The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (March 2nd, 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:      

Strange Invaders (2001) 

How would you react if you found out that you were going to be a father? There are many ways to react to such news. Strange Invaders certainly shows one of the strangest. This animated short film is an engrossing experience with such a visual experience that captures the unique animation style of the 90s and early 00s. The grotesque character designs and colorful hand drawn animation make this feel like a wild and fun experience. The concept of a strange alien child crash landing into a home of a child-less couple is compelling, and the mixture of mystery, bloody occurrences, and montage shots brings plenty to the table. There are plenty of interesting elements to such a pint-sized flick but the reveal at the end hits hard and drives home the themes effectively.

The Freshman (1925) 

Who are the kings of physical comedy of early cinema? You know Charles Chaplin. You know Buster Keaton. But the last of the Big Three must be Harold Lloyd. The Freshman is one of his best achievements as he plays a nerdy young man going off to college who will put his body and safety on the line for his big goal…become cool at college. There are plenty of fun sequences of physical comedy and madcap mishaps. Lloyd is so joyous in his performance which makes him so empathetic and engaging. There is a fun balance of embarrassment and physical harm that makes Lloyd’s college experience so tough…but makes it especially fun for the audience. The impeccable climax of the big football game is so iconic and one of the most thrilling and hilarious displays in cinematic history. 

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

How dark and demented could you make a comedy in 1944? Well…Frank Capra pushed those limits and delivered a delightfully devilish comedy by the name of Arsenic and Old Lace. This film is a web of matrimony and murder. This claustrophobic comedy is set mostly in an old house out in Brooklyn with a dozen bodies in the cellar, two kind and murderous old ladies, President Theodore Roosevelt (or at least he thinks he is), and plenty more oddball characters for sure. Cary Grant leads the way as a theater critic and marriage critic who finally found love but his dark past and family threatens this new life. Grant’s performance is quite manic and big which delivers endless laughs over the course of the runtime. Fast talking, macabre, clever, and perfectly weaved together, Arsenic and Old Lace boasts a stuffed yet limber screenplay with big comedy energy from behind the camera. 

Backdraft (1991) 

What is one of the most dangerous professions to get involved in? Firefighting. Fire is a powerful and dangerous force that can cause complete and utter desolation. Add in some purposefully starting them for a mysterious reason and you have yourself the perfect set up for a film. Director Ron Howard has tackled many tragedies and dangerous situations in his directorial filmography and Backdraft is no exception. This action/thriller has state-of-the-art special effects which sell every fiery moment in this film. The only thing most combustible might be the uneasy dynamic between onscreen brothers, Billy Baldwin and Kurt Russell. This film might be overstuffed but a stacked cast including veterans like Robert De Niro and Donald Sutherland and a thrilling story makes this an exciting experience. This early 90s film captures the period well but is able to advance the world of film thanks to the haunting fire sequences and plenty of human drama to spread around. 

Apollo 13 (1995) 

How many people does it take to rescue three astronauts from space? Many…many people. Director Ron Howard delivers what just might be his magnum opus with Apollo 13. This drama sees the crew of Apollo 13 experiencing unexpected troubles and needing to find a way to get them back home. Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon sell every bit of tension, drama, and hope they can muster. The story is a compelling idea of what helps when all the might of NASA is given a role to play. There are a few other strong members of the cast from Gary Sinise to Ed Harris to Kathleen Quinlan who bring added depth to this film. The music is tense and triumphant while the special effects deliver such an effective depiction of space. Howard found the perfect formula for this moving, inspiring, and haunting drama for sure.