The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (July 28th, 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:

Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Do you want to have some fun with your martial arts? Stephen Chow found the perfect meshing of action and humor with the silly, absurd, and charming Kung Fu Hustle. This is a tale of the mob trying to strong arm a small community with an apartment building. There are a few martial arts masters in residence who can help with such tasks while a young man finds his way back to being a force of good instead of being a bad guy. These two main stories weave together in mysterious ways as it navigates a crime thriller structure with plenty of action and laughs. Chow is able to find some really silly and hilarious ways of expressing some of the tough conversations that feel a bit more pragmatic. The shining jewel of this film for sure is the action though. There are multiple set pieces that offer the performers so much room to deal out some impressive martial arts that are both thrilling and funny. The sense of humor that Chow brings is top notch and only second to the impressively structured and mind-blowing action sequences. The “Sonic” runs, murderous string instruments, and frog style all make for memorable and extremely weird elements. This is a surprising and downright fun venture.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

How does a foreign film become such a massive hit in the United States? You deliver something that is unique, impactful, and something of quality. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is exactly that. Ang Lee creates a film that balances so many great elements with romance, action, fantasy, and thematic elements that anchor the film. The conflict at the core of the film is about a young woman who navigates the world perspective of her master, branching out and claiming her own path, and finding love. This martial arts film has plenty of everything! Ziyi Zhang makes such an impact as this young woman on the character level, emotional level, and the physicality that is necessary for all the amazing stunts. Michelle Yeoh and Chow Yun-Fat both deliver incredible performances as well with their unsaid romance and their impressive skills in martial arts. But the biggest selling points are all the filmmaking elements that make this such a striking and moving experience. The action is off the charts and some of the best audiences have ever seen. The score and cinematography tie this whole experience together as well. This is an instant classic and a must-see piece of Asian cinema.

The Matrix (1999)

How many films have made a bigger cultural impact than The Matrix? The Wachowskis science fiction/action flick works on so many levels and captured the imaginations of humanity back in 1999. The black leather. The bullet time effects. The rebellion. Perspectives on artificial intelligence and artificial worlds. This is a towering achievement of storytelling, themes, and filmmaking. Keanu Reeves brought to life Neo (The One) as a hero who lives the classic hero’s journey to discover his true potential and what he can do to change and save the world. Laurence Fishburne and Carrie Anne Moss deliver two of the most beloved supporting turns in recent memory. Then there is Hugo Weaving who kills it as the rogue computer program Agent Smith. His monologue about humanity is biting and impactful. But the action and special effects are what helps create this classic cinematic experience. The slow-motion action. Martial arts skills. The wire works. The big gun shootouts. The depths of themes and ideas make this film so significant and challenges the audience with hard questions. This is a truly iconic film that needs to be experienced at least once in your life.

Les Vampires (1915)

How likely are you to watch a seven-hour film? How about a seven-hour film from 1915? Les Vampires is a film that has reached legendary status for film nerds, cinephiles, and film historians. This film has been explored through other films and miniseries with multiple versions of Irma Vep arriving during my lifetime. But this film is a sprawling crime epic that is broken into ten parts on YouTube (the easiest place to find it today. This tale of the criminal and dangerous Vampires is full of intrigue, death, and conspiracy. A film from well over 100 years ago is quite impressive in the way it feels modern in its filmmaking and storytelling. Many films from this era were still 15-30 minutes and Louis Feuillade decided to defy all expectations of cinema for the time. But it is Musidora as the alluring Irma Vep who makes this film that special experience. If you want to commit to it…experience it for yourself.

Chef (2014)                                       

Did you know that Jon Favreau loved cooking so much? Chef is a charming and passionate film that is both smaller in scale compared to most of Favreau’s but also stacked with incredible talent. Favreau plays a chef who must reconnect with his culinary creativity and his son. They start a food truck and make a trek across the United States. There is plenty of heart to go around and beautiful food to enjoy in almost every scene. This film is a love letter to artistry as well as culinary flair. Favreau is joined by an impressive cast with John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Bobby Cannavale, Dustin Hoffman, Sofia Vergara, Oliver Platt, and even Robert Downey Jr for one scene. This is a simple but effective story that feels like a true passion project for Favreau. There is tension, drama, laughs, and love. A fantastic combination for an endlessly watchable flick.

Paterson (2016)

Jersey people love it when movies show some love to New Jersey, don’t we? Jum Jarmusch crafted a beautifully poetic little drama in the form of Paterson. Adam Driver portrays Paterson who is a bus driver in trade and poet at heart who lives in Paterson, New Jersey. So much Paterson to go around! This slice of life film walks through a week or so in the life of Paterson and his charming and well-meaning artist wife, Laura, portrayed by Golshifteh Farahani. They make a charming couple and seeing their daily moments together is quite charming. The day-to-day life is full of twins, poets, and relatable human drama. Jarmusch just has the right vibe to find humanity in this character and Driver is an incredible actor who anchors this film. He does benefit as well from a great ensemble around him as well. The poetry in the film and the poetry of Jarmusch’s storytelling is exquisite.

Rocky (1976)

Is Rocky the greatest underdog story ever put to the silver screen? For a quick answer…YES. From the start of Bill Conti’s iconic score and the word “ROCKY” scrolling horizontally across the screen in huge letters, you know you are in for something special. Long before this franchise turned into nothing but music videos, montages, and boxing matches, Rocky was always a character driven drama first. Sylvester Stallone wrote one of the greatest blue-collar heroes in cinema. But it is his earnest performance that brings so much life to this man who is not the brightest but has the largest heart of any human being ever. His capacity for love is shown with his tender connection to the quiet and reserved Adrian (played perfectly by Talia Shire). Rock is not a perfect man. Muscle for the mob. Naïve in the ways of engaging with women. He also channels his own personal trauma in bits of force and rage. But his opportunity to fight the charismatic champion of the world Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers at his absolute peak as a character on screen) is what inspires all of us. The journey is to go the distance. He needs to prove that he can hang. It was never about winning for a film full of misfit toys like Burgess Meredith’s hardnose and gravelly trainer Mickey and Burt Young’s jealous and frustrated Paulie. The music is perfect. The character work is rich. The story is iconic. There is a reason Rocky has leaped from the screen and made a legitimate impact on the world we live in.