This Week in Film (9/29/13 - 10/5/13)

In recent days I have been both bogged down with school work and coming down with a cold. That's unfortunately detracted from my ability to both watch and write about movies. Though my output has declined a bit (and I can't necessarily say that will change as next week is in some even more hectic), I'm strong in my resolve to keep at it as best that I can. This previous bit of polite statement likely sounds a little strange since I did still manage a number of reviews during this time. Movies (and to be fair television shows as well) are my comfort and my escape, and to give up on them in the face of the ups and downs of life, well, that just seems silly.

Let's tally it up:

Breaking Bad: "Felina" - The finale of Breaking Bad hasn't detracted from its well-earned place in the pantheon of great television dramas but it's been somewhat divisive critically with some feeling it wrapped up a bit too neatly. I agree but I also enjoyed and appreciated what took place in the finale too much to let that entirely dissuade me.

The Rules of the Game (1939) - Jean Renoir's masterpiece comedy of manners that sneaks in some sly -- and then extremely controversial -- class critique. It's hilarious even as it's deeply humanistic. 

The Great Dictator (1940) - Charlie Chaplin's transition into sound film isn't the most concise effort but even in its shakiness there's still a lot of brilliant comedy that could have only come from the great comic director's imagination.

Cat People (1942) - The first of the Val Lewton horror films that displays the low budget scares of implying the supernatural forces just offscreen and in turn creating something far more frightening than anything that could actually be shown to us. 

Seven Up (1964) - I provide some thoughts on the first film in this renowned documentary series that stops in on a group of individuals every seven years starting at the age of seven.

My Man Godfrey (1936) - A classic screwball comedy about a homeless man turned butler for a nutty aristocratic family.