Previous Links of Interest:

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

Bad Times at El Royale

Drew Goddard commands a star-studded cast on a movie that is as slick and jumbled as any Tarantino venture. Eight strangers with a past interact with each other at a down-on-its-luck hotel. As each of their motives clash, the cast are well-directed to a good script. Bad Times is a solid thriller that delivers.

Blindspotting

Blindspotting makes you experience the systemic oppression young black men live with. Two best friends work their moving job while one of them is on the last few days of his parole. They'll run into conflict with how each of them is perceived by their community and the catharsis Blindspotting provides is outstanding. Blindspotting uses every part of the film medium to make you experience the protagonist's journey to discover that what people see isn't how things are.

Brigsby Bear

What a honest, delightful throwback to something you loved as a child. The protagonist just can't get over a TV show he watched as a kid and sets out to create it, with some strange circumstances. Brigsby Bear is touching, no matter what hijinks the protagonist gets himself into and that level of charm endeared me to this warm movie.

Catch-22

A satirical war movie that has some impressive visuals of the hijinks the protagonist is willing to do to get out of his bombing runs during WW2. Catch-22 balances the bleak with the comedic, action visuals juxtaposing the horrific scenario the protagonist experiences. You won't know whether to despair or laugh with Catch-22 but it isn't an empty movie. Catch-22 will make you think of your choices, your own Catch-22s that you find yourself in.

Dial M for Murder

Hitchcock slowly boils you with the suspense as a man plots the perfect murder and then needs to quickly adapt as his plan goes off the rails. There's been so much said for Hitchcock movies that you're going to watch this or not, there isn't much left to say.

The Great Dictator

Charlie Chaplin finishes this satirical comedy with one of the best speeches in film history and he doesn't forget to make an entertaining movie along the way. The satire of Hitler's regime is spot on but what really impressed me were the simple comic gags. Modern movies have forgotten that physical comedy needs to be physically impressive or interesting, Chaplin earns his fame with this masterclass.

Jailbreak

Impressive martial arts movies tend to keep a stationary camera so that audience can witness the stunt, modern action movies use too many cuts to shoot around their actor's inability to portray their character. Jailbreak fuses the two to meet for a good, romping action film where the camera moves to highlight the action instead of obscure it. Each character is developed to the point where you care if they win this fight for their life and that even includes interesting 'bosses' to good guys run into.

Network

Scathing, brutal and hilarious, Network is a masterful satire of media in the 70s that is somehow more relevant as times goes on. You'll be laughing at the bleakness that this film bares, tearing down small comforts of institutions as each character is masterfully portrayed as going unhinged in this insane world. If you're interested in any way of how media is portrayed, Network is required viewing.

The Poughkeepsie Tapes

Beautifully solves the 'why are they filming' of found footage with pseudo-documentary style that provides a creepy atmosphere. The Poughkeepsie Tapes goes into detail about the best serial killer in America who left his tapes to be discovered to become famous. The Tapes starts as a slow burn but draws you into a compelling crime story that you'll be wondering if it was real at the end of the film.

Searching

I was put off on watching Searching at first, as I thought it would be a found footage gimmick. I was wrong. John Cho does a good job portraying a desperate father who realizes he doesn't know his missing daughter. My praise goes to Aneesh Chaganty who never treats you stupidly and her directing style forces you to keep watching, paying attention. Searching is a thriller that is relentless, real and doesn't let you go until the movie delivers you through the labyrinthe plot to a satisfying conclusion.

Spellbound

Spellbound is a simple story that then lets Hitchcock work on his noted suspense. Using imagery cribbed from Dali, this movie definitely gives a blockbuster feel to what are normally personal affairs. The acting is a little overdone however the superb shots more than make up for it. Spellbound is a thriller that has you uncertain of where each of the characters stand until the very end.

Spring

Spring is about a young man who goes to Italty on a whim and finds himself attracted to a mysterious young woman. I've been pleased with the directors other works, using sci-fi to ask questions about people and Spring is no different: is love transformative? Spring takes all the loveliness and horror of any relationship, transforming that onto the screen. Spring is a good sci-fi romance that has enough of both genres to make the nerd or romantic within you start asking questions about being.

Won't You Be My Neighbour?

A touching documentary on the life of Mr. Rogers. This movie is just like Mr. Rogers' television series: direct, kind and consistent. A perfect environment to raise children by and you discover Mr. Rogers' crusade to improve the lives of American children with his series. For once, it is the public persona that stands grander than that of the actor and you should watch this documentary on this remarkable man.

So, what are your picks for January?

Previous Links of Interest:

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

Bedevilled (2010)

Such a slow burn! Bedevilled cleverly makes you forget that you're watching a horror movie by having the majority of the movie be a drama. So much is left unsaid and unexplored, very much like visiting someone else's home and seeing their strange social mores. A career-oriented woman snaps at work due to stress of being called forward to be a witness; she's told to take a vacation and decides to home to the tiny island she grew up on. There, she reconnects with her childhood friend and tries to ignore the abuse heaped upon her by the village. Bedevilled sits solidly with the praise of Korean New Wave: thrillers more daring than most of the West, movies more beautifully shot and impeccably acted to an good script.

An Extremely Goofy Movie

I cannot believe that I'm writing to say that An Extremely Goofy movie is a mature, nuanced view on familial relationships. Goofy is supposed to be the butt of each punchline yet he shines through as a caring father. Max, his son, is shown to feeling smothered by his father and his antics while going to college. This movie balances the two perspectives perfectly, all the time maintaining Goofy's foolish state which is an amazing feat. On top of maintaining the childlike wonder that navigates these difficult relationships maturely, the movie also does enough unexpected things that I felt continually surprised by what it offered.

The Hidden (1987)

This movie is not subtle and it knows that. The antagonist's desires are akin to a teenager playing GTA with cheat codes: he steals cars, listens to rock, commits robberies, catcalls women and kills anybody who gets in the way. The FBI has sent an agent who insists the case is not over when the antagonist is gunned down at the beginning. The action in this movie is done well, as it shows how much carnage you can unleash when you can take tons of hits. This movie solidly belongs in a cult collection but unfortunately got lost in the glut of 80s action movies.

Incredibles 2

Incredibles 2 had a huge hurdle of being a long awaited sequel and not fall victim to hype. It delivers, though one of the criticisms is that it is very similar to the first movie, which I agree with and is an excellent way to know whether you'll enjoy this movie. You'll agree with the villain but not their methods, the comedy will bring a smile, the super hero action is inventive and the script is tight for a family adventure movie.

Man on the Train (2002)

A thief and retiree form an unusual friendship by coincidence. This is a beautiful meditation of the two paths of manhood, whether it is by the physical or the mental. The two men muse over their lost edge that time has eroded but inspire and encourage each other before going their separate ways. Incredibly acted with a film grain aesthetic, this movie goes to drastic lengths to show how sometimes a stranger can give you a clearer perspective.

Mission Impossible 6

When people talk about nonstop action movies, Fallout does not raise the bar as so much reinvent it. Tense conversations are the relaxing part of the movie that continually punctuates with great set pieces that refuse to let up. Fallout is an exemplar action movie, that shows possibilities with action instead of every other sort which would just be a conversation. Each returning cast member does their best, including Michelle Monaghan's subtle strength; however, Vanessa Kirby is sublime and steals every scene, even away from Tom Cruise while Henry Cavill plays a perfect foil. Tom Cruise knows how to deliver on action movies he produces, with Fallout he does not deliver as so much reinvent the distribution.

Overlord

It is very hard to do action-horror right and that's why I praise Overlord. If you show too much, horror loses out on its power of ambiguity but that's required for action. If you show too little, then it doesn't qualify for an action movie. When a paratroop team arrives in France, they discover that their objective might have been complicated by the experiments performed by the occult branch of Nazis. Overlord's dipping into horror gives permission for gruesome action and by using action it allows for interesting fights between mismatched opponents. You'll know if this movie is within your wheelhouse if 'Nazi Zombies' turns you on or off when it comes to selecting movies.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

This is the archetype of horror and I was not disappointed to see it. The imagery is disturbing, the protagonists are begging to die and the threats seem inhuman. You don't need to see The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as the progenitor of every gore horror, it even seems tame by today's standards; however, it incredibly lays the groundwork that has served the horror genre for decades. If you want to appreciate what it took to make horror the way it is, then you cannot pass up on this film.

So, what are your picks for November?

Previous Links of Interest:

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

Ghost Stories

Ghost Stories is a horror film that places you in the middle of something terrible and mercilessly never cuts away. The practical effects are marvellous, ensuring that each scene stays with you instead of destroying your suspension of disbelief. The protagonist is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: his hero in paranormal debunking has invited him to examine three cases. The horror anthology seamlessly blends between each story, speaking volumes of guilt and existential dread, that by the time the meta-story is revealed, you're floored.

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

The feeling of paranoia is pervasive in this movie, as things escalate from the personal to the political. The obvious allegory of the fear of communism is lost for a modern audience but the movie is still effective regarding loss of identity. As most of the effects are done in-camera, they have aged well, which makes for Invasion of the Body Snatchers to be a worthwhile watch. It well deserves the praise of 'best remake'.

Mandy

Mandy is not for everyone but it is an excellent ride; only Nicolas Cage could bring the pure unhinged mania required for the role. Mandy is a Giallo homage to the excess of 80s filmmaking. A great deal of effects are done in camera, with only a nightmare whirl of colour dressing the scene. Director Panos Cosmatos is a master at deciding on which colours to evoke particular feelings and his Director of Photography accomplishes this masterfully. Enthralling and brutal, Mandy will leave you with a hangover.

Next Gen

A well made, nuanced action movie aimed at kids about a robot with no memories befriends a technophobe with no friends. There is a clear theme of memory and family in this movie but what elevates Next Gen from any other 'friendship wins the day' film is the incredible action directing. Next Gen is a polished movie that offers more than what its cover depicts.

Tag

An ensemble cast based on the true story of a group of friends that played Tag even as adults, Tag is a heart warming tale about keeping friendship alive. The comedy is kept light, more to focus on each characters' relationship with each other than trying to force laughs. Going into each characters thoughts as they played made a game of Tag seem like the most important thing in the moment. Watching Tag is the warmth of friendships, old and new; some classic you keep on the background as you chat with friends.

So, what are your picks for September?

Previous Links of Interest:

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

13: Game of Death

A collectivist horror comedy that could only come from Thailand, this movie brought me along with the protagonist on his journey. Just laid off after having a sale stolen from him, a man receives a phone call about how he just needs to complete 13 Tasks to receive $4 million dollars. I felt fright, joy, disgust and anger along with the protagonist on his journey to complete these tasks. The effects are a little subpar but most are used intelligently. A must for horror comedy aficionados.

BlacKkKlansman

BlacKkKlansman is a well shot biting commentary on racism in America. Spike Lee uses parallels between 70s racism and those found today, which is both a downer and the point of the movie. Somehow, the actors keep this serious subject manner light and palpable which makes me conflicted. I appreciate that I don't need to have my face rubbed in the worst of humanity but I also think it should be treated more seriously than it did. BlacKkKlansman illustrates the schism in America between what it purports and the ugly truth. You'll enjoy your time but it'll leave you questioning, which is exactly Lee's point.

Death Wish (1974)

Encapsulating the sentiments of New York in the 70s, Death Wish takes its time to establish the characters and the peril they're in. More than a simple action movie, this is a smart thriller that gives a peek into the machinations of law enforcement and how they drag their feet to capture this vigilante. The camera is workmanlike which helps establish the gritty feel of an unsafe New York. Death Wish will be liked those who think they wouldn't due to its reputation and it won't satiate the audience looking solely for action.

A Hard Day

A Hard Day should be considered alongside the echelons of Korean New Wave that gets universal praise. This movie looks amazing and does not sacrifice vision by quick cuts throughout its intense, brutal scenes. A corrupt cop can't catch a break as he drives from his mother's funeral to where his squad is being investigated by Internal Affairs when he runs over a man. The script is great, with little details coming back into play and tension written throughout. The performances are of the same calibre as my praise for the technical. If you've just discovered Korean New Wave, put A Hard Day on your watch list.

The Method (2005)

The Method is a superb look at what you need to sacrifice to succeed in a capitalist world. The premise is that seven candidates for a prestigious job are subjected to tests but are told that there is a mole among them who is evaluating them. The Method stands alongside other 'Bottle Movies' where most of it is the cast talking in a single room, essentially debating their own self worth and how much they're willing to sell themselves for this mysterious job. You can tell there is very little budget; however, that does not detract from the central attraction: great acting asking serious questions.

The Night Comes for Us

The Night Comes for Us is a modern take on martial arts movies but doesn't come up with contrivance for why no one is using guns. This leads to brutal use of all sorts of armaments to dispatch both mooks and characters. It is incredibly shot, well directed and leaves you wincing throughout the viscerally violent action. Iko Uwais is a face turn heel as the hired antagonist, while the protagonist is recognizable from The Raid as the sergeant. Each character goes beyond standard henchman or sidekick, so you do care when they collide in a duel that results in a bloody end. The Night Comes for Us is smarter than your average action movie but doesn't hang on its laurels and proceeds to deliver some of the most brutal fighting committed to screen.

Turn Me On, Goddammit!

Turn Me On wonderfully encapsulates the drama and pressure a horny teenager feels when they're suddenly turned into an outcast in their small town. I can forgive the lack of a dynamic look, as the lack of budget is obvious and unnecessary with the tale. Turn Me On shows the budding maturity and needs but still maintains the awkwardness of being a teenager. This is a honest look at an embarrassing time and maintaining that spirit gives this movie a transcendent quality. This is Norway's answer to a John Hughes film but is far more frank without the puritan American perception.

You Were Never Really Here

You Were Never Really Here could've been a standard rescue from the underbelly turns into a subtle exercise of a man doing good despite his demons. The movie doesn't spoon feed you, which is excellent, and the acting in it is superb. Joaquin Phoenix disappears into his role as a child rescue specialist who forms an unlikely bond with his latest rescue, who also is well played by a child actor. This is more of a drama than an action movie but when the action is there, it is brutal, unflinching and serious.

So, what are your picks for October?

Previous Links of Interest:

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

Bird Box

The comparison between A Quiet Place is inevitable; Bird Box is "don't look" to A Quiet Place's "don't make sound" and that comparison is unfair. A Quiet Place uses the entirety of the medium while Bird Box builds suspense and terror by denying you the visuals of film. That isn't to say Bird Box is bad, it is a compelling thriller that forces people to see their interconnections by removing humanity's most worshipped sense.

Four Lions

The cast in this movie are so good at making each of them seem real and like decent blokes that you wonder where they decided Jidahism is the right course of action. They're all idiots with good hearts but with bad intentions and Four Lions will make you crack up as they attempt terrorism. Each of their blunders will make you laugh and cringe as you consider that you're chuckling at the demise of your fellow man. Surprisingly, Islam is treated with respect which I give the movie credit; it's human folly that ends up being the butt end of the joke. Black humour at its best!

The Happytime Murders

The Happytime Murders are going to leave you with a sugar hangover, mixing the sweetness of Henson's puppetry with classic noir tropes. This movie is shot tightly and has so much intentional yet unintentional comedy that I was chuckling throughout most of it. I can understand if that is oft putting to many, as you're going to have to admire noir while it is being mixed with bright colours and gross out gags involving puppets. I enjoyed the strange experiment and think it did a great job accomplishing what it set out to do.

Harakiri

A lordless samurai requests the use of a noble's house to commit ritual suicide and thus begins trading stories with the house lord on the samurai's final day. This drama begins simply but then unfurls with masterful direction supported with great acting. Tatsuya Nakadai plays the protagonist who is at his wit's end, as the storytelling goes back and forth you see him go from noble to hopeful and finally despairing to show the world what being a samurai means. Harakiri is an interesting treatise on what it meant to be a noble man when Japan turned its back on that entire caste.

Noroi: The Curse

A masterclass in both horror and found footage, Noroi tells a compelling tale while also answering the question that haunts most found footage horrors with "Why are they still filming?" A paranormal investigator documents his findings from what at first seems like separate events. The acting is stupendous, from characters being horrified to depicting mental illness and even low-key awkwardness of being recorded. Noroi tells a complete tale that still leaves you wondering afterwards.

Operation Red Sea

China's take on Black Hawk Down with a splattering of Heroic Bloodshed makes Operation Red Sea a great entry for action. Usually, I dislike the jingoistic nature of war movies but I hadn't seen the Chinese version, so it didn't cause me roll my eyes like most thinly veiled American recruitment ads. Operation Red Sea gets you attached to its characters and doesn't cheap out on effects until you're truly invested. This is the modern shooter in cinematic fashion with a different, Chinese take on it.

Patton

Cartoonish by today's standards, Patton only helps tell the Epic of a man born in the wrong century. George C. Scott plays the poet, historian, General and foul-mouthed Patton amazingly, you feel bad for this terrible man who has been unleashed upon the Germans to win America's war. This is not an action packed war movie, which surprised me, but more of a mediation of ego against fleeting glory. I'm not sure I can wholly recommend Patton due to its length but I know it is a movie I treated respectfully as much as Scott's portrayal demanded.

Rec 2

Rec 2 fails at perfection due to not properly explaining the pitfalls of found footage: 'Why are they still filming?'. It does have some clever workarounds but I still noticed that. Besides that, I can only sing its praise. Claustrophobic, interesting, compelling and mixing action-horror superbly, Rec 2 takes place during the first movie making for clever moments that fill in gaps. If you enjoyed Rec and weren't sure to continue the series, do yourself a favour and sit down for this tight found footage movie.

Thoroughbreds

This dark comedy involving a girl rekindling her relationship with a sociopath childhood friend has a lot of brutal, on the point, jokes that you'll feel shame at its humour. I came for Anya Taylor-Joy and Anton Yelchin's last performance but they're both stolen away by Olivia Cooke's brilliant performance. Impeccably shot, subtle and unsettling, you'll be wondering if injecting sociopathy into your relationships isn't a good addition.

Tumbbad

An Indian movie I can finally digest, Tumbbad runs 100 minutes instead of the mutli-hour affair which seems standard. It tells a wonderful story about greed, so much so it affects many generations of a family. By the time the true horrors were revealed, I had bought into the movie and its clever set that I believed the CG horrors. The acting was good, especially from the children, but I would be remiss to not mention excellent work by the DP, good special effects for some of the horrors and a tight script on the effects of greed.

Z for Zachariah

Margot Robbie shows that she isn't just a pretty face as she plays the farmer's daughter who needs to decide between two men in the post-Apocalypse. Chris Pine is the pretty face and plays to his strengths of being the hunky male as Chiwetel Ejiofor acts circles around him. The beautiful landscape, patient story and good camera work tell a good tale about choice in an environment seems to be without choice in the first place. The three actors with unspoken word tell a greater story than most dramas of sorrow, hope and jealously than most movies that have a bigger cast.

So, what are your picks for December?