The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (July 21st, 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:

An Actor’s Revenge (1963)

Who doesn’t love a good classic revenge flick? A kabuki actor seeks revenge against the one who destroyed his family. Director Kon Ichikawa delivers a gorgeous film that mixes the kabuki influences of the theater with the cinematic presentation of a film. The make-up and costumes are all you could want from a “costume-drama” like this one. Kazuo Hasegawa provides a layered and emotional performance that carries this revenge flick from the start. His presentation during performance scenes is top notch and impactful. There is an abundance of atmosphere throughout with its stark lighting, beautiful staging, and production design. There are plenty of shocking and tense moments throughout the film in a special kind of way. An Actor’s Revenge will deliver an experience that will be hard to forget and will leave lasting images in your head.

Scream (2022)

How do you breathe fresh life into a film franchise that was built on keeping things fresh? Luckily for Scream the legacy sequel and “requel” era of filmmaking became increasingly prominent in the past 15 years. That gave plenty of material to work with for the Radio Silence crew who took over the franchise from the late Wes Craven. The new cast is anchored by the likes of Melissa Barrera, Jack Quaid, and the new scream queen herself Jenna Ortega. The “Big Three” of the original film come back for another go around which provides one of the biggest emotional moments of the whole film. Seeing David Arquette, Courtney Cox, and Neve Campbell was a treat. The film has all the fun in the world with retread the original film in the most meta and biting way possible. There are slick and blood kills, top notch directing, and the right feel to make this a fresh new flick in the franchise. Scream is a legacy sequel done right and packs plenty of surprises along the way.

Gremlins (1984)

How many better creature-feature Christmas movies can you think of? Gremlins is a classic of 80s filmmaking with all the sensibilities and flaws that made this era of film such a blast. This dark comedy by Joe Dante is endlessly entertaining with plenty of devious and chaotic creatures ransacking a small town for the holidays. There are some seriously heavy moments including a haunting account from a character on why they hate Christmas. There are gross out moments with exploding, melting, and burning gremlins. Dante injects his brand of themes with anti-capitalistic sensibilities in the 80s as well as good messages about respecting nature and other cultures. This is quite a wild and zany cautionary tale that boasts plenty of great puppet work. The mogwai are adorable and the gremlins are equally creepy. This is good for Halloween and Christmas and the whole family can have some darkly clever fun (if the kids can handle it).

Colette (2018)

How many period biopics do you think come and go without much fanfare? There are probably dozens every year that completely fly under the radar but a few occasionally pick up some type of moment. One of the most charming and engaging in recent memory that appeared and never really broke through was Colette. Wash Westmoreland directed a gorgeous and well filmed biopic that captures the legacy of Gabrielle Colette who was a renowned (but not always in her time) writer. This film captures the immense talents of this woman with a pen, on the stage, and in many other aspects. Colette is open about exploring Colette sexuality and the different types of relationships she experienced in her life. The drama of the piece is deeply rooted in the complicated and toxic relationship between Colette and her husband Henry Gauthier-Villars. Colette and Willy are magnetic and tumultuous and make for great cinema. This is one of Keira Knightley’s most under-appreciated performances (and probably one of her best). This is a truly special performance by Dominic West as well, who is giving the best turn of his career. This is a hidden gem if there ever was one and hits all the boxes you want from a period biopic.

The Lady from Shanghai (1947)

Would you trust a gorgeous woman who is interested in you and gets you a job on her rich husband’s boat? Yeah…that sounds like all kinds of screwed up and suspicious. That is the crux of Orson Welles’ film The Lady from Shanghai. Welles stars as an Irishman who falls for the drop-dead gorgeous Rita Hayworth. Well…of course he would! This thriller is a premiere noir that captures the femme fatale and atmosphere like few have. Welles crafts a mysterious film that might not be as shocking with almost 80 years of films coming out after it but his atmosphere still brings tension and suspense. This is not Welles most dynamic film, but he does have some surprises up his sleeve for a visually stunning and dynamic finale that will leave a lasting impression. Welles is not alone as he has a strong cast of actors to bring this twisted tale to life as well.

Touch of Evil (1958)

How do you expertly capture the attention of your audience from the start? Wow them. Orson Welles was certainly a mass of “wowing” his audience with his technical skills and his penchant for storytelling. Touch of Evil is a strikingly put together noir with a stacked cast and impressive work. The opening long take utilizes impressive technology including cranes and such to craft an engrossing opening sequence that is legendary at this point. This twisted tale of police corruption and gangs on the US/Mexican border has plenty of shocks and punches to throw. Welles is mountainous and intimidating as the antagonistic Quinlan. This character is one of the most iconic dirty cops on film. Charlton Heston, a master of screen presence, brings it all to the table as our protagonist (despite him playing a Mexican being distracting for sure). Janet Leigh plays the damsel in this flick and brings her A-game. This is one of the most iconic of noir films and one of the best crime thrillers in the long history of film. Welles crafts something special and a film that is justly must see.

His New Job (1915)

What do we all love about Charlie Chaplin films? The Tramp and the slapstick. His New Job is a perfect example of both the character and the comedy. Chaplin makes a big splash with his first gig at Essanay Studios as he channels some of his own experiences with The Tramp attempting to get a job at a motion picture studio. The Tramp meets a few adversaries along the way and certainly leaves them in a lot worse shape than before (for all our benefits and laughs). This “movie about making movies” allows Chaplin to get up to some creative and fun hijinks that make this 30-minute flick a wonderfully fun time. Bits of romance, plenty of action, and plenty of laughs make for a wonderful piece of early comedy.

Wagon Master (1950)

What is one of John Ford’s favorite films he created? Wagon Master. This western takes audiences into the beautiful desert and mountain landscape of Utah on a wagon train with a group of migrating Mormons. Throw in some run-ins with performers of adult audiences, criminals, Native Americans, and the law and this journey is filled with tension and impactful themes. There are intriguing explorations in classism, judgmental moralities, and racism that create a bedrock for this fascinating flick. Led by Ford regulars like Ben Johnson (steely and tough as ever), Harry Carey Jr, and Ward Bond (giving one of his meatier turns in a Ford film), this cast is filled with impressive actors. Charles Kemper is another standout as the leader of a familial gang of armed robbers. There are incredible shots of this venture played to catchy and engrossing music. There is intense and well-staged action throughout this lean 85-minute film. This is a hidden gem of Ford’s extensive filmography that is so worthy of the watch.

Ratatouille (2007)

What is the most unexpected masterpiece of Pixar grand filmography? As people age after growing up on Pixar, Ratatouille begins to hit on much deeper levels and has soon become the favorite of many Pixar fans. This film is one of the most mature films of Pixar’s filmography as it navigates a love for food and cooking. This is not a usual motif for family orientated filmmaking but the fact that the protagonist is a rat makes for a more fantastical and surprising story. The direction from Brad Bird is so sincere as it balances charm, passion, tension, and imagination. Patton Oswalt leads a great cast of performers with the likes of Ian Holm, Peter O’Toole, and Brad Garrett all providing standout supporting turns. The passion for food is all there and the way the kitchen is brought to life is quite meaningful and authentic. The themes of food culture and chasing dreams connect with people on a deeply personal level and the pitch perfect score from Michael Giaccino is the charming stitching that brings all these great elements together.