Call Me By Your Name by
The son of an Italian professor forms a relationship with his father's summer research assistant.
Luca Guadagnino's 2017 Italian romance and drama absolutely oozes with verdant surroundings of gorgeous northern Italy in the 1980s, and delivers us into the summer of Elio, a young precocious man living with his parents in their villa, and Oliver, a graduate student studying under Elio's father for the summer. As the days whirl them through archaeological digs, nightclubs, and wistful plains and piazzas, their relationship develops into new territory. Nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture (and winning for James Ivory's masterful screenplay adaptation), this is my personal favorite film and would recommend it very deeply.
Rated R.
Related media: Adapted from a book of the same title by Andre Aciman.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind by
When Joel discovers that his girlfriend, Clementine, has had their tumultuous relationship erased from her mind through an experimental scientific procedure, he decides to ease his own pain by getting the same treatment. But, as each memory of Clementine is systematically eliminated, Joel suddenly realizes how much he still loves her and desperately attempts to reverse the process.
The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind features Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey and tells a beautiful story about love, heartbreak and loss. The overarching theme revolves around the idea that you cannot escape your true love, no matter how hard you try to erase it from your memory and move on. There is also a fascinating science-fiction element.
Rated R.
Memoirs of a Geisha by
In 1929, an impoverished fishing village father sells his nine-year-old daughter, Chiyo, to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and she becomes subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. As she grows older, her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo. She is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic graces and social skills a geisha must master. As a renowned geisha, she enters a society of wealth, privilege, and political intrigue. With the onslaught of World War II, Japan and the geisha's world are forever changed.
This movie captured me from the first time I viewed it. Based off a book, this film depicts the story of a young girl from a small fishing village. Chiyo tragically loses her mother to illness and is then sold with her older sister Satsu. The pair are taken to Kyoto, this is where the story begins. Chiyo has such a strong character and voice throughout the movie. Her voice narrates the beginning of the film looking back on her life. Another aspect of this movie the blew me away was the sound tract. With cello performances by Yo-Yo Ma the music is an absolute work of art. The Chairman's Waltz is definitely my favorite.
Rated PG-13.
Related media: Adapted from book (available in Large Print from IRSC), available as E-book.
Parasite by
Follows the Kim family as they begin providing luxury services to the wealthy Park family but are soon caught in an underhanded struggle to maintain their new lifestyle.
This historic Best Picture winner (first non-English language film to win) is simply one of the best films out there. Telling a genre-bending story of classism in modern South Korea, this has heart-pounding suspense right beside laugh-out-loud moments, woven together by seamless directorial and technical work from director Bong Joon-ho. With an incredible versatile cast, amazing design, and four Oscars to its name, Parasite is an essential for anyone and everyone.
Rated R.
12 Angry Men by
Courtroom drama revolving around the trial of a boy accused of killing his father, where one man stands between him and capital punishment.
A true masterpiece of mid-century Hollywood. Set almost entirely in one room, the film follows a jury of men on a sweltering afternoon as they deliberate on a case that could send a man to his death. While the jury's first impression is that the case is a clear-cut guilty verdict, there is more than what meets the eye at first glace. An absolute monument to the power of critical thinking, basic compassion, and genuine curiosity in search for truth. Henry Fonda's lead performance is an true force in this remarkable achievement that has stood- and will stand- the test of time.
Related media: 50th anniversary re-release DVD.
The Wailing by
When a mysterious illness begins spreading through a small village, a local policeman is drawn to the incident to solve the mystery.
A Korean occult thriller that I recommend going into blind for the best experience. There are no jump scares, but the film is very tense and unsettling. If you're bored of the generic horror films coming out of Blumhouse these days and are looking for something fresh, definitely check this out!
Rated TV-MA.
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