The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Into the Past: 2020

Welcome to The Wasteland into the Past! Join this journey backwards in time as I take a cinematic look at years past. Each article will focus on a singular year and my Top 5 films from that year. Turn back the clock with me…and let’s get started! 

2020

Wolfwalkers

How did Cartoon Saloon wrap up their Irish Folklore trilogy? With arguably the best entry yet! Wolfwalkers is a conflict between humanity and nature, religion and magic. This beautiful film has layers of gorgeous animation that finds this setting mixing the human world and the fairy world. Like all of Cartoon Saloon’s efforts, this is one of the most gorgeous films ever created. The richness of color. The designs of how nature is rendered. The layers and depth in a singular frame. The animation is jaw dropping. But the story is significant as well. At the core, this is about friendship above adversity. A young girl (daughter of a hunter) befriends a wolfwalker, a young girl who can transform into a wolf through her sleep. The hate and violence levied by the religious leadership of this city is visceral and impactful. This friendship has so much gone against it but that conflict makes the depth of this connection all the more interesting and impactful. The two young actresses, Honor Kneafsey and Eva Whittaker, do fantastic work and sell this relationship so well. Sean Bean portrays this hunter and father with so much internal struggle as we see him struggle with his duty and the love for his daughter. Simon McBurney is a top tier villain with his self-righteous and resolute performance as the Lord Protector. The themes are rich, the action is thrilling, and the fantastical elements are engrossing and magical. There is a great shame that this beautiful, animated wonder was lost to Apple TV+ during the pandemic.

Another Round

What would happen if teachers at a school always kept a consistent buzz from alcohol? Would they be better people? Would they work harder? Would this be a complete disaster? Those are the big questions that Thomas Vinterberg asks in his film Another Round. Led by the incredible Mads Mikkelsen, this crew of actors committed impressively to this high concept idea. There are so many details in each of these performances as they balance the drama of their stories with the subtleties of drunk acting. Each of the actors deliver deep and rich performances but Mikkelsen is one of the greatest actors working today. There is so much he can emote and deliver with the subtle stares and glares in his performance. This story might be a strange high concept, but the gimmick does not get in the way of these characters navigating serious dramatic elements that can reach any (adult) member of the audience. There is a richness and simplicity in the way that Vinterberg captures naturalism and authenticity in the cinematic world he created. Throughout the film, we see these men living lives in a world not unlike our own and the drastic measures that they take are even more poignant because of it. We can see a group of people making a similar decision (there are probably an uncomfortable number of people out there riding high on a buzz at most moments anyway). By the end of this film, you go on quite the emotional and intellectual journey. But the biggest moment occurs when Mikkelsen delivers a show stopping dance number in what can only be described as one of the most cathartic endings in all of film (and everyone should experience).

Never Rarely Sometimes Always

What is one of the timeliest and culturally relevant conflicts in American politics? Abortion. One of the most impactful pieces of art that looked at this issue is Never Rarely Sometimes Always. The story is simple. A young woman heads out of state to New York City to have an abortion with her cousin coming along for the journey. There is a naturalism to this film unlike most. This feels more like a documentary due to its realism, but it does tell an engaging story of pain and fear. But it is the effort of everyone involved to bring such an impactful film to life. Eliza Hittman creates an intimacy that delivers so impactfully with a feel and atmosphere that just feels like real life. Sidney Flanigan’s Autumn feels like a real young woman trying to accomplish this mission. Talia Ryder’s Skylar feels like a genuine human being as well. The film gives off the feeling of the fly on the wall. We see all, we connect with them every step of the way. There is no escaping this authentic experience. Flanigan must balance so much fear and uncertainty in her performance that makes Autumn so empathetic. There are no huge plot points or overly dramatized sequences of events. This feels like a real story with real people, but it just cannot be. The final sequence in the film features the questionnaire that needs to be completed to have this procedure. This scene encompasses the journey and adversity that a person must go through to get what care she needs. This film flew under the radar during the virtual cinema era in 2020 and that is a shame.

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Did you even know there was a sequel to the beloved animated film from Aardman? A Shaun the Sheep Movie is so charming and fun because it made the most of its slapstick comedy elements while delivering a whole cast of characters who cannot speak human language. There is so much fun in the silliness of it all along with the idea that they can speak through their actions. Netflix released a sequel to this wonderfully fun little film. The Claymation effects are top notch with the character designs mixing real life and the distinct Aardman design of their characters. That is true as well for this sequel but this time around we get plenty of new fun designs from big machine suits to fun alien characters as well. This is a bold direction to go for a sequel. Aliens might be a bit of a leap for this franchise, but everyone delivered a wonderfully fun and engaging film. Our alien pal is a colorful contrast to the most grounded and mundane approaches to the farm animal characters in the film. The Mossy Bottom Farm receives sparkling new life from the stars above and opens the door for a classic tale. This “helping the outsider” tale has been told so many times with films like E.T. But what Farmegeddon can do is capture the zaniness of its characters. This film has its unique brand of Aardman humor and charm which meshes well with our new characters and story. The themes are poignant as they act as the bedrock for this wondrous action/adventure flick. Plenty is done to make this film feel fresh and fun and there is no questioning the infinite charm of these sheep and their friends.

Bad Education

Who is the best out there in the world of television at making affecting and cinematic style films? HBO. You might hear “TV movie” and automatically write it off as not good enough but the reputation and track record of HBO should add some confidence. There should be plenty of confidence after you take in a film like Bad Education. Hugh Jackman delivers one of his strongest performances in this small-town crime drama as a superintendent who has a lot more to his actions and personality than most can see. There are plenty of engrossing layers to Jackman’s performance as he is endlessly charming and quite the liar and charlatan. Allison Janney can match him perfectly in her own dishonesty and lies. This is a swirling mystery of conspiracy and deceit. The corruption of our education system is uncovered in this black comedy of sorts. This narrative will keep you on the edge of your seat and you are never quite sure how deep the lies go. Cory Finley has a unique biting voice that exploded onto the scene with Thoroughbreds but his 2020 dropping on HBO probably did it no favors. Not once does this dark film feel like it was “made for TV” as Finley brings his eye to this film in its entirety. A sharp and biting commentary on the corruptions of small-town life and our education system makes this film still so relatable and impactful.