366 in 366 - Week 5
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By Matt Cohen I have officially fallen behind in my movie-watching experience. I chalk it up to having an unwavering commitment to laziness and procrastination. Oh well. Here’s what I have this time around (there’s some really good ones!) |
1) A
Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985) - After
recently moving into a specific house on Elm Street, Jesse is forced to
confront Freddy Krueger, who tries to recruit the teen as his protégé. I’ve
seen a lot of polarizing criticism for this film, but I see it as an incredibly
successful sequel to the original classic. It is surprisingly well shot and
acted, but most of all it has a supremely dream-like atmosphere that persists
throughout. This is before the Nightmare
series got campy (thought the campy films are just as good) and it has some
genuine albeit dated scares. The Freddy-related effects also really stand out
in this one, as they do in every film in the series (watch out for the
horrifying and wonderfully crafted “coming out” sequence). The most notable
aspect of this film, however, is the not so implicit homosexual overtones that
are quite pervasive. It kind of has to be seen to be believed. (8/10)
2) Eraserhead
(1977)
- A new father struggles with caring for his decidedly unique baby,
experiencing nightmarish visions along the way. David Lynch is a madman. This
is his magnum opus, in my opinion. Every shot can be ripped right off the
screen and framed on a wall. Images are surreal and unsettling, and the plot is
all but nonexistent. Do not go into this one with any expectations. You should
just be ready for what can only be described as a visionary and
thought-provoking cinematic experience. (10/10)
3) Curse
of Chucky (2013) - The murderous doll finds a new
home among a paraplegic and her family, where he strives to reinstate his reign
of terror. I am a huge fan of the Child’s
Play films in general, but I did not have high hopes for this modern
reboot/sequel. However, Curse of Chucky
was an incredibly pleasant surprise. Chucky is as manipulative and terrifying
as ever, and the film really cements Chucky as a legendary slasher villain,
notably through its exclusion of much backstory of who Chucky is. The film
assumes we already know what this bad doll is up to. Chucky’s quips and comedic
moments are top notch, and the special gore effects are top notch and do not
rely on CGI. I am intrigued as to how the Chucky series will be able to top
this one. (8.75/10)
Just
a side note: I watched the Netflix version of the film, and from what I understand
this is the R-rated version of Curse of Chucky. Seek out the Unrated version if
you can.
4) Best
in Show (2000) - Five show dogs and their
eccentric owners collide at the annual Mayflower Dog Show in this Christopher
Guest-helmed mockumentary. Guest and his team are bar-none the masters of the
comedic mockumentary genre. Aside from being one of the most quotable comedies
ever, Best in Show might also be in
the running for the cutest film of all time, as some of the show dogs are
absolutely adorable. My personal highlights are in director/writer/actor
Christopher Guest’s character of Harland Pepper, as Southerner with a penchant
for fishing, ventriloquism, and bloodhounds. You have no reason not to watch
this film. Even if you’ve seen it before, revisit it. It’s funnier the second
(or twentieth) time. (10/10)
5) Evil
Dead 2 (1987) - An ancient evil is released when
Ash Williams accidentally releases malevolent spirits known as the Deadites
from the flesh-bound book, the Necronomicon Ex Mortis. This is my favorite
movie. Hands down. It has the absolute perfect balance between horror and
comedy, with Sam Raimi directing Bruce Campbell into slapstick brilliance. It
is campy as hell, but that only adds to the charm, making this one of the most
fun movie experiences one could ask for. Notable are the stellar gore and
monster effects, crafted by a young and previously inexperienced team
consisting of such legends as Greg Nicotero, Howard Berger, Robert Kurtzman,
Shannon Shea, and Mark Shostrom. Please, watch this movie. (366/10 Seal of Quality)
6) Office
Space (1999) - Peter Gibbons hates his job, but after
seeking counseling, finally finds out what he wants to do with his life:
absolutely nothing. So you know about 10 lines up where I called Evil Dead 2 my favorite movie? If there
is a single movie that could contend with that one, it would be Office Space. Mike Judge’s writing is
some of the most memorable in recent history; the comedy is outrageous and
unique, and contains a poignant message without being too “wink-wink.” Ron
Livingston shows off his best performance here, with Stephen Root and Gary Cole
playing some of the funniest supporting characters in the entire catalog of
cinematic comedy. What remains brilliant about this film is, even 17 years
later, the characters and situations inside the “office space” are still
absolutely relevant to today’s work environment; I catch myself thinking about
this movie all of the time at work. This one also receives my highest
recommendation. (366/10 Seal of Quality)
7) Waiting
for Guffman (1996) - This mockumentary follows the
theatre group of small-town Blaine, Missouri, where flamboyant director Corky
St-Clair attempts to create the most perfect historical production with hopes
of bringing it to Broadway. As with all Christopher Guest films, the usual cast
appears here, including the brilliant Fred Willard, Eugene Levy, Parker Posey,
and Catherine O’Hara. In continuation with his style, the film builds up to the
production of “Red, White, and Blaine,” which is a welcome addition to the end
of the film. An early originator of both kitsch and cringe humor, Christopher
Guest is consistently astounding across his entire filmography, and Waiting for Guffman is no exception. (9.5/10)
8) Pulp
Fiction (1992) - The stories of some hitmen, a
boxer, and small-time thieves converge in this Palme d’Or winning masterpiece
from Quentin Tarantino. What is there to say that hasn’t already been said
about Pulp Fiction? It is smart,
funny, excellently shot, and cemented Tarantino as one of, if not the greatest
director of his generation. I’ve heard criticism in the past that the
anachronological narrative structure of the film could be confusing to some, so
a second viewing is recommended to tie all of the stories together. Though most
remember this film for the excellent performances from John Travolta and Samuel
L. Jackson, I gravitate mostly towards Bruce Willis’s character of Butch, who
is richly complex and commands a great presence on the screen. (10/10)
Mystic
River (2003) - After his daughter is murdered, a former
Boston criminal must work around his childhood friends in order to track down
the killer before the police do. My mom has been trying to get me to watch this
movie for years, and it did not disappoint. The three lead performances from Sean
Penn, Tim Robbins, and Kevin Bacon are as outstanding as you would expect them
to be, especially under the direction of Clint Eastwood. I’m not usually the
biggest fan of these whodunit thrillers, but this one was pretty enjoyable. I
was not a huge fan of the visual style, which comes off as slightly textbook
and unoriginal. Additionally, I felt a lot of Eastwood’s voice come through,
which is usually a good thing. However, this led the tone of the film to be
left slightly ambiguous and left a bland taste after the film had concluded. (7/10)
There
are two standouts this week, and one of them is the recently released Warcraft. Check out my full review right
here!
The
other standout: The Wicker Man (1973)
A traditional and staunchly Christian police sergeant
is sent to the nearby community of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance
of a young girl. However, he finds more than he bargained for: a society so
different from his own that he suspects foul play is afoot.
I have had intentions to watch this movie for a while,
but finally got around to it now. I should not have waited. I was absolutely
blown away. One thing that I always look for within films, especially those
with a horror persuasion, is something I can only refer to as atmosphere. It’s
a concept that I’ve struggled to explain, but can most easily be compared to a
combination of focused and purposeful tone in combination with an authorial
intent to create an entire world within a two hour window. John Carpenter is incredibly
adept at this, and The Wicker Man’s
Robin Hardy achieved this as well.
Summerisle feels like a dream world, where the rules
of the modern Christian world seem to fade away in favor of ancient Druidic
tradition. The film is so heavily focalized through the perspective of the main
character, the chivalrous Sergeant Howie. Though I found it hard to relate to
Howie on a personal level, Hardy and writer Anthony Shaffer successfully craft
a story and world that, although not necessarily scary to the viewer, is an
absolute nightmare for the Sergeant. Christopher Lee’s commanding performance
as the enigmatic Lord Summerisle is one for the history books. My favorite
element, however, of the film, is the various folk shanties injected throughout
to reinforce the themes and tone of the isle. The “mystery” of the film is not
much of a mystery, but this is not a problem. The film excellently builds
towards its climax, resulting in an incredibly memorable and haunting finale.
It is always exciting to find a new favorite film, and The Wicker Man might just fit that criteria. (366/10 Seal of Quality)
Naturally, I’ve watched way more
movies than just these so far this year. For a full, up-to-date list on what
movies I’ve watched so far, check out this link:
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