The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (October 13th, 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:

Ghostbusters (1984)

When it is time to take down some ghosts or any other supernatural apparitions…who you gonna call? There is only one sci-fi/horror/comedy that can answer that call. Ghostbusters! Based on the occult research of his family, Dan Aykroyd and friends bring this hilarious tale of four men teaming up to take on an ancient deity who will bring about the destruction of the world around us. The horseman of destruction just happens to be a giant marshmallow man…because of course it is! There are amazing special effects that bring all the creatures, ghosts, and evil forces that go bump in the night. There are even a few spooky moments with a pseudo-horror tinge. But the laughs are plenty and the action is a fun time. Throw in the iconic theme song and you have an endlessly entertaining romp of a film. Bill Murray is at his peak with plenty of great sarcasm and improv. Aykroyd and Ramis bring their nerdy supernatural investigators to life with great zeal. Ernie Hudson does a fine job as the grounded “everyman” of the group. Sigourney Weaver is a game for all the wild possession elements of the film alongside the wildly hilarious Rick Moranis. This cast is stacked. The jokes run deep. The genre bending is masterfully done by director Ivan Reitman. This is the total package.

Chasing Amy (1997)

What makes Chasing Amy such a fascinating film? This film captures a perspective of the 90s from men who struggle with sexuality and processing women’s experiences in a mature way. Ben Affleck’s Holden is a terrible partner in so many ways and is forced to go on quite the eye-opening journey to better understand himself but also become more comfortable with differing sexual experiences and perspectives. Chasing Amy does a great job of capturing nerd and convention culture while looking specifically at some of the narrow-minded perspectives that exist amongst the community. Smith is obviously processing through his own biases and that shines through the select words of his own character, Silent Bob. Affleck is supported well by the great performances of Joey Lauren Adams and Jason Lee. They are the ones who bring much emotion and laughs along the way. This is a film that represents this specific time so well and Smith certainly embodied such a genuine creation of 90s culture.

Halloween (1978)

Why is Halloween one of the greatest horror films of all time? John Carpenter captured cinematic magic in a bottle with this subtle, tense, and well-crafted slasher film that set the subgenre bar high and has yet to be surpassed. Carpenter’s filmmaking is what makes this so engaging, impactful, and unnerving. The POV camera work (matched with the heavy breathing sound design) creates an eerie atmosphere for so many moments in the film. The leveraging of deep focus allowed Carpenter to create some of the scariest moments in film including Michael Myers sitting up in the background after seemingly being taken care of. But it is the score that Carpenter created that helps layer every single scene thanks to the eerie keyboards and piano. Jamie Lee Curtis is the perfect “final girl” as she imbues Laurie Strode with intelligence and resourcefulness. Donald Pleasance is ever on edge and drives Dr. Loomis. This was the film that launched a whole franchise that still goes today and changed the horror genre forever.