Everyone’s quarantine story starts differently. My life officially changed when the NBA was suspended, but my work life was affected on Saturday, March 14th when the museum I work at closed its doors until further notice. Ever since then, I have been watching movies at a rate of a little under one a day. Here is what I've seen recently (all for the first time!), my thoughts on each, and then the reasons for a viewing if you feel so inclined to investigate further. They are listed in the order I saw them.
Wonder Boys (2000)
I mentioned Wonder Boys in my first blog post, mainly because it was the first movie I saw since being banished to my room indefinitely. I had read the book by Michael Chabon in February, and due to the amount of time the novel spends in the narrator Grady Tripp’s head, I was surprised to find there had been a film adaptation. But instantly knew I had to watch it. As director Curtis Hanson's first film since L.A. Confidential (which I love), he does a solid job keeping the pace of the story in Wonder Boys while adapting the tone to the screen.
Why should I watch it?
I’d recommend reading the book first since it is marvelously written but would also be interested to know how the movie is experienced without having read the novel. If anything, watch for the acting. Michael Douglas is great, and I can’t help but think that Tobey Maguire earned his role as the awkward Peter Parker in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man franchise in large part because of his role as James Leer.
Available for free on Crackle
Booksmart (2019)
I totally should have watched Booksmart earlier than I did. It follows the story of two studious high school best friends who, upon a frustrating epiphany, decide to party with the cool kids on the last night of high school. Olivia Wilde's directorial debut checks off all the boxes for a classic high school movie and then some, mainly due to the emotional depth that many comedies lack nowadays. Its collection of zany characters only adds to its allure, as I find it tough to pick who my favorite one is.
Why should I watch it?
Booksmart is a fun movie that in the end is just as much if not more about friendship than it is high school and partying (the latter is but one of the aspects that earns it an R rating). But most of all the film is funny and genuine in ways that will resonate with most viewers. If laughter is the best medicine, then Booksmart packs a powerful dose.
Available for free on Hulu
The Lighthouse (2019)
I watched The Lighthouse after adding Robert Eggers’ debut film The Witch on my first list. It would have been a very appropriate addition to that list as well since it depicts two men who slowly unravel as they are stuck looking after a lighthouse for several weeks. As much as the film impressed me, I didn’t find the horror aspects as convincing as The Witch, perhaps because The Lighthouse is more reliant on visions and hallucinations, which I guess I am less privy to. The acting is great however, and this may prove to be a film that I appreciate more the second time.
Why should I watch it?
This movie will continue to prove why Willem Defoe is so damn good at what he does and help break your association of Robert Pattinson with his time in the Twilight Saga (we gotta start getting ready for Batman right?). If you are a fan of trippy horror movies, this one is for you, especially if you appreciate the use of a black and white format.
Available to rent on YouTube or Amazon Prime
Good Time (2017)
The first time Benny and Josh Safdie showed up on my radar was for their heralded 2019 film Uncut Gems with Adam Sandler and Kevin Garnett. I wish I’d heard of them earlier because Good Time is an absolute knock-out. I honestly prefer it to Uncut Gems, perhaps because of the high expectations I set for the latter (which was very good, don’t get me wrong!). Following a bank robber (Robert Pattinson again!) over the course of one frantic night, Good Time kept me fully entertained for the entire film.
Why should I watch it?
In addition to further shifting the perception about Robert Pattinson (he is really good in this movie), Good Time is keen on maintaining a critical eye on its anti-hero as to not over glorify him, which I find is often hard to balance. The film is excellent if you’re looking for an adrenaline rush while experiencing a movie with its own unique style. It is a style we might as well get used to, as I excitedly hope that the best of the Safdie brothers is yet to come.
Available for free on Netflix
A Dark Place (2018)
I found A Dark Place while looking to watch a short movie I had never heard of before. Its premise reeled me in; a dead child is found in a small Pennsylvania town, and a loner with a hunch investigates. Andrew Scott plays the loner, Donny, as we follow his path down avenues no one else would dare travel. I personally found the film imperfect, as I felt myself questioning the intent and morality of Donny’s actions more than I had liked. But since A Dark Place deals with very complicated topics such as the death of a child, mental health and personal privacy, perhaps that is the point.
Why should I watch it?
If you are intrigued by lesser-known films with challenging premises, A Dark Place is certainly an option. Andrew Scott is really good, too. The film is on his shoulders, and he stays the course. Lastly, if you are like me and enjoy classic films’ spheres of influence, see if you notice the notes of Martin Scorcese’s Taxi Driver I perceived when watching the movie.
Available for free on Amazon Prime
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)
I think my friends just assumed I had seen Dodgeball because of how much it came up in conversation. That being said, I am glad I now understand the many references they would throw out such as “Ball me Blazer” and “It’s a bold strategy, Cotton.” It also showed me new ones, such as my favorite; “It’s a bylaw!” I found the film very much in the spirit of the Will Ferrell sports comedies Talladega Nights and Semi-Pro, and while I feel Dodgeball is missing the transcendentally funny scene Ferrell’s films have (the knife scene in Talladega and the poker gun scene in Semi-Pro), the jokes are funnier and more frequent.
Why should I watch it?
If anything, watch it for the one-liners and for Ben Stiller. He plays one of his more ridiculous characters in White Goodman. This guy is everything bad about masculinity in one character and it's amusing to see how low he can stoop. Oh, and the cameos are pretty great.
Available for free on HBO
Song to Song (2017)
Directed by Terrence Malick, I knew I was going to get his signature style full of time jumps, fish-eye lens and errant cuts. I found his calmly disorienting approach to film-making engaging more at the beginning of the film than the end, but certain aspects, particularly the setting of my hometown of Austin, Texas kept me involved the whole movie. I would not say I prefer this style of film-making, as it may hint that it is trying to be something deeper than the story actually is, but I think the film has something valuable to say about the relationship between the characters of Faye and BV.
Why should I watch it?
If Terrence Malick’s style interests you, then certainly check out Song to Song. Ryan Gosling and Rooney Mara put on performances that seem to flow naturally, which gave me an odd reassuring feeling I’m not used to in movies. Michael Fassbender is also great as the toxic music producer Cook, and Natalie Portman somehow tricked me into thinking she’s from Texas with her character, Rhonda.
Available for free on Amazon Prime
Out of all these movies, I personally enjoyed Booksmart and Good Time the most, and would certainly recommend both of those to anyone who considers watching them.
That's all for now. Stay safe and healthy folks!
- Ish
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