2020 Blind Spot Series + 2019 Recap

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On a personal level, 2019 has been a struggle, but Blind Spot wise, it was mostly wonderful. My favorite film I saw this year is hands down The Godfather. I went full stan on that. I bought the whole set on blu ray and I watched part one and two several times each. Then I read the book because I wanted to get in the characters' heads more. Cinema Paradiso was also a beautiful film with an ending I don't think I'll ever forget. The worst film I saw was The Godfather Part 3. Andy Garcia was not only rude to John Mulaney at a Lakers game but he's fucking terrible in that movie. 

 So what does Blind Spot 2020 look like? Take a look below, let me know if you've seen any of these. I'm getting a bit ambitious again. I couldn't decide which Judy Garland and Ginger Rogers/Fred Astaire to go with so I'm going to attempt to watch 14 films this year instead of the normal 12. I've done trilogies as one pick before so hopefully this won't be too much handle.

 1) Belle de Jour
2) Reanimator 
3) Malcolm X
4) Dial M for Murder
5) On The Waterfront
6) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
7) Raging Bull
8) Top Hat/Swing Time
9) Jules and Jim
10) Nosferatu
11) Meet Me In St. Louis/Summer Stock
12) Mildred Pierce

 Alternates: Seven Samurai, Jungle Fever, Life of Brian, Velvet Goldmine, The Graduate

 Have you seen any of these? What am I getting myself into?

Comments

  1. SaraDecember 28, 2019 at 2:30 PM

    I loved Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and The Graduate. The entire list is amazing though, with a few I've been dying to see myself, just haven't yet. I haven't even seen The Godfather! Maybe in 2020.

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  2. thevoid99December 28, 2019 at 3:19 PM

    The ones I haven't seen are Reanimator (though I've heard cool things about the film), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Top Hat, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Summer Stock. The rest I have seen and can totally recommend though I think The Graduate is a bit overrated while The Velvet Goldmine is an alright film. BTW, which version of Mildred Pierce are you watching? The film version starring Joan Crawford or the miniseries version starring Kate Winslet and Evan Rachel Wood?

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    1. Brittani BurnhamDecember 28, 2019 at 8:18 PM

      The film version! I did see the mini series with Evan.

      Delete
  3. aceblackblog.December 28, 2019 at 8:38 PM

    I hope you enjoy Dial M For Murder, On The Waterfront, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Raging Bull, Meet Me In St. Louis and Mildred Pierce as much as I did. I rated them all very highly -- you are in for some treats.

    I found Summer Stock and Top Hat merely "ok".

    Have fun!

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    1. Brittani BurnhamDecember 28, 2019 at 10:16 PM

      Thank you! I'll settle for "ok" It's rough to hate a blind spot lol

      Delete
  4. BirgitDecember 28, 2019 at 10:07 PM

    The only ones I haven’t seen a4e #2 & 3. I would choose Top Hat over Swing Time although both are great..I have the whole Astaire/Rogers series on DVD. The sets in Top Hat are over the top especially the Venice scenes. Judy Garland is excellent in both.i live her in Meet Me in St. Louis but I can’t stand Margaret O’Brien who plays the kid. Summer Stock is just ok as a movie but with great dancing although wait til you see poor Judy on the tractor. Right after this film she went to a sanitarium for a few months rest and felt great. When she got out , they needed another number so she did the Come On, Get Happy routine and she is suddenly much slimmer only to return to her weight once the scene ends. Love Mildred Pierce and, once you see that film, look up the Parody from Carol Burnett Called Mildred Fierce. I am not a lover of the Godfather films and I know I am in the minority.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamDecember 28, 2019 at 10:15 PM

      I'll have to look up that parody. I read a lot about Judy in Summer Stuck, I'm really only familiar with the Get Happy song. Looking forward to seeing all of it.

      Delete
    2. BirgitDecember 29, 2019 at 11:01 AM

      It has some great dancing especially one with Judy and Gene and Gene Kelly making use of a newspaper

      Delete
  5. s.December 29, 2019 at 6:25 AM

    I only saw Belle du Jour and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof out of your next picks but I remember liking them, especially the latter!

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamDecember 29, 2019 at 10:41 AM

      That's good to hear! I watched Cat on a Hot Tin Roof last night and enjoyed it. Hopefully I feel the same about Belle du Jour

      Delete
  6. joel65913December 29, 2019 at 11:15 AM

    I’ve seen all of your primary picks except Re-Animator, I’ve seen bits but isn’t my type of movie. If I run across it before you watch it I’ll give it a try to see if we agree on it or not.

    Of your alternates I’ve yet to see Jungle Fever though it’s on my list. Spike Lee films are so variable for me I’ve never been in a big rush to track it down.

    Of those I have seen I LOVE Mildred Pierce!! It was Crawford’s return from a major career slump and she sat out two years waiting for just the right property and couldn’t have chosen better. She’s surrounded by a fantastic ideally cast group of performers. Can’t wait to see what you think!

    In lower case letters I also love Top Hat & Swing Time. Top Hat is considered the better film and the look of it is magnificent but I have a soft spot for Swing Time. It’s my favorite of Fred & Ginger’s pairings.

    I’m in the same place with Meet Me in St. Louis and Summer Stock. St. Louis is a bandbox pretty charmer, the Trolley Song segment is peak Judy, with another brilliant cast and it deserves its classic status but given the choice I’d default to Summer Stock. It’s not nearly as well put together, and as Birgit mentioned the production was fraught with problems, but it has two segments that are among my favorites in any Judy movie-her plaintive performance of Friendly Star and the challenge dance she does with Gene Kelly.

    Then there is a bunch that I really liked without flat out loving:

    Belle de Jour (Catherine Denueve is wonderful), On The Waterfront, Nosferatu, Seven Samurai and The Graduate.

    Cat on a Hot Tin Roof falls into this group too but it’s the closest to being one I love. It’s a big florid Tennessee Williams meller but I’m not quite as fond of it as I am of his Night of the Iguana or Suddenly, Last Summer.

    There’s a trio I admired more than loved:
    Malcolm X which I just watched this year, I’d put it off because of my indifference to Denzel Washington but both he and the film were much better than I expected.

    Dial M for Murder-It’s a good Hitchcock but somewhat stagey and nowhere near my faves of his. But I know people who love it completely.

    Jules and Jim-Another that is venerated by many, it was one of Drew’s from a Fistful of Films very favorites, that underwhelmed me. I’m not saying it wasn’t decent I just don’t understand the slavish devotion.

    Life of Brian and Velvet Goldmine were okay but once was plenty.

    Then there’s Raging Bull. Though I can see the artistry involved and can’t really quibble with De Niro’s Oscar win I hated that movie!

    The Godfather and Part II are incredible films, though out of your picks from last year Casablanca will always remain my favorite, but Part III is a HUGE fall off in quality….and entertainment.

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    1. Brittani BurnhamDecember 31, 2019 at 6:46 AM

      I'm glad to hear you like a lot of what I have in store. Since I've been stuck in a blizzard all weekend I've already managed to watch two of them and enjoyed both.

      That's two for not liking Raging Bull! Intereting lol

      Delete
  7. Sonia CercaDecember 31, 2019 at 3:22 AM

    I’ve seen about half of your picks and I loved most (I hated Raging Bull). Malcolm X is intense but it’s excellent.

    I’m so glad you enjoyed The Godfather :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. KatyDecember 31, 2019 at 4:11 PM

    So excited to see Meet Me In St. Louis / Summer Stock on your list!! I can't really choose one over the other, they're both really charming. Meet Me In St Louis came out when Judy was in "her MGM prime", and Summer Stock was made when she was having more trouble than usual with MGM - but she still did a great job. Looking forward to your Blindspot posts!

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamDecember 31, 2019 at 9:01 PM

      I'm familiar with a few songs from Summer Stock so I'm definitely watching them back to back to compare. I was going to wait until summer for those ones but I think I might do them sooner.

      Delete

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