What I'm Watching

This is a monthly email capturing all the movies and TV I’ve watched in the last month, as well as the music I am listening to.

Movies I’ve Watched:

• 20 днів у Маріуполі [20 Days in Mariupol] (2023): Every Putin apologist in The West should have to sit through this.

• Ainda Estou Aqui [I’m Still Here] (2024): This is a powerful film based on the life of a Brazilian human rights lawyer. I knew nothing about her or anything about the film and so this was all a complete surprise to me. Despite the acclaim, I managed to know virtually nothing about the plot and thought this was some kind of family drama or something. So I was pleasantly surprised (if I can use “pleasant” to describe this film).

• The Big Parade (1925): I have no idea if this is the first ever war movie. And I don’t mean the first ever movie with battle scenes in it. Obviously it’s nowhere close to the first one. But I do wonder if this is the first war movie in the sense of the “young, naive men enlist and go to war.” Whether or not it’s the first, it feels like it set up a lot of the cliches of the war movie genre. I re-watched All Quiet on the Western Front recently and it feels very, very inspired by this film. So, if nothing else, this film is hugely influential.

• Deathstalker II: Duel of the Titans (1987): There’s an important question to ask about low budget movies: is it better when they’re aware the movie is bad or is it better when they’re not? I know many people would argue it is better when everyone is aware and I would often agree – at least they’re having fun. But sometimes it’s not better, as it actually makes the movie worse. This film made me ask that question.

• Death Race (2008): This remake of a high concept Roger Corman science fiction film is one of those films I love which ask “Why don’t we make a Jason Stahan movie where he fights less?” It’s not like he doesn’t fight in this, but he mostly drives. And it begs the question why anyone thought that was a good idea.

• Devo (2024): An okay movie about the band. I did learn some stuff, so that’s something.

• Final Destination: Bloodlines (2025): The main thing I learned from this one is that I have been too mean to the first film, which is quite rewatchable.

• A Fistful of Lead aka Sartana’s Here…Trade Your Pistol for a Coffin (1970): I have never seen the first two Sartana films but this is really goofy and fun. The way I felt about this is probably how everyone else feels about the Fast & Furious franchise. I am pretty willing to excuse all the physics-defying stupidity in a western if I think it knows it’s dumb.

• Johnny Yuma (1966): This early spaghetti western might have influenced Once Upon a Time in the West, which is most people’s idea of the greatest spaghetti western ever.

• Nagaya shinshiroku [Record of a Tenement Gentleman] (1947): I think I get why this film has the reputation it does. But I must say, I have seen too many films with a variation of this premise, be it a kid or a pet.

• One More Time with Feeling (2016): Nick Cave trying to finish his latest album with his band The Bad Seeds, not long after his son died.

• Sweetland (2023): This is a very pretty film about resettlement in Newfounfland. It is apparently not very faithful to the novel. I really didn’t like it at first but liked it more as it went on. I still didn’t love it.

• The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982): Just enough of a budget to hide how bad it is.

• TIFF 2025: Only three movies this year. Because I’m mad at them.

  • Dead Lover: A low-budget gross out comedy based on Frankenstein.

  • Eagles of the Republic: The best film I saw at TIFF this year is a black comedy/political thriller about authoritarianism in Egypt.

  • Gagne ton ciel [The Cost of Heaven]: My friend’s kid was in this Quebec drama about a man living above his means.

• Las tres muertes de Marisela Escobedo (2020): This is a documentary about a woman’s fight for justice after her daughter disappeared. I have very mixed feelings about how it is presented.

• Uncharted (2022): This is a modern spin on Indiana Jones via something like National Treasure. I.e. it has more in common with the treasure hunting of Indiana Jones (though none of these people are altruistic like Jones, they’re more like the guy from Romancing the Stone) but with the stupid puzzle-solving-while-treasure-hunting of National Treasure. It also contains perhaps the most ridiculous chase scene I think anyone can say they have ever seen. Some people probably think that’s a virtue.

• Vredens dag [Day of Wrath] (1943): This film was not received well when I came out and it’s been completely reevaluated as some kind of masterpiece. I think the truth is in the middle and I’m not sure I get either interpretation.

• WALL-E (2008): In some ways this is a rather remarkable kids’ movie. It functions almost – not quite – as a silent film for quite some time. I think the film mostly works and mostly works well. I even laughed a few times which is always a good sign for a kids’ film. I can see why this really endeared itself to families.

TV I’m Watching:

• Adventure Time (2010): Years ago, someone told me I should check out Adventure Time, a kids show. I watched some episodes (20?) totally out of order - not that it matters - and was quite impressed. So I added the show to my list to watch it properly. I am currently in season 2 but my streaming trial will expire soon and I won’t make it very far. All I have to say is, I believe this may be the most creative kids show I’ve ever seen in terms world creation. It’s like Rick & Morty without any of the things that make Rick & Morty adult. I don’t really need to watch the whole thing, so I’m sure I’ll stop when the trial is over. But it’s super creative show, so if you are into that, check it out.

• Alien Earth (2025): I am enjoying this fine. It’s no Fargo but it’s totally fine as a TV adaptation of a movie franchise. But I have major nitpick with where they chose to put it in the timeline. Well, I guess I don’t, because I just went to look that up and complain and this show is not canon. Never mind.

• Baseball: We’re trying to watch the Jays because they are good. They are on pace for their 5th best regular season ever. We’re doing okay but we could definitely watch more games.

• Final Draft (2025): This Japanese version of Physical 100 is much lamer than the original. There is so much talking. So much!

• How to with John Wilson (2020): I might have found this compelling in my 20s but it is absolutely not my thing now. I did laugh a few times but mostly I thought how I should be laughing and I wasn't. I also just don't love this whole "people are weird" thing showing tons of people on TV who probably had no interest in being on TV. Doesn't this just feel like a web series? Anyway, I was watching it on Crave and the commercials kept failing to load and at some point I thought "Why am I struggling to watch this show that probably isn't my thing?" It's not the show's fault that Crave sucks but it didn't help.

• Justified (2010): I watched the premier years ago, thought it was dumb, and forgot about it. Someone (I don’t remember who) told me to give it another try. I did. It’s dumb.

• Taskmaster:

  • Taskmaster New Zealand: We just finished season 5. We mostly really enjoyed it though one of the contestants isn’t great.

What I’m Listening to:

• Bartok: Concerto for Orchestra (1943)

• Paul Bley: Open to Love (1973): Reminds me of Keith Jarrett.

• Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 3 (1853)

• Dutilleux: Piano Sonata (1948)

• Franck: Violin Sonata in A (1886)

• Charles Mingus: Let My Children Hear Music (1972): One of the Mingus albums with dialogue and they aren’t usually my favourites.

• Charlie Parker: Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve (1988): Complete is right. There is a lot of music here and I’m not sure I need all of it.

• Prokofiev: Piano Concertos: Suitably vigorous and brash.

• Schubert: Symphonies: High romantic.