The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reveiwer Recommends (September 22nd, 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:

Hundreds of Beavers (2024)

What is the most surprising and fun new film that came out in 2024? Hundreds of Beavers. Writer/director Mike Cheslik creates a fascinating homage to old school physical comedy masters like Chaplin and Keaton along with the wonderful, animated world of the Looney Tunes. But Hundreds of Beavers is not just some silly slapstick film. This is one of the most inventive and creative films in recent memory. There are so many practical effects including the outrageous usage of animal costumes instead of puppets or actual animals. The crisp black-and-white photography is so impactful on screen and a wild combination of computer effects and the more practical ones. There are creepy and scary moments, laugh out loud hilarious ones, and mixtures of other genres. The real MVP of the film is Ryland Brickson Cole Tews who sells every moment of this wild film with his eye winking and over-the-top performance that is aware of the type of film it is in.

Office Space (1999)

What is the most memorable send-up of America office culture? Office Space finds creator Mike Judge at his best creative level. This film is lean, hilarious, and all together biting in its commentary about workplace culture and the corporate machine. Judge’s dry humor fits perfectly in the gray and lifeless realm of corporate America at the turn of the latest century. This tale of a lifeless schlub who is unintentionally left hypnotized and no longer cares. There are plenty of clever choices from hard rap music played in the most whitewashed place imaginable. Ron Livingston leads a fun cast full of pitch perfect character actors. Gary Cole, Stephen Root, and Diedrich Bader each steal every single scene they are in thanks to their complete commitment to their characters and the bits that make them. The film is just so funny and has spawned so many great entries into meme culture for sure. Judge has made great projects and Office Space has been the crown jewel of his career with its cult following and its multi-cultural exploration.

Mean Girls (2004)

Did Mean Girls make “fetch” happen? After twenty years, people can still be heard throwing the word around and it has made quite the impact on pop culture of the last 20 years. Tina Fey’s script is endlessly quotable from every performance with so many of the best lines of this film still being part of the cultural zeitgeist in 2024 (just in time for the musical remake to come out). Lindsay Lohan was at her peak at the time with the look and charisma to make this film work. Rachel McAdams is one of the greatest villains not a joke) in movies as the detestable (yet cool) Regina George. Her cattiness and venom are the keep to so much of this film working. There are so many great performances in the film as well from Amanda Seyfried, Lizzy Caplan, Lacey Chabert, and Daniel Franzese. They each bring a unique energy and flair to their memorable and enjoyable characters. Even the likes of Fey and Tim Meadows bring their A-game as supporting cast members. This has a great message, hilarious storytelling choices, and the right vibe for this early 2000s teen comedy.

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

How do you shake-up the mocumentary genre? How do you shake-up the vampire genre? Make them into the same film! Taika Waititi & Jemaine Clement team-up to create an endlessly hilarious, dry, and scary little flick that captures that excitement. What We Do in the Shadows has certainly evolved into one of the best comedy shows on television, but it all began with this offbeat and awkward comedy about a group of vampires sharing a flat in Wellington, New Zealand. Waitii & Clement get in front of the camera as well as they deliver two perfect comedic performances. What is so impressive about this mocumentary is how well the laughs and scares are balanced. There are some legitimately creepy sequences, especially the climactic confrontation with the werewolves (not swear wolves). The cast is top notch and really captures the spirit of these different generations of vampires.

Napoleon Dynamite (2014)

Just how big was Napoleon Dynamite when it first came out? There were SO many “Vote for Pedro” shirts. Quesadillas were never said correctly again. Everyone…and I mean everyone wanted each other’s tater tots. The cultural impact of this quirk coming of age tale is quite impressive. John Heder is unexpectedly perfect as this dorky and strange young man with impressive dance moves. This film has such a strange tone. This opened a whole new world for offbeat and strange comedies throughout the 2000s. This film is endlessly quotable and just a blast to experience (especially in a room full of friends looking for a laugh).

Blazing Saddles (1974)

What is the funniest film of all time? 50 years ago, Mel Brooks released a film that just might be. Blazing Saddles is a hilarious western mixed with meta-humor that just hits all the notes. Cleavon Little makes for a charismatic lead who knows how to work with the audience. Gene Wilder is so good in all his Brooks films, and this is no different. The rest of the cast is hilarious too (Madeline Kahn and her silly musical tidings for sure) but it is Harvey Corman who steals the show as Heady (that’s HEADLY) Larmar. The humor is wide reaching from physical, grossout, sarcasm, and satire. The musical queues are top notch. The costumes are pitch perfect. This beautiful send up of westerns is ridiculously impressive and has been having people laughing for 50 years.

Village of the Damned (1960)

What makes a decades old science fiction film stand the test of time? A great concept. The right actors. Making it work well for the time. Village of the Damned is one such from that turning point era for science fiction. George Sanders has the voice and presence to carry a film (he is Shere Khan for so many who grew up on The Jungle Book). The concept is great. What if a whole town faints and wakes up to all their women being impregnated by aliens? That is such a crazy idea! But this lean sub-80-minute flick works so well in telling such a story. The British sensibility works perfectly to bring an intellectual perspective. But the filmmaking is quite impressive with a few specific moments that stand out in such impactful ways. There have been rip offs and remakes but this 1960 original stands tall amongst them.