The films are coming at a stronger clip now that we’ve entered middle February. There are some new dramas out on the streamers, we’re getting closer to the awards-bait with the Globes and SAG introducing their (frankly insane) nominees (a special newsletter on that soon).
But there’s still plenty to keep one entertained out there, despite tv making a marked downturn (10 months in to the pandemic, you’ve surely binged everything from The Crown to Bling Empire to rewatching The Sopranos). Keep your head up, stay safe, and again, Weathering With You is on HBO Max.
New and noteworthy…
The Dig
Archaeology! Love! The Dig is the latest historically epic love saga featuring wonderful performances from Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes (and a strong supporting cast). While it’s not the action salve that many might need to turn their brains off after a day of work, the picture is moving and well done, and deserves more eyeballs (at least over Bling Empire). Trailer. 106 mins. Stream on Netflix.
Malcolm & Marie
Sam Levinson’s divisive Malcom & Marie came to the streaming giant with plenty of festival buzz and a love-hate relationship with critics. John David Washington and Zendaya play a couple celebrating the Washington character’s film premiere, oscillating between anger, love, jealousy, and bitterness throughout the night. The script is fairly overdone, but the performances are good (especially Zendaya) and the camerawork is fluid for a two-hander in one location. Shot during the pandemic, all on black and white film lend to its arthouse feel. Trailer. 106 mins. Stream on Netflix.
Off the beaten path…
Seoul Station
Seoul Station is director Sang-ho Yeon’s companion piece to 2016 breakout zombie hit Train to Busan. The animated film chronicles the same zombie outbreak in Seoul, focusing primarily on a transient young woman as the crisis worsens. The animation isn’t much to write home about, but the narrative tale packs a punch. There’s certainly worse zombie content out there. Trailer. 93 mins. Find on Amazon Prime.
Swiss Army Man
This Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe two-hander is a weird, heartfelt, and heartbreaking look at loneliness, survival, and mental illness. Dano plays a kid stranded on an island with Radcliffe as an undead guy with weird powers (hence the title). But this buddy comedy turns the camera inward for a look at reconciling ones happiness with personal expectation. Trailer. 95 mins. Watch on Netflix.
Brick
Back in 2005, Jospeh Gordon Levitt was struggling to shed the kid-actor moniker and Rian Johnson was an indie filmmaker, but the duo teamed up for an incredibly modern, stylized neo-noir, teenage detective film. JGL shines and Johnson’s characters come to life in this oddball dark mystery. Trailer. 109 mins. Watch on Amazon Prime.
Martha Marcy May Marlene
With Elisabeth Olsen trending due to her hit Disney+ Show WandaVision, time to revisit her breakout role, 2011’s Martha Marcy May Marlene. Olsen plays a young woman ensnared by John Hawke’s cult leader, who escapes only to show the psychological damage of someone going through just that. An incredibly haunting drama, it showed that Olsen (alongside a stellar cast of Hawkes and Sarah Paulson) had the chops to be a big time actor. Trailer. 101 mins. Rent on Amazon ($3.99).
Obligatory tv recommendation…
Stop rewatching Friends for a week, please.
Star Wars: Rebels
The animation style might throw some people off, but the Dave Filoni helmed Rebels expanded the Star Wars universe in a fun, often emotionally devastating, and low-barrier-of-entry way. Following the rebel crew of the Ghost the show takes us up to A New Hope, filling in gaps, expanding side arcs and characters seen throughout the expanded universe (e.g. Ahsoka Tano), and tying in those we know (Vader, Maul, clone troopers, Mandalorians, R2 D2, etc). A must watch for any fan of the franchise. Extended Trailer. Four seasons, 72 episodes. Stream all seasons on Disney+.
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!