The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Into the Past: 2003

Welcome to The Wasteland into the Past! Join this journey backwards in time as I take a cinematic look at years past. Each article will focus on a singular year and my Top 5 films from that year. Turn back the clock with me…and let’s get started! 

2003

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

What is the grandest and most epic finale of any story put to film? This might seem like such a hard question to answer…but there is only one answer. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. This is the greatest trilogy of all time. This is the most well-balanced film ever created. Peter Jackson’s films, adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic work, are the most perfect examples of what fantasy filmmaking should be. This beautiful and perfect fantasy adventure in The Fellowship of the Ring gives way to two of the greatest war films ever put on film. The Return of the King has the largest scale war scene in the history of cinema, and the Battle of Pelennor Fields and Minas Tirith still stand tall as a grand achievement in cinematic scale. The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and especially The Return of the King, is one of the greatest technical achievements of all time. The score from Howard Shore is one of the most diverse and layered scores ever created. There are so many impressive achievements in photography, especially the lighting of the beacon sequences. The special effects are mind-boggling with Gollum, the Nazgul, the Army of the Dead, and the Mumakil all standing the test of time. The action is enormous in scale and awe-spiring in thrills. There are multiple speeches that are in contention for the greatest speeches ever given in film. Theodon and Aragorn each give you goosebumps like words have never done before. The costumes and production design are so detailed and impressive with the world of Middle Earth coming to life so vividly. The story is filled with impressive threads. Frodo continues his fight against the deepest and darkest urges inside him and the ring while having to contend with the conniving Gollum. Samwise has his grand hero moments with plenty of bravery. Merry and Pippin get the opportunity to mature and contribute substantially this time. Aragorn takes the reins and confronts his destiny. The cast is quite impressive from top to bottom including one of the truly defining motion capture performances from Andy Serkis. The Return of the King is the perfect culmination of Tolkien’s grand story of good versus evil and the fate of Middle Earth. This gives a perfect conclusion to all the story threads set up in this trilogy and Peter Jackson delivers one of the most satisfying and engaging conclusions to cinematic experiences. Jackson delivered a towering achievement of filmmaking, storytelling, character work, and acting. There will never be another trilogy, quite like The Lord of the Rings as it was THE cinematic experience for a whole generation.

Memories of Murder

What is the best crime thriller that not enough people are talking about? Memories of Murder just might be the most impressive crime thriller/mystery ever put to film. The second the credits began to roll on this film, you realized just how special this film truly is. Bong Joon Ho has received plenty of praise for this Best Picture winning and beloved film, Parasite. But it is important to realize that he had been making amazing films for almost two decades before the world was exposed to Parasite. His other English language films beforehand are great with Snowpiercer offering an incredibly thought-provoking and engrossing genre experience. But his native South Korean efforts are impressive masterpieces. Memories of Murder has already had such impactful influences on other films including David Fincher’s Zodiac (Memories of Murder ran so Zodiac could catch up). This film is one of the most engrossing and compelling depictions of serial killer cases in cinematic history. Memories of Murder focus on two detectives in 1986 South Korea (a small province to be exact) who are seeking out the perpetrator of the rape and murder of a group of young women. The narrative has plenty of twists and turns with near calls, shocking revelations, destruction in its wake, and a haunting final scene that leaves such a lasting feeling of hope and dread at the same time. This is not an easy cinematic experience to endure as Joon-Ho creates so much tension and suspense along the way. There is a sequence of a young woman walking along some crops and a scarecrow that just might be one of the most intense scenes you will ever find out to film. Joon-Ho does not play around with this harrowing crime thriller as there are horrific things that these two detectives must investigate. Their dynamic is full of tension and conflict with Song Kang-ho and Kim Sang-kyung delivering a pair of compelling and rich performances that breathe so much life into the film. There are some thrilling elements as well as these detectives face stark resistance to their investigation (and sometimes you just dropkick the life out of some dangerous people who might be involved). The film is also an impressive feat of filmmaking prowess with the cinematography being one of the highlights with its gorgeous and rich tones and atmosphere that is quite haunting at the same time. Joon Ho shows his versatility with the types of films he can create but if you love his films like Snowpiercer, Okja¸ Parasite, and you haven’t explored his Korean cinematic efforts, do yourself a favor and start here.

Mystic River

What is Clint Eastwood’s most impactful and successful directorial effort that does not rely upon his own cinematic presence? Mystic River, for sure. Eastwood is most known for his westerns, but he has some interesting variety in the types of stories he has crafted over the last 50 years as a director. There are quite a few crime thrillers as well with Mystic River being the crowning achievement of that side to his career. This is a harrowing tale about how three former best friends from childhood come back together in their greater Boston neighborhood when one of their daughters is found murdered. Eastwood is not a filmmaker known for melodrama as he has a much more grounded and raw approach to bringing his stories to life. Mystic River is the perfect example of that with its rich and grounded cinematography that captures the darkness and distance of such a horrific situation. There are certainly some big emotional moments as well (with one scene focusing on the father finding out his daughter is dead which is haunting and brutal to experience). Sean Penn portrays said father, who won an Oscar for Best Actor for his brutal, raw, and intense performance. The moment he screams to the heavens might feel a little over-the-top, but it captures so much emotion and tragedy that it works for Eastwood’s film. You have his former friend who is not investigating this crime, Kevin Bacon’s Sean Devine. Bacon’s character is on his own journey with his estranged wife, and this harrowing case allows him to gain new perspective, which he hopefully leverages to make better choices in his own life. Then their final friend is a shell of his former self who has become more of a distant piece of their past instead of a real human being living in the present. Tim Robbins’ character was taken and molested as a child (shown his being kidnapped in the opening scene) and this haunts him today and has pushed him to do some horrible things which brings suspicion down upon him. Mystic River is a powerful mixture of investigation, organized crime, and vigilante justice that creates a challenging and compelling mixture of drama. There is a strong mystery at the core of the film that has greater consequences to this community than just the death of one girl. Eastwood does not shy away from showing the institutional and deeply rooted elements of crime and heartache that permeates this whole community. Violence begets violence. A lack of trust breeds reckless justice that has true consequences. Mystic River is a harrowing exploration of intergenerational trauma and crime that leaves so many of the individuals in this community feeling lost and lacking options to avoid such a destructive lifestyle. Eastwood crafts such an emotive and powerful atmosphere that deeply permeates the whole experience. The cast is incredible with Penn and Robbins being Oscar winners. Then you had a rich tapestry of supporting turns from Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney, Eli Wallach, Laurence Fishburne, and so many more. This is one of Eastwood’s greatest achievements in his career and he did so without his own charismatic presence to anchor the action down on screen.

Oldboy

How does one describe Oldboy? This is one of the boldest and most impactful international films of the 21^st century. That sounds like some grand hyperbole, but it is completely accurate. Park Chan-wook is one of the most bold and intense filmmakers out there with his uninhibited creative process that produced one of the most intense, twisted, and brutal crime thrillers in modern cinema. Calling Oldboy a “crime thriller” doesn’t feel wholly accurate despite the criminal acts of its story and the intense thrills that Chan-wook is able to craft. There is mystery, dark humor, visceral action, and plenty of intense drama along the way. Oldboy feels so unique and compelling in so many ways. The most iconic element of this film must be the “Hallway” action sequence that features our protagonist taking out a whole horde of bad guys with a hammer. No cuts. One take. Wholly brutal and thrilling. This sequence has become the basis for so many action sequences in film and television since then. Chan-wook truly knows how to maximize violence and filmmaking on screen to craft top notch action sequences. Then you have the mysterious conceit of the film that features our protagonist being locked in a room for 15 years of his life before being let loose on the world again. Oh Dae-Su is a mysterious, capable, and conflicted protagonist who must piece his life back together after someone uprooted it and dismantled it for a decade and a half. Choi Min-sik is incredible in the film as he balances rage, fear, emotion, and physicality to sell his character effectively. Dae-Su becomes a one-man-army on a mission to find his captor while he develops an unexpected connection with a young woman. There are so many unexpected and twisted elements in Chan-wook’s story featuring some of the most unexpected and screwed up twists in modern cinema as well. The imagery in Oldboy is so iconic from close-up shots of its characters as well as some of the more unnerving elements you must sit through (that octopus is one to remember for sure). Chan-wook’s film is deeply rooted in the themes of fate and revenge as our protagonist feels imprisoned by them despite being physically released from his prison after 15 years. The vivid and rich visual palette that Chan-wook works in makes this film so striking and compelling. Red and purple have deeper meanings to the overall perspective of the film which makes each frame of the film even more significant. The symbolic imagery is ever present as it adds layers to the cinematic experience that goes well with the darkly twisted narrative of the film as well. The crisp editing and inventive visual storytelling give Oldboy a comic book feel that gives the film so much personality. The final twist is a twisted one for sure which puts the whole film in a new context. Oldboy is a bold and inventive film that mixes genre and richly captures the culture of South Korea while telling a story that many people can find connection in (through all the wild and twisted motifs and elements).

School of Rock

What is the most “Jack Black” film that Jack Black has ever starred in? Few films feel so perfectly matched for a specific actor, quite like School of Rock for Black. Starring as a down-on-his-luck rocker with a dream, Black’s Dewey impersonates his best friend so he can get a gig as a substitute teacher at a pricey and elitist prep school for young kids. But instead of teaching all the subjects he is supposed to, he attempts to turn this crew of miserable kids into a real band to win a Battle of the Bands against his former bandmates. What starts as something wholly reckless and selfish, Dewey can grow with this experience and help these kids learn more than just rocking and rolling along the way. Richard Linklater is not known for films that are so plot focused like School of Rock, but this Is one of his best efforts at exploring more standard cinematic efforts. School of Rock can certainly be written off as nothing artful and important but the heart and soul that Linklater and Black inject into this film is quite powerful. Black just oozes charisma in this leading role who embodies that heavy metal persona and he delivers in so many layered ways. When Linklater gives Black space to show his passion for music, it is infectious and palpable. This is not the most dynamic film on this list but there are some powerful filmmaking moments including one when the camera lingers on Black and slowly captures him bringing his vision of an epic song to life. The final concert at the Battle of the Bands is also quite engaging and dynamic as well. The music elements of this film are killer and endlessly entertaining for sure. Black is a lightning rod of energy and charisma, but he is not alone in making this film as good as it is. The whole cast of kids (including Miranda Cosgrove) get their moments to shine. Joan Cusack is excellent as the uptight headmistress of the school who is so close to letting loose and jamming to some Stevie Nick. White Lotus creator Mike White wrote this endearing film and he is a fun addition on screen as Dewey’s best friend who is miserable under the weight of his controlling and antagonistic partner (portrayed perfectly by Sarah Silverman). Endearing and inspiring, School of Rock is a well-paced, high-energy effort from Linklater and boasts such a strong performance by Black. Sit back. Let loose. And let’s rock!