Taking time off and nowhere to go means I got to watch a lot more movies this past week and weekend! I also ventured back to the theater this week! Although I made sure to pick a time where it was likely the no one would be present. Watching a movie with a mask on was also a cake walk, so you can all do it, too! Either way, almost everything I watched this past week was definitely unique and quite the ride. Some are certainly worth checking out, so below is quick recap to wet your appetite!
Patti Cake$ – What a wholly unique film! Patti Cake$ is bonkers with confidence and a grade A rapper to boot! Throw in her ragtag group of collaborators and you’ll also get some insanely unique music to go along with it. Even though there’s some romance, this movie is all about believing in yourself and following your dreams. Highly recommend.
The 24th Day – Good grief. The plot of this film was interesting, but the editing was perhaps the worst I have ever seen. I understand that it came out in 2004, but unless it was the most low budget indie film to be released that year, there’s really no excuse. I’m talking in the middle of dialogue! That should be enough to deter you from watching Scott Speedman and James Marsden fight over who gave who HIV.
Words on Bathroom Walls – Based off the book of the same name, this story follows Adam as he deals with high school while also trying to contain his schizophrenia. I thought this was a very interesting look at mental illness and covering a large array of facets that someone with this particular illness could go through. Granted, this is a PG-13 film, so not everything is as real as it could be, but for Hollywood it’s a decent start.
The Art of Self Defense – I mean, what can I say? One of my top three movies from last year because of its excellent satire and just downright awkwardness. It’s got karate and heavy metal, so strap in for some macho moments, of course! I’ve never seen Jesse Eisenberg do better and I cannot recommend this film enough. Go watch it on Hulu!
Chemical Hearts – Whew! I don’t know if I’ve ever rolled my eyes so many times during a film. While not awful, this movie was horribly angtsy, but I should have expected that when the description says it’s about a boy who’s “a hopeless romantic who’s never been in love.” Also, it’s got Riverdale‘s Lili Reinhart, so my expectations for acting shouldn’t have been high. I did learn that this is a book though, and the movie was good enough that I would like to give it a read!
Spree – Shot almost like a found footage film, this film centers on Kurt, the social media obsessed teen as he tries to amass followers by murdering his rideshare passengers. It’s a little annoying at times, but Joe Keery absolutely nails it as the goofy but cynical Kurt as he flits between emotions while filming and killing. Obviously this is a stab at how toxic social media is in an extremely exaggerated way, but still, stranger things have happened (see what I did there?).
The Outpost – Alright, while I ended up really enjoying this war drama following a group of soldiers as they fend of 400 enemy insurgents as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, but don’t put Orlando Bloom if he (SPOILER!) doesn’t survive past the twenty minute mark! That aside, Caleb Landry Jones is magnetic and you should totally watch it for him.
Work It – I’m sure I said it last week when I reviewed the movies I watched, but this one has that special something that’s going to have me coming back to it over and over again. It’s funny and light, and I like to have a default feel good film to fall back on sometimes!