What a month. August was filled with some remarkable ups and downs, but a lot of really great films. My posting here at the old Film Grimoire has been kind of all over the place due to crazy work and a crazy flu, but nevertheless, here are some weird and wonderful things that I enjoyed this month, and I hope you enjoy them as well!

Screenkicker! kicks it off with a top 5 list of awful movies from great directors. I love lists like this because they show that every filmmaking genius makes at least one silly mistake. For example, no one seems to remember that John Hughes produced Baby’s Day Out (1994). Should have stuck with the edgy teens and giant dogs! Also, would you like to learn some secrets from George R. R. Martin in a Screenkicker! exclusive? Here you go!

The amazing Gabriel Diego Valdez explores Gladiator 2, the best movie never made. I would watch the everloving shiz out of this film if it were to be made into a reality. It sounds actually amazing. Anything that Nick Cave is involved with gets a big tick of approval from me. Who’s up for crowdfunding an esoteric whackadoodle art film about a timetravelling gladiator? This guy/gal.

How tacky are you? Find out via The Tacky Test over at Oracle of Film, based on the most excellent song by Weird Al Yankovic. I got a score of 2, which makes me fairly respectable, but it really depends on your opinion about twerking in line at the DMV.

August was the month where my favourite time of year came to its inevitable and heartbreaking conclusion. I’m talking about the magnificent Shitfest over at Isaacs Picture Conclusions. This Shitfest Summer was pretty amazing and I loved everyone’s entries because not only did I laugh about some horrible films, but I also learned about bad films to either avoid or intensely hate-watch. The winner of this season was Abbi, with her spot on write-up of Eat Pray Love (2010) – or as it really should be called, Eat Pray Loathe. I don’t have the words to express how perfect this is. I have hated the book since forever and the film is doubly awful for a huge variety of reasons. Everyone read it!

Also over at Isaacs Picture Conclusions, the enigmatic Eric collected everyone’s personal experiences with psychos in lieu of a review of Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). Have a read of them here! Some of these stories are hilarious and weird, and not to mention, you get to read about the time I was sworn at by a well known Australian comedian/celebrity.

Amazing design blog Moss & Fog has been on fire this month, and one of my favourite posts was about an artist named Martin Kimball, who has been creating stunning photographs of what he calls light tornadoes. Really beautiful stuff.

Did anyone else not watch the Emmys? I just refreshed Wikipedia every so often to find out who won things. If, like me, you’re a lazy awards show watcher, then head over to Snap Crackle Watch! where Melissa has provided a lovely and comprehensive recap of the show for you! Thank you Melissa!

One of my favourite cinema ‘auteurs’ is Leos Carax, director of Holy Motors (2012). Cinema Axis did a post discussing all of his films that I found really fascinating and well worth a read.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has been getting an insane amount of media attention lately, all in the name of raising money for ALS (or, Motor Neurone Disease as it’s called in Australia). Not only did we get to see lots of celebrities and interesting people tip a bucket of water over their heads, but a massive amount of money has been raised for a very worthwhile cause. One of my favourite things this month was when the lovely Cara of Silver Screen Serenade posted a nice summary of the challenge, and the best of the videos, including some particularly good-looking dudes that partook in the process of pouring cold water on themselves. Nice.

I took part in a couple of awesome blogathons this month, including the 1984-A-Thon over at Forgotten Films, and the Alfred Hitchcock Blogathon, hosted by Rob of Movierob and Zoe of The Sporadic Chronicles of a Beginner Blogger. Both were a) a really good time, and b) include lots of excellent posts and reviews to catch up on!

Finally, congratulations to the magnificent Alina of Literary Vittles, who is now an officially published author in Bookbird, the international journal of childrens’ literature! Super exciting stuff!

Thus concludes my August favourites post! Did you guys have any favourites this month as well? Please feel free to share!