth it, f*** him" talks, when that is simply not realistic. Closer so realistically paints the experience of being broken by someone you love with your whole heart. Even if you haven't felt it yet, you can feel the genuine human behavior associated with cheating that the cast portrays.

I'd never think I'd want to watch a film focusing on cheating again. The script is so perfect, with characters of various identities and languages. The connections between the characters are properly woven. It's unpredictable. It's raw. It's a romantic beauty.

Additionally, the wardrobe is exceptional. The score isn't anything out of the ordinary. The casting is fitting. Thank the lord for Natalie Portman.

If it weren't for little things here and there, I'd rank higher. Regardless, watch this film now.

Rating:

4 stars

The Watchers (2024)

Okay, I watched this with low expectations. All trailers I saw of this piece bored me to death. But when I saw it was free on streaming services so soon after its release, I jumped to watch it.

This has unexpected twists and a strong sense of logic. The idea of getting lost in a forest is a horror movie classic, but this one takes it to the next level. I especially enjoyed the ending; there were two separate resolutions. Horror movies nowadays love to end on one singular success, avoiding closing loopholes and solving the question of "Now what happens?" Think about kidnapping movies. They always show the people getting picked up by the police, or even just the police showing up at the kidnapper's place, and then it cuts to the credits. It's frustrating! This movie doesn't do that, and it's a breath of fresh air.

So, thank you The Watchers for being unlike any psychological thriller I've watched. Please give us more. Maybe part 2?

Rating:

3.5 stars