8 epic movies
that will put some pep in your step 🎥
I’m a little quiet this month due to an invigorating memoir workshop. While I take pause to do some work over there, I have been letting my newsletters breathe a little.
However, I didn’t want to disappear completely. With the Oscars and most award shows concluded, this means I have been inhaling some excellent movies. I figured I’d filter them and exhale out the good ones.
But first, a quick note on what I like to watch:
So, I like movies that make me sad. Like, really sad. The more sad, the more tears, the better. Ok wait! Don’t go yet! “Sad” might not be the best word. Let me try that again:
I like to watch movies that pull my heart out of my chest, and throw it on a dirty, sticky barroom floor. Then, just when you get a moment to catch your breath, the movie mosh pits all over said heart, adding shards of glass right before picking it up and shoving it back in your chest, stapling it back in, trembling with apology. My heart should beat differently after having watched a movie.
Who wouldn’t want that right?
1. The Sound of Metal
I’m still haunted by the time my doctor told me I’d likely be deaf by the time I’m in my sixties with all the concerts I photographed front row without proper ear plugs. But even if you’re not a punk or metal fan, or seriously concerned about losing your hearing, this film will get under your skin and stay there. Whether it’s the epic performance by Riz Ahmed, the luxuriously epic sound editing job (they won the Oscar for this), or the very necessary spotlight it sheds on the hearing impaired, this is my must see of the year.
2 & 3. The Hunt for the Wilderpeople/Jojo Rabbit
I know, it’s sacrilege to smush two works of art together but I did consume these films in the same weekend and wow did my love affair with director Taika Waititi just explode overnight.
Good god these movies are so good. Waititi is one of my favorite filmmakers right now and it kind of makes sense — some of his earlier gigs include directing one of the most hilarious coming of age TV series ever (maybe just after Freaks and Geeks) The Inbetweeners (UK edition! not the US!)
Just remember, his whimsy comes at a cost. You’ll be laughing in one moment and crying in the next. I mean, who sets out to make a film where Hitler plays a campy imaginary friend who says things like:
“What? Of course you can. Sure, you're a little bit scrawny and a bit unpopular and you can't tie your shoelaces even though you're 10 years old, but you're still the bestest, most loyal little Nazi I've ever met. Not to mention the fact you're really good looking. So you're gonna get out there and you're gonna have a great time, okay?”
As far as The Hunt for the Wilderpeople, I don’t even want to talk about it. I only want to share this clip and say you must watch it. The Film gods will reward you.
4. Judas and the Black Messiah
Hot damn, I just re-watched this trailer while linking it above and my skin is on fire. So, Daniel Kaluuya won the Oscar (and Globe) for his performance as Fred Hampton, but for me it’s LaKeith Stanfield that knocks. it. out. of. the. park. His portrayal as the conflicted FBI informant William O’Neal, is knife twist after knife twist in the chest of this story. If you haven’t, get this movie into your brain already.
5. Rudderless
So this one really surprised me. Billy Crudup and the story drew me in. Then Anton Yelchin shows up and my heart just breaks. (Yelchin was one of my favorite actors of my generation and was sadly killed when his car pinned him in his driveway a few years ago). Seeing him on the screen with Crudup is special and for anyone who is an Almost Famous fan, since you might see echoes of Patrick Fugit there. Oh yeah, BEN KWELLER is in the movie and he is hilarious. William H. Macy wrote and directed this, and there are moments where something peeks out I can’t quite describe. Since it’s a debut you’d think there’d be a lot of hand held camera work, but the overall aesthetic is very Hollywood and perfectly lit which doesn’t match the subject matter that well. Casting Selena Gomez and Felicity Huffman were a little strange, BUT fuck it, it’s an excellent story. Also the music is really, really great. I think after being in lockdown for so long and missing live music has amplified my waxing poetic on this.
6. Cocktail
I had never seen this movie until this year. I mean, I think I saw parts of it throughout my life on late night TBS, but I finally sat down with Ian and watched it all in its beautiful 80’s glory. Another film that when watched during a pandemic (wow, that was surreal to type so nonchalantly) dangles a damn juicy carrot of dive bars and crowded wood. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of cringey ownership of female characters but I think that comes with most movies before 2015? 2017? 2020. Also why does every 80s/90s movie have a trip to Jamaica or the Caribbean somewhere in it? Well, I’m here for it. Forget Tom Cruise’s personal life post Oprah couch, he was a legend and this movie makes me feel some feelings.
6. Blow the Man Down
Since we moved to Maine I’ve been on a binge of anything that takes place in a New England or Irish countryside. (Hocus Pocus, Mystic Pizza, Waking Ned Devine, Wind that Shakes the Barley) and then I realized nothing from Maine was there. And then this movie showed up on Prime and in the first few minutes we’re rewarded with a Sea Shanty and some mouth-watering cinematography. Even in its simplicity, the costume in this film is so rich and detailed. I imagine that’s hard to do when your characters are mostly wearing waders and chunky knits. It’s kind of a classic story of a murder gone awry, but the acting, music, and the setting will steal your attention from start to finish.
7. The Grizzlies
Please, more movies about what life is really like on reservations. I still cant fucking believe both Canada and the US are responsible for erasing an entire culture of people. Anyways, “feel good,” almost came out of my mouth just now, and The Grizzlies does have that Mighty Ducks sports-will-transform-you-for-the-better-type of vibe, however, the two film can’t really be compared. This is a true story which deals with alcoholism, government-gifted poverty, and suicide. Russ Shephard was a real teacher who went to work at a school in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut, Canada which was infamous for sky rocketing teen suicide rates. When he left years later, the suicide rate went down to ZERO. I almost cried typing that. I’ll just leave it with: come for the urgent, beautiful, human story, stay for the Canadian accents, leave changed.
8. The Handmaiden
These aren’t in any particular order because I leave you with one of the most brilliant films I’ve maybe seen in my life. This Korean film is called an “erotic thriller,” which both makes sense and pisses me off. If there wasn’t as much (gasp!) lesbian sex in it, I’m sure it might have gotten in the ring with Parasite during the award circuit boxing match. We’re fine with people being stabbed in the neck, but two women in love having sex is too much for our kids. I guess it was a Palme D’Or contender, so I’ll stop complaining and get to the story.
The movie (based on a Sarah Waters book, who is known to trail-blaze lesbian women as lead characters) takes us on a journey in Japanese-occupied Korea. Our lead, a young servant girl from the country, goes to work for a wealthy rare-book collector and his wife. There is too much to be spoiled, so I’ll just say you won’t be disappointed by the twists, the wardrobe, or the script. And yes, there are some explicit sex scenes, so if you’re enjoying it as a matinée like I was, maybe close your curtains.
I’ll leave you with a note, that if you’re a cinephile like I am, and you have some extra cash this month, consider donating it to your local theaters, venues, and playhouses.
Much love,
Coco.