My Week in Film: January 15 to January 21

Here is what I watched. Some wild Downton Abbey theorizing and Ted Mosby bashing follows.

Tiny Furniture (dir. Lena Dunham, 2010)

Lena Dunham might be the voice of her generation which is apparently my generation. Her new HBO show “Girls” (watch the trailer here) premieres on April 15. I’m either going to love this show or absolutely hate it. (I was somewhere in the middle with Tiny Furniture.)

Another Earth (dir. Mike Cahill, 2011)

Another Earth is an interesting companion film to The Tree of Life and Melancholia. It tackles the same themes while being less of an overreaching art film.

Beauty and the Beast (dir.  Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, 1991)

It’s a tale as old as time! In 3D! It was a magical and it all relates to Downton Abbey. (Seriously, it does.)

Desk Set (dir. Walter Lang, 1957)

Another Katharine Hepburn-Spencer Tracy film that just makes me giddy.

My Beautiful Laundrette (dir. Stephen Frears, 1985)

Possibly my favorite Stephen Frears movie.

The Strange Case of Angelica (dir. Manoel de Oliveira, 2010)

I love Manoel de Oliveira’s films and this is no exception. The Strange Case of Angelica is charming, funny, and mystifying. He’s also an adorable old man.

happythankyoumoreplease (dir. Josh Radnor, 2010)

Ted Mosby made a movie. It’s not that good. I wanted Marshall and Lily to smack some sense into these awful characters.

Love Me Tender (dir. Robert D. Webb, 1956)

In his first movie, Elvis plays Clint Reno, the youngest of four brothers who stays home during the Civil War to care for his mother and family farm. When one brother, Vance (Richard Egan) is mistakenly reported as killed, Clint marries his brother’s girl. Drama ensues. Elvis sings. I tried hard not to laugh.

Submarine (dir. Richard Ayoade, 2010)

A quirky, entertaining coming-of-age film.

A Separation (dir. Asghar Farhadi, 2011)

This is one of the best familial dramas I have ever seen.

Far From Heaven (dir. Todd Haynes, 2002)

I hadn’t seen Far From Heaven since I was about 14 and now I have mixed feelings about it. Stylistically, it’s great and Julianne Moore is fantastic, but something about it doesn’t hold up. Or maybe, Mad Men has left me jaded.