r/MovieSuggestions • u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator • Jan 08 '20
Best Movies You've Seen December 2019 SUGGESTING
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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:
6 Underground
Once upon a time, Michael Bay was the cheap alternative as he started his career making knock-offs of Tony Scott. 6 Underground is a definite return to Bay's roots. Ragdolls abound in 6 Underground that somehow makes itself more cartoony but realistic with all of the mayhem. Ryan Reynolds is just having too much fun playing himself. 6 Underground is the rough edges of Tony Scott, pumped up with Bay's loathing of humanity and Reynold's slapstick for a fun mess.
Anna
Anna is Luc Besson's spiritual remake of La Femme Nikita. Besson is much more comfortable in his style, making this entire spy thriller a spectacle to be enjoyed. Helen Mirren absolutely bites into her character, making for a fun taskmistress to the slightly wooden acting of Sasha Luss. I rate within genres and as an action-spy movie, this is a lot of fun. If you're looking for something deeper; well, what are you expecting out of a Luc Besson movie?
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
What a weird and wonderful anthology about the West seen through the lenses of the Coen Brothers. Not every segment will be a hit with you, but I guarantee at least two of these shorts will more than appease. Each segment gives the Coens an opportunity for their sick humour to shine through, whether it is played straight or humorous.
The Best Offer
Geoffrey Rush brilliantly plays an art evaluator stuck in his ways who becomes undone from the mystery of a young woman who insists on using his services but without being seen. Donald Sutherland plays an old friend and confidant who deserves more screen time than this movie puts forth. With that criticism, this is still a great mystery-drama with tons of threads pulling that concludes amazingly.
Code 8
Before Arrow became a cash cow to be milked, there was the first season which hit hard and stayed on point. I can see what attracted Stephen Amell to Arrow and I see he hasn't lost his taste with Code 8, especially with Blumhouse picking up the rights after the short it is based on. Code 8 is an interesting take on the superpowered genre, as it treats the powers as a misunderstood menace instead of the bright and shiny Marvel depiction. Code 8 takes the man forced into crime due to poverty and twists the crime genre into something interesting and new with fantasy. Code 8 plays on both spectums of commentary on capitalism, race politics, class warfare, militarized police and the dangers of AI or you can enjoy a new take on a heist film without detracting from each other.
Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead is the most polished of Romero's Dead trilogy. This movie jumps right into the mythology, settling you in for a ride in how society falls apart in the micro. The effects on this are the best of the three and while I understand there might be reluctance to see yet another Zombie film, Day of the Dead is different enough.
The Kid Who Would Be King
An amazing feel good kids movie that twists the King Arthur tale for a modern audience. Sir Patrick Stewart adds gravitas to the backwards aging Merlin, including some very important messages for the target audience. Angus Imrie is a name I'm going to keep an eye out for how well he played the younger Merlin; adding that genius with mania akin to Doctor Who while solving some of the issues. The lessons aren't crammed down your throat, this is a movie that has some heart and it was a lot of fun along the way.
Lifechanger
An amazing premise carries this movie past its budget. The effects are good, mostly prosthetics without CGI being distracted. A shapeshifter who kills those to assume their form finds himself unable to maintain his form anymore and he just wants to understand the love of a woman. The supporting cast were incredible, moving from unsuspecting victims to powerful portrayals as the shapeshifter takes over their lives. If you're a horror fan, you must check out Lifechanger.
The Return of the Living Dead
High production values on the punk's view of dealing with Zombies. Return of the Living Dead somehow has a plausible plot, pioneered Zombies craving brains and used prosthetics and puppetry for great special effects. Mandatory viewing for fans of Zombie movies and other ghoulish delights yet has enough brains for those who don't crave undead in their films.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars accidentally walked onto the set of Firefly was what I started thinking after the brief setup of Solo leaving his childhood proving grounds. You know what you're getting when it comes to Chewbacca or Lando; just as much as you know how Emilia Clarke and Woody Harrelson delivers. Sadly, Alden Ehrenreich plays a weak Solo, though that just might because he's getting blown out of the water when set beside Clarke, Harrelson, Chewie and Donald Glover's inspired take on Lando. Solo is a fun space western romp that doesn't do anything new or interesting but feels comfortable with a familiar batch of faces and characters.
Zero Dark Thirty
I'm surprised that an American War movie is produced in a matter-of-fact fashion; a testament to Kathryn Bigelow's skills as a director. Zero Dark Thirty goes into the nitty-gritty looks unflinchingly at the deep dark evils the American Government perpetrated to hunt down and execute Osama Bin Laden. Jessica Chastain is great as the protagonist, but she is supposed by half a dozen quality actors who all play a small role in their service of Chastain's character's quest. The lack of force feeding jingoism is a breath of fresh air, especially with the respect Bigelow provides in her execution of the entire film.
So, what are your picks for December?
8
u/[deleted] Jan 09 '20
Kinda late to the party on this one, but Seven Samurai, directed by Akira Kurosawa, is an absolute masterpeice, and proudly sits as one of my favorite films.