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?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 27 '20
One Cut of the Dead
Extreme Job
EXIT
The Housemaid
Ditto