I really thought I'd have more free time after I finished up the year at college, but, one way or another, I've found that the only time I've really got to relax and unwind is at night. I'm a little in love with the movies, so, usually, this means laying in bed, cracking open the laptop, and checking off one of the movies on my list. Here are my picks from this week:
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Man, I love this movie. A crime-comedy about an unemployed, perpetually stoned bowler who gets mixed up in the disappearance of a wealthy paraplegic's trophy wife, The Big Lebowski is directed by the Coen Brothers and features a cast that consists of Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman. It's a little ... um, out there, but is hilarious, and the dialogue and performances make it that way. This isn't exactly some underground pick, but, still: a classic that you can watch over and over.
Kapoor and Sons (2016)
This one's a Bollywood offering, but, nevertheless, one of the best movies I've seen in the last year. Starring Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt, and Siddharth Malhotra, this down-to-earth dramedy follows a family, the Kapoors, that grudgingly reunites and slowly sees old conflicts and personal secrets bubble back up. Fans of the film should check out another big budget Bollywood family dramedy titled Dil Dhadakne Do (Let The Heart Beat), which ups the ante by adding a few families, some major financial stakes, and a European cruise.
Scarface (1983)
Aaaand Scarface. Look, I'm not sure how I went from a Hindi-language family drama to a crime story about a Cuban immigrant turned cocaine kingpin, but I did. It might've been a weird Wednesday. Whatever the case, this movie is great; Pacino's great, the visuals are decadent, and that song She's On Fire is insanely catchy. Fun Fact: Oliver Stone went undercover with some cocaine dealers to research this script, and almost got killed twice doing so. Worth it.
About Alex (2015)
From Scarface to indie drama. For a movie about a group of old college friends reuniting after one of them attempts suicide, About Alex (a quasi-remake of The Big Chill) is surprisingly upbeat, and has a lot of very honest, very funny parts. It is also incredibly thoughtful, and contains some really good performances and characters, as well as a great cast (Max Greenfield, Aubrey Plaza, Nate Parker, and Jason Ritter all feature, along with more).
Ex Machina (2015)
Consistency is not really my thing (ask my editor). Next up is Ex Machina, a suspenseful sci-fi thriller. This movie is a trip, and I mean that as the highest praise. If you check out a movie this week, this should be it. It is a weird, intense psychological thriller about a young programmer invited to test the limits of an (almost too-human) A.I. robot created by the company he works for. It won the Oscar for best visual effects last year and was also nominated for Best Screenplay. Oscar Isaacs. Alicia Vikander, and Domnhall Gleeson feature, and Alicia Vikander steals the show as the robot Ava. You might walk away wondering what exactly you just watched, but you won't regret it.
That was my line-up this week! It's a little bit all over the place, but I think there's something in there for everyone. If nothing sparks your fancy, I guess you could just ... watch something else. If something does, let me know which one in particular! Now ... on to today's pick...
