Thursday Movie Picks: Non English Movies

We're having another Non English theme at Wandering Through The Shelves. I love these especially because I enjoy getting recommendations for new foreign films. The only rule I gave myself is that I couldn't use any of other films I've picked for this in the previous years. Here are three excellent films not in the English langauge

1) Tangerines

This Estonian film honestly should've won the Oscar that year. It's about a man who stays behind during the war to harvest his crops when everyone else in his small village has left. 

2) In The Fade

I tend to think of Diane Kruger as more of a tabloid fixture(She's with Norman Greasus for fucks sake) and because of that I sometimes forget that she actually can act. She's amazing in this German film about a woman whose son and husband were killed by white supremacists and isn't satisfied with the outcome of their trial.

3) Two Days, One Night

I cried like an absolute baby in this French language film from Belgium. Marion Cotillard is amazing in it. On paper, a woman going door to door trying to talk her coworkers out of accepting their bonuses so she can keep her job doesn't sound like a good watch, but it is. 

Review: It Chapter 2

Beep Beep, Richie. 

Due to personal reasons, this is going to be shorter than usual. I have other content I had previously written scheduled for Thursday and Sunday, otherwise I may be a bit sporadic for a bit. 

I went into this with medium level expectations because I personally think the kids had a better story than the adults in the novel. This isn't nearly as good as chapter one but the actors are amazing. Bill Hader, Jason Ransone and Bill Skarsgard in particular are fantastic. Skarsgard actually maybe be feel bad for Pennywise for a second which is extraordinary. His range is very convincing. Adult Richie and Eddie were everything, their banter was amazing.

I think this film had more than a few problems though. It's all over the place, which isn't necessarily the film's fault, the book is practically unfilmable once you revisit the Losers Club as adults. The CGI they used on the kids (who were shoe-horned in, though it was kind of nice to see them again, especially little Stan) was distracted. They had overly smooth faces and it was impossible for me to watch without thinking about something being digitally edited with them. The biggest problem for me, was once again Mike, this time played very well by Isaiah Mustafa. I don't think the film does a very good job of making him seem like he's one of the Losers. I don't know if it's magnified as the only POC character, but it seems like he's just hanging around them instead of being *with* them. Bev and Ben, Bev and Bill, Eddie and Richie, they all have these really powerful scenes together and Ben just doesn't get that same intimacy with the Losers despite being the one that remembers everything. He's basically treated as a prop, whereas the novel did a better job of making him feel like one of the gang. 

I'm not sure that I'll be rushing out to purchase It Chapter 2 as I did chapter one, but the actors elevate the hell out of this movie and it's very creepy.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: B-

Memorable Quote: "Who married a woman 10 times his body mass?" - Richie (Bill Hader)

Review: Ready or Not

Family first.

Grace (Samara Weaving) is marrying Alex Les Domas (Mark O'Brien) at his family's estate. He comes from serious money as his family owns a giant gaming dynasty. And as such, they have a tradition to play a game at midnight every time a new person enters the family. Grace draws a card that says they have to play hide and seek, and she finds out very quickly that there's more too it then she thought.

I was intrigued by this movie the first time I saw the trailer but I never expected it to be so much fun. I felt like I could really relate with all the reactions Grace is having to her situation. Mainly, her swearing, yelling, and trying to joke her way through it. I love that sort of thing in films because we don't see it enough. It's something Us did earlier in the year that I also enjoyed.

They could've easily made Grace a superhero in this cat and mouse game but they never go that far. Sure, she gets some major adrenaline rush points but the way she fights back is always realistic. Samara Weaving is an absolute treasure. Adam Brody, who plays Alex's brother Daniel is also a standout. 

Yes, there's a lot of plot devices that were needed to get the story where it needs to go but it never stops being funny and gory. If you're looking to get scared, this isn't the film for you. But if you want a good laugh and a bit of gore, Ready or Not is here for you. 

Recommended: Yes

Grade: B+

Memorable Quote: "Ah, brown haired niece. You continue to exist." - Aunt Helene (Nicky Guadagni)

Thursday Movie Picks: Hostages

We're holding this week's theme from Wandering Through the Shelves close, because we're talking about hostages. Whether it be a forced plot device or a scary situation there's plenty to choose from. Here's what I came up with.

1) Argo

I know Affleck is a mess right now but can we acknowledge that he directed the shit out of this movie? I was on the edge of my seat the entire time even though I knew the hostages were going to get out. Like, WHAT IF?

2) Prisoners

I love this movie, there were so many twists and turns and the scenes of Hugh Jackman's character keeping Paul Dano hostage were so chilling. 

3) Misery

Can we talk about hostages without including the godmother of holding someone against their will; Annie Wilkes? She's your number one fan.

What I Watched on TV in August

So August completely flew by. It's already starting to feel less like summer here and we're starting to transition into fall. Here's what I finished out my summer with TV wise.

The Handmaid's Tale

I'm glad I waited until 10 episodes were already on Hulu because I think I would've been frustrated if I was watching this week to week. For the first time, I grew really frustrated with June and her decision making. She wasn't using her head, she got people killed, she didn't even attempt to hide her contempt and it made her look ridiculous. Everyone knew she was up to something, but her plot armor is made of vibranium. I will say, I adored Bradley Whitford and I really like how the season ended. It's making me look forward to season 4. They really need to stop with the close ups of June's face though. Jesus that technique is overused. Also fuck Serena, forever.

Atlanta

Since I renewed Hulu to check out The Handmaid's Tale, I also used that time to FINALLY start Atlanta and I was not disappointed. Sure, a few episodes are duds but I adore the main cast. I love how goofy the show can be at times, like with the invisible car, while at the same time having important commentary on various social issues. I'll definitely be watching season 3 on FX next year.

Euphoria

What a season. I thought the finale was actually one of the weaker episodes but a weak episode of Euphoria is still excellent TV. I can't wait to see what they do for season two.

Orange is the New Black

OITNB had its final bow, and honestly I was surprised at how emotional I felt over it. I've been really unhappy with this show since season 4 and I read a bunch of spoilers before even diving into this, but I felt moved. None of my favorite characters had happy endings, I still don't care about Piper and Alex, but there were a few good endings for some of the women and this show really tackled the immigration issue in the U.S head on with heartbreaking results. The guest stars were amazingly strong this year. The end credits showed a lot of the actors saying "thank you" after their final scenes, and even though the show made me unhappy at times, I felt the love just radiate off the cast in those moments. 

The Righteous Gemstones

I'm really iffy on Danny McBride. Eastbound and Down showed me that there is such a thing as TOO MUCH Danny McBride. I'm three episodes in with this, it's pretty stupid and is towing that line of too much McBride, but I'm enjoying the rest of the cast enough that I'll stick with it. 

Indie Gems: Fast Color

Can you see the colors?

Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) has seizures that cause earthquakes and finds herself on the run from scientists who want to experiment on her. She's forced to go back home to her mother, Bo (Lorraine Toussaint) and the daughter she left behind, Lila (Saniyya Sidney) and hide out. But they have super powers themselves that manifest differently than Ruth's.

Fast Color came on my radar because it's one of the few sci fi movies directed by a woman. It turns out, I had seen and enjoyed one of director Julia Hart's previous features - Miss Stevens - earlier this year. 

For a film about super powers, this is very understated. I read that Hart plans on making this universe into a TV series and that makes sense given you get the feeling that there's a lot more that needs to be said when the film really doesn't have time for it.

Mbatha-Raw always gives amazing performances as does Toussaint. I loved the cast in this, and even though we don't know a lot about these characters, we know enough to make everything meaningful.

I hope Hart gets to expand on this because I'd love to know more, and even with that in mind, Fast Color is definitely worth your time.

Grade: B

Watched on: Netflix DVD

Memorable Quote: "Don't be in such a rush to leave." - Ruth (Gugu Mbatha-Raw)

Thursday Movie Picks - TV Edition: Revivals and Reboots

There's no shortage of TV revivals and reboots lately, which is wonderful because that's what we're talking about this week at Wandering Through The Shelves. I feel like opinions over revivals are all over the place, at least that's how it is for me. Sometimes I'm deeply embarrassed, sometimes I'm surprised. Here's what I came up with.

1) The X-Files

This is the only TV revival that I was actually excited about and while some of the episodes were good it was mostly a disappointment. The weirdest part was me coming to terms with the fact that I may have had a crush on Walter Skinner this entire time. I swear it was that episode where he fucked that hooker and I had to ask someone what that was all about when it first aired because I didn't get it. You're welcome to leave me contact info for therapists in the comment section.

2) DuckTales

This is something I watch with my son, it was really hard to get into the voice actors, because old school Duck Tales they are so young, and here they talk like teenagers. I love Beck Bennett's Launchpad. This turned out a lot better than I thought.

3) The Clone Wars

So this one hasn't happened yet, we have to wait for Disney+, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm the first to admit that I shit all over The Clone Wars when it first aired, but it got so much better in the later seasons. I grew to appreciate it even more after watching Star Wars Rebels and seeing what Ahsoka, the character that drove me insane at first grew into.