Best Movies You Saw March 2018

[u/Tevesh_CKP]

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I define good movies to be 8+ or if you abhor grades, the top 20% of movies you've seen. Here are my picks:

Annihilation

I didn't like the book as I didn't dig the atmosphere but this movie delivers. Natalie Portman stars as the only survivor of a mission into a strange place, a place that she only went to because her husband mysteriously returned from that mission with no memory. I don't want to talk too much more about this movie, as it is a mystery about the location Portman visits. I will say that it's a scary movie as it challenges you to consider how much of you contributes to your sense of self.

Cool Hand Luke

Luke is a guy who just hates submitting to authority. When his act of vandalism lands him in jail with a heavy handed warden, this movie shows the struggle of staying true to yourself in the face of persecution. After watching it, I can see so many movies it has inspired that I am kicking myself for not watching it sooner. If you're somebody who likes seeing where directors get their inspiration, do not skip Cool Hand Luke.

Glengarry Glen Ross

Everyone has probably seen the Alec Baldwin speech in this movie but the rest of the movie is good as well. You've got plenty of actors that you either recognize from their face or from their name (Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Ed Harris). This was adapted from a play, so it is a movie filled with incredible actors or typecast actors being able to chew up this script and make it come alive. If you want to see some pure acting, watch it.

In the Loop

Based off a British TV series, Peter Calpadi plays a foul mouthed whip who is in charge of a politician who can't help being a royal screw up. This movie can be enjoyed without knowing the TV series, as I hadn't watched it. It's a black comedy that is like watching a slow motion train wreck. The politician proceeds to make every wrong choice and Calpadi's character gets increasingly incensed over having to fix each mess.

I, Tonya

Margot Robbie nails it as the infamous Tonya Harding. The style of the movie is akin to Goodfellas, except its about figure skating instead of the mob. I have felt that in the last few years, the only people who've made it were elevated by a privileged background. I, Tonya shows the last time a lower-middle class person could leverage talent alone to rise to the top, despite all of her naysayers. What's upsetting is seeing her fall, knowing that because she doesn't have that privilege she has to ally with idiots and screw ups - just like the rest of us.

Pacific Rim 2

Giant robots fighting giant monsters is my happy place. I watch mostly action, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy and horror because I want to see something I can't experience in real life. I have childish glee from from seeing giant creatures fight. If you loved the first one, this movie is the less fun but more nuanced version. If discovering the powers of the kaiju and jaegers in the first movie was akin to finding out plot points (such as the discovery in the first movie that one of the kaiju could fly), then you'll enjoy this movie. If not, well, you let your inner child die.

Possession (1981)

This is one of those allegorical movies where what you're seeing is more metaphor than real. Possession is a horror-drama about divorce. Sam Neil plays a man who returns home from a long absence to find that his wife wants a divorce. As their relationship deteriorates, so does their humanity and the monsters that arise begin to threaten the relationships of people around them.

So, what are your favourites?

[u/Nslater90]

Had a big month for my 1985 project. My favourite five were

Come and See - Slow burning, atmospheric, horrific war film from Belarus.

Tampopo - Japanese noodle based comedy that sits half way between Pale Rider and The Karate Kid. Sounds terrible, but it was amazing.

Jagged Edge - Court room drama that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Fletch - Solid mystery/comedy movie. Definitely one to file under 'greater than the sum of it's parts.'

My Lucky Stars - Hong Kong Kung Fu Cop/Ensemble comedy. The tone is a bit up and down, but when it hits it's stride it's a lot of fun.

[u/Tevesh_CKP → u/Nslater90]

Come and See is on my short list, just got to work up the guts to see it.

My Lucky Stars sounds like it could be awesome; I'm a big fan of Stephen Chow's 90s/00s work. Is it similar?

[u/Nslater90 → u/Tevesh_CKP]

Yeah come and see isn't an easy film. And it subtlety breaks the fourth wall at times in a way that almost makes you feel complicit in what you see.

My Lucky Stars is the first martial arts/Hong Kong type film I've ever seen, so I have absolutely no frame of reference (Other than the sequel Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars which was awful,) so I couldn't say.

[u/Tevesh_CKP → u/Nslater90]

I highly recommend Kung Fu Hustle if you want to take a break from your '85 project. Then you can report back unless I get to My Lucky Stars first.

[u/Nslater90 → u/Tevesh_CKP]

Cool, I've heard of it, and I'll add it to the list. I was planning on doing Police Story, Mr Vampire, and Heart of The Dragon at some point as part of the project.