This movie has been on my radar and watch list for such a long time and randomly came across its soundtrack now, which just emphasized that I have to see this. Mysterious and eerie ambient, and also retro futuristic synthwave done right. Just listening to it visualizes the neon lights blinking through the mist in the thick forest at night. I love this atmosphere and aesthetic so very much.
The last time I listened to a soundtrack so many times before watching a movie was The Moon where I had already known all the cues by the time of actually connecting the sounds to visual images. But that was fun! Btw the other movie of Panos Cosmatos (Mandy) I have seen and it was hilarious and fascinating at the same time. So looking forward to Beyond The Black Rainbow, too.
Looking back on this blog it seems like the last time I did a year-end list was in 2015. That’s… wow. I thought maybe one or two year had been missed. Anyway that’s not why I started compiling one now. It was an intense year and the other day I looked through my IMDb check-in list and had a great memory trip with it, so I thought I might as well look through some more. Besides IMDb I checked my Netflix history, and for music I browsed back on this blog and checked on Last.fm. With that data and some reminescing I came up with this.
One caveat: I decided that I’m doing this list for myself and in that sense I value the sum of my personal experiences most and don’t care about release dates. So, all stuff here are things that made my year 2019, and that’s the only criteria that’s important.
Movies
Joker
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Ford v Ferrari
Suspiria
Split
Sorry to Bother You
Midsommar
Bomb City
Bohemian Rhapsody
Zombieland: Double Tap
Hereditary
Outstanding new Christmas movie: Klaus
Best trash: Geostorm
Best movie franchise that I missed so far: Mission Impossible
Best one movie that I haven’t seen in ages: Event Horizon
Series
The Expanse (seasons 4)
The Final Table (season 1)
Love, Death & Robots (season 1)
The Witcher (season 1)
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (season 1)
Glow (season 3)
Hyperdrive (season 1)
Stranger Things (season 3)
Best comedy rewatch: The Big Bang Theory (seasons 1-7)
Best scifi rewatch: Firefly and also the Serenity movie
Best one show that I totally late adopted: Shark Tank
Memorable “TV to life” experience: Seeing Jim Jefferies in a live stand-up show
Most inspiring interview: Joe Rogan Experience #1342 – John Carmack
Music
Albums
Tool – Fear Inoculum
Korn – The Nothing
Blaqk Audio – Only Things We Love
The Black Dog – Post-Truth [2018]
Kölsch – Fabric Presents Kölsch
Jambinai – ONDA
Monolink – Amniotic [2018]
Rammstein – untitled
Belief Defect – Decadent Yet Depraved [2018]
KOMPROMAT – Traum Und Existenz
Plaid – Polymer
Recondite – Silk
Snow Ghosts – A Quiet Ritual
Robot Koch – Sphere [2018]
FJAAK – Havel [2018]
Nightmares on Wax – Shape The Future [2018]
Sampa The Great – The Return
Saint Agnes – Welcome To Silvertown
UNKLE – The Road: Part II / Lost Highway
VA – Furi (Original Game Soundtrack) [2016]
Best weird random music that I cannot unlike: Rummelsnuff – Kraftgewinn [2013]
Interesting new style that I stumbled upon: Saharan rock, and album: Mdou Moctar – Ilana (The Creator)
Singles
Black Devil – Disco Club [1978]
Prophets of Rage – Pop Goes The Weapon
Red Axes – Shabak Shalom
Kincaid feat. Blancmange – Big Fat Head
Playboy – A Paco Di Bango’s World [1996]
Modeselektor – Wealth [2018]
Charlotte Adigéry – Paténipat [2018]
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I wish there was a movie like Alien but with the pacing of 2001: A Space Odyssey and the soundtrack of Moon. Ambient sci-fi horror. Not scary horror, but the visual exploration of horror, which was the most awesome aspect of Midsommar. And not psychological thriller, but very phisical although not completely gore, like the sci-fi action movies.
I love how many sci-fi horror movies start: usually there’s a lengthy and slow sequence with some drone noise in the background, and the first look at the spacecraft floating in blackness. Maybe I should watch Event Horizon.
It was a wonderful experience. Probably one of the most artful horror films that I have ever seen, and I’m much relieved to say that none of the art in it felt artsy but rather proper art film cinema. I loved how the tension kept pulsating: it went awry for short bursts, then got back to its track of narrative although with a growing feel of unease, which built up beautifully for the final catharsis. All of its visual style, camera movement, editing techniques, acting performances were just fit, and by that I mean there was nothing drawing more attention than needed, and so it was a perfectly balanced piece.
The most surprising movie of 2018 for sure. It was surrealistic, completely mindfuck, unexpected, and a great experience as a flick. Also made a well articulated point as social narrative.
On a different note: I haven’t heard of The Coup before. WTF?! It is a perfect friend of everything RATM, and I know Street Sweeper Social Club well, so I know the voice of Boots Riley just fine. I just haven’t heard of his original band before. So now I’m on a Coup listening spree, obviously. Although I haven’t really got through re-listening the movie soundtrack several times.
Another note: Tessa Thompson. I’m just getting into her so much. (Mean this the right way.) I first came across her in Westworld – great character, first seldom enough appearances to be mystical, then when being more active another kind of mystique. In Thor she was badass. In Annihilation she was not a driving force but another mystery not fully explored or explained. So maybe this is her thing. And this is our thing (as audience) with her. She is casted well and always had this mystical vibe around her so far. And this time again the artsy girlfriend character with her kinks and girl next door attitude. Hit home.
This is so truly amazing. Makes me think of the new concept of continuously releasing Star Wars spin-off movies like the upcoming Rogue One, and how great it would be if the SW universe expanded in a way that it allows for some new and unique styles for any of these side projects. So that anything like this homage trailer could be the real and actually used styles of any of the upcoming movies.
I don’t consider myself a Star Wars fan. I watch the movies every now and then, have some SW fun on 4th May, but mostly admire the universe, which expanded upon and after the original trilogy. I participated in Star Wars RPG way back as a child, read some great books placed in the SW universe, played some good video games, and just recently had serious fun with the X-Wing miniatures tabletop.
There is so much potential and the standard movies even with the currently running third set of movies capture so little of all that depth and vastness of the Star Wars universe. And allowing for more spin-off stylings like this fan-made trailer showcases could really blow the whole thing up and allow for even many more new and exciting angles to explore.
Maybe I miss out some stuff especially on the music part but these are what my notebooks hold of what was good in 2015, based on some memories, this blog, Last.fm, and IMDb.
If I wanted to some up shortly, I would say this year quite sucked for movies but brought some unexpected and nice twists and turns for music.
Movies & TV
The movie and TV list speaks for itself: the year was full of mediocre shit and overrated mainstream blockbusters (or wannabes). The Martian was okayish, Sicario had some beautiful compositions, but as a whole I wouldn’t say flicks like this made any great difference in my inner movie universe. And please don’t tell me about Star Wars, just shut it.
As for music, I didn’t stumble upon a new best band, but there were some notable releases from some old favourites. IAMX created a stunning new record, and I was similarly satisfied with what DJ Krush or The Black Dog had to offer in 2015, plus a complete out of nowhere experience came from Amon Tobin in the form of a sci-fi ambient composition.
My best pleasantries included the absolutely incredible album of the Killing Joke, the totally unexpected but stunning record of Karyn Crisis, and something completely new for me in the form of the Thy Catafalque release. And things that I didn’t see coming to this list: a surprisingly mature and powerful single track by Apocalyptica, and my re-found fandom of Cradle of Filth.
Last year was definitely ruled by techno for me, where I found quite some new territories and depths. This year was not on that level of novelty but it was quite eclectic instead as the musical range shows in this list of names.
I haven’t been to many festivals and parties in 2015 so my live performances list is quite narrow. Although I could make it to Sónar Barcelona for the second time, which was nice, and surprises dominated there as well: Squarepusher’s live act was by far the most satisfying live music experience that I heard this year.
Stunning in terms of visuals and theme. A few things that I feel worthy to highlight:
The character, set and costume designs are remarkable.
The world behind the movie is something that I am totally blown away by. I want to know so much more than I had the chance to catch in the flick.
Charlize Theron, obviously. Note: if you like to see her act grim and dark don’t miss out on Snow White and the Huntsman, which may be a much better movie than you might expect.
The voices are acted and added in a sterile and distanced manner, which produces an absolutely unique atmosphere. Like the conversations were not happening in place but layered over the story like some kind of narration.
The music was great, but in a few occasions the pathos was over the top and out of context. Still it’s something great to listen to even on its own right.
And the guy with the guitar! OMG. Every single appearance made me grin like an idiot.
I gathered quite a few poster art (official and fan-made) below.
Beautiful piece of art of a movie of science fiction. On the trail of the AI-lead chamber drama atmosphere of the Moon and as stunning as the well-crafted shorts that usually don’t come through any publishing house but are driven by the motivation of one exceptionally talented vfx artist. I have a true hard time believing that this could make it as a normal budget featured film.
So much not said but played out in this film and it is such a relief and reassurance that you just don’t have to say everything out loud to get. Also a lot room for interpretations or I could rather say thoughts transferred for progressing.
