I’ll give the MOTW title to this week’s number 2, given that Casablanca already holds it #system.
Casablanca (1942): I didn’t really review Casablanca last time i saw it in 2019, one of everyone’s favourite movies of all time. Watching it in the cinema for the first time, alongside many people who were watching it for the very first time ever, my thoughts immediately drifted to all the wonderful things I wish I could experience for the first time again. Just the perfect kind of mood for Casablanca, a grand love story of courage and sacrifice, in which the most engaging character is a shady French guy abusing his position of power. For a movie being labelled among the most romantic ever, I’m not so sure it does the intimacy of love justice, although it captures parts of both its whirlwind nature and its stoic resilience. That said, I still got the goosebumps and the teary eyes, so something must be working even after all these years. 9
De humani corporis fabrica (2022): Basically Gaspar Noe, just a documentary? It sure has that kind of intense vibe, as we explore the otherworldly appearance of the insides of the human body…the factory, as it were. It’s medical drama, social commentary, visual comedy and a trippy voyage all at once, as Lucien Castaing-Taylor Verena Paravel take us on a very unusual cinematic journey. Definitely not for the faint hearted, though the fact that we have such a reaction of revulsion to the things underlying our day-to-day functioning says a lot about our capacity to disassociate. Even if a bit too long for its own good, this is, at the very least, something completely different. 8
L’ultima notte di Amore (2023): Andrea Di Stefano wrote and directed this fancy little crime-thriller that’s exciting enough to watch, though it’s not as taut as it likes to think it is. In modern day Milan, a retiring police officer becomes entangled with the new Italian mafia, i.e. the Chinese mafia, and a routine pick-up turns into a nightmare. While there are some noir elements, Amore has more of a 90s vibe and is elevated by an energetic score by Santi Pulvirenti. The movie doesn’t reach dizzying heights, but proves entertaining to watch. 7
Flamin’ Hot (2023): The biggest surprise about this movie was finding out that Eva Longoria directed it – her feature film debut. It makes for a decent one too, a classic feel-good movie with a more than the usual dose of commercial padding. We find out about the (contested) true story of Richard Montañez, a Mexican maintenance worker who rose through the ranks at Frito Lay, contributing to the creation of their first spicy flavours. It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like, with the usual backdrop of a life of crime alternative and a family to feed. Jesse Garcia makes for a pretty fun watch though, so this is an ok time-filler for your movie comfort food needs. 6
No Hard Feelings (2023): You’d think a breezy, raunchy comedy with JLaw couldn’t really go wrong – and you’d generally be right. Alas, not completely right, because while NHF is somewhat enjoyable, particularly thanks to its two leads, the movie is also annoyingly tame. Yeah, there’s a nude scene featuring an Academy Award winner, but that’s not exactly what gets me going in my advanced years. I really thought there’d be some laugh out loud moments, but there were none, with the added fault that almost all the good scenes had already been spoiled by the trailer. 5
tributary stu 