Strictly speaking, this is not the 20th January review — I didn’t start these monthly progress reports until 2010, which was my fourth year, so (factually) this is the 17th column of this nature. But it’s my 20th year, so what the hey!

I don’t know if that will make me more reflective throughout the year, but here’s one thing I’ve already observed: I was just 20 years old when I started this project, and this year I’ll turn 40. There’ll come a point before too long where 100 Films has been a part of my life longer than it hasn’t. I mean… crikey!

(Despite how close that makes it sound, “before too long” is actually the best part of two years away, in December 2027. Yes, I’ve put something in the diary.)

But, for now, it’s all about the past 31 days. Even after 20 years, they’ve set a new standard; broken a record, if you will. Unfortunately, it’s a bad record, and a new low standard. Oh dear…

#1 The Greatest Showman (2017) — Rewatch #1
#2 The Crime Is Mine (2023) — Wildcard #1
#3 The Roses (2025) — Failure #1

• I watched two feature films I’d never seen before in January.
• Both of them counted towards my 100 Films in a Year Challenge, along with one rewatch.
• That’s the weakest start to the year in the two-decade history of 100 Films — which is the new-low record I mentioned at the start.
• As regular readers may remember, the monthly average needed to hit 100 on target is just over eight films per month, so I’m starting the year very much on the back foot.
• But hey, it’s meant to be a challenge, right?
• That said, I’m so far behind already that I think there’s a realistic prospect I won’t catch up to target until the final quarter of the year — especially as I suspect February won’t hit eight Challenge films either.
• But hey, you never know, right?

Favourite Film of the Month
So, there are only two films to choose from this month, which makes this not very much of a contest at all. Arguably it’s a bit ridiculous even doing it. But I still am, obviously. So, I give the edge to The Roses, probably just because its accurate evocation of British manners and humours clicked with me more.

Least Favourite Film of the Month
And that means the loser by default is The Crime Is Mine, which is, y’know, French. But I liked it a lot and would recommend it, so this might be the most “technicality loser” in the 128-month history of the Arbies.

February may be the shortest month of the year, but I hope it winds up with more films.