First-Time Viewings (May, 2011)

I'm a bit surprised that I ended up watching more than twenty (new to me) films in May as I felt a bit off all month. I revisited a lot of old favorites thanks to a slew of awesome Blu-rays I got for my birthday, and was on the road part of the month, so I just didn't get around to watching as much as usual.

Of the films I did get around to the best were easily the incredibly moving documentary The Times of Harvey Milk, Chuck Vincent's very funny Jack + Jill, two haunting Japanese Horror films from the sixties (Jigoku and Tokaido Yotsuya kaidan) and three of 2011's best films (Bridesmaids, Everything Must Go and Fast Five). Bridesmaids is one of the funniest and smartest films I have seen in quite awhile and I am a bit obsessed with Kristen Wiig (whom I think is a genius). Everything Must Go is really moving and contains probably my favorite performance of the year courtesy of Will Ferrell. Fast Five is everything a modern action film should be and more, it's a really terrific work and the best of that series.

I also quite enjoyed the shot in Louisville weirdness of the super-rare Invasion of the Girl Snatchers, the fascinating Spanish film Cannibal Man, the first Hatchet film (the sequel, not so much), the pre-code Whipsaw, featuring a smoking Myrna Loy, and The Hangover Part 2 (I'm a big fan of the original and found the new one very funny if not as inspired).

The worst films I watched this past month were the dreadfully dull remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street and Oasis of the Zombies, one of my man Jess Franco's worst films.

Anyway, here is my complete list with my lame star ratings. As usual, consider anything above a three star rating as a recommendation.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) *

Andy Warhol's Factory People ****

Cannibal Man ***1/2

Hatchet ***

Hatchet 2 **

Invasion of the Girl Snatchers ***

Jack n Jill ***1/2

Jigoku (1960) ****1/2

Night of the Skull **1/2

Oasis of the Zombies *1/2

Sugar Hill **1/2

The Funhouse ***

The Times of Harvey Milk *****

Tokaido Yotsuya kaidan ****

Whipsaw ***




2011 Films



Bridesmaids ****1/2

Everything Must Go ****

Fast Five ****1/2

The Hangover Part 2 ***1/2

Thor ***1/2