The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (APR 7th, 2024)

 In a cluttered and overwhelming world of cinema, it is literally impossible to watch it all (trust me…I try). There is a hard balance between rewatching your favorite films, new releases, and films from your ever growing watchlists. But there are so many gems in film history to enjoy so it is a great way to utilize your movie watching time. But how do you decide what to watch? Queue The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends! This series will highlight my weekly journey through previously released films (whether they are rewatches for me or new discoveries. Here are my picks:

No Country for Old Men (2007)

How does one adapt a book by Cormac McCarthy? No Country for Old Men is an iconic and influential American novel that captures deeply resonant commentary on the escalation and advancement of society that will soon leave us all in the dust and out of our elements. But it took two incredible filmmakers, Joel and Ethan Coen, to bring this story to life. Their sensibilities are pitch perfect for this darkly funny and relentlessly violent adaptation. This neo-western crime thriller is one of the most intense films you will ever see. Roger Deakins also offers one of the greatest efforts of a cinematographer in the history of film. Every bit of framing and visual storytelling creates an alluring, brutal, and effective experience that comes to a fever pitch on multiple occasions. There are also a few films that can wax philosophy quite like the prose of McCarthy in the hands of the Coens. Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Tommy Lee Jones lead as an incredible trio to deliver a thriller that you must experience.

Planet of the Apes (1968)

What makes a great science fiction film? Having a unique high concept idea goes a long way. There are few high concept ideas cooler than a planet where apes fill the role of humanity. Planet of the Apes takes a brilliant approach to commentating on humanity through the lens of a powerful and advanced species of apes long into the future. The politics, religion, and sociological impressions that this science fiction classic navigates through are quite impressive. There are almost thrilling action moments that sprinkle throughout this heady film as well. The score is otherworldly in the best ways making the film stick out with a unique atmosphere. The cast is incredible with Charlton Heston providing a towering, charismatic, and fiery lead performance as a jaded astronaut with Roddy McDowell, Kim Hunter, and Maurice Evan each delivering complex and layered performances under the iconic makeup from John Chambers. But that twist! The ending of this film is one of the most iconic moments in the history of film. This is an iconic film that has launched one of the most unique and enduring franchises in the history of film.

Noises Off… (1992)

What would happen if you put a womanizing, overly self-assured stage director into a complicated project with a bunch of actors with plenty of ego to spare? You get Peter Bogdanovich’s Noises Off. The cast is an incredible ensemble of talented folks. Michael Caine is our director who is overly particular about everything and does not seem to care much about what people want in his crew. Carol Burnett, Christopher Reeve, John Ritter, Denholm Elliot, and others come together to deliver fun characters who each have their own insecurities that continue to mount in this wild comedy. The structure of the film is three parts with a dress rehearsal, the backstage antics during a real performance, and finally one that completely goes off the rails. There is so much energy and technical precision that goes into each of these sections. The acting is top notch, and each character is perfectly rendered through writing and performance. Pulling back the curtain on a performance is quite a fun venture that you can sink your teeth into while getting plenty of laughs along the way.