Letterboxd 4 Wednesday - 6/12
Welcome to another edition of “Letterboxd 4 Wednesday”, in where I cover what films are in my top 4 on Letterboxd (mostly notably 4 of my favorite films) and share my mini thoughts on them. Let’s dive into what are those 4 picks for this week.
Before Sunrise (1995), dir. Richard Linklater
If you want to talk about want to get to your romantic feelings, Richard Linklater has gotten you covered. The first installment in his Before Trilogy is one of the greatest romantic stories ever to be told. Capturing the feelings and experience of being in love and sharing that special time with that one person you will remembered for a long time (even if it’s for one day), and this is beautifully shown by the incredible chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, the excellent dialogue, and so many incredible moments that made you believe that you’re seeing two young people falling in love and making you wished that something like this happened to you as well. Truly amazing stuff that you should check it out if you haven’t already.
The Matrix (1999), dir. Lana and Lily Wachowski
At this point, saying The Matrix is groundbreaking is like saying working out is important for your health. Like it’s common knowledge. 25 years latter and there hasn’t been a film that not only delivers on the most mind blowning action and special effects ever to be put on screen that still holds up to this day, but also providing so many compelling and interesting philosophical ideas about identity, choice, and freedom that resonated with our cultures to this day (including a popular reading that connects to the transgender experience), and having aid with strong story and characters that you care about as you dive into the world of the Matrix. Not to mention its endlessly re watchable and you get more out of it the more you revisit it. There’s not much else to say about this film that hasn’t been said already, it’s a classic that transcend beyond the world of art. Enough said.
Stop Making Sense (1984), dir. Jonathan Demme
Without the greatest concert film of all time, and there’s little to no competition for it. What Jonathan Demme and Talking Heads did with this concert film is unmatchable, in terms of the way it’s filmed, it’s shot, it’s staged, it’s implementation of the set list of incredible music (including my favorite song of all time This Must Be The Place), everything about this film is cranked up to a maximum level that really makes you believe that you’re apart of the concert itself. Literally, what else can you want from a concert film like this? Whatever you’re a fan of Talking Heads or, this is a concert film you do not want to miss out in watching, and makes me wish I had a time machine so I can see the concert in person.
Toy Story 2 (1999), dir. John Lasseter, Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Making a sequel to an animated film is one thing, but making a sequel to an animated film that changed the landscape of the medium of animation like the original Toy Story is another. Pixar really took the impossible task with crafting making this sequel (especially you take in consideration of its insane trouble production history), and they managed to do the impossible by making a sequel that’s even better than the first film. It builds upon the foundation the first film so effortlessly and expanding upon it by providing so many strong themes and ideas that gives the series more depth than it already gotten, a perfect balance between humor and drama, fantastic characters old and new, incredible animation, and just all around an amazing experience to watch that both kids and adults can love. Without a doubt one of the best sequels ever made and by far the highlight of the entire Toy Story series.
That’s it for this weeks edition. Hope you enjoy it and stay tune for more exciting stuff coming up on this newsletter, including an in depth review of an album that I love so much (won’t say which album, you will have to tune in to find out).