I love this whole concept and how you made these selections. I think I'm going to use these categories to wrangle my Criterion Channel watchlist, which is so out of control that I have actually been thinking of cancelling my subscription due to decision paralysis, but that feels like such a tragic waste.
(Relatedly, if any of your readers want to form some sort of Criterion Channel movie club, I have been trying to find people to do such a thing!)
So jealous!! We don't have Criterion Channel in the UK (I guess you can download a VPN and watch from your laptop but it's a PAIN) - otherwise I'd totally join you. Since you're a paid patron, remember you can start your own threads in the TFS Chat so worth letting the community know what you're planning to do for the month - maybe other CC fans will join ❤️
Oh they don’t have it in Germany either so I use a VPN 😂 was worth it to keep that after I left the USA and so I could continue to mooch off of my parents’ HBO. And I’ll definitely float that in group chat! I’ve tried to get a couple of IRL friends to do it and it always falls apart.
So I just discovered your website, looking around for something like a film club. I feel like I'm a little late for this, though, given it's already the 20th! I think you do curate watch lists monthly, but is there a chance that something like the film club persists beyond May?
Hey Cal, thank you so much for your comment & welcome! That's a great question and one I've been pondering on. I would love that, I'm just not sure Substack Chat is the long term solution for a film club - feels a bit clunky. I was planning on surveying my readers after it wraps up to see if people would like to continue AND what kind of platform would be most popular. I'm leaning towards Discord but I don't know we have enough people for this (maybe??). What do you think?
That sounds awesome! I was looking around for film clubs in my local area, but I'm not sure if they exist anymore in person. That's how I found you! Seems everything's online these days. Cannot wait to jump in and spend less time doom-scrolling and more time pondering movies and my takeaways from them. I'll have to become a paid subscriber here soon, then.
Discord could be good, only other platforms I could think of is maybe WhatsApp(?) but I haven't used it much. There is the Discourse forum platform too if you wanted slower discussions, though I think they do have a side chat feature also.
Thank you so much for putting this together, and articulating why I haven’t watched a movie for so long 😅 You’ve broken these down into such excellent chunks, I’m excited! 🙌
Ooh, I’ll definitely be doing this! I’m someone who almost always feels guilty about how little I’ve gotten through my watchlist and this looks like it will help a ton with my decision paralysis 🥹
Ugetsu Monogatari is a movie that could check off three of your criteria I think. I’ve been watching the BFI top movies of all time list and sometimes I will write a little review if I really liked a movie. This is what I wrote for this one:
A perfect movie. What I mean by this is that there is nothing else that could be added to this film that could improve it. It is only 1 hour and 37 minutes long. Its efficiency is part of its perfection. Its clarity of storytelling is scalpel sharp. Humanist, feminist and spooky as fuck.
Thank you so much for suggesting this gem, Nick! I'll have a look to see where I can find it over here - sounds right up my alley 😍 Also remember as a patron of TFS, you can start threads in the TFS Chat, so feel free to drop your recommendations/thoughts there as you see fit.
Dear Sophie -- Any article that encouragingly name-checks BUTCH, HEDWIG, THE APARTMENT, THE OTHERS, and THE THIRD MAN (while simultaneously finger-waggling at the only FRIDAY THE 13TH movie I actually REALLY LIKE!) is like a neon arrow of joy, bellowing in Technicolor that I have come to the right place. THANKS!!!
Will totally recommend your excellent strategies to my poor cinematically-purgatoried friends. (One peek at my Letterboxd roster will show you how deliriously all-over-the-goddam-place I am!)
Excellent! I think there are two forces operating here. Firstly, the overwhelming choice we have these days. The paralysis of too many options. Secondly, the notion of what we're supposed to watch because someone thought it was "significant". The films I usually find most significant are the ones that go largely unnoticed and unregarded. Just last night I watched a YT video essay about what an unnoticed gem "The Long Kiss Goodnight" is — a film I've regarded as wonderfully delightful since it came out. There are so many others like that.
FWIW, I think I'm already ahead of your challenges (more or less). I'm retired and single, so time isn't an issue. I tend to go through the movies section of whatever looking for something new and different. I have genres I favor but none I shun. I've followed recommendations by directors or critics whose work I respect. I like international films (especially Chinese but have been exploring Indian films lately).
The one place I might not measure up is in leaning away from films I'm "supposed" to watch, though I sometimes get around to them eventually. (It took me decades to get around to finally reading "Moby Dick" and I wish I'd watched "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" sooner.) Mostly, I'm strongly anti-trendy.
You nailed it with those two forces. Paralysis of choice is my personal nemesis more than time constraints (so I feel you on the time front). My notes app has 12 half-written reviews about films that are "unnoticed gems" - including a passionate defense of Jack Frost (the Michael Keaton snowman one, not the horror).
My own algorithm overwhelm happens not with genres but with eras and countries. I've fallen into comfort zones with 70s New Hollywood and 90s Hong Kong action while my "Important Iranian Cinema" list grows untouched.
Love that you're exploring Indian cinema! That's actually what sparked this whole idea - I found myself intimidated by the sheer volume and history despite genuinely wanting to dive in. What Indian films have you enjoyed recently?
And I'm with you on the anti-trendy stance. Half the time I finally watch something everyone's raved about, I'm like "...that's what the noise was for?"
I've been slowly teaching myself to "just pick one" on the premise that I'll get to the others eventually. The trap, at least for me, is the avoidance factor in thinking this or that doesn't fit my mood at the moment. Nah, just pick one and get on with it.
Oh, I hear you on the intimidation of how much film history there is with Indian films. Chinese and Japanese films, too, for that matter. So much to learn.
I've long enjoyed the silly fun of Bollywood movies (there's even a Jackie Chan film that goes Bollywood at the very end — the good guys and bad guys enjoy a delightful song/dance number). A while back I saw "RRR" and was blown away by every aspect of it. One of the best modern action films I've seen. More recently, I enjoyed the double movie "Baahubali: The Beginning" and "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion". I've got "Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva" in my Hulu queue.
I love this whole concept and how you made these selections. I think I'm going to use these categories to wrangle my Criterion Channel watchlist, which is so out of control that I have actually been thinking of cancelling my subscription due to decision paralysis, but that feels like such a tragic waste.
(Relatedly, if any of your readers want to form some sort of Criterion Channel movie club, I have been trying to find people to do such a thing!)
Also have SO MUCH FUN in Cannes!
So jealous!! We don't have Criterion Channel in the UK (I guess you can download a VPN and watch from your laptop but it's a PAIN) - otherwise I'd totally join you. Since you're a paid patron, remember you can start your own threads in the TFS Chat so worth letting the community know what you're planning to do for the month - maybe other CC fans will join ❤️
Oh they don’t have it in Germany either so I use a VPN 😂 was worth it to keep that after I left the USA and so I could continue to mooch off of my parents’ HBO. And I’ll definitely float that in group chat! I’ve tried to get a couple of IRL friends to do it and it always falls apart.
This sounds fun! Thanks for setting it up - I look forward to seeing what you end up watching.
Yay! Of course. We already kicked off the convo the Subscriber Chat ♥️
So I just discovered your website, looking around for something like a film club. I feel like I'm a little late for this, though, given it's already the 20th! I think you do curate watch lists monthly, but is there a chance that something like the film club persists beyond May?
Hey Cal, thank you so much for your comment & welcome! That's a great question and one I've been pondering on. I would love that, I'm just not sure Substack Chat is the long term solution for a film club - feels a bit clunky. I was planning on surveying my readers after it wraps up to see if people would like to continue AND what kind of platform would be most popular. I'm leaning towards Discord but I don't know we have enough people for this (maybe??). What do you think?
That sounds awesome! I was looking around for film clubs in my local area, but I'm not sure if they exist anymore in person. That's how I found you! Seems everything's online these days. Cannot wait to jump in and spend less time doom-scrolling and more time pondering movies and my takeaways from them. I'll have to become a paid subscriber here soon, then.
Discord could be good, only other platforms I could think of is maybe WhatsApp(?) but I haven't used it much. There is the Discourse forum platform too if you wanted slower discussions, though I think they do have a side chat feature also.
Thank you for this! This feels so freeing lol
Haha YAY, that's what I was going for!!
Thank you so much for putting this together, and articulating why I haven’t watched a movie for so long 😅 You’ve broken these down into such excellent chunks, I’m excited! 🙌
this is brilliant thanks!
and ideal timing, just canceled my cinema subscription till at least the summer hols
Yay, Bod - wonderful!! And remember as a paid subscriber, you can start your own threads in the Chat ♥️
great thank you :)
This is awesome! I'm stoked to play along :)
Woohoo yay Adam!
Ooh, I’ll definitely be doing this! I’m someone who almost always feels guilty about how little I’ve gotten through my watchlist and this looks like it will help a ton with my decision paralysis 🥹
Staci SAME! So let's start small. We kicked off early suggestions in the Chat 🥰
Love these strategies for watching films in new genres/areas that doesn’t feel like “eating your vegetables.” Thank you!
My pleasure, Tara 💖
This is fantastic! Looking forward to it.
Yesssss, same here! So excited to hear what you're watching. Just kicked off the first thread 🥰
Ugetsu Monogatari is a movie that could check off three of your criteria I think. I’ve been watching the BFI top movies of all time list and sometimes I will write a little review if I really liked a movie. This is what I wrote for this one:
A perfect movie. What I mean by this is that there is nothing else that could be added to this film that could improve it. It is only 1 hour and 37 minutes long. Its efficiency is part of its perfection. Its clarity of storytelling is scalpel sharp. Humanist, feminist and spooky as fuck.
Thank you so much for suggesting this gem, Nick! I'll have a look to see where I can find it over here - sounds right up my alley 😍 Also remember as a patron of TFS, you can start threads in the TFS Chat, so feel free to drop your recommendations/thoughts there as you see fit.
Here is a great short documentary for Week 1: https://youtu.be/2AVvFXhYmXk?si=p_dJe8Yn4IAENzMw
Dear Sophie -- Any article that encouragingly name-checks BUTCH, HEDWIG, THE APARTMENT, THE OTHERS, and THE THIRD MAN (while simultaneously finger-waggling at the only FRIDAY THE 13TH movie I actually REALLY LIKE!) is like a neon arrow of joy, bellowing in Technicolor that I have come to the right place. THANKS!!!
Will totally recommend your excellent strategies to my poor cinematically-purgatoried friends. (One peek at my Letterboxd roster will show you how deliriously all-over-the-goddam-place I am!)
https://letterboxd.com/YerPalSkipp/
Excellent! I think there are two forces operating here. Firstly, the overwhelming choice we have these days. The paralysis of too many options. Secondly, the notion of what we're supposed to watch because someone thought it was "significant". The films I usually find most significant are the ones that go largely unnoticed and unregarded. Just last night I watched a YT video essay about what an unnoticed gem "The Long Kiss Goodnight" is — a film I've regarded as wonderfully delightful since it came out. There are so many others like that.
FWIW, I think I'm already ahead of your challenges (more or less). I'm retired and single, so time isn't an issue. I tend to go through the movies section of whatever looking for something new and different. I have genres I favor but none I shun. I've followed recommendations by directors or critics whose work I respect. I like international films (especially Chinese but have been exploring Indian films lately).
The one place I might not measure up is in leaning away from films I'm "supposed" to watch, though I sometimes get around to them eventually. (It took me decades to get around to finally reading "Moby Dick" and I wish I'd watched "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" sooner.) Mostly, I'm strongly anti-trendy.
You nailed it with those two forces. Paralysis of choice is my personal nemesis more than time constraints (so I feel you on the time front). My notes app has 12 half-written reviews about films that are "unnoticed gems" - including a passionate defense of Jack Frost (the Michael Keaton snowman one, not the horror).
My own algorithm overwhelm happens not with genres but with eras and countries. I've fallen into comfort zones with 70s New Hollywood and 90s Hong Kong action while my "Important Iranian Cinema" list grows untouched.
Love that you're exploring Indian cinema! That's actually what sparked this whole idea - I found myself intimidated by the sheer volume and history despite genuinely wanting to dive in. What Indian films have you enjoyed recently?
And I'm with you on the anti-trendy stance. Half the time I finally watch something everyone's raved about, I'm like "...that's what the noise was for?"
I've been slowly teaching myself to "just pick one" on the premise that I'll get to the others eventually. The trap, at least for me, is the avoidance factor in thinking this or that doesn't fit my mood at the moment. Nah, just pick one and get on with it.
Oh, I hear you on the intimidation of how much film history there is with Indian films. Chinese and Japanese films, too, for that matter. So much to learn.
I've long enjoyed the silly fun of Bollywood movies (there's even a Jackie Chan film that goes Bollywood at the very end — the good guys and bad guys enjoy a delightful song/dance number). A while back I saw "RRR" and was blown away by every aspect of it. One of the best modern action films I've seen. More recently, I enjoyed the double movie "Baahubali: The Beginning" and "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion". I've got "Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva" in my Hulu queue.