Hello! A new month! The first thing you should do is watch Lulu Wang’s short film celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year, a reimagining of the legend of Nian. It’s 12-minutes, sweet, and made on iPhone 12 (it’s an Apple ad, but it’s still a good short film).
We’re still kind of in movie limbo, but we’ve been getting a little bit more lately, so hopefully your movie needs are sated for another week! For those of you on the East Coast, if you’re snowed in, get ready to watch all of the below.
New and noteworthy…
The Little Things
Denzel Washington. That’s all you need to know. Of course, there are two other Oscar winning actors in this 90’s crime drama (Jared Leto who is good and Rami Malek who is weird). Written in 1990 (the story feels very much like it’s stuck in the 1990s, too), The Little Things is a serial killer tale, with hardened and wizened cop Denzel working with hotshot detective Rami to track down this years-long murder spree. It’s not Fincher, but it’s not half bad either. Trailer. 127 mins. Watch it on HBO Max until the end of February.
Pan’s Labyrinth
Director Guillermo Del Toro is more known for his divisive, Best Picture winner The Shape of Water, but Pan’s Labyrinth is his magnum opus for many. Set in 1940’s Spain, the young protagonist Ofelia cycles between her sickly mother, abusive new stepfather, and navigating this dark fairytale underworld, fulfilling her destiny. It’s a visual wonderland and an imaginative feast, two things Del Toro is known for. Trailer. 120 mins. Stream it on Netflix.
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Continuing on last week’s theme of Wes Anderson stop motion films, Fantastic Mr. Fox is less original (based on a Roald Dahl piece) but a bit flightier and light than last week’s Isle of Dogs recommend. George Clooney leads a typically-Anderson all star voice cast as a fox going through a midlife crisis and an actual housing crisis, all while looking dapper and spouting witty lines. If you need a palette cleanser, look no further. Trailer. 88 mins. Find it on Disney+.
Just Mercy
In the mood for a heavy courtroom drama steeped in racial disparity? Well look no further than Just Mercy, a serious film that got lost in the midst of the 1917-hype train last year. Michael B. Jordan swaps his Killmonger attire for a suit to defend a death row inmate who can’t afford real representation. Brie Larson shows why she’s got an Oscar on her mantle, and Jamie Foxx and Rob Morgan shine. Not the easiest of films to watch, but a worthy watch. Trailer. 136 mins. Find on HBO Max.
From the archives…
Last of the Mohicans
Lost amongst the droves of Amazon originals, the Michael Mann masterpiece is available to stream. Historical drama, period romance, action flick, and commentary on how we treated Native Americans, this film is both vital and highly entertaining. Upon rewatch, the film feels lean, blending broad scope warfare with intimate moments (and that score!). A true Hall of Fame film. Trailer. 114 mins. Watch on Amazon Prime.
TV!
Stop rewatching Friends for a week, please.
Los Espookys
This little gem of a show was overlooked by almost everyone (thankfully getting a season 2, though). The show is created and starred by Julio Torres, Ana Fabregas, and Fred Armisen, as a troupe who create scares-for-hire. From a town looking to drum up tourism to a haunted mansion contest and more, this wacky, dry-as-hell, and truly hilarious, Los Espooky’s deserves a viewing. Six episodes. Find on HBO Max.
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!
d