Streaming apps are slowly killing cinema. The pandemic helped with this slow death; It’s very true, but the convenience of having the film you want in the palm of your hand I think is the most lethal thing about this story. And I know for myself that today I have everything on my television: Netflix, Globoplay, Max, Disney, Star+, Paramount, Apple TV, Prime and Mubi (to watch cult, Japanese, French, Chinese films). Go out to the cinema for what?
Apps have also disrupted my reading habit. Before, every time I took a plane, I took a book. Today I rarely do this. I switched to endless and addictive series. But that’s another story, today I’m going to focus on cinema.
In 2024, I promised myself to go to the cinema more often. And I advise you to do the same. Not out of a nostalgic feeling. But to force yourself to leave the house, get up from the couch, leave your laziness aside and allow yourself to go for a short walk. Do it. Not to mention that we have an excellent crop of films for the big screen. My tips below to make this article a little more useful:
Dune Part 2 – This is a film tailor-made for the big screen. Denis Villeneuve’s desert reminds me of David Lean’s long takes, it also brings me nostalgia for CinemaScope, for cinema. The film is pure magic and the second part, in my opinion, surpassed the first. I warn you, however, that I feel suspicious, as I am one of the few to like the original Dune, released in 1984 by David Lynch. I also love Herbert’s novel and followed Alejandro Jodorovsky’s saga to try to make the feature film, including Salvador Dali as an actor. You can watch this story in Jodorovsky’s excellent documentary Dune, “the greatest film that ever happened”.
Poor Creatures – Another masterpiece I recently watched on the big screen and rewatched on Star+. Strange, funny and captivating film. For those who don’t know the story, the closest reference I can give is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Poor Things, however, goes the other way. The cast is magnificent and not just Emma Stone, who won the Oscar for best actress with the main role. Also Willem Dafoe, Ramy Youssef and Mark Ruffalo – hilarious as the seducer who ends up seduced.
Civil war – This is undoubtedly a work for the dark room. The film has an impact and I don’t think it would achieve the same effect on TV. I’m not going to give the synopsis, because you may have already read about it. However, I would like to highlight how proud I was to see Wagner Moura from Bahia sharing the leading role in this film. He definitely got there.
Rivals – Finally, my favorite film of 2024. Zendaya is magnificent in the role of Tashi. In no way does she resemble the teenager from Spider-Man or the warrior from Dune. In Rivals she is the pivot of an intense love triangle with two tennis friends. Including, let’s say, more adult scenes. The script and editing by Italian Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) is simply brilliant. In one of the most delicate scenes you are surprised by Caetano (Veloso) singing Pecado: “Yo no sé si este amor es sin/que tiene punishment/si es fault a las leyes honoradas/del hombre y de Dios”.
The ending of the film could not be different. I don’t say anything else. Hurry, it’s still in theaters. And if you are one of those lazier people, like I was – wait, as it will already be on an app on your Smart TV.
Alexandre Augusto is a journalist, photographer and author of the books Moreira da Silva, the last of the malandro and Stone Women.
