In yesterday’s newsletter, I wrote about my woeful slacktitude as a moviegoer during the first two-thirds of 2021, and my efforts to make up for it by watching the 10 best films according to the popular review aggregator Metacritic. The idea was to catch myself up in public, and perhaps inspire you to do some catching-up with me. Only a couple of these films have gotten much press, despite critics embracing them so fervently.
Me also woefully behind on movies and have only seen Summer of Soul on this list, so me found this essential reading, and move that "Yer darn tootin'" be added to everyone's movie rating scale from now on.
I liked Summer of Soul (how could you not?) but man, I really hope some of the entire sets get out there, especially the Sly and the Family Stone. And if there's ANY more footage of Sonny Sharock tearing it up, that better get out there as well.
I'm just glad I have a list of films to hunt down at my leisure that isn't composed of Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and other such properties. There may be another source for these, but I trust you guys...so thanks.
Really loved Summer of Soul but started to see a few people mention that the whole “unearthing the footage” aspect is a little questionable, because people had seen some of the footage before on YouTube. Still a great film, and its use of the festival to dive into all manner of social issues of the time reminded me of what made OJ: Made In America so great, but it did temper my love for it slightly.
Was there ever a clear explanation of this whole situation?
thanks for this, it’s great! And a good reminder that I really need to watch QUO VADIS, AIDA?
But I will say, I could not disagree more about Summer of Soul. I love, absolutely love the music. It was the first film my partner went to see together in the movie theater in 15+ months. And as excited as we were walking in, we left even happier.
For all the flak that Questlove has gotten for intercutting the sets, I think he does a much better job handling the music and the performances than someone less steeped in those musical traditions would have done.
And sure I’d absolutely watch the 4 hour or whatever cut with the full sets (or some of them), but I think what the movie manages to accomplish is remarkable and hard to improve on.
Thanks so much for putting 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' on my radar. It was added to Netflix UK just last week and, I'd have probably scanned right past it. I'm used to subject matter like this being treated with a sort of funereal pace and tone, but this movie is propulsive and tense and gripping and heartbreaking, and made with real economy of storytelling. Wow.
This was so good. I hope you do this again this year with the updated list.
Me also woefully behind on movies and have only seen Summer of Soul on this list, so me found this essential reading, and move that "Yer darn tootin'" be added to everyone's movie rating scale from now on.
I liked Summer of Soul (how could you not?) but man, I really hope some of the entire sets get out there, especially the Sly and the Family Stone. And if there's ANY more footage of Sonny Sharock tearing it up, that better get out there as well.
I'm just glad I have a list of films to hunt down at my leisure that isn't composed of Star Wars, Marvel, DC, and other such properties. There may be another source for these, but I trust you guys...so thanks.
Really loved Summer of Soul but started to see a few people mention that the whole “unearthing the footage” aspect is a little questionable, because people had seen some of the footage before on YouTube. Still a great film, and its use of the festival to dive into all manner of social issues of the time reminded me of what made OJ: Made In America so great, but it did temper my love for it slightly.
Was there ever a clear explanation of this whole situation?
thanks for this, it’s great! And a good reminder that I really need to watch QUO VADIS, AIDA?
But I will say, I could not disagree more about Summer of Soul. I love, absolutely love the music. It was the first film my partner went to see together in the movie theater in 15+ months. And as excited as we were walking in, we left even happier.
For all the flak that Questlove has gotten for intercutting the sets, I think he does a much better job handling the music and the performances than someone less steeped in those musical traditions would have done.
And sure I’d absolutely watch the 4 hour or whatever cut with the full sets (or some of them), but I think what the movie manages to accomplish is remarkable and hard to improve on.
Have you watched BEGINNING? One of the best films of the year, currently on MUBI. Hoping it pops on a few lists.
Thanks so much for putting 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' on my radar. It was added to Netflix UK just last week and, I'd have probably scanned right past it. I'm used to subject matter like this being treated with a sort of funereal pace and tone, but this movie is propulsive and tense and gripping and heartbreaking, and made with real economy of storytelling. Wow.