WHAT I'VE BEEN WATCHING: JANUARY 1-JANUARY 4

In a tumultuous week for me emotionally, the following films have provided a lot of comfort. I'd recommend three of the four to anybody, as they're all pretty fantastic, with one exception. These films were found through Criterion, once more, as I continue my dive into their catalog.

LA NOTTE (1961), perhaps my favorite Michaelangelo Antonioni film thus far and my favorite of the four films I've written about here, here is a fabulous, decadent tale of moral decay in 1960s bourgeoisie Milan. Monica Vitti steals the show as the woman who seemingly acts as a conduit for Jeanne Moreau and Marcello Mastrionni's marital problems, but the trio of performances here are stunning. What's more is how Antonioni uses space and blocking to convey emotional distance, alienation, and longing in such a superficial and pretentious circle of people. Stream on the Criterion Channel, Kanopy, HBOMax or rent on Amazon Video for $3.99.

THE CREMATOR (1969), a disturbing, bizarre tale of how evil seeped into the cracks of one family in Czechoslovakia in Hitler's regime. We follow Mr. Kopfrkingl, a cremator, as he falls under the influence of Nazi friends of his. How this manifests towards the end of the film is upsetting, not necessarily on a physical or emotional level, but a spiritual level. The craftsmanship of the film is remarkable, especially in the editing as director Juraj Herz performs a series of incredible match cuts with grace and style. The fish-eye lens work and unique title sequence alone would also warrant a watch if the subject matter weren't so timely and powerful. Stream on the Criterion Channel or Kanopy.

THE FIRE WITHIN (1963), perhaps my least favorite Louis Malle film I've seen, and I'm a pretty big fan of the filmmaker, but this felt like flat, unenthused filmmaking. The film focuses on the plight of its central character, Alain Leroy (in a solid performance from Maurice Ronet), as he contemplates suicide following a recent stint at rehab. He revisits a series of old friends in Paris, all of whom emphasize the dullness of his own life, before making his final decision as to whether he'll end his life. The lack of interest Alain Leroy has for life rubs off on the viewer to create a film that is ultimately as uninteresting as Alain's bevy of friends. Stream on the Criterion Channel or Kanopy.

MON ONCLE ANTOINE (1971), a Quebecois coming-of-age film that follows the young Benoit as he confronts death, adultery, and sex for the first time on Christmas Eve. The film looks gorgeous, each interior illuminating the warmth of a fireplace, while the exteriors are harsh and white. The experience of the film feels like changing into your longjohns by the fire. It's altogether melancholy and hopeful, an incredibly honest portrait of small-town living and a soft, elegiac picture of community. Stream on the Criterion Channel, Kanopy, DirecTV, or WatchTCM.