​Daisies
The color! The editing! The FOOD!
But for real, this was really weird and fun. I don't really know what else to say about it, but it's cool for sure.

Cléo from 5 to 7
“I’m afraid of everything… birds, storms, lifts, needles… and now, this great fear of death.”
The French New Wave is generally something I appreciate rather than enjoy, but I really enjoyed this! It was slow to grab me, but the second half held my attention and then some. Corinne Marchand’s performance and Varda’s direction are both fantastic, but I think the best thing about this movie is its script. The dialogue hits the perfect balance of simplicity and profundity. I will definitely be returning to this one in the future.

Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce 1080 Bruxelles
Honestly, I was dreading watching this. I knew it was supposed to be great, but I also knew it was a three hour (and twenty-three minute) portrait of domestic mundanity. To my surprise, I actually liked it! Or maybe like isn’t the word— at the end of the day, I found Jeanne Dielman very interesting. Oh, and when I say end of the day, I mean end of the day. I started this watching this film when I woke up and finished it before I went to bed. I watched a bit in the morning, a bit while I ate lunch, a bit while I was on the treadmill, a bit while I ate dinner, and a bit before falling asleep. But I did watch it. Though I was often tempted to check my phone (a feeling many can relate to I’m sure), I resisted. I tried to let Jeanne’s day be a part of my day, so when I was watching, I was really watching. I would strongly recommend this to fans of international, experimental, or feminist cinema— but be warned! It is a long watch that requires your full attention. Though it will probably be a long time before I rewatch Jeanne Dielman, I can’t wait to check out Chantal Akerman’s other work!

The Watermelon Woman
Despite some obvious technical flaws, The Watermelon Woman succeeds at being an endearing and unique film. Though Dunye is clearly a novice filmmaker, she has good instincts and a very poetic sensibility. I know she hasn't done a whole lot since this film, but I hope that she gets more opportunities in the future, as more people go back and discover it.

A League of Their Own
So glad I finally got around to watching this one! I do think there are some rough patches, but this movie has enough heart and humor to make up for them. Apart from the good writing and direction, this movie has great performances. Geena Davis, Rosie O'Donnell, Madonna, and Tom Hanks all bring their A-game to knock this one out of the park!

​The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Things I like about this movie:
1. Great set design
2. Even greater intertitle design
3. It's less than 90 minutes
4. Cesare is a goth hottie who was way ahead of his time
Watching this movie made me realize that one of my favorite thrillers (Soderbergh's Side Effects) borrows a number plot elements from this (mainly the inciting incident and finale). I couldn't find anywhere online where Soderbergh talks about this movie as a specific influence, so I guess we'll never know...

Nosferatu
Nosferatu = antisemitic text

The Hitch-Hiker
Not actually a horror movie (I now realize that Kanopy listed it in the Horror and Thriller section), but a pretty nifty noir film. Lupino's direction is great and I gotta give her props for keeping all the Spanish dialogue naturalistic and subtitle-free.

Night of the Living Dead
Considering this is the "first" zombie movie, I think it's really good. The dialogue frequently shifts from practical survival arguments to poetic storytelling in a way that adds a bit of emotional depth to the story without making it too weighty. The elongated scenes and "real-time" plotting make this movie pretty immersive— you watch the news broadcast for several minutes just as the characters do, and it makes you feel like you're in that house with them.

I'm starting to think that simplicity may be the key to making great horror. I will definitely be revisiting this in the future.

Eraserhead
My first Lynch (unless you count the time I slept through Blue Velvet). I love the B&W cinematography and the white noise soundscape, but everything else just sorta makes me feel AGHHH. I guess I can see its merits, but overall I think this kinda thing just isn’t for me.