Movies watched in 2021

These are my 20 favorite films this year. More than any other year that I can think of, the release schedule of films were really thrown off due once again to another year of COVID. Nomadland and A Quiet Place II, for example, are technically 2020 films, but they didn’t get a wide release until 2021.

Previous years: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012.

Read more Movies watched in 2021

BEYONCÉ 2013 video album, YouTube previews (in order)

The official Beyoncé YouTube page has posted these 30-second preview tracks (released Friday, December 13, 2013). Here they are in the order they appear on the DVD; the director(s) are listed after each song title. It’s also worth checking out the “Self-Titled” mini art features that followed the release of the album.

beyonce-sm
Read more BEYONCÉ 2013 video album, YouTube previews (in order)

Kirkeby’s panoramas in von Trier’s *Breaking the Waves*

Per Kirkeby has created unforgettable works of art, some of which were commissioned for three of Lars von Trier’s films. After watching all of von Trier’s theatrical releases over the last three months, I kept returning to Kirkeby’s digitally-altered landscapes in Breaking the Waves (1996) for inspiration.

To avoid spoilers, I’m including screenshots only of the latter half of each episode/chapter intro. Watch the movie for the full effect! NOTE: Von Trier films are not for the faint of heart.

Breaking the Waves, Chapter One

Read more Kirkeby’s panoramas in von Trier’s *Breaking the Waves*

Summer Movies I Want to See, 2013 Part 1

My fifth annual list of summer movies. More to come… this is just for May so far. I must be getting picky—there are only four wide-release films on my list (see asterisks). On the other hand, it’s nice that there are twenty-six films in May alone that seem to be worth watching. For previews and synopses, go to Rotten Tomatoes Upcoming Movies.

Star Trek Into Darkness crash

Read more Summer Movies I Want to See, 2013 Part 1

Best Songs of 2012

A YouTube playlist of my favorite videos and/or songs released in 2012. I generally prefer the studio tracks, but a few of these are live versions, mainly because there is no official studio version on YouTube. Also, in some cases, I enjoy the official video better than the song itself, and vice versa.

Best of 2012 YouTube playlist

A few of these YouTube videos will not play on mobile platforms. I’ve attempted to make the same list on Spotify (also embedded below), although not all the songs are available there, either!

A “Best Albums” post (which requires a lot more thought) is forthcoming by the end of the month.

Embedded playlists after the jump… Read more Best Songs of 2012