Stuff I've Been Watching January 2021

The highlight of my January watching has been the experience of working my way through a Criterion Channel selection of films of the French New Wave. Thus far, I have seen five movies directed by Jacques Demy, five movies directed by Eric Rohmer, and one directed by Claude Chabrol. Seeing a group of movies from the same director several days in a row is a great way to get an impression of that person's vision and way of thinking about movies. 

Marnie. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock. 1964. United States. Via the Criterion Channel app. 2 January.

Not Hitchcock's best, by any means, but there are moments of brilliance in here.

 

Lola. Directed by Jacques Demy.  1961. France, italy. Via the Criterion Channel app. 3 January.

Bay of Angels. Directed by Jacques Demy. 1963. France. Via the Criterion Channel app. 3 January.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Directed by Jacques Demy. 1964.  France. Via the Criterion Channel app. 7 January.

The Young Girls of Rochefort. Directed by Jacques Demy. 1967. France. Via the Criterion Channel app. 8 January.

Donkey Skin. Directed by Jacques Demy. 1970. France. Via the Criterion Channel app. 14 January.

I was only vaguely aware of Jacques Demy until recently. I thought that the Young Girls of Rochefort was excellent. Such a fun picture.

 

Evil. Season 2. 2021. United States. Via the Paramount+ app. 9 January.

This show come from two of the best writers working in television today: Robert and Michelle King. Smart and engaging.

 

Survivor. Season 41. 2021. Via the Paramount + app. With Monika. 14 January.

Probably not the best thing on television now, but I liked this show more than I thought I would. 

Suzanne’s Career. Directed by Eric Rohmer. 1963. France. Via the Criterion Channel. 14 January.

La Collectionneuse. Directed by Eric Rohmer. 1967. France. Via the Criterion Channel app. 15 January.

My Night at Maud’s. Directed by Eric Rohmer. 1969. France. Via the Criterion Channel app. 21 January.

Claire’s Knee. Directed by Eric Rohmer. 1970. France. Via the Criterion Channel app. 28 January

Love in the Afternoon. Directed by Eric Rohmer. 1972. France. 29 January.

Eric Rohmer was the master of what has come to called the moral tale. There is an amazing degree of subtlety and sophistication in these movies.

Le Beau Serge. directed by Claude Chabrol. 1958. France. Via the Criterion Channel app. 30 January.

Chabrol was another director whose movies I had never seen until recently. I started watching Les Cousins last night, together they make for a great pair of movies to be watched back to back.

 

Station Eleven. 2021. Via the HBO Max app. 14 January. 

I read the book and watched the miniseries at about the same time and both are good. A post pandemic story that played out in ways very different than our current pandemic. Over at LitHub, Emily Temple has a good essay about this story; she says, "don't worry, it's not really a pandemic story."

What About Me. Directed by Rachel. Amodeo. 1993. United States. Via the Criterion Channel app. 24 January.

A low budget high-class movie set in New York's East Village when it was much less fashionable and more affordable.

 

Roberto Clemente. American Experience. Via the PBS app. 26 January.

From the PBS website: "Roberto Clemente is an in-depth look at an exceptional baseball player and committed humanitarian who challenged racial discrimination to become baseball's first Latino superstar. Featuring interviews with Pulitzer Prize-winning authors David Maraniss and George F. Will; Clemente's wife Vera; Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda; and former teammates, the documentary presents an intimate and revealing portrait of a man whose passion and grace made him a legend."

 

All Creatures Great and Small. Season 2. 2022. United Kingdom. Via the PBS app. with Monika. 26 January.

OK. I will admit that every episode features an animal near death that, through the hard work of the show's veterinarians, is perfectly happy by the end of the episode. However, this show has heart and my wife and I enjoy it.