What a week it’s been, eh? Well, what better way to avoid the news than to bury yourself in a movie or, even better, movies. The superlatives are over (although check them out below because a lot of recs are packed in), so we return to more standardized fare. January continues to be a movie desert, but soon, help arrives in the form of new and critically acclaimed films. I, for one, have pinned all my entertainment hopes on the Denzel Washington thriller at the end of the month. As usual, enjoy.
Also: My favorite seven films in 2020 // 2020 Film Superlatives I // 2020 Film Superlatives II
New and Noteworthy…
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
This made a short appearance two weeks ago due to Chadwick Boseman’s inspired performance. But that shouldn’t overshadow a wonderful film, as well as an incredible performance from Viola Davis, as the titular Ma. Based on an August Wilson play and set in a 1920s Chicago recording studio, this small scale film bursts with life, grief, anger, joy, frustration… encapsulating emotions relevant 100 years ago as well as today. Watch for Chadwick. Watch for Viola. Trailer. 94 mins. Stream on Netflix.
Read Arionne Nettles review at the Chicago Reader.
If you want to pick up the heart rate…
1917
The discourse around 1917 last awards season was chaotic. From the best movie ever, to an overachiever to… just kind of nothing. What’s true is it’s a towering technical achievement from director Sam Mendes and cinematographer god Roger Deakins. The WWI film might not be one-long shot like advertised, but you’re riding shotgun on a tense, heart racing mission to the front lines. Peppered with famous faces and awing cinematography, the film is still worth its weight, even if it fell short in its bid for Oscar. Trailer. 119 mins. Find it Showtime (or Hulu w/ Showtime).
You Were Never Really Here
More of a psychological revenge film than action, Lynne Ramsay’s genre flick was a visceral, mindf*ck of a movie. A hulking and brooding Joaquin Phoenix plays a vet-turned-hitman with a healthy dose of PTSD, who gets embroiled in a scandal way over his head. Gritty, brutal, and the real '“Joaquin as a mentally ill” performance to watch. Trailer. 90 mins. Read Richard Travers at Rolling Stone. Stream it on Amazon Prime.
The power of Cinema…
Roma
The semi-autobiographical, black and white arthouse film from acclaimed writer-director-cinematographer Alfonso Cuarón was one of Netflix’s first successful forays into the dramatic territory. Set in the eponymous Mexico City region, the film portraying the life, times, and often struggles, of a family through a turbulent time in Mexico. It’s long, it’s in Spanish, and it’s one of the most beautiful films I’ve ever seen. Trailer. 135 mins. Watch it on Netflix.
Arrival
Maybe everyone has already seen Arrival. In which case, great! The Denis Villeneuve film (based on a short story by Ted Chiang) is a heartbreaking exercise in “if you knew the future, and it was bad, would you still make the same choices?” With a riveting lead performance by Amy Adams, it’s one of my favorites of the 2010s. It touches on giant themes like alien contact and globalization, as well as small scale issues or marriage and parenthood. In short, a movie to make you believe. 116 mins. Trailer.
Watch for free with (a lot of) ads on Pluto.TV or rent VoD at YouTube or Amazon.
Super 8
A movie that evokes summer blockbusters of your youth, the first JJ Abram full length film channels a lot of Spielberg, in a good way. Super 8 follows a group of precocious kids (with a very good performance from Elle Fanning) who investigate a mysterious force that has crashed in town, and in turn, has forced their town into a military occupation. Lose yourself into this action mystery that’s a little bit Goonies, Stand By Me, and Stranger Things, all wrapped into one. Trailer. 112 mins. Stream on Hulu.
Obligatory TV recommendation…
Because we need a positive show once in a while.
Blood of Zeus
Blood of Zeus is from Netflix’s animation department that did Castelvania but follows a greek demigod (I mean, the title) named Heron as he battles Gods and Beasts alike. Featuring some stellar voice acting and a straightforward art direction, Zeus doesn’t hide what it is: fairly standard Greek mythological fare, meant to entertain. It gets a bit dark, and is thankfully more on the conservative side for nudity, but it manages to pull some heartstrings. It’s short, entertaining, and it’s mindless enough if you need a mid-winter distraction. Trailer. On Netflix.
Shoutout Letterboxd for helping the film community keep track of their obsession.
For last week’s recommendations, check it out here.
Also, I’d love any feedback or suggestions on the content/layout! Let me know below!