The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (APR 14th, 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:

Rango (2011)

Is Rango a film made for kids? That would be hard to justify from my perspective…BUT I love this film to pieces. This is one of the most unique animated films you will find and the fact that it comes from Nickelodeon is wild. Rango is a unique remake of the classic neo-noir Chinatown but places it in a “neo-western”. The film takes place in modern times but the town for which our chameleon protagonist becomes the sheriff of is a blast from the past. Johnny Depp brings so much personality to this false hero who becomes a bona fide hero and legend. Depp is an actor who voices a lizard who thinks he is an actor who turns out to be a talented actor and storyteller. Then you have a whole crew of wonderful vocal performances from legends like Ned Beatty and Harry Dean Stanton to Bill Nighy who just might bring to life one of the most terrifying villains in animation with the outlaw Rattlesnake Jake. Director Gore Verbinski creates a visionary feat with Rango that is artful and abstract in all the best ways showing that he just might be one of the most creative filmmakers working today. This film is so crazy that even Clint Eastwood is a character…voiced by Timothy Olyphant. Rango might not be for kids, but it is a killer animated modern western that has great action, characters, performances, and aesthetics.

Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (2000)

How do you follow an all-time classic anime with all the best gothic and vampiric horror you can find? Bloodlust turned out to be a worthy follow-up for Vampire Hunter D. There are new elements including having D team up and come to blows with a whole new crew of vampire hunters. D continues to be an incredible and dangerous action lead who gets to continue his slicing and dicing action ways. The look of the film is still fantastic with its classic 80s anime look mixed with some of the best gothic designs you might find. This time around, the stoic and dangerous D cross paths with other vampire hunters who have all their own weapons and personality themselves. The narrative for this one is more convoluted and convenient than the original but it still delivers a cool and satisfying journey. In a time where Blade is the peak vampire hunter and Van Helsing is the gold standard, D is still one of the coolest and most impressive vampire hunters of all.

Soylent Green (1973)

Do you know what the titular food substitute is made from, right? Soylent Green is an iconic science fiction flick that features a smog covered, overpopulated version of 2022 that all of us are glad we did not live through. People are starving and only the highest in society can live comfortably with the basic enjoyments of life. In a time of great classism, Soylent Green does hit on a different level. The story is impressive, and the narrative delivers one of the most devasting twists in all of film history. Charlton Heston leads yet another iconic science fiction film where he traverses a world with little hope, and he bears it through sarcasm and nihilism. Heston is paired on screen with the legend E.G. Robinson and their dynamic is the emotional anchor to this sci-fi procedural. Heston’s character might be investigating a murder but that does not get in the way of him finding love in this hopeless existence. How will this film affect you and your world view? This dried out and foodless world is a shocking existence to bare, and this 70s flick captures that uncomfortably familiar world that one day could be ours.

The Lobster

Just how weird are Yorgos Lanthimos’ films? Every single one of them, even the ones with slightly more “normal” stories, are so idiosyncratic. One perfect example is the endlessly awkward and bizarre The Lobster. A great concept with a world where humans are turned into animals when they cannot find mates. Colin Farrell shows great range as this quiet, awkward, and stoic man who must pretend for his own self-preservation. He goes on a crazy journey through this strange world of sad losers, violence rebels, and darkly intense women. Farrell is not alone as he is joined by a stacked cast of Rachel Weisz, Lea Seydoux, John C. Reilly, Ben Whishaw, and Olivia Colman. If you love a dry wit…this just might be the dryest around. The awkwardness and sarcasm keep this film going along with its concept as Lanthimos navigates a complex and winding narrative. Not every element comes together but this is still a unique and impactful cinematic experience.

The Great Train Robbery

What is the first great western of cinema? The Great Train Robbery. This film set up plenty of the motifs and tropes we will see in westerns for over a century to come. You have a crew of dastardly cowboys who hop and train to make a big score. There is a thrilling train heist as well as a big shootout. These are common now, but this is one of the first films to feature such narrative beats and Edwin S. Porter set the tone. But what really makes this film stand out is the variety of cinematic advancements it delivered. It all starts (and ends) with the close-up shot of a mustachioed cowboy shooting at the camera which influenced such shots seen in James Bond films and Goodfellas. You have a mix of different indoor and outdoor shots which might seem simple but were revolutionary for the times. There is a functioning train on screen and a large grouping of extras. You even have a moving background to sell internal shots of the train. This is a landmark film for westerns and cinema in general. This is an easy 13-minute watch.