The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Reviewer Recommends (December 28th, 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:     

The Cider House Rules (1999)

Are you ready for some good old fashioned cinematic drama with plenty of sincerity? Lasse Hallstrom’s adaptation of The Cider House Rules is a beautiful film about plenty of ugly elements of life. Centered on an orphanage, we see the tragedy of so many children being forgotten and abandoned but Hallstrom shines light on the people who make a difference for them. There is a rich and textured feel to the film that has a classic cinematic feel. There is plenty of emotion (and more than a dash of saccharine vibes) but it does tackle complex themes like abortion, adultery, and incest. Michael Caine is great in his Academy Award winning performance as well as the likes of Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron, Paul Rudd, and Delroy Lindo. This is not the most dynamic of films, but it is some classic drama.

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

What is the Avengers assemble film of Jim Henson’s work? A Muppet Family Christmas was a TV holiday that did the unthinkable. They filled a single home for the holidays with The Muppets, The Muppet Babies, The Fraggles, the Sesame Street characters, and more. There are few specials that combine so many individual casts of characters and put them under one roof. This is a simple idea of all these characters arriving to spend the holidays together. The main conflict is a terrible snowstorm that will keep Miss Piggy from reaching the home where her beloved Kermit is. There are plenty of fun gags, characters, and dynamics throughout with plenty of surprises around every corner. You never knew who was coming next. Plenty of joy and smiles radiate from this small screen film.

Scrooged (1988)

Who is the most grumpy and sarcastic actor to ever play Ebenezer Scrooge (or a Scrooge type)? Bill Murray. The film? Scrooged. This Richard Donner directorial effort is an interesting twist on the story because it is contemporary in the 80s and it makes Scrooge a television executive who is bastardizing A Christmas Carol for money and advancement. Murray makes this character so despicable to start then transitions well into a more emotional and endearing figure by the end of the film. There are so many creative twists here with some impressive meta commentary on entertainment at the time. The supporting cast is stacked to the gills for sure with talent. This darker and edgier film is softened by the charming and moving performance of Karen Allen (Murray love interest). The cameos from TV personalities are great but it does give the main space for those who need it. This all leads to this beautiful and moving finale that ties this film all together.

Krampus (2015)

Who is the darker and most intimidating entity to usher in the holiday season? Krampus is a folk horror Christmas flick with a family full of people at odds who need to be taught a lesson. Trick ’r Treat director Michael Dougherty follows up that cult classic with this film which is filled with impressive practical effects and costumes for all these creatures. The titular entity is quite amazing with its design and execution. This might not be the most dynamic holiday horror film but there is certainly an impressive cast for sure with Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, and Conchata Ferrell. This is a fun and creepy flick with a wild ending that is worth a watch.

Elf (2003)

What is the best way to spread Christmas cheer? Watching Will Ferrell acting like a blissfully ignorant man who thinks he is an elf! Elf is an incredibly charming holiday film that has some great homages. The whole opening sequence in the Rankin/Bass style North Pole is so charming with all the fun practical effects and forced perspective. Jon Favreau captures such a charming tone to the film with surprising bursts of darker humor and sense of adventure. Ferrell really makes this movie with his big performance, sense of innocence, and expressiveness. There are great moments including the big singing moment that revives the Christmas cheer in New York City. Throw in Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Bob Newhart, and Ed Asner and you have quite the impressive ensemble cast as well. Funny, charming, and silly, Elf captures the holiday season so well.

Eight Crazy Nights (2002)

What is the definitive Chanukah movie of all time? Unfortunately, there are not many, but Adam Sandler did deliver quite the wild ride back in the early 00s with Eight Crazy Nights. There are plenty of moments and jokes that have aged so poorly and might make this unwatchable for some (or most) but there are some legitimately great elements to this film. The music numbers are quite a bit of fun as they capture the holiday season and homage many classic musical numbers. There are some legitimately funny moments, especially with Sandler’s wild character work as multiple characters. This film has a great heart to it and a good story about overcoming childhood trauma. This is far from a perfect film…but it has some strong redeeming qualities!

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Are we all destined to become Clark Griswold? Christmas Vacation is a wildly funny film that captures all the elements and stresses of the holiday season. John Hughes wrote a clever and hilarious script that has plenty of physical comedy, classic snark, and hilarious visual gags. Chevy Chase truly makes this film with all his relatable reactions to the madness around him and the dark sense of humor underneath it all. The rest of the cast is stacked with Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki as the core Griswold family unit. But with the holidays, plenty more family members join the fray from Randy Quaid’s Cousin Eddie to the stacked cast of grandparents with John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E.G. Marshall, and Doris Roberts. Even the yuppie neighbors are a great reoccurring gag. Hilarious, relatable, and fun, Christmas Vacation is one wild ride for the holidays.

School for Postmen (1947)

Do you want a little injection of comedic charm from legendary filmmaker Jacques Tati? School for Postmen is a 16-minute romp about a postman attempting to show how efficient and great at his job he is. Starting with a funny lesson in postmanship, this short turns into a series of wild physical comedy gags. The runaway bicycle is an absolutely genius gag with plenty of fun character interactions surrounding it. Tati stars as the protagonist and his shenanigans just tie this whole short film together. You will get a large laugh/minute rate with School for Postmen.

Despicable Me 3 (2017)

What was the right ingredient to inject into the Despicable Me franchise to shake things up? A little bit of Trey Parker just makes everything better. Gru and company must take down a former 80s child star turned criminal with shoulder pads, a mullet, and a penchant for killer 80s songs (giving the film an excellent soundtrack). Parker delivers such a fun voice performance as well, giving the film an added dimension. But the big twist for Despicable Me 3 is the introduction of Dru, Gru’s long lost brother. This double dose of Steve Carell makes for a fun element of the film. There is plenty of zany energy, the trio of adorable kids, and plenty of minion shenanigans to give this film something to offer.

Grizzly Man (2005)

Who was Timothy Treadwell? The titular “protector” of the grizzlies, this man dedicated his life to the world of wildlife and preservation. Werner Herzog documents this fascinating man who dedicated his whole life to this singular mission. Herzog captures plenty of Treadwell’s footage and accentuates the mental space that this man was in. There are plenty of harrowing moments of Treadwell crashing out and getting emotional over his connection to these animals. Herzog navigates this horrific tragedy that ended Treadwell and his partner’s lives. There was something deeply tragic about the aftermath including some great interviews that Herzog captured. The audiences get a front row seat to Herzog navigating what he learned from Treadwell’s life and death and how it changes, challenges, and explores his world view. This is a harrowing documentary that delivers an unforgettable experience.

The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)

How amazing was the work of Ray Harryhausen? The claymation that he crafted for plenty of fantasy films over the years was impressive. The 7^th Voyage of Sinbad delivers from the opening sequence with the giant cyclops making an impact. There are other fun effects including shrunken princesses, magical genies, and a large dragon. Sinbad is an honorable hero who wants to save the princess of his dreams from her shrunken prison. The action is well staged, and they do a fantastic job of leveraging crafty filmmaking and special effects to bring it to life. There are certainly elements that are quite dated but there is a wonderful sense of adventure that is so worth it.

Candyman (1992)

What is THE urban legend horror film of the 90s? Candyman is a haunting and bloody film that captures the iconic urban legend of saying a name in a mirror “X” number of times to make them appear. Bernard Rose captures the right balance of urban and contemporary elements with the classic slasher. There are plenty of gruesome and bloody deaths along the way which hit hard. The film has plenty of depth as well as it navigates racial and class issues and the trope of the well-meaning white person getting involved in other people’s cultures. Virginia Madsen delivers a compelling and rich lead performance that anchors the audience through all the blood, guts, hooks, and mystery. Tony Todd’s performance and the character design of this titular entity are iconic and pitch perfect. Haunting from start to finish, this is a modern horror gem for sure.

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

How does a film about a man falling in love with a sex doll make you cry? Well…just be Lars and the Real Girl. Craig Gillespie paints a portrait of grief, trauma, isolation, love, and acceptance with this strange and unexpected story. There is a great sense of humor that underlines this whole endeavor that is filled with an insane amount of heart and care. Ryan Gosling is so vulnerable and sensitive as he navigates Lars’ mental health crisis through this attachment to this woman he has created. This journey is so powerful for not only Lars but for the whole community as they come together through love and devotion. Watching the journey that Lars goes on is so inspiring and beautiful that it makes you forget that it is such a strange premise to begin with.

Batman: Assault on Arkham (2014)

Who is ready for a new adventure into the world of Arkham Asylum? Building off the story and set-up of the beloved video series, Assault on Arkham certainly has Batman in it but it is much more of a Suicide Squad film instead. There is a great batch of characters on the team from Deadshot to Harley Quinn to Captain Boomerang and more. Batman is a side specter on the case, but we follow the Squad as they attempt to take out the Riddler inside Arkham Asylum. Throw in the Joker and his shenanigans and you have yourself a thrilling ride full of great comic book elements. The action is thrilling and entertaining to watch. The voice cast is quite effective including having legend Kevin Conroy doing his thing as Batman. Neal McDonough is a strong lead performance as Deadshot with Hynden Walch standing out as Harley. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way with so many great elements from Batman’s Rogues Gallery.

The Animatrix (2003)

Who wouldn’t want to dive into all types of stories surrounding one of the most complex and compelling science fiction concepts in film? The Animatrix is a fascinating anthology film that explores many facets of the rise of machines and how the Matrix is utilized. There are many different types of animation styles which gives this film an interesting and compelling layer. There are some stories that are deeply human while others are drenched in eye-catching and thrilling action. There is even a sequence that gives audiences a detailed breakdown of how humanity feels and the machines took over. There are interesting elements in how this anthology connects directly to the original trilogy of films with a few familiar voices popping up. Otherwise, this film is stacked to the roof with impressive and famous voice actors who do some amazing work. The Animatrix is such a clever and fascinating approach to expanding this franchise and it makes you wonder why we did not get more anthologies like this.

The Long Goodbye (1973)

How does one modernize the works of Raymond Chandler and bring Philip Marlowe to contemporary times? Legendary filmmaker Robert Altman took this approach with his hard-boiled detective story in The Long Goodbye. Elliott Gould is the perfect presence for the melancholic film that Altman is crafting. Marlowe is a mumbling, chain-smoking private investigator who might not be the most jazzed about life, but he does have interesting connections with all the people around him. This is a much more personal case as Marlowe attempts to assist his friend who is accused of killing his wife. Calm, cool, and collected, this mystery is one of the most sleek and smooth thrillers out there that roars into a climax so perfectly. Gould is perfect and this is such a wonderful and unexpected film from Altman.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)

What is the decade that turns the fortunes for the slasher genre around? The 1990s! Scream truly changed things and it opened the door for films like I Know What You Did Last Summer to get the spotlight too. There are plenty of tropes and cliches being toyed with here but there are enough elements to make this iconic and nostalgic. The music takes you straight back to that late 90s setting. The cast is a who’s who of rising stars now with Sarah-Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Jennifer Love-Hewitt. “The Fisherman” killer is instantly recognizable with his outfit and that dangerous and deadly hook of his. This has some fun vibes and delivers what you want out of a 90s slasher for sure.

Agatha (1979)

Are you interested in some Agatha Christie fan fiction? Agatha is a peculiar film as it takes an actual missing period in Christie’s life and turns it into a strange romantic mystery. There is smooth, engrossing, and engaging filmmaking and that filmmaking is paired with some impressive production design and costuming (Academy Award nominated costuming, that is). Vanessa Redgrave brings Christie to life with great stature, vulnerability, and intrigue. Dustin Hoffman is a driven and charismatic investigator who not only attempts to find Christie but slowly becomes infatuated with her. The narrative is not the most compelling or inspiring but there is something charming and engrossing about this unexpected film.

A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy (1982)

Peak Woody Allen was quite entertaining, wasn’t it? Even though it was not one of his most inspired works from that 70s/80s run, but A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy is quite a watchable romp. Woody Allen is joined by a close-knit crew of actors including Mia Farrow, Jose Ferrer, Julie Hagerty, Tony Roberts, and Mary Steenburgen. This film is a web of lust and desperation as three couples spend time isolated at a rural home. The script keeps the audience on their toes with each character trying to explore something romantic or sexual along the way. The cinematography of the film is immaculate and Allen channels plenty of his love for Ingmar Bergman to craft this gorgeous film. This might not be as sexy or funny as it could be but it is a breezy romp for 90 minutes.