A Week of Movie Recommendations: Escapism 2
Ever since shelter in place began in March, on my Facebook page, I have been recommending a film daily. Several people have asked if I could compile those recommendations. So this begins a series of recommendations where each day I recommend a movie based on a theme.
As I said the last time I did escapism films, there are so many different interpretations to what is an escapist film: fantasy, innocent, something ridiculous and action packed, or a comedy among many others. Will try to offer a variety. Also, I am recommending films that I did not give 4 stars. So less talked about movies.
Escapism 2
Day 1 Movie Recommendation
"Matchstick Men" *** 1/2
I think many people associate Nicholas Cage with escapism films because of his manic intensity and his questionable roll selection. That being said, he has of course turned in masterpiece performances in series films such as "Leaving Las Vegas", "Adaptation", and "Joe" among others. But today we will be highlighting a film by him that is a trip of a film. A lesser "House of Games", but still a wonderful film: "Matchstick Men".
The less you know about this movie the better going into it. Let's just start with Nicholas Cage plays an obsessive compulsive who is a con artist. In the midst of the routine of his life, it is interrupted when he discovers he has a daughter from a previous marriage. Alison Lohman turns in an Oscar worthy performance as his daughter and famed director Ridley Scott matches an energetic style of filmmaking with Cage's performance. What an incredible comedic thriller.
Day 2 Movie Recommendation
Continuing recommendations for escapist films, today we turn to the action comedy. Buster Keaton was the greatest physical comedian in history, but in modern times, his successor (until Stephen Chow) has been Jackie Chan.
Although he has certainly made better films ("The Legend of the Drunken Master", "Police Story" 1 and 2, among others), today I am going to focus on his ridiculous over the top 4th film in the "Police Story" series "First Strike".
"First Strike" ***
In 1996, with the end of the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, a lot of movie's story lines dealt with the idea of nuclear weapons from the former Soviet Union falling into the wrong hands. Enter Jackie Chan. Not since "Dr. Strangelove" has the thought of nuclear war been so funny. In this roaring adventure, Jackie traces the criminals who have stolen the nuclear weapons all over the globe, allowing him tons of opportunities to show off his gravity and death defying stunts all while keeping the humor going. Whether it is skiing on various things other than skis and being shot at, or the climactic fight in a shark tank underwater, this outrageous film keeps you both on the edge of your seat and laughing.
Day 3 Movie Recommendation
Continuing our escapist movie recommendations, today we have another comedy. Sometimes taking a serious matter and imbuing it with humor is just the right remedy to help us with the serious nature of our own lives. So this film represents that type of escapism.
"My Cousin Vinny" *** 1/2
His nephew is in trouble. A case of mistaken identity taken to the ultimate extreme where the nephew accidentally confesses to murder. Who does he call? His cousin Vinny who has never tried a case and took three times to pass the bar. A wonderful fish out of water story, transplanting the most satirical version of a New Yorker into a equally satirical genteel south, both Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei (who won the Oscar) rock this comedy. So many incredible lines, too many to count, but "yoots" must be among them. Good laughs needed during this time.
Day 4 Movie Recommendation
Continuing our escapist film recommendations, today we go back to the thriller. A story that grabs you and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Something that passes the time. For this we go to one of David Fincher's least appreciated films.
"The Game" ***
What do you buy for the person who has everything? You get them 'The Game'. In this thriller, Michael Douglas's banker who spends his birthday alone, but has achieved everything he believes he needs in life, is given 'The Game' by his estranged brother who recently returned. Curious about its promise to make his life more interesting and shake things up, he agrees, but then strange things begin happening. Unable to distinguish between what is real and what is the game, this thriller never lets it foot off of the peddle. A worthy "Hicthcockian" film.
Day 5 Movie Recommendation
Next on our escapist film recommendations, something different, a romantic comedy. Not an outright outrageous one like "Something About Mary" which I would give four stars, but a more subtle one. One that gives us a time when things were more innocent and a President whose struggles to date.
"The American President" ***
The romantic comedy that would eventually lead to the great series "West Wing", "The American President" is an incredibly entertaining and romantic film from writer Aaron Sorkin. Rob Reiner directs Michael Douglas as a widowed president running for re-election. Never has dating been so hard. You think trying to date around your parents is hard, what about the secret service and press? Annette Bening in one of her sweetest roles plays environmental lobbyist, Sydney Ellen Wade, who daringly decides to follow her heart and try to make this relationship work. Martin Sheen, who would later play President Bartlett in "West Wing" plays the chief of staff whose headaches grow as the relationship does between the President and Sydney.
Day 6 Movie Recommendation
Our second to last escapist film recommendation for this week (next week we will celebrate female directors and the week after most likely we will come back to escapism before going on to another topic) embodies so many genres it's hard to classify. Whether it is a science fiction film, a fantasy, a comedy, a thriller, or an action film, Luc Besson's zany film has it all.
"The Fifth Element" ***
A threatening villain who is never more than a deep scary voice and a void approaching earth is worried that the fifth element can defeat him. So, the villain recruits a Texan Gary Oldman with an equally ridiculous costume and accent to track down the fifth element. Ian Holm plays a priest of sorts who is tracking the fifth element, when it takes human form (Mila Jovovich) and accidentally ends up in cabbie Bruce Willis cab. All set in a world equally inspired by "Brazil" and "Blade Runner", it is an insane ride, but fun and totally engrossing space opera (with literal Opera in it).
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg9nzOFVwtQ
PS Chris Tucker's performance in this is nothing short of insane.
Day 7 Movie Recommendation brought to you by a guest writer today.
Troy Heisman is a great friend, former student, and lover of cinema. He asked if he could recommend a film he loves that is escapism and yet moving. So here is his recommendation:
“The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”
Set in New York City, Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) leads a monotonous, risk-averse life as a negative-asset manager at LIFE magazine, experiencing adventure only through his vivid day dreams that leave him zoned out of his real life. In attempt to impress a female co-worker and find a missing photograph that will cost him his job, Walter begins to travel the world in search of the photojournalist that took the photo (Sean Penn). Amidst the search for the photograph, Walter finds himself jumping off helicopters in Greenland, longboarding down a meandering road in Iceland (my favorite scene in the movie), and climbing mountains in Afghanistan. Overtly optimistic and light hearted, Walter Mitty’s search for the photograph ultimately becomes a search for himself. The film is shot in beautiful locations with nature often towering over Walter, making it particularly appealing during a time where we are stuck in our homes. Supplemented by an amazing soundtrack, the Secret Life of Walter Mitty will have you planning your next vacation once our quarantine ends and will have you promising never to take very granted the gorgeous destinations our planet offers. The film really is, in one word, wonderful.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HddkucqSzSM
***CONTAINS SPOILERS*** How does the Secret Life of Walter Mitty relate to quarantine?
Walter Mitty is particularly pertinent to our time in quarantine because it reminds us that our sense of optimism, courage, and motivation does not come from external factors, but within ourselves. Some critics claimed the film’s impressive cinematography set a grand stage for a film that failed to deliver a similarly impressive story. But the simplicity of the story telling makes the characters more relatable, and the cinematography that portrays nature dwarfing Walter is precisely the point.
The photograph Walter is searching for is referred to as the “quintessence” of LIFE. It is no mistake that the film is set with Walter working at LIFE. The search the photograph is literally Walter’s search for meaning in his own life, something that his life had been lacking since the passing of his father. Embedded into the story is Walter trying to improve his online dating profile, adding his adventures onto his page as his search for the photograph and himself continues. As Walter’s adventures become more intense, his interest in his social media decreases. And upon finally tracking down the photojournalist and the photo itself, Walter finds that what he was searching for was with him the entire time. The “quintessence” of LIFE is not hidden among the aesthetic beauty of the planet, it is literally in his back pocket. And even more obvious, Walter learns that the photo, “the quintessence,” is a photo of him.
The film is meant to be simple. Walter spent the majority of his life in a box, looking at images of beautiful pictures in a dark room confined to the bottom of the LIFE building. And when he steps into in the world, he is no longer surrounded by images, but by aesthetic beauty. And despite his extravagant adventures, the answer he is looking for has always been with him. In an odd way, our story is the opposite of the Walter Mitty story. we face the challenge of being confined to boxes, spending more time looking at imagines on social media and our phones. We yearn to leave our houses, to get back out into the aesthetic beauty of our planet. But regardless of this challenge, Walter Mitty leaves us with a sense of optimism. That despite the challenging road ahead, the key to human potential is always within ourselves. Humans need not look to social media, careers, or adventures for self-worth. The answer to our joy and happiness will always reside no further than our back pocket.
