Favorite First-Time Watches of November 2024
Another month gone. Another slate of films to recommend! Five to recommend from this month of movie watching.
One from the Heart (1982) – Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola’s dream-style musical was a flop upon release. It seems like it’s going through a bit of a reappraisal with the release of his disastrous passion project Megalopolis. One from the Heart was his direct follow-up to his massive endeavor Apocalypse Now.
A married couple of five years living in Vegas has a falling out as they both flock to new lovers over the course of a night.
The late great Terri Garr and Frederic Forrest play the married couple with supporting performances from Raul Julia, Nastassja Kinski, and Harry Dean Stanton.
The film plays like a musical. Terri and Frederic, each with their new lovers, have a dream-like ballet night of passion. At the heart of the film is a message about how fantasy is usually better left a fantasy.
Our fantasies are great because they play in our heads like a beautifully choreographed ballet. When you begin to act on them, you lose the control you have over the fantasy. In the end, you’ll always be left disappointed. Stick to the fantasy.
Anora (2024) – Sean Baker
Sean Baker is back with another look at real America. From the far side of LA to Orlando, to Texas, and now to the Big Apple. Baker looks at the side of American life other American filmmakers tend to ignore.
Here Sean is operating on his largest budget and his longest film. A stripper meets a Russian Oligarch’s son and they marry so he can stay in America. You can guess how this goes. Pretty Woman this is not.
Along with Sean’s realistic view of America, this film is bittersweet. That is the case again. Much like his others, this is a very funny film with moments of levity and an ending that will stick with you long after the credits roll.
Mike Madison is amazing. She is the movie. I honestly haven’t been a huge fan of the previous work I’d seen her in, I thought she was always too over-the-top. But she’s pitch-perfect here and worthy of an Oscar.
The People vs. Larry Flint (1996) – Milos Forman
A Biopic of Larry Flynt, the creator of Hustler magazine, and his long-running battle with the American courts regarding censorship and freedom of speech.
Going into this I thought this was going to be a paint-by-numbers biopic, but I should’ve known with Milos at the helm he’d make this so much deeper than one of those.
Not only is Milos’ filmmaking on display here but Woody Harrelson gives a controlled performance.
One that easily could’ve been one note. The same goes for Courtney Love as Larry’s wife Althea.
I didn’t know she had this type of performance inside of her. The film remains annoyingly relevant today.
With so much discussion about sex on screen and what should be shown where. It feels like America is regressing back into a puritanical society. One that Larry fought so hard against and Milos showcased in his film.
Make Way for Tomorrow (1937) – Leo McCarey
Retired married couple Barkley (Victor Moore) and Lucy (Beulah Bondi) struggle through the Great Depression and end up having to sell their house.
Their five children are struggling as well but one son and one daughter can take one of each parent. It’s clear the parents are burdens in their new homes. So the elderly couple have one last outing as they prepare for their future.
Another film is similar to this, except this came out in the 50s. Yasujiro Ozu’s film Tokyo Story from 1953 deals with a married couple whose kids don’t have time for them. The only one to treat them with respect is their widowed Daughter-In-Law.
Both meditative in their own ways. Leo has an even more cynical view of the world and family. The ending really tore my heart out.
I suspect it is now because I am married and would rather live under a bridge with my wife than in a house without her.
Somewhere (2010) – Sofia Coppola
Famous actor Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) recovering from a broken arm spends his time at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles.
Between blankly watching twin strippers, perform their routines in his hotel room and parties, Johnny drifts through his life on autopilot.
His 11-year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) shows up when her Mom has to go out of town for a while.
During their time together, Johnny begins to realize where he wants his priorities to go and what is actually important in life.
At face value, Sofia Coppola’s films could appear shallow. A stylish yet empty film about a father/daughter bonding. Likewise, a stylish ode to late 2000s-Pop Culture where kids steal from their celebrity idols.
Yet, when you dig into her films, they’re deeply layered character studies, none more than Somewhere.
Themes of Men who give nothing in relationships while women give them everything.
Johnny is majorly guilty of, as we are reminded throughout the film as he receives anonymous texts chastising him.
It’s also at depression, and how depression suppresses all emotion in you making you numb.
You just want to lay in bed and do nothing. Johnny is merely existing when Cleo shows up. It’s like Cleo opens his curtains to let the sun in when she shows up.
This was the last Sofia film I had to watch in her filmography and I’m surprised people don’t talk about it more. If you like her films, or even if you don’t, you should check this one out.
