The Friendwatch Project (Top 4 and 5 Star movies from Letterboxd Friends) that I will Watch and Review

In the late 1970s, Dorothea, a determined single mother in her fifties, faces the challenges of raising her teenage son Jamie. But she will not be alone, she will be helped by two unconventional women: Abbie, a free-spirited punk artist, and Julie, her provocative teenage neighbor. In a feminine world, Jamie will face the dilemmas of growing up in a context of social change, rebellion and the search for love. A moving film with a stellar cast that includes Annette Bening, Elle Fanning and Greta Gerwig.

A concert given on 4th and 5th (plus an added performance on 6th) of August 2008 at Tokyo's 14,000-seat Nippon Budôkan venue commemorating both the Japanese theatrical premiere of "Ponyo" and the 25 years of musical collaboration between composer Joe Hisaishi and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.

When a group of animal activists unknowingly releases a group of infected animals that were being used for research at a laboratory, the virus spreads rapidly throughout the UK. Twenty-eight days after the initial outbreak, Jim wakes up from a coma in a deserted hospital, and he meets a group of survivors. Acclaim for its gritty atmosphere, and realistic portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world, you can not miss that one!

Six months post the initial epidemic, the relentless rabies virus has decimated the entire British Isles. The U.S. military, deeming the threat extinguished, sends troops to reestablish order and initiate reconstruction. British refugees cautiously reclaim their homeland, but one among them harbors a perilous truth: the virus hasn't vanished, and its resurgence is deadlier than ever before. A great sequel that you can't miss.

In the heart of the Old West, a humble rancher undertakes the perilous task of guarding a notorious outlaw bound for a Yuma-bound train. What follows is a high-stakes showdown of determination and wits, where the line between captor and captive blurs. Experience the raw intensity of this Western masterpiece, featuring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, in a relentless saga of action and suspense.

Tim Lake is a young man who discovers that he has the ability to travel back in time. He uses this precious ability to try and improve his own life and find love and he found it. Tim falls in love with Mary and must learn to balance his desires with the limitations of time travel. With a blend of romance, comedy, and drama, it is a good choice to watch anytime.

Upon meeting a woman in a cafe, Paul Hackett, a mundane office worker, embarks on a wild evening that quickly spirals into chaos. In the vibrant streets of New York City, Paul finds himself trying to navigate the absurdity that surrounds him, creating an atmosphere that is both tense and funny. Martin Scorsese's masterful direction infuses the film with a blend of suspense, humor and unpredictability that has earned it critical acclaim and established this black comedy as a cult classic.

Set in New York during the 19th century, this Martin Scorsese film follows a high society lawyer, Newland Archer, and his bond with his fiancée May Welland. When May's cousin, the cosmopolitan Countess Ellen Olenska, makes her appearance, she gradually falls in love with Newland and challenges his conservative spirit. The film features stunning performances by Michelle Pfeiffer, Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder. A must-see film from the director, and one to savour thanks to its impressive cinematic display.

A shallow pick-up artist is violently torn to pieces by women, as seen through his ridiculously one-sided and melodramatic point of view. "Ah L'Amour" is a satirical meta-commentary on toxic masculinity and male expectations.

In this Spielberg masterpiece set in the future, David, a robot child adopted by a heartbroken couple with a comatose child, is left alone and embarks on a perilous journey to become human and gain his mother’s love. With a unique and touching narrative, this profound exploration of identity, love, and the essence of being human takes audiences on a roller coaster of feelings, with stellar performances that will leave you moved and inspired.

In a dystopian future, a compassionate doctor revives a cyborg named Alita, whose lost past holds formidable fighting skills. Alita, with her relentless spirit and intense determination, becomes a beacon of hope amidst chaos. Anyone seeking a tale of resilience and empowerment will find this movie inspiring and worthwhile.

Life isn't easy for a group of high school kids growing up absurd in Japan's pervasive pop/cyber culture. As they negotiate teen badlands- school bullies, parents from another planet, lurid snapshots of sex and death- these everyday rebels without a cause seek sanctuary, even salvation, through pop star savior Lily Chou-Chou, embracing her sad, dreamy songs and sharing their fears and secrets in Lilyholic chat rooms. Immersed in the speed of everyday troubles, their lives inevitably climax in a fatal collision between real and virtual identities, a final logging-off from innocence.

All Too Well: The Short Film is an American romantic drama short film written and directed by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and produced by Saul Germaine. Titled after Swift's 2012 song "All Too Well", the film is based on the premise of the song's 10-minute version, and stars American actress Sadie Sink and actor Dylan O'Brien as a couple in a romantic relationship that ultimately falls apart; Swift also makes a brief appearance.

This unforgettable movie by the distinguished director Michael Haneke tells the story about George and Anne, a long life and loving couple. They enjoy their day to day life as retired music teachers, until one day Anne has a stroke and starts slowly deteriorating in mind and body. In a deeply honest but also touching way this masterpiece captures the essence of resilience, the power of love but also its extremes. Without ever forgetting that first, it's a love story.

Frederick Manion (Ben Gazzara), a lieutenant in the army, is arrested for the murder of a bartender, Barney Quill. He claims, in his defense, that the victim had raped and beaten up his wife Laura (Lee Remick). Although Laura supports her husband's story, the local paper has reported that the police surgeon can find no evidence that she has been raped. Manion is defended by Paul Biegler (James Stewart), a humble small-town lawyer and recently deposed district attorney. During the course of interviews, Biegler discovers that Manion is violently possessive and jealous, and also that his wife has a reputation for flirting with other men. Biegler realizes that the prosecution will try to make the court believe that Laura had been drunk and was picked up by the bartender and then her husband killed him and beat her up when he discovered they had been together. Manion pleads "not guilty" and Biegler, who knows that his case is weak, tries to find evidence that will save Manion.

A passionate tale of love and liberation set amidst the conservative confines of modern Georgian society, AND THEN WE DANCED follows Merab, a devoted dancer who has been training for years with his partner Mary for a spot in the National Georgian Ensemble. The arrival of another male dancer, Irakli-gifted with perfect form and equipped with a rebellious streak-throws Merab off balance, sparking both an intense rivalry and romantic desire that may cause him to risk his future in dance as well as his relationships with Mary and his family.