Good Time (2017)

IMDb plot summary: After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through the city's underworld in an increasingly desperate-and dangerous-attempt to get his brother Nick out of jail.
Directed by Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie. Starring Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Buddy Duress.

Usually crime films are completely uninteresting to me, but there's something particularly compelling about this one. Robert Pattinson's character is a fascinating combination of sympathetic and reprehensible, and the framing device of his relationship with his brother adds a layer to the story that is more interesting than your typical crime drama.

3 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Good Time > Sisters
Good Time < The Road Warrior
Good Time < Freaky Friday (2003)
Good Time < Crazy Heart
Good Time < Crocodile Dundee
Good Time > Lolita (1997)
Good Time > Dunkirk
Good Time > Frankie Go Boom
Good Time > Flypaper
Good Time > Downfall
Good Time < South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut

Final spot: #1327 out of 2825.

RoboCop (1987)

IMDb plot summary: In a dystopic and crime-ridden Detroit, a terminally wounded cop returns to the force as a powerful cyborg haunted by submerged memories.
Directed by Paul Verhoeven. Starring Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Dan O'Herlihy, and Ronny Cox.

Well, this is delightfully silly and 80s-y. So many goofy little moments, from that dumb ad that keeps playing to the board member cheerfully giving a thumbs up after their leader is murdered. Definitely enjoyably cheesy.

How it entered my Flickchart:
RoboCop > Sisters
RoboCop < Ordet
RoboCop < Freaky Friday (2003)
RoboCop > Crazy Heart
RoboCop > Premium Rush
RoboCop > The Killing
RoboCop > Duck Soup
RoboCop > Monsters Vs. Aliens
RoboCop > Malcolm X
RoboCop < Thor

Final spot: #1065 out of 2824.

Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl (1999)

IMDb plot summary: In dreamlike mountain scenery, Toshiko makes a daring escape from her sexually warped Uncle Sonezaki. Fortunately, she met Samehada as she runs for her life, which is also escaping from some slayers. What follows is a wild chase that leads the audience into a comically violent world.
Directed by Katsuhito Ishii. Starring Tadanobu Asano, Ittoku Kishibe, Sie Kohinata, and Kimie Shingyôji. 

I... do not get this. This is one of those movies that makes me feel dumb because while I can sort of track the overall plot, I can't follow most of what's happening moment to moment. I couldn't find the tone of the movie either - it had moments that seemed extremely dark and noirish and others that seemed almost cartoonishly goofy. I tried looking up some reviews and other info on the movie in the hope that I could get a better grip on it, but so far no luck.

1.5 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl < The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl > Wilde
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl < Cropsey
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl > Barry
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl < The American President
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl < Les Miserables (1935)
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl < Simone
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl < Side Effects
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl > The Dinner Guest
Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl < Albert Nobbs

Final spot: #1935 out of 2823.

Darkest Hour (2017)

IMDb plot summary: In May 1940, the fate of Western Europe hangs on British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler, or fight on knowing that it could mean a humiliating defeat for Britain and its empire.

Directed by Joe Wright. Starring Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn, and Lily James.

There's nothing overtly *bad* about this movie, but it's not exciting either. Especially compared to Dunkirk, which I didn't love much either, but it was at least a more unique way of telling the story. Every moment of this movie feels like the most obvious, unoriginal choice there could be. Again, not actively bad, just nothing creative in its storytelling.

1 star.

How it entered my Flickchart:

Darkest Hour < The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Darkest Hour < Three Kings

Darkest Hour > Napoleon

Darkest Hour > The Overnight

Darkest Hour > Airborne

Darkest Hour < In the Company of Men

Darkest Hour > Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Darkest Hour > Rio Bravo

Darkest Hour > Ray

Darkest Hour > Waltz with Bashir

Darkest Hour > In the Mood for Love

Final spot: #2162 out of 2822.

Sorry to Bother You (2018)

IMDb plot summary: In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success, propelling him into a macabre universe.
Directed by Boots Riley. Starring Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, and Omari Hardwick.

This is one of the wildest cinematic rides I've been on in awhile. It's hilarious and uncomfortable and startling and relatable and creative and bizarre and I liked it a lot.

4 stars.

How it entered my Flickchart:
Sorry to Bother You > To Rome with Love
Sorry to Bother You > The Departed
Sorry to Bother You < High School Musical
Sorry to Bother You > Open Your Eyes
Sorry to Bother You < The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Sorry to Bother You > Take Shelter
Sorry to Bother You < Flight
Sorry to Bother You > Lovely & Amazing
Sorry to Bother You < Beautiful Boy
Sorry to Bother You < Thermae Romae
Sorry to Bother You > Monsieur Lazhar

Final spot: #471 out of 2821.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

IMDb plot summary: Two siblings and three of their friends en route to visit their grandfather's grave in Texas end up falling victim to a family of cannibalistic psychopaths.
Directed by Tobe Hooper. Starring Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, Paul A. Partain, and William Vail.

This is one of the most viscerally upsetting horror movies I've seen in awhile. Right from the beginning, even before anything menacing has actually happened, there's a sense of things being just generally not right, a vague "squick" factor. That only gets more intense as it goes on, to the point that when the credits finally roll, even though our heroine is ostensibly safe, it feels like she's stuck in a perpetually unsafe world. This all sounds more negative than it is. This is a tremendously impactful horror film, and that's exactly why it's not one I can imagine ever wanting to watch again.

How it entered my Flickchart:
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre > To Rome with Love
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre < Spellbound (2002)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre > Thor
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre < Sin City
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre > The Happening
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre < School of Rock
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre < The Hunt for Red October
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre < A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999)
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre > Death to Smoochy
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre > Zero Effect
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre < 12 Angry Men (1997)

Final spot: #961 out of 2820.

The Big Chill (1983)

IMDb plot summary: A group of seven former college friends gather for a weekend reunion at a South Carolina winter house after the funeral of one of their friends.
Directed by Lawrence Kasdan. Starring Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, and William Hurt.

This is pretty solid. Each of the characters is just interesting enough and gets just enough screen time that I feel like I've gotten to know them a little and care about how things ultimately work out for them. Overall, there's nothing really wrong with it, but I didn't feel as emotionally connected to it as I hoped to. It's one that I feel might grow on me on a rewatch, though, so I'll have to give that a shot someday. In the meantime, I like its quiet, thoughtful nature and its compelling characters (and cast), and I'm glad I saw it.

3.5 stars.

How it entered into my Flickchart:
The Big Chill > Million Dollar Baby
The Big Chill < Fury
The Big Chill > The Master
The Big Chill > Last Action Hero
The Big Chill < Black Narcissus
The Big Chill > Fantasia 2000
The Big Chill > Le samourai
The Big Chill < Three Colors: White
The Big Chill < Oscar
The Big Chill > Wristcutters: A Love Story
The Big Chill < Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Final spot: #812 out of 2819, or 71%. This puts it at #32 out of 93 so far in the challenge.