QUICK FIX Movies To Watch #11-15

QUICK FIX Movies To Watch #11-15 are a little bit horror, a little bit comedy, and a whole lot of beauty

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 picks takes a look at The Cabin in the Woods, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, 127 Hours, American Beauty, and Sunshine.

QUICK FIX Movies To Watch #11: THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

Release: 2011    Rating: R    Director: Drew Goddard

Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins, Bradley Whitford, Kristen Connolly, Fran Kranz, Anna Hutchinson

This movie has been considered by some (myself included) to be the end-all to the modern horror/thriller genre. What that means is The Cabin in the Woods is a film that takes all the reasonings, tropes, and cliches that today’s horror/thriller movies thrive on and essentially turns them all on their heads. We’ve all had moments watching sub-par thrillers where we can’t help but yell “you idiot, why are you doing that!”, and The Cabin in the Woods gives us a very intriguing filter with which to view those moments. Shelved for a few years due to MGM’s financial troubles coupled with poor, unsure advertising kept a lot of people from seeing this, but that should be remedied. It’s hard to explain this movie without spoiling it, and the best way to see The Cabin in the Woods is to go in completely oblivious. It’s a must-see for fans of the genre, and will have you questioning every horror/thriller you see afterward.

HIDDEN GEM: Not so hidden, but oh so good, are the performances of and relationship between Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford. They’re a pair with more weight and blood on their hands than they let on, and their “this is what we do because we have to” attitude is humor-filled and very enjoyable to watch as the movie progresses.

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QUICK FIX Movies To Watch #12: TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL

Release: 2010    Rating: R    Director: Eli Craig

Stars: Alan Tudyk, Tyler Labine, Katrina Bowden, Jesse Moss

If The Cabin in the Woods is the meta-meditative look at the horror/thriller genre then Tucker and Dale vs Evil is its light-hearted, comedic cousin. Following a pair of simple-minded men (Tudyk & Labine as Tucker & Dale) with plans to renovate and vacation at their newly-purchased cabin in the woods (see what I did there), this is a film that asks what if all those backwoods maniac killers from so many poorly-executed movies of the past are really just a couple of unlucky dudes trying to enjoy their vacation home? If, through a series of completely believable mishaps, the cliche group of college kids accidentally start killing themselves off thinking the members of their group are being murdered? Yeah, it’s a lot of fun.

HIDDEN GEM: This movie is kind of a hidden gem itself, but watching each of the kids do themselves in is graphically hilarious. There’s a particular scene featuring bees, a chainsaw, and two puzzled reactions that just cracks me up.

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QUICK FIX Movies To Watch #13: 127 HOURS

Release: 2010    Rating: R    Director: Danny Boyle

Stars: James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn

Danny Boyle is a master of the craft that is film making. The diverse director manages to step into multiple genres and leave his mark without overstaying his welcome. Where 28 Days Later was his zombie entry, Millions his family piece, and Trainspotting his foray into drug addiction, 127 Hours is Boyle’s look at nature survival. Based on the true story of outdoor enthusiast Aron Ralston’s experience trapped in the rocks of Utah, this little film follows him through his life-altering adventure. Pinned by a boulder, Ralston made the defining decision to amputate his own arm in order to survive (which he did). The story is simple, but it’s what Boyle and star James Franco do with the inbetween time that make this movie special. Boyle’s visual flair for storytelling coupled with Franco’s performance as a superman realizing he’s not elevate the material. With a run time of just over an hour and a half, and with pretty much a 1 man cast, Boyle has once again shown he can work his magic without dragging things out or overplaying his hand.

HIDDEN GEM: It’s no secret that Franco’s Ralston will inevitably cut his own arm off, but seeing it done is pretty crazy. The musical cues during this scene make you cringe just as much as the visuals will.

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QUICK FIX Movies To Watch #14: AMERICAN BEAUTY

Release: 1999    Rating: R    Director: Sam Mendes

Stars: Kevin Spacey, Chris Cooper, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley

I’ve been in love with this movie, and the message it shares, since way back in the day when I first saw it. Since then it’s a must-watch every few months. Kevin Spacey’s Lester Burnham is a sad little man with a sad little life. Living in suburbia, giving off the impression that his life is ideal, and suffering on the inside, Lester decides it’s never too late for a change. He blackmails his boss (justly, if there’s such a thing) for a handsome check, starts smoking pot, working out, and simply doing everything he thought he never could. It’s pretty beautiful to see both Lester fully enjoying his new freedom and the cast of characters around him reacting in different ways to the new man he’s become.

HIDDEN GEM: Kevin Spacey is fantastic here, and this is probably my favorite role he’s ever taken. His Lester Burnham is inspiring to watch. Also, Annette Bening has a pretty terrific break-down-then-recuperate moment that shows you how her character views the world through a completely different lens than her husband.

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QUICK FIX Movies To Watch #15: SUNSHINE

Release: 2007    Rating: R    Director: Danny Boyle

Stars: Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Mark Strong, Rose Byrne, Cliff Curtis

The sun is dying. A crew sets off with an explosive payload and the science to hopefully restart the star and save humanity. It’s a visually-stunning ride that doesn’t food feed along the way. I had an amazing experience watching this movie for the first time, and if you do a little thinking and get lost in the metaphysical adventure you’re sure to have a good time. Danny Boyle has always been a favorite director of mine (28 Days Later, Trainspotting, Slumdog Millionaire) and more than one of his films will make the list I’m sure.

HIDDEN GEM: Chris Evans was very impressive here. His character’s cut-and-dry no-nonsense demeanor coupled with some above-average acting on his part was a pleasant surprise.