November 2023 Film Watches

 

Starring Rutina Wesley and LeBaron Foster Thornton, Cierra Glaude’s powerful short film Last Looks was written by Nicholas Ashe, Wesley’s Queen Sugar co-star.

As the sky darkens early in November, my lazier habits come out to play. Although I did not see a single film in the theaters, I checked out several DVDs from my local library aka the last of our human renting experience. 

However, looking back, this wasn’t my favorite film listings of the year, considering the shamefully bad choices made here, primarily a lack of women filmmakers. Not my proudest month despite some great women starring vehicles (Wayne Wang’s dim sum: a little bit of heart remains a treat). Also found a few rare pieces starring one of my favorite actresses Emayatzy Corinealdi. 

November Film Watches

1.) “Kids” (2013) A. V. Rockwell #*+ 8.5/10

2.) “The Dreamer” (2012) A. V. Rockwell #*+ 9/10

3.) “B. L. B.” (2014) A. V. Rockwell #*+ 9/10

4.) “The Kingsman Secret Service” (2017) Matthew Vaughan # 6.5/10

5.) “The Menu” Mark Mylod # 8/10

6.) “Last Looks” (2017) Cierra Glaude #*^ 10/10

7.) “I Knew Her Well” (1965) Antonio Pietrangeli # 10/10

8.) “dim sum: a little bit of heart” (1985) Wayne Wang ^ 10/10

9.) “Floating Weeds” (1959) Yasujirō Ozu #^ 10/10

10.) “Howling” (2012) Yoo Ha #^ 3/10

11.) “Drive My Car” (2021) Ryusuke Hamaguchi #^ 9/10

12.) “Parasite” (2019) Bong Joon-ho ^ 10/10

13.) “Teacher in the Box” (2014) Tanuj Chopra #^ 10/10

14.) “Clap Clap” (2009) Tanuj Chopra #^ 7/10

15.) “Akira’s Hip Hop Shop” (2007) Joseph Doughrity #^ 8/10

16.) “Cordially Invited” (2007) Nicholas Stoller # 5/10

17.) “Addicted” (2014) Bille Woodruff #^ 2/10

18.) “The Silent Treatment” (2012) Martine Jean #*+ 10/10

19.) “Crimson Peak” (2015) Guillermo del Toro # 5.5/10

20.) “A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge” (1985) Jack Sholder 2/10

21.) “Love, Beats, Rhymes” (2017) RZA #^ 7.7/10

22.) “My Salinger Year” (2020) Philippe Falardeau # 6/10

23.) “M3GAN” (2023) Gerard Johnstone # 6/10

24.) “Simple Passion” (2020) Danielle Arbid #* 4/10

25.) “Last Christmas” (2019) Paul Feig # 4/10

26.) “Wise Blood” (1979) John Huston # 2/10

# first time watch

*woman filmmaker

*+Black woman filmmaker

 

*^ nonwhite woman filmmaker

^nonwhite filmmaker

Other notes: list of 26 films: 23 first time watches, 15 films directed/written by nonwhite filmmakers, and 6 films made and/or co-made by women.