My 2013 Year In Film

 

New Year's resolutions are almost inherently designed to fail. They're drunken, stupid false promises to ourselves, trying to make us feel better about the soon to be over year's stumbles, setbacks and shortcomings. Realizing this I made a resolution that I was certain I could keep. When I inform other people about my resolution, they take it as a pleasant, chuckle-worthy joke. Coming into 2013 after a lull in watching movies frequently, I decided I wanted to make up for some lost time and watch more movies, and so this became my, admittedly slightly comical, resolution for the following year: To watch more films.

I already watched movies often enough and I figured I'd actually make something of substance out of it. Thus sprung out this blog here, which already existed but had become woefully underused. My intention was to write about every film I watched and to make as many of those films seen and written about as possible films that were new to me -- of course, I've since failed to achieve this, feeling burned out at points or being too busy to write reviews or write-ups. Some of the films I watched, for cinephiles, at least, will seem like massive embarassments that I'm only just getting around to them -- and I absolutely agree -- while others were recent releases, and still others were personal choices specific to my tastes.

If you look back at some of the earliest reviews, they're a bit -- well, they make me a little red in the cheek just thinking of them. Some of them are woefully underwritten while others have poorly articulated opinions or pretty awful or underdeveloped critical analysis. There's largely a clear progression in my writing I'm mostly quite proud of. I still have a long way to go before I can stand by my work entirely. However, there are gems here and there that I believe perfectly captured what I wanted to say.

I'm aware not many people visit this blog and read what I have to say, but I'm really grateful if you have and for the occasional feedback I've received. Writing about films is often unexpectedly rewarding and I've been able to write about a number of excellent films, both old and new. In the process of writing and reading more about film, I've discovered more films I never would have otherwise -- visiting the canons of directors and actors after seeing a great film -- and I've strengthened my affection for the medium.

I used to write television reviews but I've mostly learned I'm not exactly cut out for episodic tv reviews. God love those who can come up with something to say episode after episode but I typically don't have that capacity in me. I love television and watch it voraciously but I have a harder time conveying my thoughts in long-form writing. My tv reviews are often even more hit and miss than my film reviews -- and I hesitate posting my film reviews as is. But perhaps I'll write some more general pieces in the future if I have the time.

I apologize for my grammatical errors. Some of the stuff I overlook is unforgivable, but in the rush to get things posted as quickly as possible errors - at times, very regrettable ones -- are made. I hope the content of what's written rises above my lapses and mistakes. (I feel like I'm apologizing for this all the time in posts like this, but it's because I find myself to be a pretty lousy editor)

2013 was a great year for new releases and old discoveries. Anyone who argues that films are dead is looking in all the wrong places. There are more good films out there than I know how to begin to even tackle. It can honestly feel overwhelming. If you love films or enjoy thinking deeply about films, it's a great time to be alive -- in terms of access, in terms of dialogue, in terms of restoration, among many other reasons.

However, I mean being alive not just in terms of viewing films but being a human being on this planet in 2013. After all, this blog came out of a resolution to make more of my year in 2013, utilizing films to enhance what I was getting out of my year. 2014 looks to be another great year and I look forward to what it has in store -- films or otherwise.