Things I’ve enjoyed most in the past few months
So these are things I’ve really loved this year, that I can think of off the top of my head.
Movies
Taste of Cherry - A new favorite, one of the best films I’ve ever seen. A perfect film.
Drifting Clouds - I’d say it’s the best Kaurismaki film and it is one of the most entertaining and optimistic things I’ve seen in a while.
The Only Son - Possibly my favorite Ozu. Simple and sweet like all of his films but shorter and more concise, like his silent films.
Another Year - The new Mike Leigh film, it’s GREAT. Definitely my favorite of his.
Close-Up - An incredible movie by one of my favorite directors about a person imitating another great director! Really plays with truth and fiction in an amazing way.
The Browning Version - A really remarkable movie. Years ago I imagine this would have been my favorite. Michael Redgrave is AMAZING in it.
Sisters of the Gion - A heartbreaking Mizoguchi with a pretty melodramatic ending.
Some Like It Hot (I’m a big fan of Billy Wilder, but somehow I had never seen this! I’m watching Sabrina today)
The Front Page - It’s not a great film but man is it strange seeing Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau curse and talk about sex so much in a film. “His Girl Friday” was based on the same play but they’re very, very different films.
Music
Al Green - The Belle Album - Probably his last great record. The production is really unique and it’s somehow both a romance record and the first of his christian albums.
Jane Birkin - Di Doo Dah - I can’t say enough about this album. It’s produced and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier with all the music and words by Serge Gainsbourg. It’s my favorite thing that Serge or Jean-Claude did I think.
Ethiopiques - Vol. 9: Alemayehu Eshete - Mat told me about this not too long ago but it’s great and incredibly distinctive. I’ve never heard another record that sounds like it.
Black Sabbath - Vol. 4 - Not to rave about production again but it’s the best sounding Sabbath record and it’s just so much fun.
Bruce Springsteen - The Promise - Recorded around the time of Darkness on the Edge of Town so if you like that, you’d like this.
Kate Bush - Hounds of Love - I wish I had this record in high school because it would have been something I listened to all the time.
Michael Hurley - Blueberry Wine: The First Songs - Hurley’s first album, I’ve had it for a while but it’s been only recently that I’ve put a lot of time into this one.
Van Morrison - Veedon Fleece - Neil tried to tell me about this one for a while and I didn’t listen until recently, but it’s so great! Definitely dad rock, so proceed with caution if you’re not into that kind of thing.
Roberta Flack - First Take - Far from a perfect record (or even a great one) but her voice is in its prime here and it’s so beautiful hearing her. The version of “Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye” on this album is one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard.
Paul Simon - Paul Simon - I wouldn’t have believed that my most listened to album of the year thus far would be Paul Simon, but it’s really an incredible record. Mother and Child Reunion, Duncan, Armistice Day… there’s so many amazing songs on the album and it’s a great record for summer. I recommend it to everyone.
I’m writing too much bahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
