January was a pretty great month for me in terms of film watching. I started the year out with a great choice (more on that below), went to New York City for the first time (and visited several movie theatres; I promise I’ll make a post on that soon), I guested on the Matineecast podcast for the third year in a row to discuss the Oscar nominations and started hosted films for Milyoni’s Social Cinema. Please do give that service a look; it was a lot of fun to do and I guarantee you’ll have fun watching the films! Anyways, as always you will find the complete list of what I watched after the cut, as well as a few featured favorites.

1. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!
2. Woman on Top
3. Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing
4. Little Voice
5. King of the Newsboys
6. The Leathernecks Have Landed
7. Until September
8. Stormy Monday
9. Tristana
10. My Chauffeur
11. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains
12. Malèna
13. Hearts in Bondage
14. Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
15. The Ramen Girl
16. Love Serenade
17. Flannel Pajamas
18. Daybreak Express
19. On The Road
20. Ginger and Rosa
21. Amour
22. Zero Dark Thirty
23. Dressed To Kill (1980)
24. Stars in My Crown
25. Mirror Mirror
26. The Invisible War
27. Meshes of the Afternoon
28. Free Radicals
29. A Colour Box 
30. Rainbow Dance
31. Swinging the Lambeth Walk
32. Checking Out: Grand Hotel
33. Nothing Ever Happens (1933)
34. Blitz Wolf
35. A Phantasy in Colors (aka Begone Dull Care)
36. A Corner in Wheat 
37. Rough Riders of Cheyenne
38. The Odd Couple
39. Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Leonard Cohen 
40. It Takes Two (1988)
41. Modern Girls
42. Tuff Turf
43. The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish
44. In Another Country
45. Searching For Sugar Man
46. The Lawless Nineties
47. Dangerous Curves (1989)
48. One from the Heart
49. Hammett
50. West of Shanghai
51. The Invisible Menace
52. Devil’s Island
53. Native Son (1951) [Film Noir Festival]
54. Intruder in the Dust [Film Noir Festival]
55. Hilary and Jackie
56. Anna (1987)
57. In Dreams

1880s: 0
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 1
1910s: 0
1920s: 0
1930s: 10
1940s: 5
1950s: 7
1960s: 2
1970s: 1
1980s: 13
1990s: 4
2000s: 5
2010s: 8

I am going to eschew tradition and write about six films this month because I just absolutely could not whittle it down any further; it was hard enough getting it to just these six. January always tends to be filled with a lot of good choices. I think this happens because I try to start the year out really strong. This month I watched a lot of 80s films on Netflix because it seems like the entire back catalogue of MGM/UA rom-coms and rom-drams from the 80s were added and I just couldn’t get enough.

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension!, 1984 (dir. W.D. Richter)

I can’t believe I’d never seen this film before. The above screencap of young Jeff Goldblum in all his attractive glory is only one of the many, many treasures to be found in this bizarre cult classic gem. This was a film that was intended to become a franchise, but it was so bizarre and so not what anyone expected that it did rather poorly at the box office and a franchise was not to be. Regardless of its sad production history, you can tell the filmmakers, cast and crew, had a ton of fun making this film and that energy comes through nearly thirty years later. If you don’t have fun watching this film, I think the fault lies with you and not the work itself.

Stormy Monday, 1988 (dir. Mike Figgis)

Shot by Roger Deakins, written and directed by Mike Figgis (of Leaving Las Vegas fame) and starring Melanie Griffith, Sean Bean and Sting, Stormy Monday is definitely what I would call a slow burn. The tagline on the poster calls it a “romantic thriller” and that is pretty accurate, although both the romance and the thrills are so low-key, your average movie-goer might not have the patience for it. The film plays like a good piece of jazz, moody and equally as deliberately paced as it is improvised. When it fades to black, you’re left unsure how to feel about what you saw and you leave its story and characters wanting just a little bit more, but you know you’re lucky you got what little time you did.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, 1982 (dir. Lou Alder)

Another film from the 80s with an even more trouble-filled production history, this film was only released in a handful of theaters in 1982 and then a “happier” ending was filmed and re-released in 1984 in an attempt to recoup some of its losses. It didn’t really do much business either time, but it did slowly gain a cult following on television in the late-80s and is now a certified cult classic. I can’t really imagine what the atmosphere must have been like when it was originally released, but watching it now it feels so on point about the era and the music business and teenage girls, that it’s kind of shocking that it didn’t do well. Maybe it was too close to the truth for people to handle. Either way, I’m glad it’s available to watch now and I hope its cult status continues to grow.

Flannel Pajamas, 2006 (dir. Jeff Lipsky)

Very rarely have I simultaneously loved and hated a film as much as I did this one. These characters aren’t exactly likable, but they suck you in and by the time the films ends you’re yelling at them for making a mess of everything and for all their miscommunications and broken promises. You follow a couple who meet on a blind date, fall in love, get married and then (spoiler) get divorced. The film is merciless in its depiction of every stage of their relationship and you the audience understand both characters better than either one ever does, which is part of why the film is so frustrating and yet so fascinating. This is definitely one of the most honest and fearless films I’ve seen about relationships and love, though I can tell it will definitely not be for everyone. It lingered in my mind for days after I watched it and I still sometimes find myself mulling it over in my brain.

Amour, 2012 (dir. Michael Haneke)

Same goes for Haneke’s masterpiece and current Best Picture nominee Amour. I’ve seen all the films up for the top prize at the Oscars this year (actually, I’m only missing about 12 films total, mostly foreign and docs) and I definitely think this is the greatest (and I don’t usually like using superlatives) film in the mix. It’s an important film that touches on a phase of life not often discussed in real life, let alone in cinema. It’s a touch, relentless film that will push buttons on many, but it’s one that should be seen. It’s actually playing at the theatre where I work and it has been such a treat to discuss the film with patrons after it’s over. Some want to know what the ending means (I won’t tell you here, but if you send me a tweet or something we can discuss it) and some just want to share their own experiences with loved ones. Haneke has said this is a film about love and life, not just death and I think it’s important to realize that that is exactly what it is. Also, if you haven’t seen it – make sure you see it from the very beginning. It’s not one where you can miss the beginning and everything will be fine. Just do me a favor and go on time.

Modern Girls, 1986 (dir. Jerry Kramer)

I had never even heard of this film until Netflix recommended it to me and it’s poster was styled like Roy Lichtenstein pop art and I just had to watch it and I am so glad that I did. It’s like they made this movie just for me. Everything is bright jewel tones and synth-pop music and nothing hurts. It’s one of those films where all of the action takes place in one night and chaos ensues. It’s just a load of fun from start to finish and features great performances from Daphne Zuniga, Cynthia Gibb, Virginia Madsen and Clayton Rohner (who was the lead on the short-lived television show G. vs. E, which desperately needs a revival because it was so so gooood). It also has an unexpected and wonderfully feminist ending. I wish the DVD on Amazon were cheaper, because this is a film I definitely want to own.

So that was January. I’ve yet to watch a film for February, but I have plans to watch a bunch of the Oscar nominated shorts later today and I’ve got many more delightful 80s gems waiting for me on Netflix. I’m also still trying to figure out how to get a code for the Warner Archive’s beta testing of their new streaming service, so if you can help a girl out. . .Anyways, I hope y’all had a great start to the new year and that your February is equally filled with fantastic cinematic adventures!