Movies Worth Watching #5
Happy Monday. As interested as I am in the Oscars every year, I tend to always forget about the Grammys. I know both are equally worth criticizing or appreciating in some respect, but I imagine some people share a similar thought train with me.
For this week, besides this post, I plan on having at least one paid-tier article, possibly two. So far, I’m deciding between one recapping what I’ve watched recently and another discussing my favorite albums of the year so far. Maybe I’ll do both. Who knows!
As always with Movies Worth Watching, there won’t be any major spoilers so don’t worry if you have any interest in these movies.
1. Mandy (2018)
Genre - Horror/Fantasy
Director - Panos Cosmatos
Writers - Panos Cosmatos, Aaron Stewart-Ahn, Casper Kelly
Starring - Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache
About - The enchanted lives of a couple in a secluded forest are brutally shattered by a nightmarish hippie cult and their demon-biker henchmen, propelling a man into a spiraling, surreal rampage of vengeance.
Why You Should Watch
I hung out with two of my close friends Friday night, and we decided to put Mandy on. I haven’t seen Mandy in a couple of years but knew I enjoyed it, and boy is it even better on re-watch. Panos Cosmatos is a clear example of a director who completely goes for it and has a clear vision, even if it doesn’t necessarily pan out on every shot.
Mandy is more-or-less split as two separate films—the first half being a slow-burn of a film, where a hallucinogenic cult (and demon bikers?) terrorize a couple in a nightmarish and truly terrifying manner. Vivid and overly surreal imagery painted with bright and drenched saturation make it an enjoyable viewing experience even if you don’t know what’s going on.
Then, from the midpoint on, the second half falls under that Cage Rage tongue-in-cheek umbrella—in this case, a character seeking revenge—that’s completely filled with action, but is done so tastefully it’s impossible not to admire. I love Mandy and can’t recommend it enough.
2. Nobody Knows (2004)
Genre - Drama
Director - Kore-eda Hirokazu
Writer - Kore-eda Hirokazu
Starring - Yûya Yagira, Ayu Kitaura, Hiei Kimura
About - In a small Tokyo apartment, twelve-year-old Akira must care for his younger siblings after their mother leaves them and shows no sign of returning.
Why You Should Watch
Nobody Knows is one of those films that brutalizes every ounce of emotion you have by its end. Though it may take some time to get to that point, the build-up and emotional toll it takes is an experience few films have the capability to give, at least in my experience. There are moments when you fear the worst and the film doesn’t hold back in the slightest.
Telling a simple story of a mother abandoning her children and forcing them to care for themselves, Kore-eda Hirokazu is a fascinating director who cares about characters and their choices, development, and the central message of the story. It’s shot beautifully and is one of the best films I’ve seen that focuses on morality and responsibility.
3. The Panic in Needle Park (1971)
Genre - Drama
Director - Jerry Schatzberg
Writers - James Mills, Joan Didion, John Gregory Dunne
Starring - Al Pacino, Kitty Winn, Alan Vint
About - Follows the lives of heroin addicts who frequent "Needle Park" in New York City.
Why You Should Watch
I don’t remember how we got on the topic of this movie, but my partner Sydney put this on, and I’m glad she did. Part of the reason we were interested in it is that it’s the first movie to feature Al Pacino in a leading role. Following the slice-of-life story medium, The Panic in Needle Park is a stark and sad slow-moving story about a relationship between a heroin addict and hustler Bobby (Al Pacino), and a young homeless lady Helen (Kitty Winn).
As you can expect given their situations, the film doesn’t hold back with its painfully realistic setting and portrayal of the various characters around Needle Park. Bad decision-making, aspirations that you know aren’t going to become a reality, and just an overall lamentable story make the film such a worthwhile experience. I have to check out more from Jerry Schatzberg because I really enjoyed this film.