The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (December 15th, 2024)

This series will highlight my weekly journey through previously released films, whether they are rewatches for me or new discoveries. Here are my picks:    

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) 

What is the greatest adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic ghost story? There is a strong argument to be made that it is the one with a bunch of Muppets in it! Brian Henson took up the reins from his deceased father to tackle this classic tale. The musical numbers are certified bangers with “Marley & Marley”, “It Feels Like Christmas”, and “Scrooge” being some key standouts. The film is filled to the brim with memorable and effective numbers, but it is hard to argue with these selected ones. “Scrooge” just might be one of the best villain songs and just a perfect way to introduce such an iconic character. Michael Caine brings respect and grace to his performance that shows great range and evolution throughout the film. The Muppet cast do a great job bringing Dickens’ tale to life and specifically Gonzo and Rizzo do such a great job selling the pitch perfect and hilarious framing device for the film. The sets are charming, the music is moving, and the humor (both dialogue-based and slapstick) just land. This is truly one of the all-time great adaptations brought to film and television. 

Metropolis (1927) 

Why is Fritz Lang’s Metropolis one of the greatest science fiction films of all time? First off, this is a stellar production from top to bottom. Lang incorporates some impressive and dynamic visuals with his influences of German Expressionism shining through. Dreamlike sequences with haunting stares (the eyes!) and dramatic imagery (like Death and the Seven Deadly Sins) make this iconic and endlessly memorable. The framing and blocking are dynamic. The symmetry is evocative. This is a towering achievement of filmmaking. The set designs of the machines, the eerie tower of a mad scientist, the workers’ underground city, and everything else are just incredible feats of design. The costuming and make-up tie it all together. There are great character designs with Rotwang (the mad scientist) with his black gloves and wild hair. The Machine Man is one of the most iconic creations in all of film and one of the most important robots as well. The themes of finding balance between classes in society and our fear of technological advancement still resonate today. Thankfully they have been able to mostly restore this film as it is one of the most important in the history of cinema. 

7 Women (1965) 

How often do you get to experience the last film of a true legend of cinema like John Ford? & Women is not one of his best and it seems like a strange choice for his final film but that does not mean it is absence of value. Anne Bancroft leads a cast of talented women who inhabit a Christian mission in China (on the border of Mongolia). This group of women (along with a few others) come under the tyrannical rule of Kunga Khan, a violent and powerful warlord. This is not an easy watch (despite being a lean 87 minutes long) as we see these women come into conflict as well as face desperate choices to save each other. Bancroft is a jaded, alcoholic doctor who has been betrayed in love and decries all gender conventions of the times. She is the real star of this film, and her Dr. Cartwright makes some serious sacrifices to save the lives of her fellow women. This harrowing film is an intriguing finale for an illustrious cinematic career for John Ford. 

Cries and Whispers (1972) 

What can the imminent death of a family member do to the dynamics of a family? Ingmar Bergman explores these elements in his Best Picture nominated film Cries and Whispers. A painful experience with uterine cancer brings a group of sisters (and their maid) together in unfortunate times. The richness of crimson red penetrates so much of this film and the filmmaking that crafts Cries and Whispers together is impeccable. Bergman is an all-time great filmmaker for a reason. The mixture of dream and flashbacks adds plenty of thematic layers to this simple set up…that turns out way more complex than you could imagine.  This cast is incredible with each woman delivering layers to their characters. Those layers can be uncomfortable to process for sure, but Bergman is unshakable in what he wants to explore. There are unnerving moments and actions that bring the complex layers of the human psyche to the screen. This is a harrowing drama that is just too gorgeous to look away from. 

Major League 2 (1994) 

Is Major League 2 the freshest sequel you are going to find? No. There are plenty of familiar plotting elements to the story of an underdog team going for the championship. The humor is not as sharp either this time around. But the characters still make this a fun baseball romp. The returners get all types of new struggles including hanging up the cleats to become a coach, changing your brand by cleaning up, becoming a Buddhist, and getting into the world of action movies on top of being a player. New characters shake up the dynamics and lead to some new conflicts as well. Wesley Snipes is surely missed but Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Dennis Haysbert and friends are ready to deliver the fun once again. Seeing our favorites underachieve and must turn that ship around is still a satisfying and fun journey. It is hard to top such a great comedy with great emotion like Major League but its sequel hits some of the fun and enjoyable (if not familiar beats) just fine. 

Apur Sansar (1959) 

How do you finish off a great trilogy? You deliver an affecting and beautiful drama like Apur Sansar. Satyajit Ray is one of the greatest filmmakers in the history of Indian cinema and he crafted that legacy on an authentic and humanist trilogy about his beloved Apu. Now a grown man and seeking his future, Apu unexpectedly finds love and tragedy in the form of Aparna. Soumitra Chatterjee and Sharmila Tagore make a charismatic and engaging couple who anchor this moving drama down. The gorgeous black-and-white filmmaking captures the beauty of both India and our characters alike. This is not a tale devoid of pain and loss…but that is what makes it feel so impactful and real. Apu must grow up through his journey finding a wife, making a life, and then coming back to reality when he shuns it all away. Ray delivers a poignant and affecting third film in this trilogy that leaves the story open to many new possibilities for our central Apu.