Hockey being gone sucks.
A lot.
But, as with all things, “this too shall pass.” We’ll get through this together, hopefully all safely.
In the meantime, let’s work through our Netflix queues, shall we?
Here at The Cannon, we’re trying our best to watch movies and keep ourselves busy during this uncertain time. There are few better ways to do that than by watching a boatload of movies.
We’ve all got some thoughts and kept busy, and here are some opinions/thoughts/assorted ramblings from staff about the things we’re consuming.
Fletcher
Remember Fletcher, guys? He’s back!
Hereditary – Amazon Prime
Hereditary is going to destroy you, and I mean that in the best possible way. It’s my favorite horror film in years and is a masterclass in directorial filmmaking from Ari Aster. It’s a slow burn, but the payoff is worth it. While you’re there and if you crave more after the spine-tingling final moments, like I did, his second film, Midsommar, is a spiritual successor and makes for a depressing but enthralling double feature.
Will Chase
Space Jam
Miracle
Happy Gilmore
They’re all probably the best movies ever. You don’t like MJ beating aliens with Bugs? Or the U.S. defeating the Soviets? Or Adam Sandler being … well vintage Adam Sandler?!
Pale Dragon
Parasite – Amazon Prime
(editor’s note: I haven’t seen this one yet, and it is by far the one I’m most looking forward to)
A surprise Best Picture winner at the Academy Awards, this South Korean film is worth the hype. A friend said that the best way to watch it is to know as little as possible going in, and I think he’s right. I knew the basic set-up, but there was still a lot that surprised me. Basic premise: a poor family goes to work for a rich family. There are moments of tension and moments of comedy.
The King – Netflix
The story is based on Shakespeare’s Henry V but updates the dialogue. Timothee Chalamet plays the titular monarch, in the first role I haven’t hated him in. Joel Edgerton co-wrote the screenplay and portrays Falstaff, the king’s drinking buddy-turned-military advisor. Robert Pattinson and Ben Mendelsohn chew the scenery in brief roles as the French dauphin and King Henry IV, respectively. The coolest part is the brutally realistic depiction of the climactic Battle of Agincourt.
Out of Sight – Hulu
For an older choice, I’m going with one of my all-time favorites. This features several people at their peak form, including stars George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, and director Steven Soderbergh. The supporting cast is remarkable as well, including Albert Brooks, Don Cheadle, Ving Rhames, Dennis Farina, Michael Keaton, Steve Zahn, Viola Davis, Catherine Keener, and Luis Guzman. It’s just so damned cool. Based on an Elmore Leonard novel (so you know it’ll be enjoyable), it features a cat-and-mouse game between a bank robber (Clooney) and US Marshal (Lopez).
MrSwift
So, we have a list of Best Picture nominees and winners we haven’t seen that we’ve been working our way through. Here are a selection of movies I have watched in the last week or two that I want to talk about.
Gone Girl – YouTube (for rent)
This was the most well-made, well-acted, well-directed movie that I never want to see again that I’ve seen since probably Requiem for a Dream. Gone Girl, a 2014 drama/mystery/thriller from David Fincher deals with the marriage of Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) and his wife Amy (Rosamund Pike). I won’t discuss spoilers, but dear me. It was well acted, with several twists and turns that I never saw coming.
Erin Brockovich – Hulu
Based on a true story, this movie tells the story of Erin Brockovich, a single mother who helped a town poisoned by PG&E to win a $333 million lawsuit against the company. Julia Roberts is fantastic in this and she deserved her Oscar nomination.
Inglorious Basterds – Netflix
It’s older, I’ve seen it dozens of times, and it’s excellent.
Folks – let’s talk about Quentin Tarantino’s best movie.
Not well received at the time, Inglorious Basterds is a revisionist history of the end of World War II. Tarantino’s film opens with Christophe Waltz, who makes his major film debut as the menacing Colonel Hans Landa, searching for a missing Jewish family in Nazi-occupied France. Waltz is incredible in this film; even Tarantino said that finding Waltz allowed him to make the film – he thought the character of Landa was unplayable before Waltz. It is truly one of the greatest opening scenes ever put to film. From there, the movie tells the story of Aldo Raine, leader of the Basterds (played by Brad Pitt at his absolute hammiest), and Shosanna, a French theater owner (Melanie Laurent), as the war draws to a close.
For those who haven’t seen it, I won’t spoil major plot points. But the movie features some of the most excellent writing ever filmed (a spectacular feat considering only about 40% of the film is actually in English), and some of the finest actors making appearances in the film. Alongside Waltz, Pitt, and Laurent, the film also features Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, Diane Kruger. Even Mike Myers makes an appearance! This film is 150 minutes of tension, comedy, terror, and smart characters matching wits with one another.
It packs in the typical Tarantino trademarks – gore, vengeance, comedy, and self indulgent writing. But few films I’ve seen in my 30 years are more enjoyable, filled with great performances and tense set pieces that have you on edge in awe before a single bullet is fired. One of my absolute favorite films.
What films are keeping you busy during this quarantine period? Let us know in the comments below!