The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (May 19th, 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:

Excalibur (1981)

What is the quintessential King Arthur adaptation on screen? Few of these adaptations quite capture the craziness and oddity of this mythology than John Boorman’s Excalibur. This fantastic ensemble of British and Irish actors makes for quite the “who’s who” of cinema after. The likes of Patrick Stewart, Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, Ciaran Hinds, Gabriel Byrne, and others fill out the supporting cast. Nigel Terry leads the way as Arthur himself who goes on a decades long journey going to hidden future king to peace wielding king to a shadow of himself. There is an epic feel to the film through visceral visuals and special effects. The musical choices including the of motif of utilizing “Ode Fortuna” at precise moments makes for a sprawling and epic feel. The narrative and storytelling are messy, but the overall atmosphere is so cinematic and unique that this crazy fantasy needs to be experienced for sure.

Deliverance (1972)

Deliverance is all about banjos and crazy hillbillies, right? That is probably the general legacy that pop culture has latched onto. But John Boorman’s intense, thrilling, and unnerving film is so much more than that. There is a great construction of humanity versus the natural world. The film feeds on the anxiety and paranoia that “civilized” city folks have off the untamed and wild country folks. That taboo fear rears its ugly head throughout this film. We see a deformed young man playing banjo giving the icon “Dueling Banjos” that have become synonymous with this film. Then there are the two assailants in the woods who initiate a series of events that are horrific and disturbing as they drill down into our greatest fears of isolation and violation. Violence, fear, and paranoia are the driving forces for this rural thriller that burrows underneath the skin and sits there. Lies and deceit cover the blood-filled tracks of this top-notch cast including the likes of John Voight, Burt Reynolds, and Ned Beatty. This film will twist your nerves to their limits and leave you haunted with its final pervasive and unforgiving moments.

Matrimony’s Speed Limit (1913)

What if you had twelve minutes to marry someone in order to inherit a giant fortune but your best girl is back at the house? That is the crazy scenario that Alice Guy proposes in her 1913 comedy, Matrimony’s Speed Limit. There is a crazed pace of hijinks that occur when our central male protagonist becomes incredibly desperate. Watching him manically go up to strange women and beg to marry him is quite funny especially when the physicality of silent film acting comes into play. But his lady friend goes on her own mad (car) dash to him. Exciting car chases and crazed proposals are just the many highlights of a fun comedy from over 100 years ago. There is so much the audience knows that our main couple does not, which makes it all the more entertaining to watch. The final moments of sad desperation as our protagonist just wants life to “take me now” …people can understand that overly dramatic type of energy. This is a wild ride worth your fifteen minutes of time.

Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928)

Why is Buster Keaton such a legend in the world of film? Steamboat Bill Jr. is a perfect example of why. Keaton was known for his stone-faced stoicism that made him the perfect straight man to all the insane situations created in his film. Here, he is a bit of a “dandy” and comes home to work on a steamboat captained by his father. Let’s just say…he is a bit of a disappointment. This is an honestly relatable element of the film as most of us have had those moments where we could not reach the expectations created by someone else. But the real reason to watch this film is the INSANE third act physical comedy bonanza that Keaton coordinated. A storm has rolled in, and our protagonist is knocked out and laid up in the hospital. But a crazy windstorm tear into this poor southern town. The buildings are torn apart, trees fly through the sky, and plenty of other objects go twisting. Keaton goes full blown into his legendary physical comedy gold. There are truly iconic sequences and stunts that have lived on the annals of film history and should be seen.

Extra Ordinary (2019)

Who wants a supernatural and silly good time? Extra Ordinary is the right kind of vibe for you. There are certainly plenty of “horror” elements to the world and narrative as we experience blood sacrifices and ghosts galore. But when the ghosts can be literal floating sheets and it still feels right for the atmosphere of the film…you know you have something special for sure. This is a story of two unlikely people who have a great connection. The problem? They both have extraordinarily sized traumas and baggage…and they also must stop a charlatan from bringing about true evil to Earth. Yes…this is a bloody good time The British Isle sensibilities are pitch perfect for this lampooning good time. Will Forte might be the biggest name (as well as downright hilarious) but the rest of the cast pull their weight as well. This is a wonderful hidden gem that was swallowed up by the pandemic era of all things VOD. If you can a chance to watch it now, you will be in for a spooky treat that goes down easy with its campy trappings.

The Outsiders (1983)

Who would have thought that Francis Ford Coppola (a director who made four of the most important 70s films) would make a coming-of-age flick about a group of kids in a rough neighborhood? S.E. Hinton’s seminal classic is a story that strikes a chord even today as it navigates classism and deconstructs the system that continues to create gangs and young “hoods” because they are set up with nothing else. The Outsiders is made with plenty of 80s sensibilities and has an earnest tone that makes this challenging story quite digestible. Probably the craziest aspect of this film is just how stacked this young cast is. C. Thomas Howell leads the way as Pony Boy, but his friends feature Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Cruise. You even have a young Diane Lane as a possible suitor for our young protagonist. This story is entertaining and engaging but that does not mean it avoids confronting the sad truths of how some of these young lives will shake out. Stakes and heart make this Coppola film a must watch.