‘The Runaways’ (2010)
Floria Sigismondi’s chronology of this 1970s all-female rock band is not immune to the clichés of the musical biography of the period. But it means so much more – it’s a celebration of the punk scene and DIY spirit, with the anticipated (albeit generous) helpings of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll. Dakota Fanning is terrific as lead singer Cherie Currie, a role that proves to be the ideal vehicle for her hypnotic vulnerability, Kristen Stewart is in fierce form as Joan Jett, and Michael Shannon almost steals the show as their sleazy manager and producer, Kim Fowley. . Best of all, Sigismondi’s retro aesthetic and Super-16mm photography sharply evokes the look and feel of the era; it plays less like a period piece than a contemporary coming-of-age movie that has been locked away for several decades.
‘Only Lovers Survive’ (2014)
Many writers and filmmakers have delved into the daily logistics of living one’s life as a vampire, but perhaps only Jim Jarmusch would have been amazed at how much more time they would have to stare at the undead and read great books. watch great movies and listen to great albums. To be clear, there’s a real plot in “Only Lovers” where stylish bloodsuckers Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston find their graceful presence brought forth by her ferocious sister (a powerful Mia Wasikowska). But mostly it’s a vibe, a mood, but also an airy venue movie that spills gallons of blood.
When this tense thriller hits theaters, it’s a real shame that the revival of Liam Neeson’s third-act action man career had already exhausted his goodwill with so many “Taken” sequels and reruns—because it far surpasses any movie. from other paintings of the time. This is partly thanks to the staff; It is based on one of Lawrence Block’s series of cracker novels and is adapted and directed by Scott Frank (who will later take on the same roles in “The Queen’s Gambit”). But Neeson also does his best by instilling a mixture of deep regret, unshakable faith, and righteous anger in Matthew Scudder, who has his private eye on the police.
‘Harmony’ (2012)
This Sundance sensation from writer and director Craig Zobel tells such an incredible story, it had to be true: a man claims to be a cop and calls a fast-food restaurant and instructs the manager to question an employee on suspicion of theft. At the caller’s clear instructions, the manager begins to humiliate and attack the young woman, because (allegedly) an official said she would do so. Zobel treats his film as both a morality game and a tightening loop; The film’s growing discomfort is complemented by convincing performances by Ann Dowd as director, Dreama Walker as victim, and Pat Healy as caller.
Director and co-writer Armando Iannucci puts a light touch – even as he grapples with the issues of misery, poverty and death – in this hilarious adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel. in colorblind casting. The result is a delightful blend of Dickens’ style and Iannucci’s own. Dev Patel is charming and charismatic in the lead, Hugh Laurie and Tilda Swinton shine in their juicy supporting roles, and Peter Capaldi is the perfect Micawber. It’s all refreshingly silly, delightfully high-spirited, and touchingly enough layered gently.
‘Brigsby Bear’ (2017)
The sequel to “Saturday Night Live”, Kyle Mooney co-wrote and starred in this funny, weird and sad comedy-drama as a young man whose idyllic but isolated world is dramatically punctured when his parents are arrested – and discovers that they themselves have kidnapped him. a baby and raised him in captivity. Most surprisingly, he discovers that the lead character, the star of a children’s show central to his little universe, was fabricated by his “parents” for his own entertainment and education, and so he makes a Brigsby Bear movie to tie up his slack. ends. It sounds unbearably tweeful, but director Dave McCary finds an approach that works, indulging in flights of fantasy and weirdness from reality and sincerity.
‘The Collapse: The Case Against Boeing’ (2022)
Director Rory Kennedy investigates the crashes of two new Boeing 737 Max planes in late 2018 and early 2019 that killed hundreds and shed a harsh light on the company’s factory conditions and safety procedures. With the help of Wall Street Journal reporter Andy Pasztor, Kennedy brilliantly deciphers the specific mechanical failures that caused the tragedies and lays out these research aspects in a clear and harrowing way. But it also digs deeper into the company’s history and examines how a massive merger and shift in corporate culture that favored stock price over speed and security led to what Pasztor calls “a pervasive pattern of deceptive behavior at Boeing.” The evidence is cursed and the story infuriating; this is a compelling commentary on much more than just these two plane crashes.
‘Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine’ (2015)
When Apple’s mastermind Steve Jobs died in 2011, documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney observed “the grief of millions of people who didn’t know him” and wondered why. So he tried to make a movie about who Jobs was, what he did, and why it was so important to many. Avoiding the usual cradle-to-grave approach for a “Citizen Kane”-style thematic exploration, Gibney results in a corrective to the common Jobs legend, from personal missteps to sketchy business practices, and a thoughtful reproach of our personal moral choices. it’s all done for the sake of convenience.