Happy Spring, everyone!! 🌼💐🌸🌷˚˖𓍢ִִ໋🌿˚.🌞🐝
My backyard looks so green, and the grass is growing so fast that we may have to mow our lawn this weekend! I’m not crazy about how many weeds are popping up already, but hey, that comes with the warmer weather. I’m still recovering from my cold I got while covering MSPIFF (I even got mild bronchitis!), but I feel better enough that I’ve signed up for the Sheep Detectives screening on Saturday. So excited!
I know that I won’t be able to watch as many movies in May as my hubby and I will be taking our yearly overseas trip. This time we’ll be going to Japan, which has been on our bucket list for ages!!
In any case, here is what I saw last month:
APRIL VIEWINGS ON LETTERBOXD
(In the order of my rating)
I only got to see a paltry 11 films at MSPIFF, as I got sick in the tail end of it. I’m so bummed that I missed the Juliette Binoche dance documentary In-I In Motion on the big screen; hopefully it’ll get a streaming release later this summer.
I didn’t get to rewatch any film this month, but got to see a bunch of wonderful international films thanks to MSPIFF and a few indie screeners.
FULL REVIEWS
MSPIFF: The Chaplain & The Doctor & The Cycle of Love
MSPIFF: Eagles of the Republic
REVIEWS COMING SOON:
MSPIFF: Primavera
MSPIFF: Broken English
MSPIFF: Power Ballad
MSPIFF: The Last Viking
TV WATCHES
Daredevil: Born Again S2 and SUGAR S2
My husband and I have been binge-watching two series at the same time; both are the second seasons of our favorites.
Daredevil: Born Again S2
I’m a big fan of the Daredevil series since it started on Netflix; in fact, Season 3 remains the best of them all in my opinion. This Disney version of the Daredevil series builds on a strong first season, and it gets better. The showdown between Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) and Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio), who is now the mayor of NYC, gets even more intense. There are a few new faces, but not all the supporting cast pull in the weight. Out of the newer ones, I think Michael Gandolfini as Daniel Blake and Arty Froushan as Buck Cashman made the biggest impression.
I’m not sure I’ll have the time to do a full-season review, but I can say that certain aspects hit too close to home. Fisk’s anti-vigilante task force (AVTF) now operates with total freedom. They’ve already killed the Puerto Rican masked vigilante Hector “White Tiger” Ayala, and they have the authority to arrest and use force against anyone they choose. Given the recent ICE raids across the country and the murders of citizens in Minneapolis, it can be hard to watch at times.
If you love Daredevil, this season is just as well-crafted and well-acted. It’s more of a slow-burn, but the stakes remain high. I’ve been feeling a bit worn out by Marvel, and I’m not at all excited for Avengers: Doomsday, but Daredevil: Born Again seems to stand on its own and feels a bit distinct from the rest of the Marvel stuff.
SUGAR S2
I really liked season 1 of this stylish neo-noir, and Apple TV has been quite generous by giving us the screener for S2 nearly two months early. If you haven’t caught up with the series yet, I won’t spoil much. Let’s just say I love watching Colin Farrell play an unusually non-violent and empathetic LA private eye with a sexy name, John Sugar.
Los Angeles is practically a character in the film as the well-dressed PI loves cruising around town in his spotless Nassau blue 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible. He’s a big fan of classic films, and it’s a blast to see clips from old Hollywood movies pop up in every episode. With the self-narrated voiceover, the show pays tribute to retro detective shows but with some unexpected twists thrown in.
Season 2 of SUGAR drops on June 19th on AppleTV+.
52 Films By Women – 2026 Challenge
I am once again participating in this challenge. Per Women In Film (WIF) organization, the basic rules are simple: watch 52 films directed by women within one year and share what you watched on social media, using the hashtag #52FilmsByWomen to spread the word and get more people talking about the women filmmakers that don’t always get attention.
Another strong month for movies #directedbywomen with 6 new movies, yay!! So that brings the tally so far to 24 out of 52, so only 28 more to go until I hit my goal!!
Anyhoo, I ranked the movies on Letterboxd; you can follow my #52FilmsByWomen list as I will be updating it regularly. I have a good feeling I might be able to at least meet the 2025 tally of 62.
APRIL MOVIE(S) OF THE MONTH
PRIMAVERA and DON’T CALL ME MAMA
Two of the best of the month are MSPIFF films. I’ve got my review of Primavera, the Italian music-themed drama featuring Vivaldi, in my draft folder for next week, and I’ve already raved about how good Don’t Call Me Mama is. I highly recommend y’all check it out when it’s out on streaming!
I still have a few more MSPIFF reviews coming later this month, so stay tuned!
FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
I really didn’t watch anything other than a few James Bond movies including the last one in No Time to Die which I liked even more the 2nd time around though there is a bittersweet feel to it considering that it might be the last film produced by EON.
Have fun in Japan, it’s been a while since I was there. I hope to go back soon, enjoy the foods there. I know you guys aren’t into sushi but they have great ramen shops and izakaya, my favorite type of restaurants.
I didn’t see any new movies in theater last month but I did watch Crime 101 and I thought it was very good. I rewatched a few old movies that I purchased on 4K disc. One was Speed which I haven’t seen in a long time. It’s one of few summer movies that worked so well. The cast, script and direction all worked out great and it’s one of the few movies that needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible since all the stunts were don’t on camera! I sound like an old man now but since most movies uses digital so often these days, it’s great seeing older films that shot everything on camera.
I had no clue that Sugar season 2 was coming out, I’m looking forward to that! I’ve been watching the new DareDevil season too, so far so good. I still think the Netflix version is still better. Then I watched the new season of BEEF. It’s not getting as much love like the first season but I thought it was great.
I wish there is an edit button in the comment section, I sometime typed too fast and didn’t read what I wrote. Lol!
“all the stunts were don’t on camera!” I meant all the stunts were DONE on camera. Not sure why I typed “don’t” ha ha.