This email is rated PG-13 for adolescent behavior.

Aug 19, 2020

"Now why don't you make like a tree,
and get outta here!"

PINNED: this newsletter is supposed to be a friendly recapping of the movies in, and coming to, theaters. But things be real weird right now. So until that changes in earnest, I'll either be suggesting old favorites to revisit, pointing out recent flicks you may have missed or calling out notable new VOD / streaming options.

How comfortable do you feel with the idea of putting your outside clothes on and going to a theater right now? It's not theoretical. Because this weekend, depending on where you live (see chart below), you will have the choice to see a movie - on a big screen, nosh on overpriced snacks, whilst sitting in a room full of... strangers. 😲

Forget me, will other people even show up you query back? I mean, that's why I... And is it even safe to be seated in a room for two hours with people occasionally pulling down their masks to mow calorie-laden puffed corn you challenge? Well that's more a question for...  What about if "the bullshit" get worse (like even worse than it already is), what happens then you demand. I...

...I don't know, ok!  I'm just the poor sap who writes a silly little newsletter. Which I means I should know that the marquee movie to be highlighted upon this weekend's freshly changed marquees is the Russell Crowe goes nuckin futs road rage thriller, Unhinged. Wait. I do! I I know that one! I also know that reviews for it are not great, but not entirely awful? A tough sell in a normal moviegoing scenario, but in the middle of all "this." 😬

Next weekend's entries are similarly iffy on the "Wait, I have to put on pants?" ranking, but in two weeks a legitimate test occurs with Christopher Nolan's Tenet.

So until then, and even after I presume, I'll keep highlighting a few couch viewing experiences. In part because I'm still officially stuck at home living in Los Angeles, and more so because I suspect the answers to my original query will bend towards... AYFKMe?!

This week's theme is.... movies from last year that probably should've got (even) more love when they were still in theaters.

And for what it's worth, they're all pretty much feel good stories, if you're needin' that kinda juice right now.

MISSING LINK
(2019)

When this was released I jokingly gave it a secondary moniker of "the next Laika film to be nominated for an Academy Award it won't win." Which came true! Or more like, it came true 😕. It was nominated, and it didn't win. That honor went to Toy Story 4.

Even though they've yet to nab a gold statue, Laika just keeps doin their darnedest to make great movies. And their darnedest is really something to behold, as each of their movies is hand made via stop-motion (seriously, click that link to peep their process).

Link is similar to other Laika movies in that it doesn't really rely on a bunch of pop-culture references. Their movies tend to focus on original stories that blend the bitter and the sweet (not unlike Pixar in some ways). For a refresher, Zack Galifianakis is the titular Link, basically Bigfoot, who is searching for others of his kind. Zoe Saldana and Hugh Jackman provide the necessary help in what you know is going to be a nice little adventure.

Details: 89% on RT (166 reviews)
PG, 1 hr 35 mins, Laika Studios

PEANUT BUTTER FALCON
(2019)

Admittedly, a lot of people actually did watch this movie in theaters, relative to its filming and marketing budget. But it still was only the 105th highest earner at the 2019 US box office.

It was one of those movies that seemed to have to be discovered, including by me! And for those just discovering it now, it's a modern but old-time feeling tale that sees a young man, Zak (Zack Gottsagen), running away from care (he has Down syndrome - both the character and the actor) to enact his dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. He meets Tyler (Shia LaBeouf) along the way, and they're eventually joined by Eleanor (Dakota Johnson) who is in charge of keeping Zak safe.

Reviewers loved it, even thought they note it relies on some cliches, because of its heart and focus on Zak, not because he has Down syndrome, but because he's a person who has aspirations just like any other human.

Details: 96% on RT (206 reviews)
PG-13, 1 hr 33 mins, Roadside Flix

FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY
(2019)

I just realized I'm highlighting two movies that deal with dreams of professional wrestling and I'm ok with that. In part, because I initially wrote this particular movie off a bit because of its ring (note: definitely a square) based competition subject matter. Sure, I dabbled in some wrestling viewing when I was a wee one, hooting for The Undertaker, hollering for The Ultimate Warrior. But I got older (jaded?) and started to be the kinda person who says pish posh (note: not proud of it) to what is essentially a highly physical soap opera.

I'm also coming at this one with more open eyes because it stars Florence Pugh, who went on a tear after this was released with Midsommar, Little Women and the upcoming Black Widow. Should I have given it a chance regardless of these factors. Probably! But hey, I'm giving it a shot now soooo.

This tale of scripted (but still very real) powerslams and backbreakers is based on the also very real story of a young woman from England who grew up a huge The Rock fan - in fact, her whole family did. And when she gets picked for a WWE camp and her brother doesn't, it creates a bit of dissonance in the family. Which is not the only trouble she'll have to deal with as she also ends up feeling like an outsider at the camp.

Be ready for tropes and common story telling themes, as in Peanut Butter Falcon, just different ones, but done well!

Note: written / directed by Stephen Merchant (tall white dude who co-created The Office) and also stars Vince Vaughn and Nick Frost.

Details: 92% on RT (233 reviews)
PG-13, 1 hr 47 mins, MGM

Highlights: On the Rocks - Sofia Coppola has her friend (muse?) Bill Murray investigate his daughter's (Rashida Jones) husband (Marlon Wayans) to see if he's cheating. Note: Apple release

Death on the Nile - who-dunnit sequel to Murder on the Orient Express.

Bad Hair - Justin Simien, creator of Dear White People shows off his next movie, a horror satire. Note: Hulu release

The Devil All the Time - southern gothic drama starring Batman (Robert Pattinson), Spider-man (Tom Holland) and... Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård). Note: Netflix release

What's In Theaters +

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