The old "In like a lion, out like a lamb" saying was not in effect this month, as March roared early, often, and loudly throughout its thirty-one days. Two albums from landmark "emo revival" bands, and the movies and box office have sprung to life just in time for COVID restrictions to be lifted. Let's see what we were able to haul in during what was the busiest month of the year so far!
What I Listened To
Tigers Jaw - I Won't Care How You Remember Me
After the four-year gap between this album and spin (which I highlighted in a previous post on this blog), Tigers Jaw are back and more comfortable with their sound than ever. I say comfortable, but don't think that translates to complacent. The album continues to explore the melancholy memories we all keep with us, and does so while maintaining their catchy choruses in new, inventive way. Brianna Collins ahs continued to blossom as a songwriter as her role in the band has expanded, and Ben Walsh's steady hand on lead vocals and guitar prove to be a formidable combination that is nearly unrivaled in emo today.
If you're interested, check out my video unboxing their livestream-exclusive vinyl variant below:
Citizen - Life in Your Glass World
I'm hesitant to call Citizen underrated, because anyone who's listened to the band knows their talents. However, I still don't think they get enough credit sometimes. Throughout their career, they've only ever expanded their sound, and pushed their own boundaries as songwriters. They usually have the attention to detail to include a few signature singles ("I Want to Kill You" does that trick this time around), but the story will always be the band's progression. They've push themselves further outward with each album cycle, and are still yet to have a misstep on any album. It's the kind of career many bands would kill for, and Citizen have somehow flown under the radar while they've done it.
What I Watched
The Father
How do you make up for the fact that your movie takes place in the same apartment for almost all of its 90 minutes? You make sure that the two leads are filled by powerhouse performers. It's amazing how simple making a good movie can be sometimes. In The Father, Olivia Colman and Anthony Hopkins are given plenty of room to operate and showcase their immense talents, as they tell the story of a parent aging with Alzheimer's from a unique and jarring perspective.
The Courier
The Courier won't be a movie that you remember Benedict Cumberbatch for. You'll likely remember him for his work as Sherlock Holmes, Doctor Strange, or maybe even his voice work as Smaug in The Hobbit trilogy. Whichever one of the (many) blockbusters he's been associated with over the years you have in your head, it's likely not going to be The Courier, unless you're really, really into true life spy stories. Still, this is an important movie for you to see, as it shows that underneath all that superstar appeal, Cumberbatch is a damn good actor. He gives his all in The Courier, and the movie is all the better for it.
Minari
It seems like every year, there's a movie that generates a ton of awards-season buzz, and even though I know I'm going to see it, I go in with concerns that it'll live up to the height. It almost always does. And this year, Minari is that movie. It's the kind of movie that serves as living proof that you can make a movie about anything--like a family moving to Arkansas to start a humble farm-- and as long as you tell a great story with compelling characters and dedicated actors, you'll be able to create something special That's exactly what Lee Isaac Chung has done here, as he crafts a heartbreaking tale powered by a star-turning performance by Steven Yeun to the year's most unexpected Oscar contender.
Godzilla Vs. Kong
After I spent the early part of the month dissecting the Oscar nominations and checking movies off the list that I needed to see, I was feeling a little burnt out on movies. Thankfully, Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. kept their promise of a titanic clash between two of the most iconic movie monsters, and may have given a charge to the heartbeat of the American box office in the process. Yes, this is a big, silly CGI punching movie, but it's a fun big, silly CGI punching movie, and if you expected more than that, you were probably spoiled as a kid. And you're probably a total bummer to be around at parties.
College Admissions Scandal
In this month's choice for a documentary about people with black holes for hearts that I somehow still compel myself to watch, we get a deep dive into the college admissions scandal that put Lori Laughlin's name in the news for something other than Full House for the first time since... ever? Anyway, College Admissions Scandal was interesting for its high-budget dramatizations of the actual footage from wire-taps the government collected over time in order to make their case, and it's an interesting flair, albeit somewhat distracting at times. Still, its a documentary that tells an interesting story, and features people who were very close to the situation, which is all you can ask for.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
When The Monthly Haul last checked in on the MCU, WandaVision was taking over as the go-to conversation piece series of the year. Now that we're already halfway through its six-episode run, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier has taken grip of the baton, and has only strengthened Marvel's grip on the culture. We haven't had as many big reveals as WandaVision (yet), but this show has been much more of the nonstop thrill rides Marvel projects have become, and much like WandaVision allowed us to see the true talent level of Elizabeth Olsen, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is doing the same for Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie. Plus, we've already seen that WandaVision was able to stick the landing, which is only increasing my confidence that this show will do the same.
Looking Forward to April The Album of the Year race has only had one horse (Teenage Wrist) for a few months now, but it'll be difficult to envision Manchester Orchestra not staking a claim to that title once The Million Masks of God comes out on the last day of the month. Just getting this out there now: that album, and how quickly I'm able to listen to it, will dictate how early or late The Monthly Haul comes out in May.
For movies, I'm not seeing too much that strikes my attention, but the Oscars will be held on the 25th, and I still have a few movies I need to see if I'm going to have an informed opinion on who will win. As far as new releases are concerned, I hope Mortal Kombat is going to stand beside Godzilla vs. Kong on the big, silly CGI punching scale, but we'll see. I'm also interested in Stowaway, but I should note that this interest is 100% based on the fact that Anna Kendrick is in the movie.
See you next month!
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