As much as I’d like to regale you with more tales of my first world problems – I may have lost part of a podcast recording! I had to send back a LoveFilm disc without watching it! I’m concerned about the upcoming London LAMB meet-up! I’ve got a cold! – there are more important things afoot. Namely, a new edition of the 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die book!

I don’t care about what was removed, because I look at the master list that includes everything that’s ever been on the List, so here’s what’s been added, along with my thoughts for each one:

Ida (2013): The Polish winner of this year’s Best Foreign Language Oscar as well as a nominee for Best Cinematography, I know very little about Ida but don’t mind that it needs watching because it’s less than 90 minutes long.

Under the Skin (2013): A surprise entry, it was also a surprise that I didn’t hate this movie. I’m more than OK with watching it again, hopefully just so I can understand it a little better now I know how it ends. Can’t say I’m looking forward to trying to review it though.

Citizenfour (2014): It’s a documentary, and that’s all I know.

Leviathan (2014): Again I know very little other than it’s long, Russian, and the giant monster skeleton on the poster doesn’t actually appear in the film, which is a major disappointment all round.

Boyhood (2014): I love being right. Love it. So when I reviewed this earlier in the year in anticipation of it being included on the List, I was frickin’ right. And that means I can add another film onto my counter of 1001 List movies reviewed this year! And I don’t have to watch Boyhood again! Hurrah!

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014): Another surprise I’m somewhat taken aback by. I’ve discussed before that I loved this in the cinema but have cared for it less and less ever since, so I’m shocked it made it onto the List, especially seeing as the far superior The Avengers or Iron Man didn’t.

Birdman: Or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014): Absolutely no surprise here. The Best Picture winner always gets added, and more often than not is removed a year or so later. As with Guardians I liked this less on the re-watch, but I’m willing to let it slip for a year or so before returning, at which point maybe I’ll like it more.

Whiplash (2014): A very welcome surprise and one of my favourite films from 2014, I now have even more reason to buy it on DVD. Cannot wait to relive those last twenty minutes again.

The Theory of Everything (2014): Added purely so they’ve got something to remove next year. It wasn’t bad, it’s just not List-worthy. A very “Meh” choice.

The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014): Not surprising, but not expected either, this could have gone either way. I loved it first time, enjoyed it second, and am more than OK to watch it again, especially because I’ve already got it on Blu-Ray (along with Birdman, Guardians and soon Whiplash too).

Here’s what I watched this week:

Traffic (2000)

Nominated for me to watch by Ryan McNeil of The Matinee, and also viewed as part of French Toast Sunday’s Steven Septembergh. Turns out I had seen it before, but could only remember a few details.
Lists: Nominated Movies, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, Empire’s 5-Star 500
Full review coming soon.

John Wick (2014)

I’ll be reviewing this soon for Blueprint: Review. Welcome back, Keanu.
Lists: 2015 Movies
Full review here.

Koyaaniqatsi (1983)

Part of a very regrettable Sunday morning triple-bill. Apparently plots are optional for movies.
Lists: 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, “Bad” Movies
Full review coming soon.

La Jetée (1964)

The sadly brief delicious filling in the triple-bill sandwich.
Lists: 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
Full review coming soon.

Sans Soleil (1983)

Capping off Sunday morning with whatever the heck this was.
Lists: 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, “Bad” Movies
Full review coming soon.

Posts you may have missed:
FilmWhys #58 Dial M For Murder & Buckaroo Banzai: I’ve entered the hallowed round of third-time guests on Bubbawheat’s podcast devoted to educating him on classics and us on superhero movies. I showed him one of my favourite under-appreciated Hitchcock films, he melted my brain with Buckaroo Banzai.
FTS Road Trip: South Carolina: The Birth of a Nation
FTS Podcast  #250 Drunk Trivia Clustercuss: The second annual International Drunk Trivia show saw myself, Jess and Lindsay’s boyfriend Jason take on Nick, Rob and Special Guest Dave in a bout for the ages. Things didn’t get quite as messy as last year’s four-hour opus that involves a laptop being doused with Sambuca, but it still got a little out of hand and is a very entertaining listen. This time next week I’ll have met most of these crazy cats in real life!
Lambcast #288 Sci-Fi Movie Draft: I was joined by Nick, Todd, Will and Bubbawheat to each attempt to draft the best team of sci-fi movies. You should absolutely go and vote for my team here. It’s the one with Jurassic Park in it. Naturally.

Goals Update
Aim: Watch all 61 saved TiVo films
Watched: 43
To go: 18
Should be on: 46
On Track: No!

Aim: Watch 59 movies released in the UK in 2015
Watched: 38
To go: 21
Should be on: 36
On Track: Yes!

Aim: Review Kate Winslet’s remaining films
Reviewed: 3
To go: 0
Should be on: 2
On Track: COMPLETED!/

Aim: Watch 12 “bad” films from the 1001 List
Reviewed: 8
To go: 4
Should be on: 9
On Track: No!

Aim: Watch 1 nominated film a week from the 1001 List
Reviewed: 34
To go: 18
Should be on: 39
On Track: No!

Aim: Cross off 75 films from the 1001 List
Reviewed: 61
To go: 14
Should be on: 56
On Track: Yes!

Aim: Finish French Toast Sunday Road Trip series
Reviewed: 8
To go: 8
Should be on: 8
On Track: Yes!