The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (October 27th, 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:

Shoot the Moon (1982)

What is one of the most drama fueled occurrences in human drama? Divorce. This is a time of fracturing and grief. There is a loss of a relationship, and many divorces are a domino effect for others to face the new reality that will redefine their whole life. One of the most visceral and poignant directors of his generation, Alan Parker, took the reins of this divorce tale called Shoot the Moon. Albert Finney is a talented writer who has long since checked out of his marriage with Diane Keaton’s character. The band-aid is ripped off and Keaton’s character flourishes with a young blue-collar man (Peter Weller). The jealousy, anger, and frustration boil up to the surface in such an impact and frightening way. There are moments that get a little too over-the-top for the serious tone, but the powerhouse central performances keep the audience dialed in for this rollercoaster of emotions. A few scenes are incredibly hard to watch as we see the peace in the lives of a man, woman, and their children destroyed. Parker finds all the drama he can to deliver such an impactful film.

Beetlejuice (1988)

What is one of the most manic and thoroughly entertaining performances of all time? Michael Keaton as Betelguise. Tim Burton finds his sensibilities firing on all cylinders with this wild horror/comedy in Beetlejuice. Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin are a pair of empathetic and endearing people who die tragically at the beginning of this story. A dysfunctional family moves into their house (Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O’Hara, and Winona Ryder) and they go on a journey to scare them out. A simple idea that is elevated by Burton and Keaton. The production design and world building of the afterlife are purely iconic at this point. Danny Elfman’s music is just as iconic with its eerie and jaunting romp feel. Keaton makes such an impact with less than 20 minutes of screen time. His lie delivery and comedic timing is impeccable. There are few films that capture such a manic, macabre energy. This film has made such an impact for decades and we still want some more.

Addams Family Value (1993)

How do you capitalize with a sequel? You take what worked in the first, grow it, expand it, and offer something fresh. The first The Addams Family film is a quirky, macabre romp thanks to the perfect direction of Barry Sonnenfeld. Then you have Addams Family Value which adds fun characters, a whole new conflict for Fester, and Wednesday taking on rich, uptight people in the most epic rendition of the first Thanksgiving ever put to film. Joan Cusack is a wonderful addition to this cast as she plays a dangerous black widow out to kill Fester for his money. Little does she know…he is quite indestructible. The whole cast is killing it with Angelica Huston, Raul Julia, and Christopher Lloyd standing out. But it is Christina Ricci who is the breakout star in this sequel as she gets her whole own story. Sonnenfeld finds the perfect quirky tone with macabre production design, costuming, and make-up. The tone is wildly fun and silly with Marc Shaiman’s perfectly quirky score. This is a perfectly dark and charming vibe that is endlessly fun and watchable.

Scooby-Doo (2002)

How do you make the Mystery Crew work well in modern times? The 2002 live action adaptation Scooby-Doo is certainly not perfect. There are gags that do NOT age well but there are also a bunch of fun elements that really work. The most important piece is still capturing the genuine and charming fun of Scooby himself. He is such a fun character, and he still works in this modern context. Matthew Lillard just might be the perfect casting of Shaggy possible. He captures the fun and naïve character so well that he has been playing Shaggy for years to come. Freddie Prinze Jr delivers a confident and aloof version of Fred that works for some good laughs. Sarah Michelle Gellar makes Daphne a character who might save the day this time. Linda Cardellini is fantastic as the smart and frustrated Velma who is really the key to their success. This setting is insanely early 00s and so is the music with some silly looking CGI monsters as well. When the credits roll, you have a silly fun flick which is the vibe for the most part.

The Evil Dead (1981)

Where did the career of beloved horror and comic book movie director Sam Raini begin? We can turn back the clock to college and think about all the weird and crazy traits of Raimi’s work and see where it all began. This is THE haunted place tale with a group of college friends who find this cabinet with great evil inside. Bruce Campbell is so young, but you can see glimpses of the charismatic performer who makes every project better. He plays the “last boy” role so well with his big acting choices and expressive face. The Evil Dead is memorable for a few things. This is a lean and compact horror film that does not last long (only 85 minutes) but packs quite the punch. The violence and gory is campy yet encompassing so many elements. The camera tricks (running the camera on a two-by-four through the woods) are impressive with such a limited crew. The make-up is grotesque and campy in many ways as we see a handful of people transformed into these devious entities. There is no rhyme or reason for what this film shows and that just might sell this film as one of her tutors perfectly.  The Evil Dead is a horror/comedy class for a reason. 

Body Double (1984)

What makes a Brian de Palma film so tantalizing? He channeled what made Hitchcock such a trailblazer when it comes to building tension and suspense. From a cinephile perspective, that is legit. But he also leaned heavily into the seductive, suggestive, and taboo. Body Double is a film full of sex workers, voyeurism, and brutal murders. De Palma captures a vibe that is fully realized and unabashedly his. This is a tale of a peeping tom who witnesses a murder and must unravel a complex web of lies and deceit. De Palma has the perfect tone with big 80s music, dynamic filmmaking, and the flesh. There are great iconic moments that combine bold subject matter, dynamic camera work, and twisted storytelling. We have a protagonist who is relatable in certain ways and a bit repulsive in others. De Palma is not concerned with a simple approach with his film and Body Double certainly embodies that. 

The Limey (1999) 

Who is a cooler filmmaker than Steven Soderbergh? No one. Plain and simple. He brings that cool to this revenge flick called The Limey. There is an air of coolness with smooth editing and transitions that feel uniquely Soderbergh in execution. The presentation goes a long way to make this lean story and simple narrative feel so much more interesting than it does on the page. You have Terence Stamp who is a force to be reckoned with on screen. There is an intensity to what he is doing, and his delivery is pitch perfect. You have a few strong supporting turns like Luis Guzman, Peter Fonda, and Barry Newman. Intense car chases, messy shootouts, and harrowing revelations pull this whole tale together. Stamp’s Wilson walks into the sleek Soderbergh version of Hell and it is an interesting journey to see if he comes out the other side. 

Sexy Beast (2000) 

What strange filmography does Jonathan Glazer have? You might know him for Under the Skin or for the Academy Award winning Zone of Interest. But his first big feature effort was the crime thriller, Sexy Beast. Ray Winstone is living it up in Spain as a retired criminal but when his past comes for him, in the form of Ben Kingsley’s Don Logan, he gets ripped back into this messy world of danger. Along with Ian McShane, this film features quite an impressive trio led by a wild performance by Kingsley. His manic energy and intensity are piercing as well as his biting charisma. Kingsley has never been scarier and there have been few actors to create such a memorable and evil character. This is a sleek, high-energy thriller that has bold editing, visuals, and filmmaking. Glazer has always had a special eye for filmmaking and this lean thriller is just the tip of the iceberg.