Directed by Werner Herzog Stroszek is both heartwarming and scathing, a film whose innocence wears off over time and reveals a much darker underbelly. It's the story of a simple man, Bruno Stroszek, fresh out of prison and eager to start his life anew. He is without any real prospects (career, romantic or otherwise) and deals … Continue reading Stroszek (1977)
Waves (2019)
Directed by Trey Edward Shults Not to make a terrible pun out of the title, but Waves really does feel like you're standing four feet into the ocean tide, with the water level rising and sinking in rapid succession. At times it flows so damn well, a free-flowing visual poem that washes soothingly around you. … Continue reading Waves (2019)
The Defiant Ones (1958)
Directed by Stanley Kramer The Defiant Ones was the inspiration for the relationship between Woody and Buzz in Toy Story. It's the story of two men more than at odds with each other who are literally chained together as they deal with a more immediate, oppressive force. This set up necessitates that they learn to get … Continue reading The Defiant Ones (1958)
Heathers (1988)
Directed by Michael Lehmann There's an obvious bit of Bonnie and Clyde to Heathers, but in recent years so too can you find reasons to compare it to Mean Girls (2004), World's Greatest Dad (2009) and even Invasion of the Body Snatchers. It's a strange, dark comedy about a series of murders at a high school which the powers that be … Continue reading Heathers (1988)
Honey Boy (2019)
Directed by Alma Har'el Honey Boy feels like a rough draft, and maybe, based on the intensely personal story, it was always going to be. It's the story about a child actor whose father's abuse gives him PTSD. That actor, Otis, is a stand in for Shia LaBeouf who plays Otis' father, in a very … Continue reading Honey Boy (2019)
Bad Education (2004)
Directed by Pedro Almodóvar There's a real Hitchcockian vibe to Bad Education. It's a wonderfully crazy movie about revenge, with interweaving narratives, timelines and realities. The revenge isn't even the central focus of the movie, as the character out for revenge isn't exactly front and center here. That would be Ignacio, a man who is impersonated … Continue reading Bad Education (2004)
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Directed by Mike Flanagan While itself a straight down the middle, somewhat delirious horror/fantasy movie, Doctor Sleep is more fascinating for how it interacts with its prequel, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Stephen King is widely known to loath that 1980 film for how it deviates from his novel. The character Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson) was … Continue reading Doctor Sleep (2019)
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Directed by James Mangold This is both exhilarating and frustrating. Ford v Ferrari can be extremely fun, but it's so simplistic in ways that feel like something is missing or actively covered up. It's a movie with clear heroes and villains, antagonists that are unnaturally unlikeable (outside of Hollywood movies) and slimy. They exist to be … Continue reading Ford v Ferrari (2019)
The Irishman (2019)
Directed by Martin Scorsese Because of how contemplative The Irishman becomes towards the end I think it is best served by being so long (three and a half hours). Like with Boyhood (2014) it's that time spent with these characters that helps deliver such a poignant final image, one that can't be cheated or expedited. … Continue reading The Irishman (2019)
The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
Directed by Atom Egoyan The Sweet Hereafter can be a gut wrenching film, as it should be considering the subject material. It's about the tormented people in a small town after a fatal accident involving a school bus full of children, and despite the obvious trauma of such a thing the film isn't as manipulative … Continue reading The Sweet Hereafter (1997)
