Civil War

This isn't a time travel movie but you could argue it's a "what if" movie, as in, what if the Germans had won WWII - you get "The Man In the High Castle" and other such books and films. "Civil War" seems to me to be a hypothetical, what if Trump insurrection had been successful? What if he was able to maintain control of his presidency and keep himself in power even into a third term? What would the US become? What would it look like? Alex Garland has given us his vision and it seems pretty darn spot on to what I imagine the answers to be. I've been a Garland fan from the start of his writing/film career began. His last film, "Men" made my top ten list of 2022. I'm sure "Civil War" will land in the top 10 films of 2024. From the outset, Garland grabs the audience and doesn't let go. It's an intense ride as we follow a group of four journalists (Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, and Stephen McKinley Henderson) who are attempting to get to the capital in hopes to interview the President before his government is overthrown by Western Forces. It's a dark film and some of powerful images are enhanced by an uber-cool soundtrack like something out of "Miami Vice." It's enthralling stuff. Catch one of the year's best films now in theatres. 

Nocturama

This is a French film from 2017, from writer and director, Bertrand Bonello. It was recommend to me by an English faculty member from Carleton - what's the world coming to, French films being recommended by the English department. Chaos! Speaking of which, "Nocturama" is exactly about this, manufacturing chaos! A group of young  people, for reasons maybe even unclear to themselves, decide to stick it to society, stick it to France, and go blow some stuff up in Paris. And that's what they do and after that, they go hide out, after-hours, in a multilevel department store in downtown. If you took "Dog Day Afternoon," and Gus Van Sant's "Elephant" and crossed them with "The Breakfast Club" and "Dawn of the Dead" you would get "Nocturama." I feel it's a commentary on the restless nature and the idealism of youth conflicted and contrasted against the materialism of contemporary society - look at me being all confusing and academic English-like - ha! What it is, it's riveting stuff. Gripping viewing. Another film to check out on Criterion or at your local video store.   

Fish Tank

Andrea Arnold directed one of my favorite films in the last decade, "American Honey" staring Sasha Lane and Shia LaBeouf. At a runtime of 2 hours and 43 minutes, it's a beast. It's white trash America on full display, in an almost documentary style of realism. I love "American Honey." I have no explanation as to why I never bothered to seek the other films of Andrea Arnold, that is, until now. "Fish Tank" is a film from 2009. A banger, as they might say in the UK, although I believe that term is generally reserved for songs or sausages. "Fish Tank" is a banger. This is another white-trash, (Eurotrash?) fairytale about a young girl, Mia growing up with her alcoholic mother and her younger sister in a poor flat in London. Mom brings home new boyfriend, Connor (Michael Fassbender) and he turns out to be a real treat. "Fish Tank" is a dark coming of age tale and at times it's uncomfortable to watch - this film goes to dark places. It's a slow burn and I was riveted by it. Catch it streaming on Criterion or grab a copy from your local video store.    

Knox Goes Away

Another hitman on his last job movie! The second one this year! "American Star" being the first. It seems like everyone wants in on Liam Neeson's share of his action corner market. Michael Keaton (one of our favourite bat people) directs and stars in, "Knox Goes Away," a film about an aging hitman who has developed Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, a fast moving form of dementia. Knox only has weeks left before things go south for him. He has to cash-out and make things right with his estranged son Miles (James Marsden). Coincidently Miles has done something bad and needs his father's help. The movie is somewhat pedestrian, we have seen all this before, however the supporting cast is so good, especially the performance of James Marsden, which was a standout for me. Al Pacino plays Knox's boss - he reminded me of Dr. Teeth from the Electric Mayhem (The Muppet Rock Band). This movie was floating between being an honourable mention and a full entry on the blog. I didn't want to let Knox go away without giving Keaton the attention his clever film deserves. Catch it in theatres if possible, or on streaming services when available, or rent it from your favourite video store: in Ottawa that would be Movies 'N' Stuff. 

Hundreds of Beavers

There's a cutesiness to it and after the first ten minutes, I wasn't sure if I would be able to get into it. I'm happy to report, I did. Won over by the sheer amount of cleverness on display. This "Wallace and Gromit" Wile E. Coyote-Bugs Bunny, Buster Keaton, slapstick, video-game, mashup is a silly and joyous wonder to behold. On a shoestring budget of 150 thousand dollars, "Hundreds  of Beavers" is far superior to most of the 150 million dollar CGI messes Hollywood likes to inflect upon movie going audiences. What's it all about? Ryland Brickson Cole Tews plays Jean Kayak, a drunken apple Cider farmer who has lost everything due to pesky beavers. He must video-game-level-up one beaver pelt at a time to finally win the hand of The Merchant's daughter. The beavers look like people in beaver costumes, which is what they are. When sliced open, they contain a plastic human skeleton, bits of Styrofoam, and plush fuzzy organs - of course they do! The film crescendos with Jean Kayak infiltrating the giant beaver damn as if it were the fortress of Dr. No or Han's Island Fortress of "Enter the Dragon." "Hundreds of Beavers" is one of the most creative and fun movies you will see this year. Catch it in rep theatres now.

Immaculate

If you're only going to see one horror movie this Easter, let it be "Immaculate." Sydney Sweeney plays Sister Cecilia, a nun who has moved from the US to Italy to join a nunnery, which we know from the opening sequence is a place where bad things are happening. What exactly is going on isn't revealed until the third act, or in this case third trimester. Yes, you read that correctly. Sister Cecilia soon upon arrival finds herself immaculately pregnant - Jesus be praised, it's a miracle! Or is it? "Immaculate" is pretty much your standard horror nun fun, until we get to the ending. While many horror films, or films in general, fail to stick the landing, it's the opposite with 'Immaculate." The ending is so good, so unhinged, wildly intense, and yet so utterly satisfying, the ending lifts the whole film up. It's largely because of the incredible performance of Sydney Sweeney - she is a beast in this movie. Last year she was in HBO's "Reality" She is a remarkable young actor and I loved her in that performance and in this one. She's someone to watch. Catch this holy-moly this Easter, in theatres.     

Late Night with the Devil

It's far too early to say but "Late Night with the Devil" might just be my favourite horror movie of 2024. It has a lot going for it. It's a faux documentary about a fictional late-night talk show host, Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian). Jack's show, Night Owls, is competing against Johnny Carson for ratings in the year, 1977. Jack's show isn't doing well, so to boost his audience score, he hosts a Halloween special and invites psychic Christou (Fayssal Bazzi), psychic debunker Carmichael Haig (Ian Bliss), and parapsychologist June Ross-Mitchell (Laura Gordon) along with her devil possessed patient, Lilly (Ingrid Torelli). Let the fun begin! A lot of the enjoyment is merely the 70s clothing and the set of UBC TV's Night Owls; like a repurposed set of The Price is Right, the brown, yellow, and orange paint stripes flow Yellow Submarine style about the walls, wrapping around in the background. In the foreground is a hipster's wet dream - vintage retro second hand furniture. The movie itself is "Quiz Show" meets "The Exorcist" - the escalating late-night episode building slowly and dramatically - and not without lots of laughs along the way: STAY TUNED, WILL WE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS COMMERCIAL BREAK. Catch the devil by tail, playing at night, in theatres now.