This is the very first edition of a project i have wanted to write for a while, Screen Time; a monthly film diary where i speak a little bit about everything i watched, whether that’s film or TV. I figured there is no better to time to start than January, so here we are!
The aim of this series is not to analyse any films in great depth but to instead help me articulate my thoughts about them in a nice, concise way.
And yes, this is a complete rip off from Karsten Runquist and his monthly recaps but hey ho, theres enough cinema for everyone.
Tokyo Story (1953)
I started the year off with Tokyo Story (1953). A really nice film about an elderly Japanese couple who travel to the capital, Tokyo, to visit their adult children. It’s widely considered to be Yasujiro Ozu’s magnum opus, with Sight And Sound Magazine even voting it to be the best film of all time.
It’s a really honest look into how families inevitably grow apart, whether that’s because of distance or because of age, growing up and living your own life. Despite being set in 1950’s Japan, the film and its themes are timeless and always will be; the problems that the Hirayama family encounter feel familiar to what i’m beginning to recognise in my own life, so it made it a really eerie film to watch, especially at the beginning of a new year.
Whilst i resonated with the story, i can’t help but feel that it will only click more with me the older i get. Watching it now, i really connected with the younger siblings, almost feeling like it was an alternate reality to my own life and i’m sure in a couple of years i will start to understand the two older siblings more and then ultimately in a couple of decades time i will be in the position that the parents are and my perspective would have changed. That’s the magic of this film, i think it will mean something different in every stage of your life.
WALL-E (2008)
Everything that could possibly be said about this film has been said a thousand times over, so i will keep my thoughts brief.
WALL-E (2008) is a film about a small trash compactor robot, who is tasked with cleaning Earth after it had been deserted by humans because of the incomprehensible amount of waste covering it.
I think this film will always be ahead of its time, it’s such a prescient critique on the direction of humanity. This was released, almost exactly, one year after the first Iphone ever came out and i’m sure at the time it was perceived to be a take on what could be but now 16 Iphone iterations later it’s kind of a reflection of what is. Those slobs on chairs, controlled by digital pads actually doesn’t seem ridiculous in 2026, at least not to me.
What’s actually really scary is the recent development of AI; the ship’s actual commander being an AI captain that steers and informs the ‘humans’ on board is happening right before our eyes. People are using AI to do the most menial tasks instead of…. Using and activating your own brain. Do people not want to be capable of thoughts and decisions themselves? Crazy. AI is not your friend, it can’t help your relationship problems, it doesn’t know the best recipe for making Brownies, against popular belief it can’t make good art. Rant over anyway, WALL-E (2008) is a classic.
The Pleasure Of Being Robbed (2008)
The Pleasure Of Being Robbed (2008) is the first feature film from American ‘indie’ darling auteur, Josh Safdie. Safdie is best known for his recent uber successful projects Uncut Gems (2020) and Marty Supreme (2025).
The film follows a kleptomaniac, free spirited woman who explores the streets and crevices of New York, stealing anything that isn’t bolted or tied down. Whilst enjoyable, it’s clearly a filmmaker making their debut, it has some growing pains and lulls in its tight 71 minute run time.
It is, at the same time, the complete antithesis of everything you’ve come to expect from the Safdie’s and the most Safdie story ever. It features classic Safdie hallmarks like: absurd events, strange characters, on the street and New York centric but really diverts expectations with some really long, meandering scenes, not as focused as later films and ultimately not as stressful or anxiety inducing, which is a trait that both brothers are now known for.
Daddy Longlegs (2009)
This is the second feature from Josh Safdie and the first of his directing partnership with his brother, Benny. Daddy Longlegs (2009) really builds on what made The Pleasure Of Being Robbed (2008) work and makes it better.
The film follows a divorced dad, who spends his annual two weeks of custody with his two children, parading around New York, encouraging debauchery and irresponsibility along the way.
I think this is the first film that really feels like what one would call a ‘Safdie’ film. It’s anxiety inducing, you find yourself rooting for this, quite frankly, awful father and it utilises the absurd in a way which is completely in sync with story. Bonus points for casting Abel Ferrera as a mean CD scammer.
It’s The Squid And The Whale (2005) for intellectuals, sorry Noah Baumbach.
Hamnet (2025)
Hamnet (2025) is a fictional account of the relationship between Agnes Shakespeare and, the legendary playwright, William Shakespeare. It focuses around the untimely death of their young son Hamnet and how they both grieve differently. It’s the fifth film from Oscar winning director, Chloe Zhao.
To be honest, i had really high hopes for this and even though i enjoyed it, i didn’t love it. For months, i had heard rave reviews from many different film festivals , its momentum never wavered so i think my expectations were just simply too high. Jessie Buckley’s performance is great sure but… I don’t think its soooooo much better than every other actress this awards season, like its being made out to be. Paul Mescal is fine in it, apart from that rehearsing scene where i will admit he is fantastic.
It’s a good film that i thought would be a great film. To be fair, i don’t really connect with Chloe Zhao’s work so i think this is just more on me.
Peter Hujar’s Day (2025)
Yeah, this is fine. It’s nice but i don’t really have much else to say.
Peter Hujar’s Day (2025) uses a real, recently discovered interview between, photographer, Peter Hujar and his friend Linda Rosenkrantz as the entire story for the film. It’s a cool concept, seeing the actual interview take place, but it didn’t really move me past that.
Lenny Cooke (2013)
Lenny Cooke (2013) is a documentary directed by the Safdie brothers about the sad story of one of the most hyped high school prospects ever, ranked above future first ballot hall of famers like: Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire.
The doc is separated in two different parts, the first is the hype and glamour of what could be and the second is the cruel reality of unfulfilled promises and dreams. The first section is fine, it was filmed by Adam Shopkorn to be a documentary following the players journey into the NBA whilst the second is filmed by Josh and Benny, who follow Lenny after his dream of playing professionally has ended and he is forced into the resignation of real life, it’s this second part that really blew me away.
It contains some of the most brutal musings of life and missed opportunities coming straight from the horse’s mouth. It’s so sad that what happened to Lenny seems to happen so often in so many different sports; every couple of months it feels like we see a new story about a footballer who got let go from an academy at 18 with no qualifications or skills and has no chance for a better life.
The ending of this doc is the purest form of cinema, it’s one of the best pieces of documentary filmmaking i have ever seen, it’s really riveting stuff.
The Rip (2026)
The mid. Quite possibly the middest of all mids.
The Rip (2026) is so over explained at every turn, quite stupid/silly and nothing we haven’t seen before but… I can’t help to enjoy every time Ben Affleck and Matt Damon share the screen, they just have such a great chemistry they actually make this a lot more enjoyable than it should be.
It’s mindless netflix action but it has a lot of charisma oozing from it.
Bowling For Columbine (2002)
This is easily the best thing i seen last month. Bowling For Columbine (2002) is a documentary that explores one of the most devastating school shootings in american history, the Columbine High School massacre and America’s relationship with guns.
It’s a really damning indictment on consumerisms inherent relationship with violence. Michael Moore absolutely exposes the ridiculous nature of it all, that apparently most Americans don’t see, from: banks offering guns for opening accounts, K Mart (a literal convenience shop like Asda) selling bullets all the way to ‘normal’ citizens playing militia with real firearms and warehouses making weapons of mass destruction in neighbourhoods where school shootings happened.
The feigned ignorance of all this documentaries subjects is insane, so insane that it’s actually only possible in real life. If this was a fiction film it would seem so wildly sensationalised and unrealistic.
Free Solo (2018)
Alex Honnold, you mad cat. Free Solo (2018) is a documentary about the free solo climber (someone who climbs without ropes and a harness), Alex Honnold and his dream of climbing El Capitan, a famous rock formation in Yosemite National Park. The rock face is, all in all, about 3,000 feet!
I enjoyed this a lot, it’s a really interesting look into a such a weird, unique world; a world that doesn’t seem content with the regularness of life. Honnold is a very polarising figure, he’s kind of an asshole and an avoidant but fuck… He is fascinating. In a roundabout way, he reminds me of Michael Jordan, a man in the pursuit of utter, ignorant excellence. He is the embodiment of man’s hubris. He is cool and uncool all at once. I really like watching people pursuing their passions, no matter how ridiculous it may seem.
Homo Sapiens (2016)
Homo Sapiens (2016) is a really interesting documentary by Austrian documentary filmmaker, Nikolaus Geyrhalter.
The doc consists of static, locked off shots of decayed and vacant spaces, a lot of them being man made buildings that are being reclaimed by nature. This is all the documentary is, there’s no voiceover, no explanation, just the viewer and their thoughts on the image. I can understand if someone thinks this is boring but for me, this was absolutely riveting.
Geyrhalter is known for this distinct style and i think it works extremely well here. All throughout, my mind would wander; how much land have we lost due to cars and roads? Is nature the one true religion? Why do we leave so much disaster in our wake? The film leaves it to the audience to interpret the images. This is beautiful to see in a world where films so often punch you in the face with the information they want to say. How fun it can be when you are actually forced to think!!!!
Marcello Hernandez: American Boy
Marcello Hernandez has blew up after his success on SNL and this is his first ever comedy special; it’s good. Marcello is a very animated comic and his charisma oozes off the screen. It’s still very much a debut special but i enjoyed it a lot.
I hate to say it but i can’t not see Sebastian Maniscalco when he starts gesticulating all over the stage.
Rental Family (2025)
This is the second feature from Japanese filmmaker, Hikari. It follows an American actor, who now lives in Tokyo and becomes an actor in a rental family agency. Yes, it’s exactly what is sounds like. A company that people can use to hire stand in family members/partners/friends etc…
Rental Family (2025)’s message is earnest but it failed to really entrhal me. I didn’t entirely connect with Brendan Fraser’s character. The film is a little bit too similar to Family Romance LLC (2019) by Werner Herzog for me, a film that does this idea a little bit better and more interesting. To be fair, everyone i was with loved this, so i am almost definitely being a curmudgeon.
Encounters At The End Of The World (2007)
Speaking about Herzog, this documentary is absolutely fantastic. Encounters At The End Of The End Of The World (2007) .
(More coming soon!!!)
