The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (October 20th, 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:

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

What is the most significant and trend starting propaganda film in early cinema? Sergei Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin. This is one of the first films to have a large societal purpose which has since become such a common occurrence in the world of cinema. Film began as entertainment and technological advancement but came 1925 because it was a vehicle for political expression. But it is not just a message of unity against oppression during Czarist Russian that made this film a lasting work of art. There are so many technical feats. The montages, intimate close-ups, and scale make this an incredible feat of filmmaking. Watching this film is worth your time just for the Odessa Steps sequence that has long influenced some of the greatest filmmakers of all time. This is a true masterclass of early filmmaking that is worth your time.

Clerks (1994)

What can a filmmaker do with some black-and-white film and a convenience store to film in? Kevin Smith made one of the most influential independent films of all time. That is what he did…and its name is Clerks. The tale of a lowly convenience store clerk who wasn’t even supposed to be on that day. The dynamic between our protagonist Dante and his rough around the edges best friend Randal is hilarious, impactful, and certainly relatable. The way this film speaks to young adults who hangout at work with their pals is quite impressive. Smith has always known how to strike a chord of relatability as well as nostalgia. This tight little comedy is full of laughs but also some sagely advice (and not even just the singular moment of the iconic Silent Bob providing his wisdom). This was a film that set a tone for indie filmmakers for decades to come and created some truly iconic characters (like Jay and Silent Bob).

The Phantom Carriage (1921)

Who knew there were impressive ghost stories with great depth of character and themes all the way back in 1921? Victor Sjostrom is one of the true unsung heroes of early cinema and luckily some of his works have begun to gain the recognition they deserve. The Phantom Carriage is a film that has been rising in popularity in cinephile circles and Sjostrom’s impressive leveraging of genre ideas for impactful drama is a huge reason for that. The mythical tale of the phantom carriage makes for a great backdrop for an exploration of grief, loss, and death. The special effects are groundbreaking and help craft a haunting experience that features the carriage that guides souls into the afterlife. This fantasy/horror framework still leaves space for some impactful and rousing human drama. This is a tale of hope and redemption in the face of death. This is a harrowing experience from start to finish.

The Thing (1982)

What is one of the greatest crowning achievements of practical effects in the history of cinema? The Thing. John Carpenter took his love for the original The Thing from Another World and crafted an even better version which is draped in tension and paranoia. The body horror elements would have certainly enough to make this an instant classic horror film. The practical effects of this shape-shifting alien are grotesque for sure as we bear witness to the morphing, contorting, and bastardizing of the human form. This is a towering achievement of make-up and design. But the most impactful element of this legendary film is the tension that Carpenter can craft. The music. The mystery. The paranoia is almost unbearable. Kurt Russell leads a stellar ensemble of character actors who quickly get at each other’s throats…because who could possibly be the creature?

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

What is the first film that you think of when the discussion of mental illness and asylums comes up? Milos Forman crafted one of the most poignant explorations of mental illness and one of the most damning indictments of our system of “support”. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a rousing drama that crafts some of the most emotionally charged twists in film. The roots of this story were in the counterculture of Ken Kesey and Forman leveraged it for an engrossing portrait of authoritarianism and the counter rebellion. Jack Nicholson delivers one of the most iconic and complex performances on film as the grifter and shaker McMurphy. The life he rips open in the confines of the ward is electric and moving. All in the face of one of the most impressive lawful evil antagonists ever put to film. Louise Fletcher’s Nurse Ratched is one of the most perfect foils to a protagonist in cinematic history. There are so many complex emotions that Forman and his stellar cast explore and that makes this such a moving experience with great lasting power.

Once (2007)

What makes a movie a musical? The easiest thing is that it must have music…of course. But that music is there to express the story and feelings of the characters as well. Writer/director John Carney had his coming out party thanks to his beautiful little romance called Once. An Irish busker and a young immigrant woman connect over music one fateful week. This emotionally rich and moving cinematic experience is anchored on the chemistry of its musically inclined leads, Glan Hansard and Marketa Irglova. Small and intimate, there is a beauty in the simplicity of the story that Carney tells with two people connecting so deeply. But it is the music that is the biggest star of the film with so many fantastic folk songs that will get every little bit of feeling out of you. Once is a perfect little film that was once such a surprising phenomenon and still deserves to be experienced.

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Who could make a story about two teenage murderers into a fantastical exploration of friendship and repression? Apparently, a pre-The Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson could. Heavenly Creatures takes the infamous tale of the Parker-Hulme murder case and explores what led to this unfortunate criminal act. This film features the breakout debut performances of Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey. Their performances are well beyond their years and capture plenty of complexities of emotion. Their love is compelling and the story that pushed them to this place is quite shocking. The direction of Jackson is impressive with his handle on pacing, camera work, and special effects. The imagination of these young women comes to life thanks to Weta (now the premiere special effects company in the world). This Kiwi feature is an underseen gem of the early 90s.

A Mighty Wind (2003)

Who does mockumentaries better than Christopher Guest? The short answer is…no one. His sense of humor, which is quite dry, does a lot in terms of crafting this fake world behind the camera. He knows exactly how to get the best performance out of anyone in his films and they craft great characters that are so fully realized and engaging. That is certainly the case with A Mighty Wind as this wonderful comedy lampoons the music industry but more importantly, the folk music landscape. This reunion concert is filled with quirky characters, plenty of ego, and some legitimately fun music. The cast is insanely stacked with plenty of Guest’s main squeezes including Michael McKeon, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Jane Lynch, Bob Balaban, and so many more. There is good drama thrown in there as well. Funny, charming, and lean, A Mighty Wind is another winner for Guest and the audience alike.