Movies have the power to transport us. A clique statement, but those are kind of making a comeback in these quarantined times. Be kind to your neighbor and expect from yourself what you expect from others seem to be hot now too. But, I have never been alive for a time when these phrases have rung so true. Things around us are changing though. Movie theaters have been empty or bankrupt, and people are unsure if they would ever go back. It seems so absurd and disturbing to sit in a chair, packed in a theater, with thousands of people having sat on it before you. Unless you are a germaphobe, you would never really think of wiping it down with a Clorox wipe. So, here we are stuck in this world where we are stuck inside: but if you're anything like me, movies are a daily call from a friend. A voice into what the world was like, and what we believed that it would be. Here are some of the best films that I have watched so far in quarantine.
The first film I would like to introduce you to is one that I consider one of my favorites of all time. Frances Ha (2012) is a black and white dramedy about a woman trying to find her way in New York City. She has big dreams, but she also has the melancholic knowledge that they won't come true. Frances doesn’t really own an apartment and apprentices for a dance company that she has never danced for. It is a blunt look at a girl with big city dreams, and how quickly life seems to move for those around you. Frances is 27 years old, an age when those around her are defining themselves, while she can’t seem to let go of the promises of her past. At the beginning of the film, she tells her boyfriend she can’t move in with him because she is still living with and loyal to her best friend. A few scenes later, her friend says she’s moving out to live with her own boyfriend. The movie is filled with these sad ironies as well as humor. Somehow Frances seems to find humor and joy in a life that seems destined to fail. The movie was directed by Noah Baumbach (famous for his work on Marriage Story and The Squid and the Whale) and was co-written by Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig (famous for her work on Lady Bird and Little Women (2019)), who stars as the title character. Both who are wonderful filmmakers in their own respect, but together they made what I sort of believe is art on film. While nothing seems to “happen” in this film, it serves as more of a character study than a plot-driven piece. The film, while being short (runs at 86 minutes), seems to introduce the audience to an entire person’s life. It is a carefully crafted visually and the dialogue is, at points, uncomfortably realistic. Frances Ha manages to be a film about adulthood, friendship and New York City without falling into any cliques. If you are feeling stuck at home and even if you miss the city, this enchanting film will comfort you even in its most awkward. You can find Frances Ha on Netflix.
"If you're anything like me, movies are a daily call from a friend. A voice into what the world was like, and what we believed that it would be."
The second one is one that I saw in theaters last year during finals week, but has recently become free on Amazon Prime. In a sea of autobiographical films of rock stars (see Bohemian Rhapsody with Rami Malek and the upcoming Bob Dylan film with Timothée Chalamet) Rocketman shines like a radiant, sparkling pair of platform boots. It is a musical fantasy that reveals the life of Elton John in the only fitting way. I absolutely adore everything that this movie has to say, and how it shows it. Everything about the film is everything that I love about performance arts, it’s fun, it’s tongue-in-cheek, it’s moving. I knew virtually nothing about Elton John walking into the theater except that his songs were in Gnomeo and Juliet, but I left feeling such a deep respect for him. You see Elton realize who he is, then realizes that he has to hide it. It is such a simple, yet heartbreaking concept that a worldwide superstar would still worry how his dad would think of him if he came out of the closet. At the same time, you are pretty much watching a sort of spectacle, shot like more of a movie musical than a biography. There are big numbers with lights and dancers, but it somehow maintains an authentic tone. Taron Egerton not only plays Elton John, but sings as him (this being one of the main reasons that I prefer it over Bohemian Rhapsody). At points, the viewer feels like they are watching the real Elton John, and not an actor trying to imitate the way his teeth look. This is most likely because Elton John himself was able to oversee the production, and put in a first hand account of his experiences. While it falls into the many cliques of rock star biographies (the rise to stardom, some sort of addiction forms or some other trauma, the realization that the person has done something wrong and a resolution), Rocketman feels genuine and grounded, even at its most fantastical.
I am a person who forces their almost adult friends to go to children’s movies because I am embarrassed to go alone. They usually say no, but my family didn’t so here it is. Trolls 2: World Tour is a movie that I did not expect to be so utterly moved by. And for a film about animated trolls singing songs, it sure has a lot to say about the music industry. To sum it up, there are six main types of trolls to represent the six main genres of music: funk, country, techno, classical, pop and rock. In order to maintain their genre, the music trolls take care of their magical string. But, Barb, the queen of the rock trolls, is planning to steal all of them in order to make all the trolls rock trolls, hence the concept of a “World Tour”. We then follow Poppy, the queen of the pop trolls, and her attempt to get everyone to become friends. While I don’t want to spoil this movie, (I am aware that it is made for children) it has a strong message that our differences aren’t what bring us together, and it’s important to maintain our own culture instead of trying to steal others. Poppy realizes that she can’t trust the history books written by her ancestors, and that there are many sides to one story. It also makes strong commentary of how music has changed over the years, as well as cultural appropriation. I’m not even sure that the movie was meant to be taken this far, but I believe that any form of media (no matter how belittled by film buffs) has something to say and a purpose. If you don’t want to think about that, this film also can distract you from the realities of life in America. For just about an hour and a half, you can have a carefree celebration of all kinds of music, along with playful and humorous animation. This film is one that has brought me genuine joy, something that many are so desperate for in these times. I can’t believe an Anna Kendrick troll made me audibly laugh out loud as well as made me tear up. Trolls 2: World Tour is fun, campy and utterly joyous.
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