What I Watched, What You Watched #27

As we begin our final descent to the Oscars, I’ll be spending the next couple of weeks watching a lot of Oscar nominees and big films I missed in 2016, trying to put off seeing the terrible movies of January and February (although I may be seeing Split in the near future-I’ll keep you posted). I’ll post reviews if and when I get the chance.

Until then, here’s a recap of what I’ve been watching this week. I finally got around to seeing Passengers, a film listed on my Most Anticipated for 2016. Look, it’s not as offensive as people have been saying, but it has some real issues. It is two types of films: half of it is part of the complex moral dilemma genre, while the other half wants to be part of the Pretty People F*cking genre. Both are acceptable, as well as entertaining. But they do not work together, and forcing them to makes the film all kinds of problematic and troubling. Still, Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are pretty, and are still capable of acting their little hearts out even with the worst material and dumbest dialogue. Much more pleasant was Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders. I grew up watching the 1960s Batman series, finding it dumb in all the right ways, and usually intentionally, which is even harder. So a send-up to that genre that mocks modern trends in the character and features the original voice cast is something right up my alley, even if it’s sad hearing Adam West sound so old.

However, because I really need to focus on the major Oscar contenders, I finally buckled down and saw Elle. A full review is most likely coming, if I can figure out the right way to say it, but I will say: Jesus. What a nasty little film. That’s not a bad thing, but that’s not necessarily a good thing either. Still, that Isabelle Huppert can act. After that darkness, I needed something light, funny and dumb to lift my spirits. Unfortunately, “dumb” is the only adjective that applied to Drunk Wedding. I’d heard terrible things about this movie when it came out last year, and only rented it because I’m in a “wedding movie” sort of mood and it was $0.99 on iTunes, but still…to not even have my lowest expectations met in an 80-minute movie is kind of depressing. Honestly, it’s not quite as bad as I’d heard, but if you’ve been hearing 0/10, and you set your standards at 2, only to have it end up at 1, that’s not encouraging. What I’m saying is don’t bother with this garbage film.

Television wise, there’s not much to write home about, considering most shows are in reruns. Corrine continues to win my heart each week on The Bachelor (for those newbies to this site, this is sarcasm, she’s the worst). It’s Always Sunny is on fire this season, with their Making a Murderer/The Jinx episode standing as one of their best, and Man Seeking Woman also stealing the limelight with its strongest episode of the season. And if you’re like me, you’ll be watching the Super B*wl tonight, even if I’m just doing it for the commercials and Lady Gaga (just kidding-Go Atlanta).

Watch any of those Oscar nominees this past week? Anything new? Let me know in the comments, and while you’re at it, you can listen to my guest spot on the Lizards on Film podcast.