12 Movie recs for 12 Months of DGM

There’s just something about discovering a Christmas movie in the dead of summer and wanting to take out your decor early ,or bake cookies to feel festive. Watching a goretastic horror film before bed on accident because you clicked on that movie thinking it was a romance- and you do not read log lines or descriptions. Discovering new movies in whatever serendipitous way possible is one of my favorite pastimes—especially when I get to share those random finds with friends. It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with cinema and love watching my favorite flicks with others. In honor of the one year anniversary of Dry Gin Martini I thought I’d share 12 movie recs with all of you; one movie for each past month of DGM. I’ve made holiday movie watchlists before but this is a little different because there’s no rhyme or reason. Grab a drink and get comfortable, get out a notepad while your at it and write some of these down for the future, this could get lengthy (it is lengthy).

APRIL- Starting off strong from April 2024 my dearest find- because I took forever to finally watch it- was Wonka directed by Paul King. I enjoyed Wonka so much that the movie became the theme for my 22nd birthday my friends threw for me. Musicals are such a delight and Timothee Chalamet is a delightful in this musical! He has and tangible energy in all of his roles because of his dedication and drive, that does not go unnoticed in this film. His precession, musicality, tone, comedic timing, it’s all so spectacular- and of course so are all of the songs. I was at first skeptical when I heard they Warner Brothers were making this film, why do we need another story about Willy Wonka and the Chocolate factory? Because it is fucking fabulous! Watch Wonka and stop thinking your better than musicals; beautiful score, enchanting cinematography, of course Timmy Tim and more.

MAY- This movie shattered my soul into shards and then stabbed me with them. Candy directed by Neil Armfield starring the late Heath Ledger and Abby Cornish is a devastating depiction of loss, addiction, and self-destruction. I don’t think I could watch this film a second time without mental preparation due to the amount of tears I wept on my first viewing. There are a lot of films out there that portray the struggles of addiction and I think this is one of the best I have seen in regards to the character’s complex relationships and dynamic. Bring your tissues but more importantly pay attention.

JUNE- Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you were raised entirely blind to influences from modern society? If you’re in the mood to be confused, perhaps disturbed, I’d highly recommend Dogtooth directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. The film follows three teenage siblings who are confined to an isolated country estate that might as well be its own universe. Watching these characters navigate life in such a sheltered, militant fashion is both enthralling and abnormal. I think about this film often because it was so compelling- but I should let you should know there may be some incest involved. Check it out but don’t say I didn’t I warned you.

JULY- Hands down my favorite film I watched in July was The Sweet East, it’s actually one of my favorite films in general and I simply can’t get enough of it. But, I have spoken about that movie on DGM before so I’ll offer you something new in tandem with an old beloved: Boys Don’t Cry. Directed by Kimberly Pierce, starring Hilary Swank and Chloe Sevigny, Boys Don’t Cry is one of the most impactful coming-of-age queer films I have ever seen. The story follows a young transgender man who explores his gender identity and searches for love in rural Nebraska and it is equally enlightening and devastating. At a time when the lives of transgender people are being threatened, I think watching this film could offer an honest perspective on the fear members of the queer community have for their safety and livelihood.

AUG- Punch-Drunk Love, great title and even greater movie. Adam Sandler truly is one of the greatest actors of all time and his ability to play both comedy and drama is unbelievable, this film is evidence of that absolute by the way. Directed by the genius Paul Thomas Anderson, with one of my favorite late actors Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and the lovely Emily Watson, Punch-Drunk Love is a near perfect picture. This film has one of the best score and cinematography combinations I’ve experiences, it is so visceral. Absolutely love this flick and highly recommend it to you, especially alone in the darkness of your bedroom. Don’t be surprised if you cry and laugh at the same time… I sure did.

SEPT- Action is not my usual cup of tea, unless it’s an elaborate, fast-paced, beautifully shot action film with impeccable costume design and Pam Grier. Jackie Brown was without a doubt my stand out screening in September, as a fan of Tarantino I wasn’t surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie, but I owe all of that enjoyment to Pam Grier and Samuel L. Jackson’s on screen dynamic. If you wanna talk Tarantino and this isn’t in your top three, maybe try again… I don’t know. One of my favorite opening sequences and I just can’t get over Pam Grier- she looks so good in this movie (I love my girl Kit on The L Word). Jackie Brown is a wild ride and one you have to see for yourself. Robert DeNiro, Michael Keaton, Chris Tucker, Bridget Fonda and more. Watch Jackie Brown, I love it and so will you.

OCT- Don’t you just love to pop on a classic movie while wearing your best pajamas, drinking a hot cup of tea… or perhaps a martini. That’s the exact circumstance to which I watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s this past October. Though I typically reserve October for horror, gore and gruesome flicks, this was a wonderful change of pace. Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn, is an eccentric New York City playgirl determined to marry a Brazilian millionaire when a young writer moves into her apartment building. The costume and production design is so rich and vibrant and Holly Golightly is an inspiration to me. Directed by Blake Edwards, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is the perfect choice for literally any movie night scenario.

NOV- In the month of November I traveled to my favorite city, London, where I had the pleasure of seeing The Apprentice just days after the election- what a sight to see. I have not shut up about this film since I saw it and I probably never will. Sebastian Stan offers a spot-on performance portraying Donald Trump and he goes toe-to-toe with Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn. This film is brilliant and offers a golden perspective on the not-so-shiny past relationships and business practices from the previous television personality and current President of the United States. The Apprentice did not receive any of the flowers it deserved at the time of its release, nor did it during award season and if you watch the film for what it is you cannot deny how amazing it is. Ali Abbasi’s direction of this film is impeccable; the cinematography; the pacing; the dialogue. Everything is incredibly detailed and the film as a whole is very eye opening. Regardless of your politics this is a film worth your time and attention.

DEC- Dear Kevin Smith, I have made several Tik Toks and one Instagram Reel asking you to please bring the Dogma Resurrection tour to Buffalo, NY- I will now be asking in this blog. Dogma was the perfect film to end out 2024 and now it’s going to be screening in theaters across America, just not near me. Selfishly I think Buffalo is a wonderful city and I think we don’t get enough love when it comes to tours, you could change that (yes I am writing this as if Kevin Smith is reading it). Dogma tells the hilarious and evocative story of an abortion clinic worker who is called upon to save the existence of humanity from being negated by two renegade angels trying to exploit a loophole and reenter Heaven. Chasing Amy was a film I saw in high school that- not to sound dramatic- changed my life, and in a way Dogma did the same. Working in the cannabis industry I constantly get to share my love for Kevin Smith films with people and I’d love to share it with my close friends too… at a screening of Dogma in Buffalo, NY. You can tickets for a tour stop near you here, and I will continue to ask Kevin Smith to bring the film here to me before its released in theaters June 5th.

JAN- One of my favorite films is The Secretary, and after seeing Babygirl this winter I was looking for more films that fell into the same realm as those two films which led me to The Piano Teacher. Though the final sequence of this film is incredibly violent and overall hard to watch, I think the story and exploration of repressed sexuality was engrossing. The Piano Teacher was directed by Michael Hankeke and if you find yourself a fan of this genre of female led stories navigating intimacy and complexities of sexuality I recommend this whole-heartedly, while making you aware that the final sequence is both upsetting and graphic. I have a Movies I Watched this Week video going into more detail about this film if you’re interested, there are so many shots in this film that come to mind often and I believe it is definitely worth the watch.

Tangerine and American Mary were my two favorite films from February and March of this year and like The Piano Teacher they’re are videos on my YouTube channel talking about them more in depth, since they’re so recent I am going to make you work for my review and suggest you subscribe to me over there so we can have more wonderful chats like this. I love watching movies and sharing my passion with others, I can’t thank you enough (again) for all of the support with Dry Gin Martini over this first year. My favorite thing about the cinema, and why I fell so deeply in love with it, is its ability to evoke change. With my past education and eternal passion for filmmaking and storytelling, more importantly its impact on society, I hope to do the same and evoke change in the films I aspire to create one day. I hope you enjoy these 12 movies for 12 months of DGM- here’s to many more movies and months!

Watch more movies together. Make more movies together! Till next time, stay flirty, stay thirsty and follow my Letterboxd so I can follow yours! Cin Cin.

See you soon,

Paige B.