I watched 46 movies in January. 36 of them were new to me. 24 of them were made before I was born. 12 movies fit my theme of the month, Frozen In January.
As I mentioned in other posts I got Covid early in the month which pretty much killed that theme. From then on I mostly just watched whatever suited me at the moment, which mostly meant a lot of old movies, and quite a bit of comfort viewings.
One of the things I enjoy about starting the new year is that all of my stats reset. I get to start fresh. I get to think about the types of genres I want to watch, about the directors and stars I want to seek out. Later in the year, those things will start to solidify, but in January it’s all new. This month my top three genres were drama (25 films), thriller (20 films), and of course horror (14 films).
Clark Gable is my top star with an astonishing six films of his watched this month. That was almost by accident. I watched a couple of his films randomly early on and then caught a third. I liked that one quite a bit (A Man of Her Own) and then realized it was my third Gable film of the month and that I was really starting to like him as an actor (I’ve only seen 13 of his films in total so this month doubled my viewings) and decided to catch a few more.
Surprisingly the only director I watched more than one movie from was Umberto Lenzi, an Italian specializing in genre films – he helped Gang War in Milan and Nightmare City.
Overall it was a pretty good month. February is Foreign Film Month so look forward to me talking about subtitles.
He Walked by Night (1948) – ***1/2
Red Sparrow (2018) – ***1/2
Gang War in Milan (1973) – ***
China Seas (1935) – ***1/2
Mogambo (1953) – ***
Red Dust (1932) – ****
The Furies (1950) – ****1/2
Them! (1954) – ****
The Kiss of the Vampire (1963) – ****
Nightmare City (1980) – ***1/2
Lone Wolf and Cub: Baby Cart to Hades (1972) – ***
No Man of Her Own (1932) – ***1/2
Man in the Shadow (1957) – ***1/2
Iron Man (1951) – ***
The Favourite (2018) – ****
Chicago Deadline (1949) – ***1/2
The Mystery of Marie Roget (1942) – ***
Intimidation (1960) – ****
Till Death (2021) – **
Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) – ****
I Wouldn’t Be in Your Shoes (1948) – ***
Sleepwalkers (1992) – ***
Airport ’77 (1977) – ***
Somebody I Used to Know (2023) – *1/2
The Swimmer (1968) – ****
The Living Dead Girl (1982) – ***1/2
The Shining (1980) – ****1/2
Wind Chill (2007) – **
Night Nurse (1931) – ***1/2
Rancho Notorious (1952) – ***1/2
The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) – ****1/2
The Cat Creeps (1946) – ***
Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) – ****
The Lady Vanishes (2013) – ***1/2
The Martian (2015) – ****1/2
The Lodge (2019) – ***
The Thing (1982) – *****
Insomnia (2002) – ****
The Blackcoat’s Daughter (2015) – ***1/2
Phantoms (1998) – **
The Revenant (2015) – ****
A Bullet for Sandoval (1969) – ***
Death Hunt (1981) – *
Whiteout (2009) – *1/2
Jeremiah Johnson (1972) – ****
Miller’s Crossing (1990) – *****
themidnightcafe.org 
Only one star for The Thing! blasphemy Sir 😂
A typo, a typo I assure you :). Actually the first time I watched The Thing I didn’t really like it. I caught it on a very small TV screen and something about the practical effects looked cheesy to me then. Now I absolutely love them.
I couldn’t resist mate, not that it matters you’re obviously entitled to like what you like. I had a feeling though, hence the reply. I hope you are starting to feel better ☺️
No worries, we’ll all just kidding around.
I still have an ear infection. The first round of antibiotics didn’t kill it so I have an appt for the doctor in a week or so. When I went a couple of weeks ago the dr noticed a hole in my right ear’s drum. I’ve had one in my left ear for ages, but he wants me to see a specialist so that’s new.
And now my entire head is killing me due to both the ear infection and general allergy symptoms (story of my life right there).
Sorry, that’s whiny. I’m doing ok mostly.
Sorry to hear that mate, i used to think ear infections were just all minor stuff-and they can be. However after a really brutal year in 2019, when i was properly homeless, and had experienced far too much. Right at the end in December i got one, i ended up having to go into what would be ER for you guys, and have morphine, it was that bad. My ear swelled so badly they couldn’t even get a proper look at it due to the inflammation, it was unbearable. Obviously got it sorted eventually, but it took a few different drops, and oral antibiotics. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Anyway hope you’ll feel better soon.
I used to get them all the time. But a quick visit to the doctor, some antibiotics and ear drops fixed it right up. I don’t know why they didn’t give me eardrops this last time but I’m regretting I didn’t ask for them.
It doesn’t really hurt so that’s good. Just feels like I have water in my ear all the time and makes me not be able to hear well.
Your experience sounds just awful.
Hi Mat, yes that one infection was a severe one, i think due to everything that had gone on. I have had a couple since then like you mentioned, where it was not really that painful but still bothersome. It’s a strange feeling because it’s senses we don’t normally have to think about. Take care mate.