Secret Movie Club

We might not be able to see movies in theatres right now (mostly because most of them are closed and movies are not releasing) but there is still movie excitement to be found.

I was immediately intrigued by TIFF's Secret Movie Club when I first heard about it and knew I needed to sign up. It is typically held in Toronto and is an in person event but due to the pandemic it has gone virtual and I can take part this year.

As the title may suggest the movies that I will be watching are a secret. It offers seven mystery movies over the next 6 months. That's seven weekends that I will be enjoying a film that is not yet released in theatres or digital platforms in Ontario at the time of the Secret Movie Club screening. It also features interviews with the cast and creatives behind the movies. It seems like a very fun way to still experience the magic of the movies.

The weekends that the screenings will take place are:

 November 27–29

December 18–20

January 15–17

February 5–7

February 26–28

March 19–21

April 16–18

I have no clue what movies may be showcased. I am really hoping that Promising Young Woman is one of them. I'll be posting about my experience with each movie as they are streamed and you can expect that the post will go up early in the week following.

I am excited to see what movies are picked and to see what this whole experience is like and at the very least it is something to look forward to.

If you are in Canada and want to take part yourself subscriptions are available to purchase up until November 25th. If you do decide to join please let me know so we can try to guess the movies together from the clues that will be released. 

Have you taken part in a secret movie (or book) club before? Is this something you would want to try? Let me know all about it in the comments. 

More Social Distancing Recommendations - Movie Club Edition

As this time of social distancing/quarantine/self isolation continues we could probably all use some recommendations on what to watch to fill some of our time. I know I certainly welcome any recommendations right now, especially since I have two weeks of vacation from work coming up at the end of May and am unfortunately unable to go anywhere for it.

I thought I would share some great places to get recommendations for movies to watch from various movie clubs that I have found. Some have weekly picks, while one has a daily movie for you to watch during this time where we'll all spending more time indoors.

First up is the American Film Institute's Movie Club. 

They are recommending a movie a day for you to follow along with. All of the movies seems to be from various AFI lists and offer a wide range of selection which is sure to have something for everyone. They currently have around thirty movies listed if you want to catch up.

Next up is the It's The Pictures That Got Small podcast/movie club.

Karina Longworth and Nate DiMeo are joined by a guest each week who picks the movie they'll watch and discuss for that week's podcast. They've watched movies like Cast Away, The Grapes of Wrath and From Here to Eternity. The Eyes of Laura Mars is this week's pick with the podcast episodes releasing late Wednesday/early Thursday (so the discussion of The Eyes of Laura Mars will be on the May 7th episode). I have really enjoyed following along with this movie club and have watched movies I did not expect to as a result.

Last, is the Little Gold Men podcast's movie club.

This is Vanity Fair's Oscar podcast which has shifted into discussions about movies that are voted on by listeners. You can vote on the Little Gold Men's twitter page and watch the selected movie before listening to the podcast discussion after. They have good mix of movies included and I definitely recommend this podcast for even non quarantine times as they offer some of the best Oscar coverage out there.

Anyone else have a movie club they would recommend check out? Movies that you feel should be on everyone's watch list? Let me know in the comments.

#2020PopCultureResolution

We all have pop culture blind spots. It might be that genre you barely read, or that movie you have been meaning to get to. I have been thinking about the books I read and what my own pop culture blind spots are.  I am going to make an effort each year to help fill some of those blind spots and hopefully make my reading choices more varied and diverse than what I currently consume in the process.

With this goal in mind I decided to launch my #2020PopCultureResolution. I am going to pledge to read 12 nonfiction books throughout 2020, and watch 12 classic movies that I have not yet seen. I also want to encourage anyone who wants to take to part to join me in your own way. You can pledge to read/watch/listen to/etc whatever you want to help fill some of your own pop culture blind spots. I am excited to see what everyone has on their own lists. Please feel free to tag me in your posts, or use the hashtag so that I can see them!

My twelve nonfiction books are:

My schedule looks like this (and if anyone wants to read any of these as well, I am happy to chat about them). Each of them links to their Goodreads pages for more details.

January -  Seduction: Sex, Lies, and Stardom in Howard Hughes's Hollywood by Karina Longworth

February - The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

March - The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

April -  Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow

May - In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

June - All That Heaven Allows: A Biography of Rock Hudson by Mark Griffin

July - Who Killed These Girls by Beverly Lowry

August - The Stranger Beside Me by Anne Rule

September - Lords of Chaos by Michael Moynihan

October - 5th Avenue, 5 AM by Sam Wasson

November - Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt

December - TBD - hoping to fill this spot with a 2020 release I am not aware of yet

Here are the movies I am going to watch for this event:

The schedule for this will be as follows (and again, if anyone else wants to watch and chat just let me know).

January - A Place In The Sun

February - A Streetcar Named Desire

March - An Affair To Remember

April - Sabrina

May - Niagara

June - Rear Window

July - Penny Serenade

August - Humoresque

September - It Happened One Night

October - Gaslight

November - Pillow Talk

December - It's  A Wonderful Life

What are your own pop culture blind spots? Have you read any of the books, or seen any of the movies that I am going to tackle this year? Let know in the comments. 

Best of 2019 - Movie Edition

As we say goodbye to 2019 I thought I would share my top ten list of the best movies I saw this year. I kept this to movies that came out this year to help narrow it down.

These are in no particular order (as that would be impossible). There are also some movies that have come out this year that I haven't seen yet (like Uncut Gems for example).

There were plenty of movies I liked this year but only a few that I would say I LOVED. I don't really have a Call Me By Your Name/A Star Is Born movie that I am completely obsessed with this year. It makes this list a little harder, and a little more interesting to write.

Here is my Best Movies of 2019 list:

1. Parasite

There are always movies that people will tell you to go in knowing as little as possible as to not ruin or taint the experience. Many have said it regarding Parasite. This is one of the times where this advice should actually be followed. It's a fantastically plotted movie that is better enjoyed as an experience. The performances, directing, script, and pretty much everything else are incredible.

2. Marriage Story

This movie offers an uncomfortable look at a marriage that is ending. It, at times, may feel too authentic to people who have gone through a divorce. It's, mostly, filled with reasons that this marriage does not work, but does show you these little moments where you understand why they were together. It doesn't take a real 'side' in terms of who is a fault but instead offers that it was a mixture of both people in the marriage that caused it to not work out. Adam Driver gives an incredible performance as do many other members of the cast.

3. The Farewell 

A beautiful, sad, and sort of uplifting movie about a woman and her connection with her grandmother and what happens when that grandmother gets ill and the family decides to keep the diagnosis from her. This is one that manged to sneak up on me and I didn't realize how much it had impacted me until it was over. Awkwafina delivers a different performance than what is typically expected of her and does so brilliantly.

4. Knives Out

A fun, incredibly entertaining, whodunit from director/writer Rian Johnson that I had a blast watching. Great performances from the entire cast (and an especially enjoyable turn from Chris Evans in a fantastic cable knit sweater) and a satisfying conclusion to the mystery at hand make this one a must watch.

5. Booksmart

A supremely fun coming of age story from director Olivia Wilde that boasts amazing performances from Beanie Feldstein, Kaitlyn Dever, and Billie Lourd. Think Superbad but teen girls instead. It's a funny, sometimes raunchy, heartfelt, and entertaining coming of age story that entirely charmed me.

6. Rocketman

Taron Egerton carries this movie and does so brilliantly. It is one of my favourite performances of the year. It also happens to be a good movie. Elton John's involvement ensured that the music was exactly what you wanted from this movie, and he didn't demand they sweep past any of the struggles he went through. Making it more of a musical than a straight up biopic was a fantastic choice as Elton John's story is one that would lend itself to this more than others.

7. Us

I did not like Us as much as I liked Get Out. There were elements from US that fell a little short for me, but it was still one of my favourite experiences at the movies this year. It boasts one of the year's best performances from Lupita Nyongo. She's incredible as Red. The movie itself is a good horror movie, and once again showcases Jordan Peele's directing skills.

8. Little Women

I am pretty sure people will be mixed on this movie, but I enjoyed it immensely. Saoirse Ronan is a great Jo, and Timothee Chalamat is a perfect Laurie. I do think that fans of Little Women, and those familiar with the story, will enjoy it more than those who are going into it fresh (but I doubt that applies to many people at this point). You can tell that director Greta Gerwig loves the source material and that shines through every frame of this movie.

9. Hustlers

This is another movie that is fun to watch. It may be overtly about this group of women scamming money out of a bunch of rich wall street guys, but it is also about female friendship. Constance Wu and Jennifer Lopez's performances are great (and Jennifer Lopez should absolutely be in the Supporting Actress talks for Oscar nominations). It is the type of female led movie that I hope to see more of in the future.

10. Lords Of Chaos 

A movie that will absolutely not appeal to everyone. It's violent (sometimes brutally so) and doesn't delve as far into some of the elements surrounding the true crime that inspired this movie as I would have liked. It does, however, boast some pretty good performances and manages to be mesmerizing while you are watching it. Rory Culkin and Emory Cohen, in particular, stand out in the cast, but Jack Kilmer's portrayal of Pelle 'Dead' Ohlin also lingers with you.

What movies make your Best of 2019 list? Let me know which ones I need to check out in the comments below.

2020 Movies I Am Excited About

I spent almost three weeks telling you all about the books that I am excited about in 2020. Today I thought I would share the movies that I am looking forward to in 2020.

This is not a comprehensive or exhaustive list. There will be plenty of movies that we haven't even heard about that will release towards the end of the year. There will be movies that get delayed and end up not being released this year.

I decided to cap it at ten movies and they are in no particular order.

1. Promising Young Woman - Such a great trailer and a unique take on the story being told is what caught my attention. Carey Mulligan looks fantastic in it, and I cannot wait to see the conversations that start from this movie. I am half excited and half dreading them.

2. Into The Heights - All I really need to know is that it is a musical and that Lin Manuel Miranda is involved. It's a bonus that the trailer looks incredible.

3. Deep Water - Based on the book from Patricia Highsmith (who has written many other books turned into good films) this caught my attention both because of some of the cast and the synopsis. I love a good murder mystery.

4. Nightmare Alley - This has the biggest chance of not coming out this year, but it sounds amazing. A stellar cast, Guillermo del Toro directing, and a great sounding synopsis. It revolves around a con-man and a therapist who team up to con people out of their money.

5. Happiest Season - Kristen Stewart has been making interesting choices lately and this seems to be one that might catch some awards attention. Directed by Clea DuVall it revolves around a woman wanting to propose to her girlfriend over the holidays only to discover that her girlfriend hasn't come out to her conservative parents.

6. Babylon - This is director Damien Chazelle's next movie and it is rumoured to be about Hollywood and will star Emma Stone as actress Clara Bow. It rumouredly looks at the transition from silent movies to 'talkies'.

7. Supernova - This stars Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth as a couple traveling across England revisiting family, friends, and places that are important to them, something even more important now that one of them has been diagnosed with early onset dementia. This screams Oscar bait and I hope it is as good as it sounds.

8. I’m Thinking of Ending Things - The cast has me super excited for this one! It stars Toni Collette, Jesse Plemons, and Jessie Buckley. It's based off the novel by Iain Reid.

9. Mank - This revolves around the making of Citizen Cane, has an actor I like playing Orsen Wells, and is apparently focused on screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz.

10. Blonde - Not much is known about this one yet, except that it is about Marilyn Monroe. Ana de Armas (whom I liked in Knives Out) starts as the famous blonde and it appears to look at her early life.

What movies are you looking forward to in 2020? Let me know in the comments. I am always looking to hear about movies that may have flown under my radar.

Happy Halloween!

It's Halloween and that officially ends the spookiest of months. This, however, does not have to mean that you have to stop watching your favourite spooky movies or reading spooky books. I am going to share my five favourite Halloween season movies and books so that you can keep the chills going well into November.

MOVIES

My movie list is in no particular order and are filled with all of the movies I love to watch in the month of October. These are ones I return to again and again.

1. Scream                

Scream is one of my all time favourite scary movies. The infamous opening scene on its own makes this movie worth the watch, but the great cast, and smart script are also big reasons to check this one out. It also has Skeet Ulrich looking very hot. Just saying.

2. The Crow

This may not be specifically a Halloween movie, but I watch it every October. I feel the atmosphere and tone is sufficiently worthy of watching during the Halloween season. I, maybe surprisingly, find this to be an incredibly romantic movie. Eric and Shelly's romance is tragic but beautiful. Brandon Lee is freaking incredible in this. His performance gives me chills each time I watch it.

3. The Craft                    

This is another movie that perhaps doesn't scream Halloween, but is one I watch every October all the same. It's witchy and atmospheric in a way that entirely fits the season. 

4. Practical Magic

Another movie on this list due to it involving witches. It also has the best use of the song "This Kiss" in ANY movie. It's a story of sisterhood, magic, and love. It's perfect for those who don't want their Halloween movies to have too much of a scare.

5. Nightmare Before Christmas 

This movie gets to be both appropriate for the Halloween season and a perfect way to transition from Halloween to the holiday season. It's one I tend to watch towards the end when I am reading to say goodbye to the season of chills. It's charming and also a great way to introduce children to more scary fare.

BOOKS

My books list is a little different. These are ones I would recommend as perfect reads during the month of October. It'll be a mix of recent and older titles and they are, again, in no particular order.

1. Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin

 

This is a book filled with witches, forbidden romance, and plenty of atmosphere. It's also got a fantastic cast of characters.

2. Lizzie by Dawn Ius

Based on the true story of Lizzie Borden, this book has plenty of spooky atmosphere. It's about a woman's descent into madness and is definitely creepy at times.

3. I'll Be Gone In The Dark by Michelle McNamara

Nothing scares me more than true crime stories. They're all the more terrifying because they are true stories. Michelle McNamara has written one of the best, and one of the most unsettling that I have read.

4. There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins 

This book is a love letter to slasher movies, and is especially influenced by Scream. It's perfect for anyone who wants Scream in book format. It's basically made to be read in October.

5. Dangerous Girls by Abigail Haas 

This title may not seem like a Halloween season read, but I think it totally fits. Sometimes you just want a good mystery that has some great twists and turns. Dangerous Girls is a book I STILL think about even thought I read it back in 2013. It's stayed with me, and that speaks to its power to unsettle.

There are some recommendations in case you, like me, aren't quite ready to say goodbye to the spooky reads and movies of October. What are some books and movies you like to watch in the Halloween season? Let me know in the comments.

A Glass Of Wine At The Movies - My Favourite Book To Movie Adaptations

Some of my favourite things after books are movies and television shows. I especially love it when the two come together and an adaptation of one of my favourite books gets released. I am sure there are probably a lot of people who dislike when one of their favourites gets turned into a movie or television show. There is a high likelihood that it will not be satisfying. It might end up being miscast. Your favourite scene could be cut from the show or movie. The story could change so much to make it unrecognizable from the source material. There are, however, the few exceptions where the adapted version lives up to the source material.

I was thinking of good adaptations and how they can honour the source material and create something entirely new. We all discuss when we've been disappointed but rarely spend as much time discussing when Hollywood gets it right.

Here are my favourite book to movie adaptations. These are mostly in no particular order but I especially like my top three. They are among some of my all time favourite movies.

1. Stand By Me (adapted from a short story by Stephen King called The Body)

One of my favourite movies of all time and one that is basically a comfort movie to me. It is one of the movies I watch when I am sick in bed, or just when I need an evening filled with all of the things I love.  River Phoenix may break my heart every time I watch it but it is perfection to me.

2. Gone Girl (adapted from Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name)

Everything from the setting, the casting, the directing, script writing, and editing was amazing here. Rosamund Pike brought one of my favourite characters to life with a delectable precision and all of the major moments from the book translated to screen perfectly.

3. Goodfellas (adapted from Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi)

This movie is an incredibly faithful adaptation of Nicholas Pileggi's book. It's one of  the best, if not THE best, gangster movies ever made and it is filled with some iconic performances.

4. Room (adapted from the book by Emma Donoghue)

Both the book and movie are heartbreaking and hopeful. They both allow you to believe that your experiencing things through Jack's eyes for the first time. The movie boasts electric performances by Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay (who gave the best performance by a male actor that year).

5. A Simple Favor (adapted from the book by Darcey Bell)

Here's where I offer a confession ... I tried to start this book and had to put it down. I might go back and try again later, but I think this may be a case where I like the movie more than the book it was adapted from. Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick are both on top of their game and the blend of dark comedy with an absolutely bananas plot works perfectly in this campy, over the top thriller.

6. Brokeback Mountain (adapated from the short story by Anne Proulx)

Another faithful adaptation of the source material (the length of the source material may account for this a little) that boasts a career defining performance from Heath Ledger. The movie is also beautifully shot and I am still angry it was robbed at the Oscars.

7. Silence  of the Lambs (adapted from the novel by Thomas Harris

I feel like this one is given. The movie is a classic for a reason. The acting is incredible, and I felt the same tone and atmosphere that I did while reading the book. It also doesn't hurt that it is just a well made movie with some truly memorable moments.

8. Interview With The Vampire (adapted from the novel by Anne Rice)

I recently rewatched this and was surprised with how much it holds up. Tom Cruise gives an impressive performance as Lestat and Brad Pitt broods rather well as Louis. New Orleans is the perfect back drop for this story and it makes for one heck of a beautiful film.

This is, obviously, not an exhaustive list. I am sure I left many amazing movies out. What adaptations are your favourite? Let me know in the comments.

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Just a small post this week. I have pretty much been busy watching Stranger Things and not much else is going on.

TV/MOVIES

Knives Out Trailer

I was intrigued by the casting in this movie and the fact that it was simply referred to as a 'classic whodunit'. Not much was released about the plot until the first trailer was revealed.

This trailer is really fun. Chris Evans looks like he is having a blast with this role. I looks like a fun mystery that, I think, will play well around USA Thanksgiving.

Stranger Things Season 3

I ended up watching the entirety of the third season in one day. It is, perhaps, the best season to date and filled with so many emotional moments. I don't want to give any spoilers, but I (mostly) loved all of the new characters. I will probably end up watching it at least once more and already cannot wait for season four.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

The End Of My Sinemia Experiment

There is a saying that if something seems to good to be true it is probably because it is. That turned out to be exactly the case with Sinemia. This month, as the title suggests, marks the end of my Sinemia experiment.

I had a lot of issues attempting to use the service in March. I was only able to use one of my three movies. I went to go see The Aftermath which I thought had some good acting in it. 

The app was pretty much not usable for most of March and their customer support is almost nonexistent (or supremely unhelpful when they did reply). After many messages, and a lot of aggravation on my end, I finally found out the reason for all of the troubles. Sinemia filed for bankruptcy in the United States and ceased operations there immediately.

They are supposedly still operating in Canada but their Twitter support has been silent since the announcement and the app is not working. I suspect this is because they have no money to allow their customers to purchase tickets and without support there is nowhere to go to for assistance.

I am hoping that Cineplex will eventually offer a subscription based service that is more sustainable. I loved going to the movies as much as I did and do think it is the future of movies (just not in this model which seems unsustainable).

I am going to still continue going to any of the movies I really want to see. I am going to just be a little more selective as I'll be pay full price again. 

Sinemia was great when it actually worked and the idea of making movies more accessible to all is a nice one but it ultimately sounds like this model of subscription service is not a good one. I am going to be interested in seeing what happens as things move forward with both the future of these subscription services and Sinemia itself

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Posting on a Sunday again! Lots to share this week in terms of movie/television trailers.

BOOK

Cover Of Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (goodreads)

Leigh Bardugo's first adult novel just had its cover reveal and it is PERFECTION! I love the dark, unsettling vibe of this cover. It matches the synopsis perfectly and manages to be eye catching.

I have a feeling that this book is going to be talked about A LOT as the release date nears/right after release as I anticipate it'll be one of those books everyone is reading.

TV / MOVIE

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood Trailer

I have been curious about this one since the premise was announced and I am really intrigued to see Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate.

We finally got our first look and I am a fan of the trailer not giving much away.

It's certainly fits the teaser trailer description but its enough to keep my interest piqued.

I also love the poster that was released (at least the Margot Robbie one).

She looks great and the poster certainly gives off a 70s feel.

Stranger Things Season 3 trailer

My reaction to this was incredibly embarrassing. It's my favourite show at the moment and I was just so happy to return to Hawkins (even if briefly via this teaser).

My main thoughts after watching this were: these kids are growing into teenagers really quickly, the music is amazing, IS BILLY TRANSFORMING INTO SOMETHING?!, WHY IS WILL CRYING?!, Steve and Dustin are still adorable, and I am entirely not okay with Steve getting injected with something! I loved our first look at the mayor (played by Cary Elwes) as well. Happy Fourth of July, indeed. I'll be binging this along with almost everyone else.

Lucy In The Sky Trailer

The true story that this is loosely based off of is one I am only sort of familiar with and the trailer doesn't hint too much at it so I am not going to spoil it, but it has the potential to be REALLY good.

Natalie Portman looks great in this. I sort of expect her to be in the conversation around awards season just based on the trailer alone. The movie is scheduled for a fall 2019 release which puts it in a good spot to gain some awards consideration.

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

Weekly Obsessions

The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

BOOK

Cover of Permanent Record by Mary H.K. Choi (goodreads)

The synopsis of this makes it sound like the main character has a lot in common with Britney Spears. She was a Disney Mouseketeer, a famous pop star at a young age, and a world wide sensation before she's twenty. It also sounds like an interesting love story that deals with fame and social media.

The cover reveal has only increased my desire to read this book. It's stunning.

The design fits the author's previous book which I am sure will please fans. I just love how simple it is while still being increadibly eye catching.

MOVIES/TV

Trailer for Yesterday

What would you do if you woke up one day and were the only person who remembered the Beatles? That is the question that the movie Yesterday asks. The first trailer released and it looks like it is going to be funny, sweet, and filled with some great music.

Himesh Patel seems to have the perfect amount of bashfulness mixed with charisma (based on the trailer) to pull off this type of role. This trailer makes the movie look like it'll be a ton of fun and I cannot wait to go see it this summer.

Yesterday Movie Poster

Along with the amazing trailer the official movie poster was released as well. It's perfect and matches the tone of the movie perfectly. It also includes an iconic reference to the Beatles. 

This movie just looks like a lot of fun and the poster (and trailer) telegraph that really well. 

Trailer for The Sun Is Also A Star

I have not read the novel that this movie is adapted from but the trailer charmed me so I've bumped it up my reading list.

The use of the song Crimson and Clover in the trailer is perfection and the two leads have amazing chemistry. 

Super cute, right? I love everything about this trailer and cannot wait to buy my ticket to go see the movie!

What are you obsessed with this week? Let me know in the comments.

My Sinemia Experiment: Month Six

I cannot believe I am already half way through this little experiment of mine. Month six of my "Year Of Sinemia' was all about getting to see those movies nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars that I hadn't already seen. This will be the first year that I have seen all of the nominees before the ceremony and that is entirely because of signing up for Sinemia.

January is usually not a great month for movies. There doesn't tend to be a lot of them released and the ones that are never really seem to grab my attention. I am lucky that it can sometimes take forever for Ottawa to get some of the smaller movies so I was able to see a lot of movies that had limited releases in December and finally made their way to a theater near me in January. 

The three movies I saw in January with my Sinemia account were Vice, If Beale Street Could Talk, and Green Book (which I will technically be watching the day this post goes up).

I loved If Beale Street Could Talk. It's such a beautifully made film and incredibly well acted. It was by far my favourite of the three that I saw this month (and I say this without seeing Green Book). I am only seeing Green Book to complete my watch of all the Oscar nominees. It, and Roma, are the only two I have not seen yet and I intend to watch Roma very soon.

My savings for this month was $17.86 after taking the convenience fees into consideration. This brings my grand total savings up to $137.64 (last month's total was $119.78). I can easily see me saving over $200 by the end of the year. It makes signing up again seem like a good idea. I'll reassess closer to the end of my membership.

My experience with the app this month has been really positive. I had no issues again this month. I am almost afraid to hope that their bugs have mostly been sorted out. It's been perfect for two months in a row now so I am, obviously, waiting for it to get bad again. The worst part of this experiment for the month of January was going out in the freezing cold to see a movie. It's been a really bad month weather wise with the cold and huge amounts of snow so it hasn't made going out appealing. 

As previously mentioned the movies for February are not looking much better than the ones releasing in January so I may have to get creative in order to not lose any of my three movies. Sinemia may have actually helped me with my dilemma. Sinemia has recently announced a roll over option which I might test out. Apparently one of your movies can roll over into the next month. March has a lot of amazing ones coming out so I might try to save one to use on one of those instead of just going to something for the sake of going to something. 

What movies are you excited about this year? Anything I should keep on my radar? What movie do you think will win Best Picture at the Oscars? Let me know in the comments!