The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (February 16th, 2025)

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

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) 

What is the best Roald Dahl adaptation ever brought to film? Fantastic Mr. Fox. This film is endlessly charming with incredible stop motion work and plenty of impressive visuals. The film is full of memorable characters brought to life by a stacked cast. George Clooney is a true movie star and embodies Mr. Fox with tons of charm, charisma, and arrogance. Meryl Streep, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Jason Schwartzman, and many more leave last impressions as their fun bunch of characters. Alexandre Desplat’s score is dynamic and mixes different genres including spaghetti westerns. There is action, great needle drops, and plenty of sharp dialogue makes this a wonderfully unique and energetic experience. 

The Rules of the Game (1939) 

Who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned class warfare tale? The Rules of the Game is certainly one of the all-time classic tales for sure. At the onset of WWII, the rich and their servants collide at a luxurious Chateau for a weekend of conflict…and sometimes worse. Jean Renoir shows just how dynamic and the head of the curve he was as a filmmaker at the time. This film has become regarded as one of the all-time classics as it laid the groundwork for so many filmmakers including Robert Altman (there are a lot of The Rules of the Game in films like Gosford Park for sure). There are surprises around the corner and keep the audience on their toes. Pair with the impressive filmmaking of deep focus and long takes, this film stands the test of time and delivers a modern film from early cinema.

Passport to Pimlico (1949) 

What would happen if a small town found out that it is its own country? This is such a clever premise for a film as there are so many thematic avenues to navigate. Passport to Pimlico certainly has plenty of narrative threads that ground it (touches of romance and such) but the real strength lies in its thematic threads and humor. There are plenty of gags that can be played around in such a high concept film and this Academy Award nominated screenplay certainly leverages them well. The geo-political elements challenge the audience in meaningful ways delivering some related elements that hit hard in 2025. This is such a clever and charming film that it is just a nice lean watch (only 84 minutes). This comedy arrives, delivers laughs and themes, and boogies out of there. 

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)

What is the best setting for adapting Homer’s The Odyssey? The Depression Era Deep South must be it! That is crazy but the Coen Brothers absolutely nail this adaptation as they channel the themes in poignant ways while reinventing the narrative and characters in new ways. O Brother, Where Art Thou? is such a fascinating experiment that embodies a crazed alchemy of creative decisions. The cast is incredible with George Clooney offering up one of his best performances as the sly devil Ulysses Everett McGill who is slick with the “gift of gab”. The rest of the cast is full of wholly realized characters with John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Charles Durning…and more. Roger Deakins did amazing things with the desaturated post colorization to give this dusty feel to the world. The music just might be the best piece with this incredible ensemble of folk and bluegrass. This soundtrack is worth the watch as well. Hilarious and engrossing, this is a wildly entertaining film.

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) 

Before A Complete Unknown, what film put a spotlight on folk music in such a meaningful way in the last few years? Inside Llewyn Davis. The Coens captured the folk scene of New York City in such an impactful and detailed way. Oscar Isaac portrays such a jerk who has so much depth and tragedy underneath the surface. The ensemble around him is impressive with the likes of Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, Adam Driver, and John Goodman. Someone like F. Murray Abraham shows up for one significant and powerful film for sure. This textured look of the film is unique for the Coens with no Deakins, but the atmosphere is so engrossing. The music is so impressive with each song channeling a feeling in film. Llewyn goes on a rambling journey of discovery where he is forced to rediscover his lot in life. The Coens know how to entice and explore in a culture and community and Inside Llewyn Davis is quite impressive.