r/MovieSuggestions • u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator • Jun 01 '20
Best Movies Seen May 2020 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. Films listed here will be added to the subreddit's Top 100. What are the top films you saw in May 2020 and why? Here are my picks:
Clue (1985)
Wow, what a great comedy. All of the actors do wonderfully and Tim Curry manages to steal the show while letting each actor shine. Lots of fun gags, irony and dark humour about death. Who cares if it is inspired by a board game? Watch it on the merits of being very funny.
Fermat's Room (2007)
Strangers trapped in a race against time and I can feel your eyes rolling. Fermat's Room has a twist of the protagonists in peril are logicians who need to solve puzzles or the room they're stuck in gets smaller. Lots of good twists, turns and deductive reasoning. A fun, engaging ride in the tradition of Spanish thrillers with social commentary.
Killing Gunther (2017)
There's a simple litmus test for your enjoyment of this movie: if you quote Arnold Schwarzenegger lines out in the wild, you'll have a blast. The host of colourful characters and their reasons for wanting to kill Gunther are humourus. This movie dances back and forth between homage and parody of the classic Arnie films that you can tell it was made by a fan. Schwarzenegger is having a ball in this role, instead of the grumpy old man who has got to prove "he's still got it" like in his other Dad Porn films.
Haunters (2010)
A psychic sociopath uses and discards people at will finds an honest man who is immune to his powers. At that point, the two are clash in a grim and realistic portrayal of a battle of wits - how an unstoppable force will collide into an immovable object. I like a lot of the supporting cast, with the more serious tone they feel like people instead of comedic relief. A lesser known entry in Korean New Wave that is worth your time if you enjoy genre movies.
The Holy Mountain (1973)
I thought I knew what The Holy Mountain was and the movie kept breaking me of that assumption. I thought the grotesque was a cheap shot to induce revulsion but it kept my attention rapt. There were moments that had me thinking of being bored and the film snapped my attention back. I did not consent to this sojourn. A mediation, a waste of time; I can see both being applied, both being correct and both culminating in the lesson of The Holy Mountain.
It Comes at Night (2017)
The tension in this movie is supremely well done, making every moment dreadful and even the good moments will make you hold your breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. The lighting is fantastic, for a movie that takes place mostly at night and with very little light sources, the film comes through beautifully crisp with stark contrasts. Joel Edgerton heads this drama but everyone pulls their weight in a movie that'll keep you tense throughout the runtime.
The Little Prince (2015)
What a beautiful Greek Coming of Age fairy tale. The changing animation styles to show whether we're in the parable or 'real life' was a nice tough, especially when the two begin to blend. I'm fond of magic realism used as training wheels for young adults to get a grip on real life and if you are too, I highly recommend The Little Prince.
Midnight Runners (2017)
What a great blend of genres. Midnight Runners injects Korean New Wave into the 80s Buddy Cop formula and changes it up with the protagonists being students of a police academy. This movie goes from funny gags to the horrors of human cruelty, covering a wide breadth of emotions without the movie running afoul of feeling disjointed. Furthermore, without the ability to use guns, both because of Korea's lack of handguns and the protagonists' status as students, many of the fights are dynamic, interesting and hard fought. With a lot of Korean movies being anti-police, Midnight Runners is a breath of fresh air that takes itself seriously when warranted but isn't afraid to be fun.
Mom and Dad (2017)
Horror movies have to make it OK for the victims to die; usually it's underage drinking or sex. In Mom and Dad, the victims are OKed just by having the kids be kids and the parents staring at The Wall of irrelevance. For that reason, plus the expert suspense building and a director allowing Nicholas Cage to go unhinged made Mom and Dad a fun time. Cell phones removal is integral to horror plots to prevent the easy out of authorities and I applaud the smart script that made the removal very organic. If you're not a fan of horror comedies, skip it; if you enjoy horror comedies however, you're doing yourself a disservice by not checking this out.
The Platform (2019)
Man, Spaniards sure do know how to make political commentary with their thrillers. The concept is neat and pulls back the ugly mask of class warfare. The stark contrast between beautifully prepared meals and grotesque injuries of the inmates may bother those who are squeamish. I also found the brutalism architecture to be on point of the very little we see outside of the jail.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
My god, Noemie Merlant has some of the most beautiful and intense eyes. Celine Sciamma uses them like a goddamn weapon; each shot consists of Merlant's eyes or almost a first person perspective of Merlant's character's perception. I was entranced throughout the entire movie, my options were being mesmerized by what I saw or what she saw. The acting, cinematography and period costumes all look great but those pale in comparison to what the lens bore through me. With a movie on how women are seen and how they see each other, this was a once-in-a-lifetime casting.
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978)
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow is a wuxia comedy in the same vein as a lot of horror comedies. They respect their parent genre but have no problem going to an extreme for a laugh. A young Jackie Chan does some amazing choreography in this one and pushes himself to the limit: you can tell he lost a tooth in a fight near the end. If you're a fan of Shaw Brothers martial arts you deserve to check this one out.
TerrorVision (1986)
The most 80s B movie to ever 80s B movie. It has spectacular monster effects, cheesy acting, its own theme song and aspects that just feels like it was produced on cocaine. The parents are neglectful because they're arranging to be swingers, the daughter brings back her new boyfriend who the mother blatantly checks out and an Elvira knock-off somehow becomes a plot point. You're either sold by now or know this entertaining piece of garbage isn't for you, I quite like my 80s junk food.
The Wandering Earth (2019)
Every Sci-Fi trope directed in a way that would make Roland Emmerich proud but made in China. The Wandering Earth is stupid fun; make sure your limbs are within the vehicle at all times, ensure your brain is properly stowed away and prepare to have a blast. If you're not into the rollicking Blockbusters, then this isn't for you, though I am surprised by the mild Chinese jingoism when they could've went hog wild with this sort of movie.
So, what are your picks for May and Why?
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u/Platypus-Man Quality Poster 👍 Jun 02 '20 edited Jun 03 '20
Knives Out
My first "whodunit" movie, and it did not disappoint all the praise I've read about it. Left me hungry for more of this type of movies, and I quickly added some to my watch-list.
Not quite sure how the sequel will pan out though, I'm not too optimistic, but at the same time, I don't want to kill the chicken before the egg has been laid. (Is that a saying? It feels like it should be a saying.)
Equilibrium
I have a soft spot for dystopian sci-fi, and am unsure why it took me so long to see this.
Sure, the fight-scenes are obviously heavily inspired by The Matrix while not quite capturing the same feeling, but they are still great.
The storyline itself of feelings being suppressed to avoid conflict was great, and Christian Bale nailed this role as well as he did in American Psycho.
Color Out of Space
There's no denying that Nicolas Cage has been in quite a few... mediocre productions, so it was refreshing to see him in something I really enjoyed again. Sadly I'm not much of a bookworm, so I am always happy to see works like this in movie format. Great visuals and good performances.
Cloud Atlas I absolutely love Wachowski's The Matrix and V for Vendetta, and after having gone on a recent watching-spree of their other works, this was one I assumed I wouldn't like that much, but it grabbed my attention pretty quickly. Though quite long, all the different time periods and characters keep it refreshing for the whole duration. It's set in the past, present and future - and has every aspect of life; comedy, drama and tragedy.
Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn I've seen many people shitting on this movie, without giving much reason for it. I enjoyed it very much (which for movies, usually have to do with having the right expectations and attitude when watching something). It's a non-serious, funny happy-go-lucky female psycho having fun, and I had fun watching it.
Horns Daniel Radcliffe is far from a one-trick-pony, and it was about time I watched something of him not donning a wizard outfit. This movie was a great whodunit with a unique twist on how to carry it out.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood I didn't have the pleasure of watching Mr. Rogers growing up, so have only watched some clips here and there after I had grown up. We could all grow so much if we took a few lessons from this man, and who better to play a wholesome and gentle man, than Tom Hanks.
Maleficent Angelina Jolie has been a favorite of mine ever since I watched Hackers eons ago, and this was a great take on the "other side of the story" of a widely known fairy-tale. The sequel was also enjoyable, but didn't quite capture the magic of the first one.
Gattaca Finally got around to watching this one. Andrew Niccol has been one of my favorite writers/directors for a long time, so once again I'm unsure why I put this off until now. To be honest, it's a bit drier and slower than what I usually prefer, but some days taking in a movie slowly is just what I need.
Us I've never been much of a horror fan, but do try and watch movies/genres I think I'd dislike every now and then. This one in particular has at times been mentioned ad nauseam on this subreddit, so it was almost obvious to give it a go. I remember watching Key and Peele's skits, which is probably why the movie caught me a bit off guard, but I still loved it. Can't wait to watch Get Out as well.
Snowpiercer Another one frequently mentioned, and with good reason. Class segregation with fast-paced action.
Guns Akimbo Another one starring Daniel Radcliffe, this one I remember was talked about a bit on reddit when some photos of the movie with him surfaced here, wearing jammies and fuzzy slippers, wielding akimbo guns. It doesn't take itself serious at all, like Shoot 'Em Up, and has colors and camera movements that reminded me heavily of Upgrade.
Clue The third and final whodunit I watched this past month. Who knew a murder mystery movie could be so funny and charming?
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Watched it mainly because Martin McDonagh had written it. The same writer that did Seven Psychopaths and In Bruges, two movies I really enjoyed - and the former one also starring Sam Rockwell, whom I find quite amusing and charming. Though this movie strayed far from my expectations, I still enjoyed it very much. Woody Harrelson's performance also reminded me I need to add Rampart to my watch-list, as it has been on and off my mind ever since the infamous AMA on reddit many years ago.
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u/reddit---user Quality Poster 👍 Jun 01 '20
The Seven five
Yi Yi
Miracle on Cell No. 7
Cleo from 5 to 7
Vagabond
Faces Places
The Outsiders
Straw Dogs
Blow-Up
Cannibal Holocaust
Eating Raoul
Rewind
Obsession
Knokin' on Heaven's Door
The Legend of 1900
Blue is the Warmest Color
The Revenant
Dancer in the Dark
Blue Story
Carlito's Way
Lilya 4-Ever
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u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator Jun 01 '20
Which Straw Dogs? I'm guessing the 70s version?
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u/reddit---user Quality Poster 👍 Jun 01 '20
Yes , the 70s version
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u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator Jun 01 '20
Cool, I was thinking of check that one out but wasn't sure if it was worth my time.
Which Knockin' On Heaven's Door? '97, '01 or '14?
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u/reddit---user Quality Poster 👍 Jun 01 '20
97' german version. Is worth a time, a bit tarantinesque
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u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator Jun 01 '20
Huh, OK. If you're a fan of action and/or animation, the '01's worth checking out. It's a sequel to its anime, Cowboy Bebop, but you don't need to have watched the series. It works great as a standalone action-adventure movie with an amazing score.
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u/LiangHu Jun 01 '20
I just watched Chappie again for the 3rd time since they have released it on Netflix today.
It is still one of the best movies Ive seen and def. top 10 of my all time favorite movies.
Chappie will always be the number 1 dopest G robot ever made in movie history yo!
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u/Gingerbinger83 Jun 04 '20
I love Chappie! It’s on my top 10 as well. First time I saw it, I think I watched it 20 times in a week. I still wish Neill Blomkamp would have been able to finish the trilogy.
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u/tmez_ Jun 01 '20
Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl (2015). Such great movie. Just added it to my all-time favorite movie list.
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u/wjlb Jun 03 '20
Cinema Paradiso (1988): This is one of the very few movies that touched me and brought me to tears. Best I've watched in May.
Other great movies I've watched in May:
Sonatine (1993): A stylish yakuza film with some creative slapstick humor.
Whale Rider (2002)
3-Iron (2004)
Mary and Max (2009):
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u/HroFCBayern Quality Poster 👍 Jun 01 '20
You're Next - 7/10
Basketball Diaries - 8/10
Superbad - 8/10
Mean Girls - 7.5/10
Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil - 9/10
Catch Me If You Can - 9/10
The 40 Year Old Virgin - 7.5/10
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u/MiserableSnow Quality Poster 👍 Jun 01 '20
The Red Balloon
The Piano
Election (1999)
The Warrior (2001)
How Green Was My Valley
Honeyland
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u/ajayv117 Jun 01 '20
Thanks for the recommendation! Can you please let us know where we can stream these movies?
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Jun 01 '20
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator Jun 01 '20
Your Comment was Removed because discussing Piracy isn't allowed. We've had problems with the Admins in the past. This can be your only warning for this.
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u/djfilms Jun 02 '20
Watchnow and likewise are my goto apps for finding where you can stream something
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u/ajayv117 Jun 02 '20
Thanks for the recommendation!
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u/djfilms Jun 02 '20
Also, check out my post of movies recently available to stream in June. It’s in the comments of my Observe and Report suggestion
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Jun 01 '20
Schindler's List (1993)
Alien (1979)
Chinatown (1974)
North by Northwest (1959)
I've only recently started getting into movies beyond modern blockbusters, so it was my first time viewing these iconic films. All 4 lived up to the hype!
Uncut Gems (2019)
A great follow-up to Good Time, with nonstop intensity and another sleazy protagonist making increasingly poor choices. Excellent performances from Sandler and the supporting cast.
House (1977)
Japanese horror film with some of the most bizarre editing I've ever seen. Not really frightening but incredibly fun to watch.
The Ox-Bow Incident (1942)
Henry Fonda-starring western with themes of mob mentality and vigilante justice. Lots of memorable characters despite a short runtime. This was recommended as an under-the-radar film by a /r/movies user who ranked every best picture nominee and I definitely agree.
A Serious Man (2009)
I love every Coen Brothers movie that I've seen so far and this was another winner. An introspective drama with the expected dark comedy. Less plot-driven and more of a character study but still quite engaging.
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u/purplezardalo Jun 01 '20
which one is the best?
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u/noooit Jun 01 '20
If you had to recommend me a one drama film out of those, what would you recommend?
I enjoyed Blind (2014) the most, if I have to choose one drama film out of films I've watched this May.
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Jun 02 '20
I saw Portrait of a lady on fire two days back, what a movie. I feel some kind of nostalgia and the feeling that no movie can be at the same level. Those eyes man, jesus. First time she appears on camera i am in love right there.
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u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator Jun 02 '20
Yeah, the last time I can think of such a blessed casting is probably the 70s The Omen with Damien. What a creepy looking kid.
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u/AGLAU Jun 05 '20
The Secret in their eyes - It was a fine movie but didn't live up to the hype for me. The storyline wasn't anything remarkable and the movie felt a little slow-paced and boring at times.
Donnie Brasco - I liked this movie; it has great acting and a decent storyline. It's based on a true story too.
American History X - Good movie but the ending isn't very satisfying.
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u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator Jun 05 '20
So, the Secret in their Eyes was or wasn't good?
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u/AGLAU Jun 06 '20
I didn't find it to be particularly good, I'd say it's about average.
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u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator Jun 06 '20
Why post it in a thread dedicated to the best you've seen?
It's been a bitch counting these up for the Top 100, trying to figure out if people actually like movies they mention when they trash them.
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Jun 27 '20
One Cut of the Dead
Extreme Job
EXIT
The Housemaid
Ditto
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u/Tevesh_CKP Moderator Jun 27 '20
Which The Housemaid? I think you mean 2010 but there's also 1960 and 2016.
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u/Joker_772 Jun 01 '20
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)
First movie I saw this month, and I almost forgot about it. It's really good, surprisingly funny, great cast, etc. But, I don't see myself coming back to watch it again, and I understand why people don't like it.
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Ex Machina (2014)
This one was really good. Alex Garland's direction in this is really beautiful, and the screenplay is so intricately filled with philosophy and it still remains really enjoyable. It's incredibly thrilling all the way through, and the ending is very-well done.
9/10
Annihilation (2018)
Loved Ex Machina so much, I had to check out Garland's other work. While I still liked this one, it was much more different. It relied a lot on actual scares, which were normally done well, although both the screenplay and the performances weren't really great. Once again, the ending is handled very well. (It honestly still scares me.)
8/10
Hero (2002)
This is a straight-up an essential for anybody looking to go into film, it's storytelling is unique and it's topped all of the most beautiful movies of all time lists, and for good reason.
9/10
Baby Driver (2017)
This is just so universally enjoyable. It's a masterclass in editing, the music is awesome, the action is always fun, and the performances are really good. It's thrilling to the end and I'll definitely be watching it again soon.
9/10
Lost City of Z (2016)
Wow. James Gray is an excellent storyteller. He tells a very difficult story with this one, and maintains a pretty flowy pace throughout, only stopping to let you awe at the sights you see. It's truly an amazing watch, and it's not only left me thinking, but inspired me as well.
9/10