100 New Movies

This year, I am finishing off one of my personal projects: 100 New Movies (and some tv shows). Originally this started off as a something to expand my knowledge in classic films. I had started thinking about this idea since the end of 2018 and finally starting to crack down on February 5th (my bday) of 2019. Now, almost 7 (six and change) years later, i've watched close to 600+ new movies. While it was fun (and trust me I leave this with films I know I love deeply and equally films I know I hate deeply), I really want to create more than I consume. So, here is the full recap of my top 10 and I hope this extra breakdown of each film leaves you with a recommendation or two!

FULL VIDEO RECAP

TRAILER (if you wish to watch a shorter version)

MY TOP TEN

CONCLAVE

I was hesitant to watch this movie because it was close to the end of year and mentally, I was tapped out for watching anything new. Even though it ended up making my top ten, I was surely surprised just how much I loved it. I went in knowing not a lot only that Ralph Finneas and our lord and savior Stanley Tucci. 

The message and production design, to me, beat everything i usually lean towards in a movie. The message was that of trusting yourself and knowing that who you are is truly enough. Without any spoilers I was shocked about the twists and turns (and the ending!!). it truly surprised me how many people didn’t agree or didn’t like this but it seemed like as a priest/religious figure of that stature would have to think about all sides of life. The production design was beautiful. It was solid, clean, almost sanitary in its approach. I ended up watching a behind the scenes video of how the production design crew had created each scene and can’t un-think about how they recreated the Sistine Chapel. All that to say, this was such a stark contrast of a movie in a very politically heavy time (and I loved every minute of it). 

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO

this movie was on my tbw (to be watched) list for the longest time. Since movies are always in rotation from one platform to another, it finally landed in one I had. The whole premise of this movie was wild but somehow I really couldn’t stop thinking about it. From the London setting, to the back and forth timelines interlacing, to the lighting design, everything felt deliberate and tight.

When the moment I started watching it, I knew it would be in my top 10 just from cinematography alone. Films that feel like a dance (or push/pull theory) always have me in their pockets from the start. I tend to describe this movie as heavy, not so much in topics, but in how the directors handed you this film and whispered "good luck". Trying to navigate this film was the ahh moment for me. Rewatching it a few times it sunk in that this film wasn't like most i've watched especially in the horror genre. Overall, this film wasn't just about getting scared or watching something fearful. For me it was the quick editing, the color grading, the passion Eloise had for escaping a long-unfulfilled pattern. If you want to watch more bts of this film after watching, here's a few and here's some more.

THE BIRDCAGE

I adored this movie. From the quick whims, the soft and very 90's Miami color palette, to the message of not changing who you are just because you wish for a normality. I originally picked this movie years ago going through HBO and saw its bright colors (one of those don't trust a book by its cover moments) and just clicked saved. I had finally narrowed down my tbw list on HBO and was like you know what, yeah let's watch this. I didn't know Robin Williams was in nor did I know anything about it.

There's not too much to say as this film was one of those that just was film that I loved through and through. It was light and cheerful (and Agador played by Hank Azaria was my favorite bits of the film) but had something that everyone could watch. Down to the wire, it showed no matter what your family you came from, no matter what you believe, love is love and at the end of the day, we are all human and trying to figure out life together.

STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

Growing up, I was surrounded by all kinds of music. My family didn't have a particular genre or go to artists so I adapted from an early age to enjoy music for what it was. One of those groups were NWA (my cousins listened to them and watched all the Ice Cube movies). I didn't realize I had saved this movie to watch until this year. I throughly enjoyed this movie and how much each actor truly resembled the group members they played.

It was thrilling and kept me locked in but also had a bit of nostalgia attached to it. NWA had shaped so much of how music is recorded, made, and even listened to now. But I never understood their impact of inviting others into the room (i.e. Snoop Dog and Tupac) as their careers grew. I always knew I would love this movie and it didn't disappoint.

BELFAST

THE CINEMATOGRAPHY OF THIS FILM. I think I have a liking for films I know little/nothing about because this was another film in that category. Belfast is a quieter movie about a family trying to surviving uprisings in Belfast, Ireland in the lat 1960s. Not only was this a amazingly directed film, it stood out to me because it was quiet. I don't remember high budget advertising. I don't remember hearing too much commotion about when it hit theaters. I loved that aspect of it. In this film, both Judy Dench (one of my favorite movies of all times is Philomena) and Caitriona Balfe (I am an Outlander girlie through and through) star.

Family and Heritage are the underlying topics in this film. Being from a tight-knit family, nothing goes unseen and everyone knows everything (whether you want them too or not). Also being from a family that fought their way to were they are now, it really stung when Caitriona Balfe's character was talking about leaving and what repercussions would do when they left Belfast.

It's sad and unfair that people are so unjust to others. This film kept solidifying this for me and was like everyone needs to see this at least once since it has themes that keep reoccurring even now. It begs us to see that these headlines and political distress is something people before us have gone through again and again--and we are going to get through it once more. I highly suggest this film if you are someone who loves beautifully shot films with relevant topics.

HOUSE OF THE DRAGON (TV SHOW)

I was hooked by the idea this show was being made since  I grew up watching Game of Thrones and the stories that made up that show. Hearing about how Aria was inspired by Reynera and Alicent in the later half of the seasons was cool to connect almost 10 years later. This show is one of those that those who get, get it. Those that don’t, don’t. But not to put you off from watching this—it’s a show placed 172 years before game of thrones so you're free to make judgement which is better or which whether its worth the watch. 

This show felt like something I could sink my teeth into and not focus on the world. An focused on watching only an hour each week and it really helped expand the story. House of the Dragon stood out with the vast contradictions of freedom, legacy and remaining true to those around you. I don't normally gravitate towards medieval/fantasy dramas as much as I don't really know what I like and what I don't from those types of films/movies. But I was excited to catch this one especially since it's airing current and season3 is in production.

Overall, I would say season 1 was WORTH IT. It was cinematically beautiful and didn't feel like the props or wigs or costumes were out of budget or fake. It's only a 10 episode season so you either binge or do weekly watches. Season 2 felt big picture but didn't feel as impactful (hoping it was a good set up for the next season).

ONE DAY (TV SHOW)

When I say I was crying non-stop days after this show, I mean it. It's based off the book, One Day by David Nicholls and was adapted earlier in 2011 with Anne Hathaway. While I didn't watch that film, it was impactful by it being part movie, part series (being a limited series). In this film, Emma and Dexter meet in college and have a one night stand. Based off their on-going friendship within 20 years, it follows them both as they grow up and life brings them in different seasons. It felt special and felt almost like we moved past this as a collective too quickly. Maybe that may be me being overly excited but I honestly think its worth your time.

I loved how each episode was a year and the editing felt soft, approachable. It didn't feel like it had an age range or categorized as young adult--it had something for everyone (and for each gender/non-binary person too). I do have to warn though I was sadder with this one than most shows after this since it begged you to look at the choices you make and the impact they have whether you realize it or not. It was a deep yet tangible love story and sometimes we all need a good cry.

LA CHIMERA

If you are someone that loves the way older films (especially those made in the 1980's and 1990's), this film was familiar and held a shorter lesson. During this film, La Chimera was based off wanting something and the lengths you'd go to find a version, your version, of it. This film was in Italian *so heads up* if you want don't want to watch with subtitles. The trailer doesn't really depict the whole movie and I knew that going into the film.

You could classify this film on the lighter side of film noir since it carried themes of darker topics such as the past and present and memory vs grief. I honestly felt this film was one I would watch on summer days alongside Call Me By Your Name and Taste of Things. Here is a video that really helped me understand more after watching. There's something indescribable about this film so without giving away too much, I'll leave you with this: La Chimera held so much supernatural nostalgia and handled things like color grading and writing really well with location and prop designs.

MILLERS GIRL

I know this was controversial from the start. I wanted to watch it because movies just like Conclave and Joker: Folie a Deux were highly criticized for their themes or approach. It took me by surprise just how good of a film this was. The premise of this film was that of a talented student who was taken mentorship under a certain teacher that had been known for his relationship out of the classroom. Now did she know this going into whatever you would call their emotional and somewhat physical fling? Yes. Yes she did. But I was taken aback by the writing and how they used intelligence to enforce their points.

Without spoilers, my jaw was on the ground, when the film hit under 40 minutes. This sold it for me and yet was too shook to really process just how Jenna Ortega's character clocked it at the door. It felt slow for most of the film but everything hit all once when the teacher had realized just what he was doing. I even called my friend and was like can you watch this and tell me i'm not losing my mind on something like this because I was jumping up and down with a smile on face like yes girl!!. If you like darker films with strong female characters (and don't mind heavier themes of large age gap within relationships), this film is going leave you either jaw dropped or maybe just reinforce your boundaries.

LIVING

This movie did it for me. I loved every. single. moment. Based off the 1952 melodrama film, Ikiru, it explores the concept of living your life as you wish and making each day meaningful while you still can. I wanted to watch this film last year but glad I watched it when I did. It was filmed cinematically (yes, this is very important to me as you can tell if you've read this far), soft, quaint, big in approach, and valuable.

It had made me look at life and made me realize just how much I was missing out on because i've become too scared and thought too much on things that didn't matter. I didn't mean to connect this project with this film but it made me wake up a version of myself that felt like I was missing. It's simple yet straight on point of seeing life as limited and valuable and that we have a call to action to continually find things in life that inspire us (making a difference not only in our world but have a strong impact on those around us).

Mr. Williams had become aware of his medical diagnosis from the start of the film and I instantly could feel shift in how they directed the audience to just how far he got into life without breaking the pattern of wake up, work, sleep, wake up, work. I appreciated how they didn't write Mr. Williams to be a character that accepted this diagnosis and had hope that he could still have time to change things around him making new friends, having new experiences, and fixing up his community. The characters didn't understand why he was so persistent as he was but it help elevate the narrative that Mr. Willams didn't care as much to be perceived wrongly. Mainly this film had deepened the feeling of its okay for things to change but its your mindset that really signifies the growth.

FIVE THINGS I LEARNED THE PAST FEW YEARS WITH THIS PASSION PROJECT

1. Listening to My Intuition - This past year was a wild ride since most of it I was working on getting back in the swing of life after a bad injury that left me learning to re-walk again. I had spent many months just by myself and it felt right to imagine this project to have a natural end. I wanted to regrow those areas of my life that I saw in the films I loved and wondered just how I can create those creatively.

2. I Hated Most Cult-Classic Films - Now did I watched some films just to say i've watched them? yes. Did that mean I loved them as much as the majority deemed them to be? absolutely not. I was generally surprised by most but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch them alone again.

3. Satisfaction - So much of my life I started projects and never saw them through. I finished levels of my education (high school + college diplomas, etc) and finished events, projects, and proposals for work but never had a art/fun project just for myself. I knew that I needed something bigger to focus on.

4. Not Everything Will Be Worth Your Time - This one was such a hard part to learn (and re-learn). Some movies and shows won't be as you aspected or won't be ones you like. That doesn't mean you should watch them if you don't want to. Yes, there is a sense of curiosity to watching something out of your comfort zone. Yes, there's a big chance you might like it. But not everything (not every movie or show or video) will worth your time.

5. Creatively Holding Yourself Accountable - As an artist, we are our biggest critic and biggest boss when trying to make something. Holding yourself accountable by learning new skills and seeing them through is going to help you in the long run. For me, this project was about learning to understand films and how they work, learning video editing, and getting better at graphic design that was in my own style. If I hadn't stuck with this, I wouldn't have had the knowledge to make beautiful things like these graphic cards.

As I close this project out, I have been hesitant to leave this. I've loved getting to report back and show you what I loved this past year. Now, don't get me wrong, I will continue to watch films and discover new ones I love. I just won't be watching as many. I want to keep thinking and approaching new ways to be creative and enjoy the process while doing it. And it's a huge goal of mine to start diving deeper not only into video (and obviously more photo) for live music, but also to gain real world knowledge in film. Hopefully this opens up new ways working in the industry doing BTS and promotional photography work for films (and who knows, maybe even directing or creative producing a few cool projects) down the line.

So with that said, I've hoped you enjoyed this project, and thank you all for tagging along. It was such a fun and creatively fulfilling 7 years. If you wish to watch previous years head to my instagram page pinned at the top under "100 New Movies".

until next time, jaz 💌