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Black Mirror: San Junipero (2016)
Please make or release this for the big screen, so that more may see it.
It drives me crazy having to explain what Black Mirror is etc. to try and get people to watch this.
It could easily achieve a "normal" movie run time with very little artful padding here and there. Of course you'd have to preserve the lead actresses, and most of the original footage would be just fine, it's beautifully shot and scored. And don't touch a damn thing in the closing montage.
This episode is about love that transcends time, space, and the physical limitations of our bodies.
Even aside from the questions about what we would choose to do with our eternity if we had such choices, there are fascinating issues about our souls being able to move around free of our bodies, what forms we might choose to assume and what that would say about us. This already happens to a degree in online games and social media where we choose and experiment with different characters and avatars to be our "face", and sometimes different genders.
In contrast to the usual dystopian horrors in Black Mirror, this story brings up the possibility of technology making possible a wonderful life for someone trapped in a damaged or broken body, and for that person to be able to find others and have relationships that they never would without the help of that technology.
This is a love story much more powerful and well written and acted than the huge majority of anything you've ever seen on the big screen. Hear my plea, oh powers that be and bring this to a much larger audience. Emmys for the lead actresses in the meantime.
Unfriended (2014)
Yet another cheap looking "found footage" style horror movie. Potential mild spoilers.
Potential Mild Spoilers Below:
The fact that the whole film is one long Skype video chat between a group of dumb teenagers who won't get off the damn computer even when they are getting bumped off (I know "they will die" if they get off the chat supposedly but it's totally unbelievable and stupid) makes it completely implausible and hard to swallow. There's potentially a great horror movie in the premise of being haunted via Facebook messages and images, Skype chat etc. (and we've certainly seen elements of this in many films already), but "Unfriended" is not that movie.
The video conference chat just feels drawn out and awkward. The spooky chat and messages and photos might have worked if they were part of the fabric of a "normal" film. Just say no to cheap found footage movies unless they do something clever with the format.
Avoid this one.
Streets of Fire (1984)
A Fantastically Entertaining, Visually Stunning, and Forgotten Film.
This film just showed up on Netflix streaming recently and remembering it fondly from my own teen years seeing it on the big screen I decided to give it a watch again. I'd forgotten how incredibly entertaining a big screen spectacle it is with beautiful set design and outstanding musical numbers. I'm glad seeing the reviews that there are many who love this film as I do. Sure the actors and roles are massively clichéd, they are meant to be, who cares. The film casts a spell with imagery, music and attitude and takes you to its own unique place.
Diane Lane, who was entering a period of being Hollywood's "It" girl for a while, is worth the price of admission all by herself.
Suspiria (1977)
Suspiria casts a powerful spell on the viewer.
Like the best films, Suspiria casts a spell with its beautiful imagery and color, and its excellent soundtrack.
It has a dream like quality, like living in a nightmare fairy tale.
I think this should be seen by anyone who loves cinema and wants to see unique and powerful ways of telling stories with imagery, color and music.
It is a must see for fans of horror. For all its visual beauty, it is very scary. The ending sequence is terrifying, in my opinion, and this is as someone who is jaded by hundreds of horror films good and bad.
The film is beautiful and doesn't have a dated look to it at all.
I can't believe I've gone most of my life missing this film because the cheesy posters for most of Argento's films make them look like gory hack work when that's actually true of most of the other horror films I've seen since Suspiria was made.
Don't you make the same mistake as I did. Please see this right away.
Wall Street (1987)
Film exists for great scenes...
Aside from the great performance by Michael Douglas, this film is notable for a few great virtuoso scenes, Stone at his best.
The best scene of the movie for me is when Bud Fox (Charlie Sheen) inadvertently walks in on the board meeting atop the skyscraper where the dismantling of his and his father's company is being planned to the letter. In one moment he realizes the depths of his folly. You can almost feel your own heart falling out of your chest in this scene and imagine what it must feel like to be Bud at that moment...
The montage of the opening of the NYSE is very good, and the decorating sequence of Bud's megayuppie pad works well for me.
James Spader's subtle supporting performance as Bud's conflicted lawyer friend (torn between his desires to make a fortune and stay out of trouble) is a secret weapon of this movie.
There is much criticism of Stone's polemic left wing style... It is fundamental to his nature as a filmmaker, not in his nature to be subtle, one must either accept it or hate his films.
Rushmore (1998)
A Wonderful, Rich Film
Definitely one of my favorite films. Quirky humor, the bittersweet quality of the unrequited love of adolescence captured perfectly, a great soundtrack, beautiful cinematography and great performances, what more could you ask for in a movie?
Things that run through this movie that I love: - The dogged persistence of Max in his schemes, he is like a force of nature. Depression stops him briefly but he can't be kept down. and the loyalty of his friend
I think there is a lot of symbolism about art and the creative process in this movie. The cheesy pop culture ripoff plays ("Serpico" and "Heaven and Hell"), while hilarious, I think are symbolic caricatures representing art. Note the injuries suffered by Max in the process of bringing his creations to fruition... "I didn't get hurt too bad" I believe he says at the "Heaven and Hell" cast party after getting his face bloodied yet again... I like the little tease with the dynamite and the pop gun, where you might think that Max is about to "go postal" at the school instead of using those tools to produce his opus. This might be considered in poor taste by some after Littleton...
There is more than a little symbolism in the clothing worn by Max throughout the movie as he undergoes his metamorphosis, evolving from the ever present Rushmore jacket, through the blue collar outfit and vest when Max is a barber, culminating in the flamboyant green velvet outfit at the Heaven and Hell premiere...
In short, a really incredible, beautiful movie... please don't miss this!