Amy Wren Watched What? Nov 25-Dec 1
Never follow a Hugh Grant character to a second place. But follow this newsletter to any number of places, because it's time for another week of Amy Wren Watched What?
Heretic (2024) - Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
While talking about this film after the it ended, my wife brought up a great point about why she thought this worked so well. It's because Hugh Grant stays Hugh Grant throughout the film. This is true when he's the courteous host promising Sister Barnes (Yellowjackets' Sophie Thatcher) and Sister Paxton (Chloe East) blueberry pie. And when he's engaging in his whole spiel about monotheism involving Monopoly and music copyrights. And when he's doing very bad things. Through it all he's still the same charming, goofy Hugh Grant type character. Which, quite frankly, makes him really darn terrifying, and a good foil for the resolute Thatcher and the more timid but nonetheless persistent East. I don't have answers about what hell is like, or if it exists, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's getting stuck in the horror maze of a guy who is, like, really into Jonathan Chait.
Gone with the Wind (1939) - Directed by Victor Fleming
Okay...so...
This is a supreme work of filmmaking that uses every tool of the trade to tell its story very well. It’s got two complicated, often unlikable characters that bounce off each other in a fascinating way. Shot after shot are so very iconic and it’s got that famous (almost) last line that frankly, you damn well know. All of this is true.
But what's also true is that this film is an unapologetic piece of Lost Cause Mythology. Or rather, that is the heart of the story and it is not subverted or examined in any way. The way it approaches race relations, reconstruction, and even classism amongst the whites of Georgia is inescapable and of its time.
There is no either/or here. The first part is inextricably linked to the second part to an elemental degree. Any attempt to wrestle with this films legacy and impact and anything else must understand that or its not worth discussing.
Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983) - Directed by Tsui Hark
This movie was only about 90 minutes long, but holy crap did it pack a whole lot into those minutes. At its core this is a simple story. Evil is about to be be unleashed, and the forces of good have go to a place to find something to stop it before they run out of time. But getting there isn't so simple, and involves a whole lot of wild stuff happening. And boy howdy does it happen, at times in a chaotic way rarely found this side of a Looney Tunes short. It's more fun than Gone with the Wind, and somewhat more accurate with the history of its setting as well.
The Green Knight (2021) - Directed by David Lowery
Is this a new holiday classic? I mean, it makes a good case for it. It set's at Christmastime (the opening of the film and its climax takes place on two successive Christmases). There's weird folks who set up moral lessons, a ghost, and critters. What else do you need? Dev Patel being great at Gawain the not quite ready for primetime knight? Because great news!
I'm glad I got a chance to watch this in theaters, as its a sumptuous visual feast of a film. It evokes a whole lot of classic films, including Barry Lyndon, which like this film used natural lighting to great effect. The film doesn't always move at a steady pace, and it at times wears its influences too obviously. But it's still a wonderful and often humorous trek through the front lines of the eternal conflict between civilization and nature.
Other Films Watched
The Big Chill (1983) - Directed by Lawrence Kasdan
A movie by, for, and starring Boomers with a Boomer friendly soundtrack that nevertheless works pretty well.
eXistenZ (1999) - Directed by David Cronenberg
At times compelling, disgusting, and silly, sometimes all three at once. But it never really comes together in a way to make it anything more than fitfully entertaining.
Stagecoach (1939) - Directed by John Ford
Yep, those horizons tended to the the top or the bottom of the screen. Yep, this was a pretty darn interesting film. Related: holy crap, did Thomas Mitchell have a heck of a 1939, or what?
Amy Wren Watched What? is posted every Tuesday. Now that we are back from the holidays, stay tuned for an all new regular edition of the Newsletter on Thursday!
Do you enjoy reading my newsletter, or watching my videos? Do you want me to do this more often? Good news, there's a way to better guarantee that!
Become a member of the Amy Wren Creative Network on Patreon! Get exclusive content, behind the scenes access, special credits on videos, and access to our very own Discord!
