Jam's Film Wrapped: February
Written by Jamilla Philson
February was just as agonizing January, but quicker and quieter. Most of the films I watched last month were due to my newly acquired Criterion Channel account (I know: so cringe, but I really want to expand my knowledge on foreign language films). The rest of the movies I watched in search of nostalgia, comfort, and inspiration for some short films I have in the works. Here are my February watches:
All images courtesy of IMDb
1. Nothing But A Man (1964) Triggers: Abuse/Racism
Medium: Criterion Channel My Rating: ★★★★
I have a deep extensive high priority list on Letterboxd full of the weirdest most random stuff imaginable. Some films I’ve added because someone has recommended them to me, I saw them on TikTok or Substack, or simply because I like the film poster. This film was a combination of all three. Nothing But A Man is a film directed by Michael Roemer and stars Ivan Dixon and Abbey Lincoln. It follows a couple living in the deep south as they navigate their marriage, work, and racism during the 60s. This is a very old movie, but it was very beautiful, yet still heavy and sadly, relevant. Although the director is not Black, I believed he approached Black culture with respect, oftentimes inspired by his own struggles with fleeing Nazi Germany. Roemer’s choice to platform a Black story in 1964 also feels so forward-thinking. In 1993, it was recognized by the Library of Congress and set to be preserved by the United States National Film Registry.
2. The Thing (1982)
Medium: Prime Video My Rating: ★★★★★
I can’t count the amount of times I’ve watched this film. My friend, who is a self proclaimed horror buff, has never seen this film, so it was dire that I rewatched it. First seeing it in a horror film class in college, I was immediately attracted to the insane lighting, frigid isolating shots, and casual confusion this film causes. The Thing is a science fiction film directed by John Carpenter, and it tells the story of a group of American scientists in Antarctica who stumble upon this alien-like creature dubbed“ the Thing.” The Thing assimilates with organisms and imitates life forms. The scientists are led down a rabbit hole of stress and paranoia as they try to figure out who they can trust and more importantly, who“ the Thing” really is. If you love horror, this is the inspo for so many pieces of film today, most notably Stranger Things. It is a fantastic film all around and probably has one of the best endings I have ever experienced.
3. Frances Ha (2012)
Medium: Criterion Channel My Rating: ★★★★
This was part 1 of my research into films that have inspired my current short film project. Frances Ha, directed by Noah Baumbach, starring Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver, follows two best friends in their mid-twenties navigating relationships and what it means to be a“ real” adult in New York City. I first watched this film when I was way too young, probably in high school, when I hadn’t really experienced the world or what our two main protagonists were going through. I used to think this was a boring film because nothing really happens, but I’ve come to realize that that is just real life. As I get closer to these characters’ age, this film starts to feel more like a documentary. One of my favorite lines is when Greta Gerwig is on a date with Adam Driver’s character. She goes to pay for dinner but realizes they only accept credit cards, which she doesn’t have: “I’m so embarrassed. I’m not a real person yet.” Frances Ha is a simple movie, but it’s so heartfelt and special because it shows the dynamics between adult female friendships and how hard it is to grow apart from them as life moves on.
4. Reality Bites (1994)
Medium: Internet Archives My Rating: ★★★★★
Part 2 of my research was rewatching one of my favorite films of all time, my top four even. In my opinion, this could possibly be the best depiction of post-grad life on film to date. Reality Bites, directed by Ben Stiller and starring the absolutely stacked cast of Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Ben Stiller himself, Steve Zahn, and Janeane Garofalo, follows four friends trying to find jobs and their way in the world during the economic recession of the 90s. Winona’s character was valedictorian and a director who is documenting her friends’ lives. It is so shocking to see how nothing has changed from 30 years ago. We are still being exploited and paid pennies for jobs that do not care about us. We are still being screwed over by our government, parents, and horrible economy. We are still feeling the cognitive dissonance of being a sell out for a stable job, recognition, and appreciation. Through the lens of Gen X, this film feels so relatable and nostalgic (even though I wasn’t alive). It feels like what our society is currently reliving yet we have the privilege of developing social media addictions and parasocial relationships. Our experience feels the same yet more distant than what our parents may have experienced, and this film really documented that for us. It’s fun, it’s kitschy, it’s a cult classic, yet it discusses real life issues such as the AIDS/HIV epidemic, homophobia, and being unemployed. It is everything a film like this could need and I adore it entirely.
5. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Medium: Max My Rating: ★★★★★
My last rewatch of February was a well deserved rom-com, Bridget Jones’s Diary. I may have rewatched it because I absolutely adore this era of Hugh Grant, but I also deeply enjoyed the amount of times they used the word“ gherkin.” Directed by Sharon Maguire and starring Renee Zellweger, Colin Firth, and Hugh Grant, it follows a 32-year-old British single woman who lives through her diary and is in a love triangle between her boss and her former neighbor/childhood friend. This film is a rom-com classic and always finds a way to brighten my spirits. It is perfect if you want something not too sappy but light. It definitely has a couple of 2000s-y things that don’t age so well, but what rom-com doesn’t? This was the most perfect and coziest way to end my month of love!
