It’s amazing how National Poetry Writing Month feels way too long when in the middle of it and way too short when it’s over. But I can’t deny the sense of accomplishment I feel on the other side, clearing out my backlog of films to review and writing a host of new poems. I felt like I had less time this year to devote to the writing, so I hope the quality didn’t suffer too much. I also find it interesting (and a total coincidence) that my favorite films reviewed were the two animated ones that bookended the month. Sadly, I did miss two days, but I’m surprised I was able to keep up as well as I did. For anyone else who missed a day, here’s a recap listing the films/poems for NaPoWriMo 2021:
A huge thank-you to everyone who read, liked, followed, and commented throughout the month, as well as the NaPoWriMo website that provided so many great daily prompts! I would still write even if it were just for me, but it warms my heart that others out there in cyberspace enjoy it too. I still plan to continue posting, just at a more relaxed schedule. Now I’m looking forward to NaPoWriMo 2022, when I’ll finally be free of school! Until then….
Why waste time? Hot off the heels of completing my 2020 Blindspots, it’s time to move on to a brand new list of twelve movies for 2021. Normally, I would have posted this at the beginning of the year and watched one a month, but I’m sure I can double up a few times before December, especially once I graduate.
As with past years, I attempted to select a varied collection of films I’ve been meaning to see, including a war classic, a Best Picture winner, an anime, a musical, a psychological horror, a sci-fi actioner, and a couple popular comedies. Here’s hoping that 2021’s Blindspot series will expose me to some new favorites!
Despite all of my guilt and apologies about being late with my 2020 Blindspots, I realized that I actually did manage to see them all in a year’s time. I didn’t review my first until last April, so I guess I did fulfill the challenge in a way.
Anyway, I do always enjoy these Blindspot series, which expose me to a bunch of films I’ve kept on the back burner for too long. As for 2020’s collection, I must admit I was a bit disappointed with at least half of them, in contrast to past years, and only my #1 actually managed to snag a List-Worthy rating. Nevertheless, I am glad to have finally seen them all, and I hope to do the same with other Blindspots as we get further into 2021.
Here then is my ranking of the Blindspots from the past year:
As promised, it’s time to post my latest update of THE LIST, my ultimate top 365 film countdown, which is technically more than 365 since I group sequels and similar films together. There aren’t any huge changes this time, with only thirteen films being added, two of which are being grouped with others. Yet we have both low and high rankers, with one even managing to crack the Top 100. And yes, Psycho still somehow remains firmly ensconced at #365.
As we set out on another year of life and movies and Rhyme and Reason, I want to once again thank everyone who reads and follows this blog of mine and takes any interest in my poetry-movie mash-ups and impulsive list-making. After last year, I don’t know what 2021 has in store, but hopefully it will include lots of great movies to add to this list a year from now, plus easier times all around. May God bless us, every one!
Wow, another year gone, one that I’m sure no one wants to repeat. Good riddance, and welcome to 2021! It has now been seven years since I started this blog, compiling my Top 365 movies on a whim and counting them down with a poem, one a day back in 2014. While my pace has grown more relaxed since then, my love of movies and poetry has only grown, and I’ve continued to discover more and more hidden gems and new releases over the years.
While there have been jokes this year about people having nothing to do but watch Netflix, I have had less free time than ever in 2020 due to working from home and attempting to finish my Bachelor’s degree. Thus, I haven’t watched nearly as many films, which has sadly slowed my reviewing schedule as well. Nevertheless, a select few that I have seen deserve a list here at the end of the year as movies worthy to be added to that Top 365 List I mentioned above. It’s the smallest number I’ve added thus far but just enough for my traditional Top Twelve List. Many of them are holdovers from 2019 while a couple are movies I’ve reevaluated and appreciated more with time.
As always, I want to reiterate that these are List-Worthy films I have seen over the past year, not a ranking specific to 2019 or 2020, and solely based on my personal, changeable opinion. I always run behind on movie-watching, which is why so many 2019 films are here, so I’m sure there are plenty of worthwhile 2020 films I’ll need to catch up on, not to mention all the releases delayed to 2021 due to COVID. Also, I wish to give a special shout-out to the Runner-Up movies who came awfully close to securing a place on the list but didn’t quite make the cut: Ford v Ferrari, Parasite, The Upside, Paddington and Paddington 2, Big Trouble in Little China, The Pride of the Yankees, Runaway Bride,Doctor Sleep, Fast and Furious 6 – 8, Don’t Let Go, The Vast of Night, and Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.
So what do you think of my top movies seen this year? I welcome recommendations of all kinds, and hopefully I’ll be able to fit more movie-watching into my schedule this year and have more than a scant twelve additions to ring in 2022. Here’s hoping that it will be a better year all around!
Like so many others, I was Frozened out long before the inevitable sequel was announced, but Disney still managed to deliver a mostly satisfying mythic follow-up to its biggest hit of the last decade. Issues with the plot notwithstanding, I enjoyed this second visit to Arendelle almost as much as the first.
11. The Big Year (2011)
I haven’t gotten a chance to review this film yet and defend its placement, but I will. It may not seem like the kind of movie to earn a spot on a favorites list, but this under-the-radar film about bird watchers was a charmer from start to finish. Like Please Stand By last year, it’s a film I just liked, from its great comedic cast to its soundtrack to its subtext about life and obsession.
10. Mean Girls (2004)
I’ll be honest: I did not expect to enjoy this movie as much as I did, even while I was watching it. Whenever someone would reference or quote this movie, I got the feeling that I had missed a part of pop culture specific to my generation, and I’m glad to have caught up with this quotable high school satire. Like Heathers, my fondness for the musical version may have something to do with my regard for the film.
Masaaki Yuasa never struck me as a director whose work would appeal to me, but Ride Your Wave caught me off-guard with its deeply felt story of love, loss, and holding on to the past. Fanciful without getting too weird, its sweet romance yields to a gut punch of emotion, and I love anime that can make such a tonal shift successfully.
I had seen 42 before, but it wasn’t till my second watch, after the loss of star Chadwick Boseman, that I truly appreciated it as a top-notch sports biopic. Jackie Robinson’s story is inspiring even without the big-screen treatment, but Boseman and Harrison Ford bring his struggle and success to life wonderfully.
Again, I saw The Jerk long ago, but a rewatch made me ask (between laughs), “Why isn’t this movie on my list?” The juggling cats scene alone leaves me in stitches every time.
Makoto Shinkai’s follow-up to the megahit Your Name had a tough act to follow, but Weathering with You came close in replicating its predecessor’s mix of fantasy and youthful romance (and rain, lots of rain). The animation is second to none, and the music perfectly complements the beauty of the story.
Like 42, Harriet finally gives an African-American icon their due. Uplifted by a ferociously compelling performance by Cynthia Erivo, this faith-friendly biopic only deepened my admiration for Harriet Tubman as an American hero.
Outside of Hallmark Channel, murder mysteries don’t get enough love on screen these days, but writer-director Rian Johnson succeeded in putting a unique stamp on such material with an all-star cast and a gleefully twisty narrative with subtle social themes. More please!
3. Soul (2020)
Although I only saw Soul yesterday, its status as top-tier Pixar is doubtless. Exploring deep themes of inspiration and the meaning of life in a way more understandable for adults but still accessible to kids is a feat I would expect only from Pixar.
As deserving as Bong Joon-ho was for Parasite, Sam Mendes should have won not just Best Director for 2019 but possibly for the decade. 1917 is a monumental achievement in filmmaking, an artful, immersive war film that seems designed to cater to my love of tracking shots.
Just like La La Land a few years ago, I walked away from last year’s Little Women with a rare glow that few films impart. The acting, the scenery, the period detail, the literary message of encouragement that spoke to me personally, the blend of modern and traditional sensibilities – Greta Gerwig brought everything together beautifully. Likewise, I enjoyed the 1994 version with its equally likable leads and more linear storyline, which is why I’m grouping them together. I never thought of Little Women as a story for me, but I love it dearly now.
So ends another year of movie-watching as another one begins. Keeping with tradition, here are some unofficial awards for the List-Worthy movies, including a few Runners-up as well.
Best opening scene: Furious 7
Best final scene: 1917 (considering it’s the whole last third of the film)
Tomorrow I plan to post my updated Top 365 Movie List, incorporating the additions listed above. I do want to say a special thanks to all readers, likers, followers, commenters, and anyone who happens upon this humble blog of mine. I have no delusions of influence when it comes to blogging. It’s just a fun way of translating my love of movies and poetry to the digital word, and the fact that anyone cares to read those words always brings a smile to my face. Thank you, and I hope and pray for the best for all of us in the new year!
It’s hard to believe that National/Global Poetry Writing Month is already over. It’s always been a great opportunity for creativity and to catch up on my backlog of films to review, but it’s a relief to finish. It’s been a struggle sometimes fitting in time to write amid work and school obligations. (I actually started a college class this month, so that maybe wasn’t the best timing.) Nevertheless, as with past years, I feel an immense sense of satisfaction, having kept up with a poem and movie review a day.
Thank you to the NaPoWriMo website for the daily prompts and to everyone who read, liked, followed, and commented along the way, which helped encourage me to keep going. For anyone who missed a day, here’s a full recap of April’s NaPoWriMo posts:
I’ll continue posting my poem/reviews, of course, but on a much more relaxed schedule. And NaPoWriMo 2021 is only eleven months away now! Here’s hoping the world will be in a better place the next time it rolls around. Thank you again to all readers; stay safe!
Wow, what a year it has been! I usually post my year-end song list in January, but between the passing of my dad and the coronavirus pandemic, things have been rather hectic. Perhaps it’s just the comparison with this year so far, but 2019 was largely a really good year, for me at least, and the music released was a big part of that. I was finally able to become a web developer and get a desk job, and that allowed me to listen to a whole slew of songs and artists I might never have stumbled upon otherwise. And naturally, I had to compile a Top Twelve list of my favorites.
In past years, there were certain artists I discovered that defined the year and became instant favorites (Florence and the Machine in 2016, Kygo in 2017, Aurora and Chvrches in 2018), but 2019 revealed artist after artist that I was thrilled to discover for the first time: Saint Motel, September, Kensington, Kaiser Chiefs, Sigala, The Naked and Famous, TWRP, Skyhill, Foxes, The Protomen, Sigma, Parade of Lights, and the list goes on. Fans of those artists may wonder what rock I’ve been under, but I’m certainly glad to join their ranks. While not all of these released new albums, there was still so much good music last year, and so little of it is actually on the radio. I can only shake my head over Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” getting the most attention.
As always, my list below is strictly my personal choices based on my personal tastes. There are plenty of other good songs out there for other tastes, so I wanted to recommend Chris’s list at Movies and Songs 365 as an alternate Top 10. I was particularly hard-pressed to pare down my honorable mentions, and in the end, I still ended up with over 60. Forgive me for the length, but it could have been longer, and they all deserve mention. And no doubt, I’ll likely discover some songs in the next year that slipped through the cracks and will make me wish I could include them here. I certainly wish I could have highlighted TWRP’s “Starlight Brigade” or Metric’s “Now or Never Now” on last year’s song list.
Without further ado, let the Top 12 countdown of 2019 songs commence!
“Tokyo” – White Lies
I agonized over what should be #12 for a long time, because there were at least eight songs that might as well have been a tie. In the end, with the assistance of my tie-breaking VC, I decided to go with the instant earworm of “Tokyo.” The chorus is one of those instantly-recognizable tunes that most bands wish they could conjure, and it’s an ethereal delight. Special mention also for their “Hurt My Heart.”
“Something Unreal” – The Script
In addition to discovering artists new to me, I also realized how much I had underrated bands I’d known for years. The Script’s new album made me recognize how good the Scottish band can be, and the melodic, pulsing beat of “Something Unreal” might be my favorite song of theirs. Special mention for “The Hurt Game,” “Same Time”, and “Hot Summer Nights.”
“It Only Gets Better” – WILD
I always like to highlight lesser-known bands with songs that deserve more attention, the kind that never see airplay and can only be found by those tooling around YouTube. WILD doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page, but boy, do they deserve one and so much more. “It Only Gets Better” is a joyous, indie, sing-along type of song that never gets old, guaranteed to raise the spirits of those lucky enough to stumble upon it.
“In Case You Don’t Live Forever” – Ben Platt
Not many songs can bring me close to tears, but this one did. Releasing his first solo album after the Tony-winning success of Dear Evan Hansen, Ben Platt delivered a haunting ballad expressing a child’s appreciation for a parent, which all too often is realized too late. With the loss of my dad fresh in my mind, this song strokes the deepest feelings of grief and love and is beautiful to boot. Special mention for “Bad Habit” and “Grow As We Go.”
“Timebomb” – Walk the Moon
And Walk the Moon returns to the year-end song list, last placing #2 back in 2017! Ever since “Shut Up and Dance,” they’ve been among my favorite bands, and this is a fine addition to the quartet’s stellar record of radio bangers. Special mention for “Eat Your Heart Out” and “If I Lose You.”
“Almost (Sweet Music)” – Hozier
It took a while, but I’ve come to appreciate Hozier’s distinct vocals and lyrical ingenuity. “Almost” or “Sweet Music” has such a lilting joy and a smooth mellifluence that it feels like a song that will be enjoyed for years to come. Special mention for “Dinner and Diatribes,” “Movement,” and “Would That I.”
“What Lies Ahead” – Kensington
The Dutch band Kensington was one of the best discoveries I made last year, and I was delighted when they then released new music for their brand new fan. Perhaps not as good as “Do I Ever” or “Slicer,” but “What Lies Ahead” is a great example of their special brand of catchy semi-hard rock that I’ve come to love. Special mention for “Bats” and “Uncharted.”
“Save Me” – Saint Motel
Of all the bands I was lucky enough to discover last year, I think Saint Motel is my favorite. Nearly every single song of theirs is consistently lovely, inventive, memorable, invigorating, haunting, or some combination of all five. To my mind, they’re like a modern-day version of The Beatles. And “Save Me” is a smooth, let-your-eyes-roll-back-in-your-head kind of song, with a strangely nostalgic aura. How did I not hear of them sooner?! Special mention for “Diane Mozart,” “Van Horn,” and “Old Soul.”
“Fireman and Dancer” – Royal Republic
Walk the Moon doesn’t corner the market on bangers; Royal Republic may be their steepest competition. This infectiously dance-worthy jam is a should-be hit with an unabashedly ‘80s aesthetic. How is this not all over the radio? Special mention for “Boomerang” and “Anna-Leigh.”
“Wild Roses” – Of Monsters and Men
Of Monsters and Men is another band that has only grown in my estimation the more I hear of them. The Icelandic group’s latest album is a bit more pop-ish than their usual folk style, but that’s hardly a bad thing when it produces songs like this. “Wild Roses” is an immersive earworm, at once soothing and energizing. Put simply, it makes my ears very happy. Special mention for “Wars” and “Alligator.”
“The Upside” – Lindsey Stirling
In addition to Walk the Moon, Lindsey Stirling has also graced a past list, snagging #4 back in 2016. Not to be confused with the Bryan Cranston/Kevin Hart movie of the same name last year, “The Upside” is Lindsey’s best song in years. With its exuberant lilting energy, it shows how rip-roaring a violin can be in the hands of the right person. Although she teamed with Elle King for vocals, I prefer the pure instrumental track for sheer audio euphoria. Special mention for “Darkside,” “Sleepwalking,” “Between Twilight,” and the whole Artemis album.
“Never Be the Same” – Tritonal, feat. Rosie Darling
When I heard “The Upside,” I was convinced it would be my #1 by the end of the year, but no, there can only be one. And this is the one! “Never Be the Same” isn’t your typical progressive house song. No, this is the culmination of progressive house at its best. With possibly the finest drop I’ve ever heard, this song fills me with a primal, head-banging rhapsody that makes me worry about dain bramage afterward. It is my favorite song of 2019. Special mention for “Little by Little,” “Bloom,” and “Shivohum.”
And those are my Top Twelve Songs of 2019! What did you think? Solid picks or totally off-base? Even with all the music I’ve found in the last year, I’m sure I’ve only scratched the surface of what’s out there. Let me know your favorites in a comment and maybe I’ll find a new favorite too!
As promised above, I’ll now list my many, many runners-up, continuing the ranking in descending order (#13, #14, etc.), and if any of these are unfamiliar, I’d love for you to give them a listen. Songs and artists are only obscure until they get enough fans, and these deserve fans. 😊
“Don’t Throw Out My Legos” and “Karma” – AJR
“It’s Mine,” “Without You,” “Stronger,” and “Dying for You” – Mystery Skulls
“Chances”, “Sober”, and “Lies” – Ashton Love
“Back in My Body,” “Love You for a Long Time”, and “Fallingwater” – Maggie Rogers
“Nostalgic,” “Find Someone,” “Where You Are,” and “Problems” – Arizona
“Slide Away” – Miley Cyrus
“I Say No” – new song from Heathers musical
“Die Young” – Sheppard
“The River”, “The Seed”, and “Dance on the Moon” – Aurora
“Safe Place” – Pelago, feat. Maximus
“Golden Oldies,” “Lucky Shirt,” “Northern Holiday,” “Wait,” and the whole Duck album – Kaiser Chiefs
“Think About You” (feat. Valerie Broussard) and “Carry On” (feat. Rita Ora) – Kygo
“Lion” – Hearts & Colors
“Longshot” – Catfish and the Bottlemen
“Bismarck” and “Fields of Verdun” – Sabaton
“555” – Jimmy Eat World
“Orphans” and “Arabesque” – Coldplay
“Black Gold” – Editors
“Inferno” and “Nexus” – Hiroyuki Sawano (from the film Promare)
“Fences,” “Feels Like,” and “Home” – Vicetone
“Into the Unknown,” “Some Things Never Change,” and “Show Yourself” – Frozen II
“Wish You Well” – Sigala, Becky Hill
“I Get No Joy” – Jade Bird
“Free to Go” – Seeb, feat. Highasakite
“The Bones” – Maren Morris, with Hozier
“So Am I”, “Torn”, and “Freaking Me Out” – Ava Max
“Talk” – Two-Door Cinema Club
“So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth,” “4ÆM,” and “Violence” – Grimes
“Love Me” – Felix Cartal & Lights
“In Degrees” – Foals
“The Best” and “California Halo Blue” – AWOLNATION
“Nomad” – Jeremy Renner
“Heavenly” – Cigarettes After Sex
“Heart upon My Sleeve” (feat. Imagine Dragons) and “Never Leave Me” (feat. Joe Janiak) – Avicii
“Paper Rings” and “Cornelia Street” – Taylor Swift
“Hidden Potential” – TWRP
“The Way I Feel” and “Love Too Much” – Keane
“You Mean the World to Me” and “Castles” – Freya Ridings
“Hurt People” – Gryffin, with Aloe Blacc
“Sad Forever” – Lauv
“Missed Connection” – The Head and the Heart
“Fight,” “Touch Your Body,” and “Mermaids” – Deamn
“LPs” – Jeffrey Lewis & the Voltage
“Walk Me Home” – P!nk
“One Day” – Sam Feldt and Yves V
“Mama” – Clean Bandit, feat. Ellie Goulding
“Dear Future Self (Hands Up)” – Fall Out Boy, feat. Wyclef Jean
“Globetrotter” – Ludvigsson
“Start Stoppin’” and “I Got You” – The O’Jays
“Stand Up” – Cynthia Erivo (from the film Harriet)
“Death Stranding” – Chvrches
“mother tongue” – Bring Me the Horizon
“Coming Home” – Adon, Nicolas Haelg, Sam Halabi
“Sucker” – Jonas Brothers
“Your Light” – The Big Moon
“Juice” – Lizzo
“Gloryhammer” – Gloryhammer
“Never Really Over” – Katy Perry
“Forgotten Kids” – Callum Pitt
“I Dare You” – The Regrettes
“Living in the Future”, “Forgot Your Name,” and “Tears in Her Eyes” – Mini Mansions
“Midas” – Skott
“Seventeen” – Sharon Van Etten
“Alive” – Dabin, feat. RUNN
“Dylan Thomas” by Better Oblivion Community Center
Despite everything going on with COVID-19, let’s hope 2020 will offer another year of great music!
And to end this musical extravaganza, like in past years, I wanted to provide a small tribute to all the musical artists lost in the last year, including Michel Legrand, Peter Tork of The Monkees, Andy Anderson of The Cure, Doug Sandom of The Who, Nipsey Hussle, Doris Day, Ian Gibbons of The Kinks, Jeff Fenholt, Eddie Money, Ric Ocasek of The Cars, Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Naylor of The Crickets, Marie Fredriksson of Roxette, Kelly Fraser, Jack Sheldon, and so many others. Thank you for the music, and may you all rest in peace.
I know it’s over a month late, but now that I’ve finally finished reviewing last year’s Best Picture nominations, I figured that a good old-fashioned ranking was in order. While much of 2019 cinema didn’t stand out very much, it offered a surprisingly strong group of nominees, the best since 2016 I’d say. Even if some of them were not for me, several I loved, so I can’t wait to see what 2020 has in store (whenever this whole virus situation allows the movie industry to return).
Quentin Tarantino’s love letter to classic Hollywood was too rambling for its own good, with an over-the-top bloody conclusion that left a bad taste in my mouth.
This real-life tale of two men and the expectation-challenging car they created hits most of the right feel-good notes; considering I’m not into racing films, it did its genre proud.
I love tracking shots, so I was destined to love this film. Boasting both a compelling story and bravura direction, it’s a genuinely awesome feat of film-making.
What did you think of the Oscar nominees? Anyone else wish Avengers: Endgame had snagged a nomination? Feel free to comment with your thoughts!
Another year, another Blindspot series! Once again, I tried to find a balance between movies that I’ve been meaning to see and a mixture of years, genres, and critical acclaim. Comedies are the most represented genre, but there’s also a musical, a film noir, an anime, a foreign zombie film, and a heavy sci-fi. I can’t wait to see what I think of these films as I watch and review one a month, but here’s hoping 2020’s Blindspots will be the best group yet!
And, in alphabetical order, the movies are:
Annie Hall (1977)
Double Indemnity (1944)
Fargo (1996)
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2013)
Heathers (1988)
Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
One Cut of the Dead (2017)
Pom Poko (1994)
Primer (2004)
Short Cuts (1993)
What a Way to Go (1964)
What do you think of this selection? Is anyone else tackling their own Blindspot series? Feel free to let me know in the comments!
One aspect of this whole blog experience that I’ve enjoyed is the Blindspot series, which I’ve done for the last three years. Everyone has those films that critics and fans laud, yet you’ve never quite gotten around to seeing them. Picking twelve such films at the beginning of the year and watching one a month is a great way to catch up on movies I keep putting off.
Despite falling behind throughout the year, I finished before the new year began, which is more than I can say for 2018’s picks. It was a nice mix of genres, and since I’m a nut for lists, here is my ranking of my 2019 Blindspots. While none of 2018’s picks dented my Top 365 list, three films from last year’s selection made the cut. The rest were uniformly good, though my bottom two felt lacking, considering their “classic” status. I’ll be posting my Blindspots for 2020 tomorrow but thought I should give a quick retrospective to bring last year’s Blindspot series to a close.
