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Split Decision: Our 2022 Watchlists

Welcome to MovieJawn’s Split Decision! Each week, Ryan will pose a question to our staff of knowledgeable and passionate film lovers and share the responses. Chime in on Twitter, Facebook, our Instagram, or in the comments below.

This week’s question:
What is on your 2022 watchlist?

I recently splurged on the Ford at Fox Collection, a truly massive binder (to call it a box set doesn’t seem to do it justice) containing 24 of John Ford’s movies while working at Fox. The director most associated with the American western directed well over 100 films during his career, so even this colossal assembly of his work is a mere sampling of his work. I plan on watching the entire set this year, and Ford will likely be my most-watched director this year (he was second behind The Wachowski Sisters for me in 2021). . –Ryan Silberstein, Red Herring

Ever since I got the Criterion Channel, Saturday nights are spent watching something on it. Last week I discovered Lumiere d’ete, which put Jean Grémillon’s other two films, La ciel est à vous and Remorques on my watch list. I also recently added two journalism films, Park Row and Scandal Sheet, as well as something called Radio On, a British film I never heard of that is said to be a cult classic. I love making these discoveries which is why I love The Criterion Channel–Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer

Gary, I love the two Gremlins movies! The things I’m most looking forward to watching are William Klein’ Who Are You, Polly Magoo? and The Model Couple. Klein’s Mr. Freedom, an absolute bugfuck satire of American foreign and domestic policy in the 60s/today, was my favorite older discovery last year and I’m excited to dig deeper into whatever Klein has to offer.–Alex Rudolph, Staff Writer

I’m pretty excited for The Worst Person in the World, which just so happens to, at least at the time I write this, have the same release date as Jackass Forever. I’m picky about comedy and realize that I only exert what my friend calls me “theater laugh” when I’m genuinely surprised. When I watch an SNL sketch I’m like “oh.” But Jackass makes me howl.Audrey Callerstrom, Staff Writer

I recently purchased Severin Films’ folk horror box set All the Haunts Be Ours so, in lieu of listing all of the films I haven’t seen yet (which is most of them), I’ll opt for the documentary that anchors the collection, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched (directed by Kier-La Janisse). I’m usually not much for documentaries but, because I have an abiding love of folk horror, I am certain I’ll find 3+ hours to set aside for this one! –Clayton Hayes, Staff Writer

A few years ago, the ladyfriend and I started watching our way through the Universal Monsters movies (chronologically by release in case you were wondering). We were having a lot of fun with that little project, but to parody Jeff Goldblum’s line from Jurassic ParkLife, uhgets in the way”. So we fell off. I would really like to get back to that. Aside from those, I’d like to start watching some more of the offerings on the Criterion & Mubi apps. As Gary noted above, it’s a wide selection rich in film history (on both) and I should really be taking advantage of that more because, as it turns out, a lot of those films are famous because they’re very, very good. Who knew?  -“Doc” Hunter Bush, Staff Writer

I have only ever seen two Kurosawa films…will this finally be my Kurosawa year? I hope so. –A.Freedman, Staff Writer

This year, I want to get back into watching more foreign-language films. I used to watch them a lot. Then I felt “oh but my brain is tiredddddddd, pandemic, bla bla bla,” but really, my brain needs them. It’s actually astonishing how difficult it is for me to pay attention to the average english movie, but when I have to read the subtitles, and really put effort into paying attention, then I always enjoy the experience more. I know this. Just gotta do it! –Ashley Jane Davis, Staff Writer