mysterious skin (greg araki)

it doesn't matter how many times i watch this movie, i always love it. the way it's filmed, the music, the acting, the storyline itself, everything is five stars. my favourite bits are definitely the dreamy sequences (the rain of candy, the snow in the open-air cinema, the flying saucer...) and, of course, brian's ufo stories and obsessions, but i also love neil's relationship with his best friend... and elisabeth shue! she's amazing. i don't know, i can't find a flaw. i love how brutal and sensitive it can be at the same time. the scene when neil's sick punter asks him to simply stroke his back is one of the sweetest moments i've ever seen in a movie.  and, yes, mr simonotron, i even like the americanism in the plot of having a traumatic event in childhood that haunts people as adults :-p

Rating: 10/10

chasing the sun (richard cohen)

thank you, book, for keeping me company all these months. i certainly felt a bit sad when i finally finished it. one of the most comprehensive studies of the subject, and a total joy to read. i loved learning about astronomy, calendars, the composition of light, shadows, atomic energy... and how the iconography of the sun has been adopted and used in literature, in art, in religion... even in politics. if only i could remember all the information contained here! pity about the first and last chapters, though, when the author goes all personal and tells you about his travels to see the sunrise from this amazing point or when he goes to the ganges to witness some sun rituals and sunsets. i don't really care, just tell me more about what might happen if a black hole hits the sun or how stars die. however, those two (short) chapters don't manage to spoil the brilliance of the other 600 pages. the perfect gift, thank you simon.

Rating: 10/10

das boot (wolfgang petersen)

this film was on my list for many years, but i was always put off by its length (3.5h inside an u-boat seemed a tad too long for me). nonetheless, i was wrong. it's incredibly exciting! i really enjoyed it, this will probably rank amongst my favourite films of all time. it's so beautiful, and sad, and opressive and human. i love how it portrays all the aspects, not only the missery and the tension but also the joy, the friendship and the camaraderie... i felt very impressed when i saw they included a party scene with one of the guys dressed up like josephine baker, dancing like crazy... that was amazing!! directors tend to 'forget' that side of life on board... but my favourite part is how germans are not demonised, you change the flag and this could have been an allied vessel. brilliant, brilliant, brilliant movie. and such brutal final 10 minutes, too.

Rating: 10/10

headwig and the angry inch (john cameron mitchell)

i can't believe it's already been ten years since this was first released. i rewatched it again last weekend and i'm glad to say it hasn't dated at all. hedwig will always be one of my favourite films and will always have a place in my heart. i love the aesthetics, the music, the acting, the clothes, the script, the story... everything. there are so many memorable moments in this film. hedwig is the personification of the beauty of the (im)perfect. all hail hedwig! hedwig, we love you.

"this is the best way that i've found to be the best you've ever seen"

Rating: 11/10

raiders of the lost ark (steven spielberg)

i felt so happy when i found out they were showing this last friday. the perfect night in! i enjoyed every single moment once again. i admit a huge percentage of my opinion is based on nostalgia, but i bet everybody is with me in thinking this is an amazing film. it's fun, it's full of adventure... and it has one of the sexiest protagonists in film history (i still can't decide if i prefer the cheeky adventurer or the shy lecturer... do i really have to choose?). this and the star wars trilogy are definitely the films that define my childhood. and i know i'm not alone!

Rating: 10/10

galaxy quest (dean parisot)

does this qualify as a spoof? i guess it does. but it's done with so much respect and love for the genre that i think it should actually be called a tribute. it's so much fun... but it's also exciting! it works in many levels, not only as a 'parody' but as an adventure movie in itself, the plot is actually rather good. the fact that it's full of good actors obviously helps, too. oh, and sam rockwell should always sport that sexy moustache. thank you simon for almost 'forcing' me to watch this.

Rating: 10/10