THiNC. Movie Spotlight #49 – we should give out trophies at number fifty. Someone purchase some Goodwill trophies. This should happen right now so we are ready for next week. Janice? Purchasing depawwtment? Can we get some Trophies in here? I was hot on West Side Story until I found out that it was directed by Spielberg. I know. That’s harsh. But it’s truth. Someone is going to have to watch this and tell me that he didn’t spielberg this one. If you know what I mean. Regardless, I absolutely LOVED The Last Son thoroughly. C’mon C’mon was Cinematic MAGIC. The Card Counter was a really fascinating study in a search for grace. These movies in this Spotlight segment are just so good, they might even be worth a tip! I know, right?
The Last Son – December 10th
“An intense performance from audience favorite Sam Worthington adds to the heart-pounding intensity of this brilliant, brutal wild west adventure. As Isaac LeMay, he plays a notorious outlaw who, haunted by a prophecy that he will be murdered by one of his own offspring, sets out on a terrible quest to end his bloodline. But when his oldest son Cal begins a killing spree of his own, the two are set of a collision course that will also include a U.S. Army Officer and a posse of bounty hunters who are out to stop them both.”
C’mon C’mon – November 27th – Theaters
Joaquin Phoenix. Joaquin Phoenix. Joaquin Phoenix. This isn’t The Joker. And it isn’t You Were Never Really Here. This is Joaquin as a radio journalist going on a cross-country journey with his nephew. This is writer and director Mike Mills pumping his own life for drama. Looks like the film festival circuit is adoring this movie and I’ve read a couple different interviews that tell some pretty fantastic off camera connections between Phoenix and his younger film partner. Definitely think Black and White might be making a comeback all of a sudden.
Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn Trailer – screening in select theaters
You literally cannot argue with a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. It’s impossible. And regardless of its asinine title that literally no one will ever remember, this movie looks like a fascinating take on the Covid Pandemic from the vantage of a poor woman who has had a sex tape stolen from her. Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn Trailer is the Romanian Oscar selection this year and looks really fantastic.
Limbo –
Nominated for oodles of British BAFTA film awards, looks like Limbo points its lens at a young Syrian musician who finds himself stuck on a Scottish island as he awaits his asylum to the UK request. Deadpan is the name of the game here, so if a dry delivery isn’t your thing, steer clear of this one. Seems to take racism, Islamophobia and hate speech head on while never losing its sense of humor.
The Card Counter –
Sure, I’ve seen that The Card Counter was out. But nothing about it struck my fancy, not, a, thing. That is, until I, stumbled upon these words in a write up about it over on IndieWire: “What’s riveting about “The Card Counter” — what makes it a fresh riff on Paul Schrader’s usual formula, and broadly absolves it from lacking the transcendent power of a First Reformed — is that William Tell (Oscar Isaac) is actually trying to work out a clean answer. He’s trying to take expiation into his own hands and live to enjoy it. … The difference between “First Reformed” and “The Card Counter” is the difference between asking “Will God forgive us?” and “Can we forgive ourselves?” It’s not a matter of potentiality, but rather a question of possibility. Schrader’s latest is still baptized in the same religious asceticism that runs through so many of his films, but its lonely man is only focused on the things he can control.” Okay IndieWire, you got my attention.
Ema –
Any movie that is even tangentially related back to Oldboy gets my interest up immediately. And Ema has been likened to Oldboy several different times in reviews and recommendations. This is an anarchic flame thrower of a movie. It will keep you on our toes throughout and will probably keep you off your game until the credits spool.
Coming Soon – Watch List:
The Hive – Unknown – Albanian movie without distribution yet
The Lost Daughter – December 17th Theaters
Nightmare Alley – December 17th – Theaters
Don’t Look Up – December 24th – Netflix
The Tragedy of Macbeth – December 25th – Theaters
Memoria – December 26th – Theaters
The 355 – January 7th – Theaters
See For Me – January 7th – Theaters
Compartment No. 6 – January 26th – Theaters?
You Won’t Be Alone – January 28th – Theaters?
The Worst Person in the World – February 22nd – Norway
The Batman – March 4, 2022 – Theaters
There you have it – THiNC. Movie Spotlight #49. If you’d like to read more of our THiNC. Spotlight recommendations, you can do that right here.
Edited by: CY
