Movies Worth Watching #2
I’ve had an exorbitant amount of free time lately and have been diving through various films late at night. The best part is there’s a surplus of films to watch on my watchlist, so there’s always something worth checking out. Feels like there’s a general bit of relaxation whenever the busy holiday season subsides, at least for me. No complaints on my end.
In this week’s Movies Worth Watching, I highlight a classic, a Sci-Fi gem that not enough people know about, a couple of contemporary acclaimed films, and the beginning of two filmmakers' successful careers. As always, I won’t spoil any major plot points, so feel free to read ahead for some movie recommendations without any worry in that regard.
1. Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Genre - Drama
Director - Vittorio De Sica
Writers - Cesare Zavattini, Luigi Bartolini, Oreste Biancoli
Starring - Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell
About - In post-war Italy, a working-class man's bicycle is stolen, endangering his efforts to find work. He and his son set out to find it.
Why You Should Watch
Bicycle Thieves is a staple of Italian Neorealism, a film that I argue will live for the rest of human existence. In my view, anything relatable—no matter its setting—is more accessible to a general audience, and Bicycle Thieves excels throughout its 93-minute runtime. My high school Italian teacher showed my class Bicycle Thieves during my freshman year, and it immediately impacted me.
The film does an excellent job of following a father and son through a challenging time without making it overly melodramatic. It feels real and more like a bird's eye over these two characters as they struggle to find a bicycle that is almost a matter of life or death since the father needs it for work. There’s a lot to appreciate and love about Bicycle Thieves; from the long takes to the acting to the story, it’ll always be one of my favorites.
2. Ikarie XB 1 (1963)
Genre - Sci-Fi
Director - Jindrich Polák
Writers - Pavel Jurácek, Stanislaw Lem, Jindrich Polák
Starring - Zdenek Stepánek, Frantisek Smolík, Dana Medrická
About - The year is 2163. Starship Ikaria XB 1 embarks on a long journey across the universe to search for life on the planets of Alpha Centauri.
Why You Should Watch
I’ve delayed viewing Ikarie XB 1 for at least a year now, but finally got to it a few days ago and am captivated by how well it holds up. The score is unsettling and leaves an immediate impact from the jump, while the well-done ship shots and experimentation in the camera work (for the time) make it feel more modern compared to other works. There’s a lot to pick apart and enjoy, and unlike many other Sci-Fi films from the time, it doesn’t overstay its welcome.
It follows the typical story tropes and themes in Sci-Fi of exploration, unknown illnesses and entities, and space travel-derived insanity. The film is one of those your favorite director’s favorite films, which is evident in so many movies that came after it. Most famously, many of the film’s shots were a direct influence on Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, which you can see above. If you’re a fan of Sci-Fi and want to see an early maturation of the genre, Ikarie XB 1 is a must-watch.
3. Sound of Metal (2019)
Genre - Drama
Director - Darius Marder
Writers - Darius Marder, Abraham Marder, Derek Cianfrance
Starring - Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci
About - A heavy-metal drummer's life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.
Why You Should Watch
As a musician, Sound of Metal petrified me because I imagine I’d have a similar reaction as Ruben (Riz Ahmed) does in the film. Though the film has a lot of powerful messaging related to deafness and acceptance, silence, and stillness, the film wouldn’t be as impactful as it is without its great writing and incredible performances. The themes alone could’ve made it worth watching, but its execution elevated it to one of the best films of the 2010s.
In this case, the journey of acceptance is nearly impossible for Ruben since he’s relied on his hearing for his passion and all he knows about with drumming/music, his entire life. As someone who constantly has music or some sort of sound playing and is frequently at live shows, whether I’m playing or attending, I sympathize with Ruben and the challenge he faces adjusting to his new life. I think it’s a masterful film and beautifully well done, and look forward to re-watching it again soon.
4. The Hand of God (2021)
Genre - Drama
Director - Paolo Sorrentino
Writer - Paolo Sorrentino
Starring - Filippo Scotti, Toni Servillo, Teresa Saponangelo
About - In 1980s Naples, young Fabietto pursues his love for football as family tragedy strikes, shaping his uncertain but promising future as a filmmaker.
Why You Should Watch
The Hand of God is a heavy film that focuses on so much over its 2-hour-plus runtime. Discussing themes of fate, family, sports, cinema, love, and loss, The Hand of God is a semi-autobiographical story of the director behind the film, Paolo Sorrentino's youth in Naples. Even if you read the logline or watch the trailer beforehand, what happens in The Hand of God is nearly impossible to predict.
I really appreciate the film for its refusal to sugarcoat or make the situation it’s set in happier because these sorts of tragedies happen in real life, and the film makes it very relatable and personable for people who experienced similar situations. Even for myself, someone who hasn’t experienced the same tragedy expressed in the film, I understand the characters on a level few films are able to successfully do. It’s moving, thought-provoking, and an excellent case of cinema.
5. Blood Simple (1984)
Genre - Crime/Drama/Thriller
Directors - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Writers - Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Starring - John Getz, Frances McDormand, Dan Hedaya
About - The owner of a seedy small-town Texas bar discovers that one of his employees is having an affair with his wife. A chaotic chain of misunderstandings, lies, and mischief ensues after he devises a plot to have them murdered.
Why You Should Watch
Sometimes filmmakers are great from the start, and the Coen brothers are a fine example of showcasing their brilliance immediately. Blood Simple is much more meditative than what the duo is known for, but has all of the elements of a fantastic neo-noir crime film. Also making a debut is Frances McDormand as Abby, who showcases her natural ability to act in a leading role early on.
On the surface, the film is about a toxic relationship we don’t know much about, and the woman in the relationship (Abby) having an affair as a result. In typical movie fashion, the affair propels into a hired detective, murder, and so forth. Blood Simple is worth watching if you’re a fan of the Coen brothers and are interested in their earlier efforts.