New year. New President. Finally some new movies, too. A dry couple of weeks, and a less than spectacular holiday slate left most of us binging shows (I watched Sweet Home, not bad!) rather than movies. But as critically acclaimed films release on VoD and streaming, late-January through early March will become the de facto awards season in this pandemic era.
The first recommendation on the list has major buzz for Regina King, and in the coming weeks Nomadland, Minari, and a slew of others are set to release. Better days ahead!
New and Noteworthy…
One Night in Miami
A stunning directorial debut for Regina King (is there anything she can’t do?). Set on a fictional night in 1964, four monumental figures spend a night together: Cassius Clay (pre-Muhammad Ali), Malcom X, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke spend the evening talking, bickering, and ultimately understanding each other’s struggles as they discuss the state of African Americans, Islam, vanity, culture, class, and the greater world. Purely riveting acting and filmmaking. 110 mins. Trailer. Watch on Amazon Prime.
Read K. Austin Collins thoughts at The Rolling Stone.
Locked Down
Sometimes you need an escape, obviously now more than ever. But more specifically speaking, Locked Down, the latest from director Doug Liman, is pure escapist cinema. Anne Hathaway and Chiwetel Ejiofor shine alongside a host of famous cameos (Ben Stiller, Stephen Merchant, Mindy Kaling, to name a few), as a couple in pandemic lockdown, who cook up a heist at Harrods. While it’s not an amazing film, and the quarantine stuff hasn’t aged amazingly, it’s lighthearted and quite funny. 105 mins. Trailer. Find it on HBO Max.
10 Cloverfield Lane
This hidden gem thriller by Dan Trachtenberg reveals that it’s not the monsters outside that you should be most afraid of. Set in a survival bunker, John Goodman takes in Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher Jr. as an unknown event affects the country. Paranoia, exasperation, and violence… all the true human traits, expose themselves in this wonderfully paced thriller. Must watch if you’re into this kind of film. 105 mins. Trailer. Stream for free with ads on Crackle or on YouTube ($2.99).
The Founder
The story of how Ray Kroc took the McDonald brother’s speedy burger idea and stole and cheated his way to the top, creating a global, multi-billion dollar empire in his wake. Michael Keaton (our greatest living actor) plays a pitch-perfect Kroc… from exasperated to inquisitive to ruthless, it’s truly an American tale. 115 mins. Trailer. Watch on Netflix.
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Director Taika Waititi is a bigger name now because of his Oscar film Jojo Rabbit and his Marvel megahit Thor: Ragnarok. But the Kiwi filmmaker has been making hits for years that are infused with heart, comedic gold, and engaging human stories. Hunt for the Wilderpeople finds Sam Elliott as a foster father to Julian Dennison who are stranded in the wilderness and become the subjects of a manhunt. It possesses the kind of emotionally affecting yet deeply funny qualities that all Waititi films do.101 mins. Trailer. Stream on Netflix.
Obligatory animated recommendation…
You might hate animation, but this is the one.
Millennium Actress
Utilizing the animated form to it’s fullest and most ambitious, director Satoshi Kon’s turn of the century masterpiece is a lofty, lifetime-spanning, reality-blurring epic love story. Framed as an interview, Kon keys in on important events in reclusive actress Chiyoko Fujiwara’s life, as she races around the world (and time) to find her teenage love, set in eras over a millennia. And, the score is unreal. 87 mins. Trailer. Stream free with Kanopy or Hoopla access. Or rent on Amazon Prime ($3.99 SD).
Read AO Scott’s Review in 2003 at the New York Times.
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!