Titane

Titane is a head trip. It's a cross between the 1977 film Demon Seed and David Cronenberg's Crash - I will translate my own film geek nomenclature for you - a woman gets impregnated by a car. Yes, that's correct, a car. Then she goes on a random killing spree and then changes her appearance to evade police and pretends to be a man's long lost son. If that sounds bizarre, it is. For those of you who like to be challenged, who like films that push boundaries, movies which leave you asking, "What was that?" Titane is the movie for 2021 to do the job.  How strange are we talking? Think Under the Skin, Santa Sangre, or Wild at Heart strange.  It is about sexuality, identity, toxic masculinity, violence, mutation - lots of moving parts and stunning visuals. It's violent, grotesque, and it will haunt you long after you have stopped watching. It is one of the most interesting films of 2021. Catch it in theatres or on streaming services. 

Malignant

I think one could argue Quentin Tarantino's whole body of work is a homage to films Tarantino loves, like B-Westerns, B-Kung-Fu movies, B action films,  Peckinpah films, De Palma's films, etc. James Wan, the Australian director who has brought us Saw, The Conjuring, Insidious, and many other great horror films has brought us what I consider to be his homage to 80s VHS B-Horror films, Tarantino style. Malignant is an extraordinary B-"Midnight-Madness"-horror movie. Taken in that context, it's a blast of fun. What's it all about? Annabelle Wallis plays Madison Mitchell, a woman who is haunted by The Eyes of Laura Mars type visions where she can see murders happening in real time. The source of these visions is so outlandish that you will howl with laughter - this is great B-horror movie stuff. With castle-sized hospitals with classic accompanying lighting and thunder, plus weird experiments being performed by people in white lab coats, we are in a B-horror happy place. To top it off, there is a Matrix style fight scene in a jail holding cell that will bring you joy. Catch this wonderful trash pick in the theatre or on streaming services.    

Squid Game

If you only have time for one series this year, then please let it be Squid Game. This South Korean Netflix show is a visceral, nail-biting, thrill ride. It's violent, disturbing, and you will not be able to stop watching. If you want a sense of what it's all about, it's kind of like if you crossed Parasite with The Hunger Games. What makes it so arresting to watch is the bold crayon colours used in the show, they are outlandish and cartoonish contrasted with the gruesome carnal violence which blood soaks every episode. It's a head trip for sure and one not for the faint of heart. Themes of financial inequity, financial injustice, and what we are willing to do for a buck (or a million) swirl around each episode like the money offered up in a giant plastic piggybank. Lots of questions and mysteries, both ethical, existential, and practical - what's really going on here? Squid Game will worm into your brain and hold on to you long after you have stopped watching. It has a huge budget and an outstanding cast. The lead, Jung-jae Lee, is just a marvel. Please give this man a Golden Globe nomination as well as most of the supporting cast. I can't say enough about Squid Game. Watch it now on Netflix. 

The Green Knight

 I don't like Lord of the Rings. There, I said it. I appreciate the level of detail, the costumes, the look of the films, and to some extent, some of the performances. And Gollum. Everyone likes Gollum. But no, I thought the whole thing was dreadfully dull. So, when I saw the trailer for The Green Knight, I thought, no, I don't think so. But it got really good reviews but audiences hated it. Then I was somewhat intrigued. I watched. I didn't realize until after the director is David Lowery, the gentleman who brought us Ghost Story (with Casey Affleck). Lowery is a director who plays with time. He shows us possibilities, sometime over decades or more, then rolls us back to the present so we may proceed again on a different path; time lapse trickery. Time, mortality, and honour are the themes of The Green Knight, a far more adult version of a knight's quest. And let me tell you, it's a beautiful film. I mean really gorgeous to look at. I was deeply surprised how much I like this film. Dev Patel (Lion) who plays the lead, is really excellent. Come for the aesthetics, stay for the meditation on mortality and have an adventure along the way. Catch it in the theatre if you can, otherwise on streaming services.   

Brand New Cherry Flavor

I binged it in two days. I LOVED IT. What's it all about? Rosa Salazar plays Lisa Nova, a young and enthusiastic film maker who has made a short film that Hollywood producer Lou Burke (Eric Lange) wants to turn into a feature length film. Lou is in need of a hit and Lisa, well she is just happy her dream of becoming a movie director is coming true. Except Lou, turns out he is an asshole, so Lisa Nova gets Boro (Catherine Keener) to put a hex on him. Set in L.A. of the 1990s, it feels like a cross between David Lynch and David Cronenberg, surrealism meets body-gross-out identity crisis, when both directors where doing some of their best work. The whole thing is a bit of an acid trip with a bag of mixed and sometime heavy emotional performances. Salazar's performance has been highly praised. She is really really good. But her supporting actor, Eric Lange as Lou Burke, is phenomenal. I hope when the Golden Globes comes around, they don't overlook him. Catch this freak show on Netflix.  

Mandibles

One of the delights of having the Bytowne Cinema back up in running in Ottawa is that the city gets exposed to European, Asian, Middle Eastern, etc. - films outside of the standard North American fare. Mandibles is a French Comedy about two losers, petty criminals, who are in need of some cash for basic existence. When Manu (Grégoire Ludig) gets offered a job to transport a briefcase from point A to point B, no questions asked, he jumps at the chance. He steals a car (because he doesn't have one or anything) and pulls in his good friend Jean-Gab (David Marsais) to share in the action. Think Harry and Marv from Home Alone, the wet bandits, and you get the idea. Well our two clowns discover a giant fly in the trunk of the stolen car. That's right, a fly the size of a mid sized dog, in the trunk of the car. Jean-Gab has the brilliant idea to train the fly to steal stuff for them, like food, and maybe even rob banks for them. It sounds ridiculous and it is! Goofy fun. Have a laugh, catch this one when you get a chance.

Nowhere Special

What's it all about? John (James Norton) is a window washer, a single dad of a three year old son, Michael (Daniel Lamont) and John is dying (presumably of some inoperable cancer). If it sounds grim, it is. John, with the help of social services is trying to find a new home for Michael when John finally succumbs. Bring a big box of tissues for this one, like a big one. Maybe some paper towels too. There will be tears. It's a subtle and thoughtful film about fatherhood, other people's values, and the fragility of everything. It's also a moving portrait of a father and son. If you are up for a deeply emotional ride, I highly recommend going to Nowhere Special. Catch it on streaming services.