The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (August 25th, 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:

Yojimbo (1961)

Why are the films of Akira Kurosawa so beloved? He knew how to bring a heightened level of craft to any of the films he made. Yojimbo does not have the depth of films like Rashomon, Seven Samurai, or Ran but it does have a great set up and strong action. Toshiro Mifune is a top tier cinematic lead, and he brings charisma and presence to Sanjuro, the ronin who wanders into this small town. The story of a ronin playing two gangs in a small feudal Japanese village against each other is a fantastic concept for a film. Sergio Leone thought so too when he remade it into A Fistful of Dollars (a secondary recommendation for you as well). There is some cool action as Sanjuro slices up some baddies but there are some strong emotional moments as well when the gang’s violence goes too far. An impactful finale ties up this classic samurai action flick from an all time great.

The Rock (1996)

Is this the best Michael Bay has ever been? The Rock certainly is near the top when it comes to Bay’s filmography especially since many of films are not quite the best films but have plenty of fun in them. But The Rock just might be his most complex and engaging as well. A rogue Marine General takes Alcatraz hostage with chemical weapons so get the families of his fallen brethren the compensation they deserve. Ed Harris portrays an antagonist with depth and layers that most Bay films cannot boast. But the highly entertaining combination of Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery is what makes this film so effective. The Rock has all the flairs of what makes a Bay action movie a Bay action movie. The spinning cameras, huge explosions, and aggressive camera work makes for a high energy and thrilling experience. But watching Cage be his best unhinged Cage and Connery’s incredible charisma make for an endlessly entertaining experience.

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Why is Martin Scorsese’s film about Jesus, The Last Temptation of Christ, so controversial? This film made a lot of Christians angry for a variety of reasons. May misinterpreted what the film was trying to be. This is not a retelling of the Gospel. But the real intentions of the film made many Christians angry as well. Scorsese, a man of complex faith who once considered becoming a priest, is processing his own faith through the vehicle of Jesus as portrayed as a man with flaws. That alone, along with plenty of other moments in the film, will push plenty of buttons on many people. But if you can get past the connection to rigid faith and scripture, there is a compelling film with a strong message about finding your faith. The finale is a powerful moment in film history. The Last Temptation of Christ is an ambitious film that does not always land but it is a powerful cinematic experience with rich filmmaking, acting, and themes. This cast is a who’s who of New Yorker performers along with the powerful and layered performance of Willem Dafoe as Jesus.

The Blob (1958)

How about a simple, silly good time from the golden era of campy horror flicks of the 1950s? The Blob is famous in name and best known for its titular creature from outer space. We know the climactic scenes of the creature consuming a movie theater and a small diner. Steve McQueen, a legend of the screen, leads the way as a love-struck young man just out for a fun evening when a meteor hits Earth with the dangerous creature inside. There are plenty of slow moments and a lot of time spent on some teenage drama, but a leaned-out runtime and fun campy genre elements makes this a silly time to catch a movie.

Fazil (1928)

Why is Howard Hawkes one of the truly great directors of old Hollywood? This man knew how to craft a film that felt modern while feeling like it helped craft this nostalgic feel of cinema. Hawkes was a master of dialogue and how to present his actors to the audience in engaging and impactful ways. Fazil is a great example of one of his early films that boasts all the elements that made him so great. The dynamic camerawork that you would not find in the films of his contemporaries is just one of the ways that Fazil stands out. The musical interlude of the gondola is just a wonderfully magical moment in cinema. This complex romance between a white woman and an Arab prince is just a great plot while it navigates a (mostly) respectful perspective on Islamic culture as well as featuring a mixed marriage in a time where that was not so common.

A Special Day (1977)

How would you spend your day knowing that Hitler was visiting your city at the height of the Third Reich? This fascinating fascist background to Ettore Scola’s drama, A Special Day, adds so many layers to a scenario that is just rich in drama. This film is anchored by the incredible performances of two of Italy’s most famous actors, Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni. An under appreciated and overworked housewife connects with a suicidal man who has secrets that have made him an outcast in the new Fascist regime. The connection that develops between these two people is poignant, well-acted, and expertly written. The dialogue in this film is pitch perfect, especially in the opening sequence with Loren’s character preparing her family for school and work. There is a rich and gorgeous look to this film that just isn’t seen often anymore with modern digital filmmaking. This is a special drama that deserved all its praise upon its release and deserves a new look now.

The Gunfighter (1950)

How do you stand out in a genre like the western that has been around since the dawn of cinema? You present a new perspective that is not often seen in this classic genre. Gregory Peck leads a solemn and introspective drama set in the old west. Peck is Ringo, a gunslinger who is trying to put that life and legend behind him, who arrives in town to see his wife and son after eight years. This lean and real time story captures the humanity that is often missing in a genre built on shootouts and big landscapes. This is a simple setting with little action, but it is deep and rich. The Gunfighter earned its Oscar nomination for story as it crafts such a complex look at a gunslinger with all the regrets in the world and a whole life of knowledge to reflect. A strong supporting cast fills out this affecting and moving western tale.

Little Women (1933)

How many times can Hollywood possibly retell the same classic tale? There are plenty of stories which have been adapted over the course of cinematic history and Little Women seems to have quite the track record. Greta Gerwig delivered a fantastic adaptation in 2019 but 1933’s adaptation is an all-time classic as well. Director George Cukor found the charm, heart, and emotion of this story and delivered a charming adaptation for its first time around. Having a screen legend like Katherine Hepburn as the lead, Jo March, goes a long way. She is just incredible with plenty of energy and charisma to command the screen. The rest of the young women along with the supporting cast deliver in the best way. This tale of love, romance, sisterhood, and loss has it all and gives Louisa May Alcott’s tale an honest and true leap to the big screen.

Soup to Nuts (1930)

What were The Three Stooges doing before they were The Stooges? Soup to Nuts found Shemp, Mo, and Larry (along with a whole cast of great comedians) and made the most of their physical comedy and long run gags. Written by Rube Goldberg (yes…the inventor), you can tell this film is full of long con gags that deliver some fun laughs. There are fast talking characters throughout who throw quips all around while background mechanisms fall into place to deliver laughs that build up for scenes before the payoff arrives. The plot is certainly messy and scattered but for a 70-minute classic comedy…you are not here for the plot. The romance elements and drama of a Swiss immigrant losing his shop are just dominoes set to initiate plenty of fun and long-term gags. But the big fiery building set piece at the end of the film is the perfect and wild conclusion to this manic and chaotic comedy.

Lorenzo (2004)

Disney really knows how to deliver some impressive and satisfying animated shorts, don’t they? If you turn back the clock 20 years, you will find a short that is visually engaging and filled with a sense of danger. Lorenzo is a cat who lives life with plenty of excess but when a dangerous cat and Lorenzo’s own tale come after him, things get interesting with this 4-minute short. The color palette is something to behold with so much rich and color blues, purples, and such. The way the characters move on screen is fluid with some big energy that perfectly matches the style of the piece. There is some danger and surrealist fun when our cool cat has a confrontation with his tail. This is a hidden gem of the Disney Animation Studio.

Days of Heaven (1978)

Where did Terrence Malik get his reputation for having striking and beautiful cinematic experiences? Days of Heaven is one of the most gorgeous films of the 1970s with striking cinematography and Ennio Morricone’s beautiful score. The beautiful fields which our characters work is like a portrait along with the iconic home that stands amongst this endless field of grain. The finale act delivers something truly breathtaking from a visual standpoint and a harrowing vision of destruction. The trio of Richard Gere, Brooke Adams, and Sam Shepard bring life and humanity to this story as well as some dark turns and deceit. Malik had quite a special flick on his hands with his second feature film.

Green Room (2015)

Isn’t it incredible how many thrills a film can deliver with a simple set up? A punk band is trapped in a green room of a Nazis bar after a murder. That is all you need to set up. But what ensued afterwards is some of the most intense filmmaking in recent memory. Patrick Stewart is excellent (as always), but he is shockingly playing the hard-nosed leader of a neo-Nazi gang. Jeremy Saulnier is great at ringing tension out of every scene (just like he did on his previous film, Blue Ruin). The young musicians stuck in this situation are fantastic with Anton Yelchin, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner delivering impressive turns. Throw in Imogen Poots and you have quite the ensemble to elevate this lean flick. The brutality of the violence just makes the danger so clear. Sitting through to see who makes it out alive is quite the experience.

The Bridge (1959)

War is bad, right? Most people understand this basic idea. But this German classic looks at the depths of how far war can destroy the foundations of humanity and the innocence of youth. Bernhard Wicki is a talented filmmaker who has a great eye for storytelling and the visceral nature of the action will leave you shaken. The innocence of the first act is so important to make the foundation of this film strong. Seeing our young crew of teenagers dealing with normal teenage issues builds the empathy that is essential for the finale to work. Watching them being torn from their lives into a horror of war and the pressure of the military is horrific. The third of this film is one of the most brutal and poignant war sequences put to film. The needless death and waste of life shown on screen is brutal, bloody, and gory (especially for a film from 1959). This is certainly a hidden gem of war cinema and a film that deserves to be discovered.