Movie Month: September 2017

The Media I've Consumed

September 2017

Pretty slow this month, I'd say. By the time I get home from work, I'm pretty well exhausted and re-watching TV comedies on Netflix at random seems the better choice most evenings. Sometimes, I'm even still working 'til bedtime. Those are the times right now. New responsibilities taking over my former movie-devouring habits. I can't complain though. I've seen, heard, read, and accomplished some goods in my birth month this year. 

Flicks

September 1st-7th

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (RW)
"Baywatch"
"Free Fire"
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (RW)

Okay, so I only half-watched the Harry Potter. My sister-in-law has been staying with us, and she is going through the books (and movies) for the first time. It was on. "Baywatch" sucks. "Free Fire" sort of rules, even if it's pointless, and it tops the list of best use of John Denver in a 2017 movie as of now. And "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" is SO GREAT on a huge screen. I stood and applauded at the end. No joke. 

September 8th - 14th

"Central Intelligence"
"Moonlight" (RW)

Hot Take: "Moonlight" is good but not that good. I was so bored with it this time. I fear it's a one-and-done type for me, a guy who saw its value and beauty but never totally went nuts for it anyway. "La La Land" should've won. "Central Intelligence" was okay. It made me sort of like Kevin Hart and The Rock. I wish they were both a bit more down to earth in ALL of their work.

September 15th-21st

"The Lost City of Z"
"Mrs. Doubtfire" (RW)
"Moana"

"The Lost City of Z" is badass. What a strange release scenario this thing got. I didn't mind the slow pacing and found it to be a highly effective biopic that plays less like a biopic and more like slow-burning prestige picture that would've won all the Oscars in 1980-something. "Moana" sagged in the middle, but the songs are great and Disney has continued its female empowerment series with a great protagonist. The makeover scene in "Mrs. Doubtfire" is still one of the best things ever put on film. The rest of the movie is a mixture of foolish characterization and plotting that somehow still makes me cry like a baby at the end every single time. 

September 22nd - 30th

"IT"

"mother!"

Honestly, two of the best movies of the year. Reviews of both in one here. 

TV

HBO and David Simon and Co. have come back together with "The Deuce," a character study revolving around sex workers and the budding porn industry in midtown Manhattan circa the early 70s. Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Franco (playing twin brothers) just kill in this thing, and it is damn near perfect.

Amanda and I are about half-way through Jason Bateman's "Ozark," which I would describe as a Coen Brothers movie without the wit. Not a bad thing necessarily but a bit simplistic. We also just tried another Netflix series, the comedy "Friends from College." A home run two episodes in. We mostly just re-watch episodes of "Cheers," "Friends," and "Arrested Development" and pass out in the living room. 

Tunes

So, I've been playing all kinds of random stuff in my classroom as my kids enter the room. Some great 80s stuff from "The Cure" in there. Also, some randoms that simply just popped in my head. Check out my September 2017 playlist.

Reads

Finished some good YA stuff in September. Gary Paulsen's tribute to those suffering from breast cancer and how good friends can come at any age and any time, "Notes from the Dog." Also, I really dug Mike Lupica's "QB1," even if it is essentially "Friday Night Lights" lite. All my classes finished up their reading of "The Outsiders," which never gets old. I'm also deep into my study of Eric Jensen's books on poverty and education. Check out my classroom blog for more on what I read. 

Until next month...