Another month of watching a film every day! So far I am really enjoying this. It has given me a chance to watch the films that have long been on my watchlist and rewatch some favourites.
This target has really helped me spend less time consuming social media content… instead I watch hours of TV and Film! Letterboxd says I have watched 102 hours of films already this year; I still haven’t completely kicked the habit of doom scrolling but I am getting there.
Anyway, here is every film I watched in February:
01/02/24: Persona ★★★☆☆
So confusing, but good? I loved seeing two women just spending time together – one listening and one talking.
02/02/24: Bride Wars ★★☆☆☆
This one was a rewatch and despite the low rating I do enjoy this film. It is definitely the sort of film that becomes a guilty pleasure, especially for any self-respecting feminist. (I am fundamentally opposed to the fat jokes and patriarchal history of marriage, but I do enjoy drama and prank wars.)
03/02/24: Cléo from 5 to 7 ★★★★★
This is a 90 minute film that follows Cléo from 17:00 to 18:30 as she awaits test results from her doctor. Accidentally or subconsciously, I began this film at 17:00 which maybe enhanced the experience. It was sweet and comforting – definitely my favourite watch of the month.
04/02/24: John Tucker Must Die ★★★☆☆
This was my first time watching this classic noughties film and I think I will be rewatching it in the near future. It was a fun, easy watch that sufficiently entertained me.
05/02/24: Wonka ★★★☆☆
Finally got around to watching Wonka and all I really have to say is that it was okay. Like John Tucker, it was a fun easy watch (though I did skip through some of the songs), but I don’t think I will rewatch it anytime soon.
06/02/24: Last Night in Soho ★★★★☆
OMG I should have watched this sooner. I love pretty much anything about the 60s and this was no exception. Good music, cool costumes and lots of murder!
07/02/24: While You Were Sleeping ★★★★☆
A super cheesy romantic comedy based on a minor miscommunication that could have been solved in one conversation. Still, though, a charming film that I enjoyed watching.
08/02/24: Benjamin ★★★★☆
Somehow I have not heard anyone talk about this film. Truly beautiful film about love – comparable, perhaps, to the book/TV series Normal people.
09/02/24: Bring It On ★★☆☆☆
Slightly ashamed that I watched this and more ashamed that I enjoyed it. Bring it on follows a highschool cheer team as they compete in cheer competitions (and it has a bit of romance). It is honestly a terrible film but still sorta good.
10/02/24: Trans-Europ-Express ★★★☆☆
A film about making a film about drug smuggling. I was very sleepy when I watched this so I am not entirely sure how much of it actually happened and how much I imagined but I think I can safely say this was a good film.
11/02/24: Successive Slidings of Pleasure ★★★★☆
Who doesn’t love a film about witchcraft? Plus the outfits were so cute. Successive Slidings of Pleasure is a murder investigation into a female artist, presumed to be a witch, who is accused of killing her friend.
12/02/24: He’s Just Not That Into You ★★★☆☆
I dislike most of the characters in this film and am constantly annoyed by the choices they make. For some reason, though, I have watched this film like five times so it must be sort of good.
13/02/24: Bottoms ★★★☆☆
I really really enjoyed this film. It is so silly and it ends with a blooper reel! It felt like I was watching a 2000s teen comedy.
14/02/24: Valentine’s Day ★★★★☆
Gave into my obligations and watched Valentine’s Day on Valentine’s Day. Maybe on a normal day I wouldn’t have given this four stars but it was almost perfect for the moment.
15/02/24: El Conde ★★★★☆
Definitely interesting and visually stunning imagining of Chilean political history. One star is knocked off this near perfect film for its overly elaborate plot.
16/02/24: Totally Killer ★★★☆☆
Totally Killer is reminiscent of many other comedic slasher films but with one added element – time travel. This makes for a silly fun film but unfortunately does not make it stand out much from the rest of the genre.
17/02/24: A Good Marriage ★★★★☆
Main character Sabine becomes obsessed with the idea of marriage and finds herself trying to force a relationship with a man she hardly knows (and appears to not actually be interested in as a person). This makes for a beautiful film about love and how we often become attached to a fantastical idea.
18/02/24: Never Come Morning ★★★☆☆
Similar in concept to the more recent film Before Sunrise, this short film follows two strangers as they wander the city at night. While I love the premise, I do not think it is well suited to the short film format – the audience is unable to get to know the characters and the growing relationship between the two feels rushed.
19/02/24: Kiki’s Delivery Service ★★★★☆
Such a cute coming of age film. This film was a really sweet way to end my day.
20/02/24: Drowning Mona ★★★★☆
So many familiar faces in this film (Danny DeVito, Jamie Lee Curtis, Neve Campbell, Will Ferrell, Melissa McCarthy and many others)! I found Drowning Mona absolutely hilarious. Definitely an underrated/hidden gem.
21/02/24: Bones and All ★★★★☆
This was really good. Every shot was somehow beautiful to look at – even though it’s a film full of murder, blood and cannibalism. The romance between the two leads felt so natural and the whole film so well acted. One of my favourite films I watched in February.
22/02/24: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World ★★★★☆
I rewatched this film at the amazing York Student Cinema. It is so funny and the video game graphics make for such a unique film.
23/02/24: Upgraded ★★★☆☆
If it’s not evident by now, I love watching ‘good rubbish’ – cheesy romantic comedies, chick flicks, teen comedies etc. However, I am normally not a fan of the modern renditions of this genre. Upgraded was a pleasant surprise and felt quite similar to earlier versions of ‘good rubbish’.
24/02/24: Like last month, I was unable to actually watch a film everyday, but I have decided to still continue with my target and not let a minor setback cause me to give up. On the 25th I took this setback as an opportunity to watch two films well-suited to being watched back to back.
25/02/24: Kill Bill: Vol. 1 ★★★★☆
I had never seen this before, and did not really know what to expect (I hardly ever watch film trailers). All I knew was that it starred Uma Thurman and Lucy Liu and that it was about killing a man named Bill. Now that I have watched it, I understand why it is so popular – it’s such a colourful, funny and action packed film.
Kill Bill: Vol.2 ★★★☆☆
Volume two was not quite as good as one, lacking in action compared to the first and spending a little too much time creating backstories. But it had some amazing sequences and overall was still a good film.
26/02/24: The Devil Wears Prada ★★★☆☆
Can you believe I had not seen this before? The plot was pretty predictable but the 2000s fashion and soundtracks were excellent. Another one that I will be rewatching soon.
27/02/24: Pierrot le Fou ★★★☆☆
The premise of this film had me under the assumption it would be action-packed – a man and a woman on the run from hitmen. Surprisingly, the film moves quite slowly and focuses on the relationship between the two. It is still chaotic and full of crime but this did not feel like the focus. However, the film was made in 1965 and contains yellowface. This scene is supposedly a commentary on American and Vietnamese relations but just comes off as wildly offensive and racist.
28/02/24: The Favourite ★★★★★
This was excellent. The acting, the story, the costumes, the casting, the dialogue. Everything about this film was fantastic.
29/02/24: Legally Blonde ★★★☆☆
I have watched this film so many times and not once have I come away disappointed. It’s such a classic film and a great way to spend any evening.