QUICK FIX Movies To Watch #31-35 are part smarts and part violence
Quick Fix Movies To Watch is a weekly column of mixed movie suggestions for both the avid film fan and the casual movie-goer. Dive in, swim around a little bit, and come up with a new movie or two you think is worth watching. They’re all great!
This week’s Quick Fix takes a look at Galaxy Quest, The Signal, Memento, Leon: The Professional, and The Brothers Bloom.
QUICK FIX Movie To Watch #31: GALAXY QUEST
Release: 1999 Rating: PG Director: Dean Parisot
Stars: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub, Alan Rickman, Sam Rockwell, Justin Long
Galaxy Quest is essentially a 2 hour long Behind the Music look at a cast of characters who once starred in a classic Star Trek-like television series. Years after the show’s original airing the cast is simply going through the motions – signing autographs for overly enthusiastic fans at convention after convention – when suddenly they’re called upon to negotiate a real-life alien peace treaty and save a species from being destroyed. The colorful crew (in regards to both the characters and the actors playing them) have a hilarious chemistry throughout the film while comically challenging some sci-fi series stereotypes.
HIDDEN GEM: Sam Rockwell’s redshirt character who accidentally joins the adventure is just jazzed about being on the show, and he’s a lot of fun to watch as he heroically honors his redshirt brothers and sisters. In fact, everyone in the crew has their moment to shine and contributes to the comic chaos in their own heroic fashion.
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QUICK FIX Movie To Watch #32: THE SIGNAL
Release: 2007 Rating: R Director: David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry
Stars: Justin Welborn, Anessa Ramsey, AJ Bowen, Sahr Ngaujah
It’s not very often that I stumble upon a movie that surprises me, challenges the mold, and immediately goes into my collection. While The Signal doesn’t succeed at every corner, it’s easily one of the best thriller/comedy/thriller combo experiences. Helmed by three separate directors, and separated into three different “transmissions”, the film sees a fictional world where 1/3 of the population begins to kill sporadically after viewing a static television signal. It’s a great little indie-style thriller for the first 3rd, followed by a hilariously awkward middle section (which I’m pretty sure is a look into what it’s like to be controlled by the signal), wrapped up with a return to the thriller.
HIDDEN GEM: The middle section of The Signal seems so out of place and ridiculous but oh so right if it’s what the world looks like to those influenced by the signal like I think. The transition from bloody, tense thriller to laugh out loud black comedy was an unexpected but welcome surprise.
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QUICK FIX Movie To Watch #33: MEMENTO
Release: 2000 Rating: R Director: Christopher Nolan
Stars: Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano, Stephen Tobolowsky, Mark Boone Junior, Thomas Lennon, Callum Keith Rennie
Memento is another movie that immediately went into the collection upon first viewing. I’ve never seen a movie quite like it, and in my opinion then fresh face but now seasoned favorite Christopher Nolan has never put forth a project that was this creatively conceived (which is saying a lot given Ineception’s reception and scope). Memento is, to put it simply, a movie that plays in reverse as understood through a present-time phone conversation and a series of forgotten memories. The protagonist is an assault victim suffering from a condition that makes him forget things every few minutes, which makes for an interesting story when it centers around a murder mystery and a faceless murderer. Highly recommended.
HIDDEN GEM: The use of the protagonist’s condition to progress (or rewind if you will) the series of events doesn’t feel gimmicky or under-established in any way, and the confusion caused throughout works as well as it does because of this unique character trait. The story behind the accident, along with the inherent life problems it causes, provides an ambiguously traumatic yet rich glimpse at a troubled vigilante seeking vengeance.
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QUICK FIX Movie To Watch #34: LEON: THE PROFESSIONAL
Release: 1994 Rating: R Director: Luc Besson
Stars: Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman, Danny Aiello, Michael Badalucco
Jean Reno shines as a simple-minded hitman who reservedly takes a young girl under his wing, and an unbelievably young Natalie Portman is preciously dangerous as the girl out for vengeance. Top that pairing off with the cherry of a psychotic Gary Oldman (at his very best in regards to crazy) and the pre-Fifth Element direction of Luc Besson and you’re in for one fine film. Both a coming of age nontraditional buddy action piece as well as a tough-as-they-come revenge picture, Leon: The Professional is a satisfying mix of comedy, action, and drama.
HIDDEN GEM: If you’re a fan of Gary Oldman in any capacity and you haven’t seen this movie you’re doing yourself a great disservice. The man’s character is a force of nature fueled by mystery narcotics, and Mr. Oldman plays him with a commitment and spark that he rarely matches on screen.
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QUICK FIX Movie To Watch #35: THE BROTHERS BLOOM
Release: 2008 Rating: PG-13 Director: Rian Johnson
Stars: Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltrane
The second directorial effort from uncovered gem Rian Johnson (Looper), and a follow up to the dirty high school crime noir Brick, The Brothers Bloom showed me that Johnson was a talent whose outings into film I’d happily follow. Two con-men brothers (Brody & Ruffalo), with a gift for the grift since childhood, decide to con an eccentric introvert who collects hobbies (Weisz). Madness ensues. The writing is smart, the characters each bring something different to the table, and watching everything unravel is a little surreal and a lot of fun.
HIDDEN GEM: Rinko Kikucki’s Bang Bang is a firecracker of a character, and I’d enjoy an entire movie detailing her upbringing and con-womenly ways. Also, Joseph Gordon-Levitt makes a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance, and it was cool to see him even though he had absolutely nothing to do with the movie.
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