Movies Worth Watching #9
Happy Thursday. It’s a beautiful day for one reason only: the Sabres play. As some of you know, or can infer—given I’m a dude from Buffalo—I love the Sabres, and for the first time in years, there’s genuine excitement with the team. Here’s to hoping they beat the Flames tonight.
While I can go on and on about sports, I’m not a sports writer. I’m here to talk movies or music to some degree. This Movies Worth Watching features a few recent watches I had, one of which I hadn’t seen since I was younger, and two others that are fresh watches.
1. One Hour Photo (2002)
Genre - Drama/Thriller
Director - Mark Romanek
Writer - Mark Romanek
Starring - Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan
About - A mentally unstable photo developer targets an upper-middle-class family after his obsession with them becomes more sick and disturbing than any of them could imagine.
Why You Should Watch
My dad showed me One Hour Photo as a teenager, and I haven’t seen it since. I recall enjoying it quite a bit, so I rewatched it last night, and it’s pretty much how I remember and holds up. I always get worried about re-watching movies I liked as a kid, fearing they’re nowhere near how I remember quality-wise.
Regardless, the film focuses on Sy Parrish (Robin Williams), known as "the photo guy," who has dedicatedly processed the Yorkin family's cherished photographs from when their son was an infant. As the Yorkins' lives flourish, Sy's existence seems to wither in isolation, leading him to develop a delusion that he is an integral part of their family.
When "Uncle" Sy's idyllic dream collides with a harsh dose of reality, the ensuing events unfold with the gripping tension reminiscent of the finest psychological thrillers. While the film's negatives are probably a reaction of the time—the melodrama of the 2000s—it’s a thrilling watch.
It’s shot well, has a great voiceover and performance from Robin Williams, and a solid cast around the central character. While the story stalls at times and is a bit too surface-level with what you’d expect in the plot, I highly recommend it, especially if you’re into film photography in any sense.
2. Midnight Cowboy (1969)
Genre - Drama/Comedy
Director - John Schlesinger
Writer - Waldo Salt, James Leo Herlihy
Starring - Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Sylvia Miles
About - A naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process.
Why You Should Watch
Midnight Cowboy tells the story of Joe Buck (Jon Voight), a hopeful opportunist from Texas with big dreams of charming wealthy women in New York City. Buck eventually crosses paths with Enrico "Ratso" Rizzo (Dustin Hoffman), a frail con artist burdened by a crippled leg and a whimsical desire to flee to Florida.
If you haven’t heard of Midnight Cowboy, I’m sure you’re aware of the iconic “I'm walkin' here!” sequence. For clarity, the famous moment happens when Voight and Hoffman cross the street and narrowly escape being hit by a taxi. Hoffman slaps his palms on the taxi’s front and exclaims, "Hey! I'm walkin' here!"
The scene exudes such a natural, vibrant quality that when Dustin Hoffman raises his voice at the taxi driver, it feels impeccably choreographed. Surprisingly, Hoffman revealed that he improvised the line spontaneously because he and Jon Voight were genuinely on the verge of being struck by a taxi.
Besides the iconic scene, the film is brilliant in many ways, specifically how it tells such a dark and horrific story while being hilarious. It’s a masterclass on blending severe subject matter with comedic effects without feeling all over the place tonally and was way ahead of its time. I can’t recommend it enough.
3. Old Joy (2006)
Genre - Drama
Director - Kelly Reichardt
Writer - Jonathan Raymond, Kelly Reichardt
Starring - Daniel London, Will Oldham, Tanya Smith
About - Two old pals reunite for a camping trip in Oregon's Cascade Mountains.
Why You Should Watch
Old Joy is a brilliant meditative drama from Kelly Reichardt with much more to say than what the film offers on the surface. On the brink of fatherhood, Mark (Daniel London) senses the encroaching weight of household obligations.
When his longtime friend Kurt (Will Oldham) suggests a camping adventure in the wilds of Oregon, Mark eagerly embraces the opportunity. As they spend time together amidst nature's beauty, the two men confront the shifts in their lives and how these changes impact their friendship.
The pair are old friends and couldn’t be further apart in their lives. We get a sense Mark doesn’t want to be around Mark as the film unfolds but feels an odd obligation. Without spoiling, there isn’t an apparent distinct fight or anything that goes too far that shows why these characters are a bit awkward and distant other than what we can assume.
As the great Roger Ebert highlighted in his review, much of the film centers around what Kurt wants from Mark. Is it a rekindling of their lost camaraderie, a profound sense of love, or does it involve a more intimate connection? Perhaps, Kurt simply yearns for Mark to restore the bygone days and the youthful pleasures they once shared.